The Cardinals lost by a score of 3-2 to the New York Mets. Josh Edgin got the win while Marc Rzepczynski received the loss. Oscar Taveras went 2-for-4 with an RBI and an outfield assist. Jake Westbrook threw well, allowing two runs over six innings.

Good Morning Cardinal Nation. After a two week break from CardsBlog, I am back. Here’s what I have for you this morning:

MATHENY HATES SHUTOUT: The Cardinals were shut out yet again on Sunday afternoon, losing 6-0 to the Miami Marlins. They have not scored a run in 25 innings.

Said Matheny: “Things like that start to beat a team down… It is spring training. You don’t panic about anything. But I haven’t made any secret about the fact that I hate to lose, even in spring training, especially when our offense doesn’t represent itself like it can…We take positives out of everything, but we don’t like starting bad habits.”

Mike Matheny is also now on Twitter.

THE BUBBLE: Rob Rains writes about the eight players who are on the bubble for making the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster. I don’t know how Shane Robinson is not a lock for a roster spot considering he is just dominating the Grapefruit League. You would have to assume that both Ronny Cedeno and Ty Wigginton will make the team as well for some more infield insurance.

DESCALSO GETS SHOT AT SHORT: Though Pete Kozma will most likely be the shortstop on Opening Day, Daniel Descalso was given the opportunity to play there recently, as he could also be used as an option throughout the season now that Rafael Furcal is out.

Good Morning Cardinal Nation. Here are Monday’s Recommended Links:

• Jaime Garcia says he’s on target to start the season
• Shane Robinson just might overcome the odds
• Could the DH be coming to the National League?
• The Cardinals lost to the New York Mets on Sunday by a score of 3-0

Allen Craig and the Cardinals have agreed to a 5-Year deal with a club option for  6th year.  The deal is back-loaded and will paid out like such:

2013: 1.75M

2014: 2.75M

2015: 5.5M

2016: 9M

2017: 11M

2018 (option year): 13M

In total, the contract could be worth up to 43M over 6 seasons.  Glad to have Allen aboard.

Good Morning Cardinal Nation. Here’s what I have for you this morning:

CARDS LOSE TO NATS: The Cardinals lost to the Washington Nationals on Saturday by a score of 6-2. Adam Wainwright struggled, giving up eight hits and four earned runs over three innings. He had one strikeout. On the bright side, Shelby Miller gave up one hit in his outing, a solo home run to Ian Desmond. Oscar Taveras, who replaced Carlos Beltran in the lineup, went 2-for-3 and is now hitting .318 this spring. Ronny Cedeno made two errors at shortstop. The Cardinals and Nationals play again today, where Jaime Garcia will make his second start of the spring.

INJURY REPORT: Beltran was scratched from the lineup because of a sore toe on his right foot, where he was hit during Thursday’s game. Mike Matheny was also back in the dugout after sustaining food poisoning. Buster Olney also writes this morning about Rafael Furcal, who does not seem to improving. From his article:

The Cardinals have a really good team, again, but they have necessarily have great safety nets in place — or, for that matter, a very good first option, given Furcal’s physical issues. They do have a lot of depth in their farm system, which puts St. Louis in a great position to pursue a shortstop during the season, whether it be someone like Asdrubal Cabrera or Elvis Andrus or a Starlin Castro, if they become available. (To be clear, that’s all speculation at this point.)

He also wrote about Kyle Lohse:

The Rangers’ rotation doesn’t have as much depth as they had hoped to have, andAlexi Ogando has not looked good in camp. But remember, the Rangers passed on all the free agents attached to draft-pick compensation, from Nick Swisher to Michael Bourn, and if they sign Lohse, they’ll lose their first-round pick — a sacrifice which would be mitigated by the fact that they get an extra pick due to the departure of Josh Hamilton. 

But it’s hard to imagine the Rangers surrendering their pick for Lohse unless the deal they make with the pitcher is very team-friendly — for more than one year, to justify the sacrifice of the pick, but for less than four years for a 34-year-old pitcher, at a relatively modest salary.

It’s worth repeating, time and again: Lohse is really in a terrible spot.

FREESE WANTS TO BECOME LEADER: Joe Strauss writes this morning about David Freese wants to take a leadership role in the clubhouse, particularly after Chris Carpenter won’t be available to pitch for the 2013 season.

• Here is Rob Rains’ postcard from the Cardinals-Astros tie yesterday
• Albert Pujols will be ready for the season-opener
• Mike Matheny and Carlos Beltran are back, but Rafael Furcal is not
• Vince Coleman has been teaching base running to some of the Houston Astros
• Joe Kelly is trying to shake off the rust from his first start

You can find the video here.

Mike Matheny did not travel to today’s road game against the Astros.  Serving as manager for today’s game is Mike Aldrete.  You can read the full story here.