St. Louis Cardinals Announce Mercy Medical Partnership

The health care provider is also nearing an announcement of a location for a stand alone sports medicine center.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Mercy health care unveiled a partnership Tuesday making the Chesterfield-based firm the major league baseball team's "official Medical Provider." It won't preclude a player from seeking out their own treatment elsewhere so if a pitcher wants a second or third opinion, or to have surgery performed elsewhere by the likes of a Dr. James Andrews, based in Alabama, they will continue to have that option.  But the arrangement gives the team, minor league squads and employees on the business side of the organization, access to Mercy doctors, tapping into a wider umbrella of care. Mercy doctors already serve as the team physicians for the Cardinals' Double-A team in Springfield.  "You hear about things making headlines …

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The Baer Facts

Tony La Russa Retires, Shocks the Baseball World

Andy Van Slyke is the one who should be next to take the reins.

Tony La Russa. Baseball Hall of Fame manager to be shocked the sports world by announcing his retirement after 33 years in the business this morning. In 1978 he began managing, and came to the big leagues with the Chicago White Sox one year later. La Russa knew in his heart it is time to step aside. That’s not an easy decision by any means. First, he said he never would have managed so many years without the support of his great wife Elaine. “My first daughter was born a month after I started in Chicago. She had to raise on daughters on her own. We used to kid, on Fathers’ Day, we always got two cards, one for me, and one for Elaine.” But “you have to look into the mirror and say to yourself, its time to quit.” A World Series title allows …

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James Baer

5:31 am on Wednesday, November 2, 2011

65 votes in so far. 29 for Jose Oquendo, or 44 percent of the total. Andy Van Slyke is second with 13 votes, 11 for Joe Maddon.   more ›