Winter Warm-Up: January 19-21 at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch. Tickets go on sale next Friday, November 23. Basics available here. Additional details, including autograph schedules, will be released next month.

Reminder that passes go on sale today.

My annual look at WWU autograph prices is posted. Those tickets go on sale Wednesday.

Domeboys wrote: My annual look at WWU autograph prices is posted. Those tickets go on sale Wednesday.

Amazing. I know this may not be a popular comment in these parts, but unless the proceeds are going to charity, I believe any adult standing in line to pony up $ for another adult's signature is......(trying to find the right word here).....lame....yeah, it's pretty lame in my book. It doesn't make them a bad person and who am I to comment how others spend their money, but that's the first thing that comes to mind when I see some guy doing that......"total nimrod". Kids are fine doing the autograph hound thing and I think it's great and oh what a thrill it is for youngsters to be standing right near one of their favorite players. As a player though, how do you hold out your hand and accept $75 from a little kid for doing so little???

pugsleyaddams wrote:

Domeboys wrote: My annual look at WWU autograph prices is posted. Those tickets go on sale Wednesday.

Amazing. I know this may not be a popular comment in these parts, but unless the proceeds are going to charity, I believe any adult standing in line to pony up $ for another adult's signature is......(trying to find the right word here).....lame....yeah, it's pretty lame in my book. It doesn't make them a bad person and who am I to comment how others spend their money, but that's the first thing that comes to mind when I see some guy doing that......"total nimrod". Kids are fine doing the autograph hound thing and I think it's great and oh what a thrill it is for youngsters to be standing right near one of their favorite players. As a player though, how do you hold out your hand and accept $75 from a little kid for doing so little???

They are.

The various Cardinals Caravan stops and participants have been announced. January 18-21.

Kind of torn between caravan #1 and caravan #2 as to which one intrigues me most. The cast of players in #1 would be my favorite to see while the Redbird alumni from #2 raises my eyebrows to the highest arch. However, those players from caravan #4 are nothing to sneeze at either. Mashin Matt Adams...Sudden Sam Freeman....and the player I'd most like to see....future Cy Younger, Michael Wacha....what's not to like about that bunch! I really don't have much to say about caravan #5...except that if these caravans were horse drawn, the colts and mares pulling #5 might just refuse to hit the dusty trail towards Mattoon, ILL. until they were given at least one player worthy of witnessing their magnificent speed and strength....that's not a very nice thing for me to say, but you have to admit that compared to the other four caravans, caravan #5, though most likely oozing over with class individuals, lacks the playing talent of the others. And what's with the Benes Brothers cruising from town to town in different caravans? If they were still in their teens, being apart for events like this would be normal. Maybe if there is a rift between the two, being members of the same caravan would have been just what the doctor ordered as far as mending the fence.

Cardinals have posted their schedule of events for the warm-up weekend. You can check it out on their site

Having never been to Mattoon, I'm contemplating catching the Cardinal Caravan there. Anyone know anything about Mattoon and it's nightlife?

pugsleyaddams wrote: Having never been to Mattoon, I'm contemplating catching the Cardinal Caravan there. Anyone know anything about Mattoon and it's nightlife?

Back in 2005 there used to be bar near downtown with go-go dancers..  Havent been to Mattoon proper in 6 or 7 years...

I lived in Mattoon and worked at a bank there from 1963 to 1973. There's not much going on there. There is a fantastic Mexican restaurant there called "Little Mexico" that I try to go to as often as I can. Mattoon is a nice, quiet little town of homes and churches. Lakeland College is where the Caravan is I believe. Charleston, about 10 miles east of Mattoon has Eastern Illinois University where there is some night life.

UncleDenny wrote: I lived in Mattoon and worked at a bank there from 1963 to 1973. There's not much going on there. There is a fantastic Mexican restaurant there called "Little Mexico" that I try to go to as often as I can. Mattoon is a nice, quiet little town of homes and churches. Lakeland College is where the Caravan is I believe. Charleston, about 10 miles east of Mattoon has Eastern Illinois University where there is some night life.

Great pizza at PAGLIAI'S in both Charleston and Mattoon..  Not a night spot but good food..  When we lived in Sullivan in late 90's I once drove all the way to Charleston on a friday night after getting off work for Pag's pizza bought two and came home and woke up with with Pag's pizza... She was happy!

My thanks to both UncleDenny and Teuf for their great suggestions regarding Mattoon's exciting nightlife. Many a fantastic suggestion, but I think I'll opt for Teuf's "Go Go dancers" tip. Going into this trip my only hopes were to see the Cardinal Caravan, take in a Broadway quality play afterwards and then maybe find a good meal at a classy establishment at 3 o'clock in the morning. Now I think I'm in store for much more than I bargained for.

I will only make one WWU commercial, but subscribers can access over a dozen interviews posted so far with many more to come.

Over on the blog (free), I am posting WWU photos.

Kinda puzzled why Shelby wanted to have a beach body last offseason? Does he not realize his chosen profession does not give him summers off to spend at the beach? WOuld be huge if Waino and Carp can help him and show him how to maximize his talent..

Heard stltoday.com's forums had some good stuff on the state of the scouting department and farm department. Can somebody please post the links to both forums. Thank you.

Ryno234 wrote: Heard stltoday.com's forums had some good stuff on the state of the scouting department and farm department. Can somebody please post the links to both forums. Thank you.

Below is the link to the Post-Dispatch's baseball forum:  Cards Talk

link