Former Cardinal Jack Clark, who has made a name for himself in recent years by being extremely vocal at times about his old team, will work for KTRS (550 AM) this season — a station in which the team has 50 percent ownership. That comes after Clark wasn't retained by Fox Sports Midwest and WXOS (101.1 FM) after he ripped the club following its collapse last season, saying on WXOS that "I'm seeing a pathetic effort. ... they're quitters."

Fox Sports Midwest has a cozy relationship with the Cards and is uneasy when its personnel are extremely critical of the team. Although never acknowledging that Clark was ousted because of his biting comments (FSM general manager Jack Donovan merely said, "We're moving forward without him"), it was clear he wasn't happy having to deal with controversies surrounding Clark — one of several analysts who appeared on a rotating basis on postgame programming.

The previous winter, when Mark McGwire was hired as the team's hitting coach and admitted using steroids, Clark said all those who took them should be "banned from baseball, including McGwire" and said they are "Fakes. Phonies. They don't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. ... They're all creeps."

So it's intriguing that he'll be at KTRS. He'll work with John Marecek from 10-11 weeknights starting Thursday.

"Everybody thinks that because we're half-owned by the Cardinals that they dictate our policy, but they never have said boo to me about how to do my show," said McGraw Milhaven, who hosts the morning drive-time show on which Clark also will appear on occasion. "They just want good programming."

The evening show will focus on, but not be limited to, baseball.

"People want to hear honesty, and although some might not like it, you have to be true to yourself," Clark said Thursday. "Sometimes you have to (grab) someone and scream in their face, other times give them a cookie and glass of milk. I give people breaks, but don't like people lying and getting away with murder."

He said he had no grudges toward FSM, at which postgame analyst duties this year are to be divvied between Cal Eldred, Al Hrabosky and Rick Horton.

"I didn't do anything wrong there, it just didn't work out," he said. "I'm a big boy, have big shoulders, I can take it. Journeys in life take you a lot of ways, and I think this is a better fit for me."

Clark, who will be on the air much more than ever, said it's important to be candid.

"I've said what needed to be said from an analyst's point, that was my job, that's what they paid me to do — to analyze as a former player," he said. "I simply do my job when asked for my opinion. Just because (I) wore a Cardinals uniform, I'd be hypocritical if I wasn't honest. Sometimes when things needed to be said, it was not to harm anything for the Cardinals. But you have to be honest when you're paid to do that. I'd rather not work for a station" that wants sugar-coating of issues.

He said he has heard grumbling from some players from time to time about his pointed comments, but shrugs it off.

"Players who say I love to hear myself talk, they have to understand I have a job to do — maybe they should look in the mirror instead of pointing fingers at me or other people in the media," Clark said. "Fans don't always get the truth, I try to tell it the best I know and I've got to be me, that's what this show will bring. I'll apply my baseball and life experiences from being on this earth for 55 years. I'm lucky and blessed, the people of St. Louis have been very good to me for a long time. I'm just trying to give something back."