--RHP Jason Isringhausen has decided not to pitch for the U.S. team in the World Baseball Classic. Isringhausen normally is slow to get ready in spring training.

--The Cardinals talked to former San Francisco LHP Kirk Rueter about a possible job, but Rueter, a St. Louis-area native, wants to be a starter and the Cardinals are looking for another left-hander in the bullpen. The Cardinals' bullpen, if the season started today, would be RHPs Jason Isringhausen, Braden Looper, Jeff Nelson, Brad Thompson and Anthony Reyes and LHPs Ricardo Rincon and Randy Flores.

--Interest in veteran RHP Felix Rodriguez, who had most of his success with San Francisco, waned with the signing of Nelson.

--The Cardinals won't play the first game in the new Busch Stadium. While the club is on the road for the first week of the season, the Cardinals' Triple-A Memphis and Double-A Springfield teams will play an exhibition game on Tuesday night, April 4, as a trial run.

BY THE NUMBERS
36 2/3 -- Number of innings newly signed RHP Jeff Nelson pitched in 49 games for Seattle last year.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I just don't think it was what I first envisioned. I've got more important things to do." -- RHP Jason Isringhausen on declining to pitch for the U.S. team in the World Baseball Classic.

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