DOWNTOWN — The press conference held earlier this week at Busch Stadium answered one of the biggest question looming over the Cardinals and their 2008 season — Tony La Russa will return as manager. But that’s far from the last question facing the Cardinals.

Nor was it the only question answered Monday.

John Mozeliak, the interim general manager who is a candidate to be the club’s general manager, has been guaranteed a position in the new front office — whether or not he’s chosen to lead it. Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. made that promise to Mozeliak when Mozeliak agreed to be the interim GM while a search was taking place.

“We committed to Mo,” DeWitt said. “I don’t think we really defined (the position), but I would expect it to be in his same position.”

Mozeliak was Walt Jocketty’s assistant general manager for the past several seasons, excelling at not only  writing and finalizing contracts but also negotiating contracts, identifying free agents and cementing extensions with several players. Mozeliak’s role in building  both 100-win and World Series championship team was probably not as well known as it should have been, as he  spearheaded the acquisition of such players as David Eckstein, Mark Grudzielanek, Preston Wilson, Ryan Franklin and several others.

In recent conversations,  a few players have  expressed support to me for Mozeliak.

“Mo’s one of the reasons I’m here and one of the reasons I want to stay here,”  one player said.

Mozeliak did receive a contractual bump when he moved into the interim GM position and, though unconfirmed, a multi-year contract. He also got DeWitt’s promise that if the organization hired somebody else to be GM, Mozeliak could remain within the organization, within the front office and — if he wishes — in his former position as assistant GM.

“I want to be a part of the Cardinals, whatever role that is, I’ll accept,” Mozeliak said. “Bill told me I will have a part in the organization.”

That means that the new general manager — and Cleveland’s Chris Antonetti is believed to be the next on the list to interview — will come to St. Louis with his manager in place and on a two-year deal, possiby his assistant general manager in place, and Jeff Luhnow directing the minor leagues.

Whoever accepts the job is going to have to also be accepting of a ready-made staff.

The new GM might bring a new vision, but he’ll work with the existing office.

Other pressing issues for the Cardinals (and you can play along – make your selections for the protected list and the options to pick up in the comment section):

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Joe Mather, who had a breakout season  and reached Triple-A this season, will become a minor-league free agent  at the end of the World Series unless the Cardinals make a move. The Cardinals can elect to add Mather to the 40-man roster or  re-sign him before the final out of the World Series.  With the power he developed this season and his ability to play multiple positions — he was set for first base at the Arizona Fall League before shifting to the outfield to make room for Mark Hamilton – the Cardinals are  not going to lose him to free agency.

Expect a place for him on the 40-man roster and in big-league spring training.

There are 19 other minor leaguers who must be added to the 40-man roster or risk losing in the Rule 5 draft. They are: Jason Motte, Mark Worrell, Mike Parisi, Jarrett Hoffpauir, Kyle McClellan, Mike Sillman, Stuart Pomeranz, Eric Haberer, Brandon Yarbrough,  Matt Scherer, Donnie Smith, Dan Nelson, Reid Gorecki, Mike Ferris, Mike Pagnozzi, Brian Stitt, Mike McCoy, Juan Lucena and Henry Guerrero.    

It  would seem likely that the Cardinals protect Motte, Hoffpauir, Parisi, at least.

Clubs have until Nov. 20 to make the moves to protect their players from the Rule  5 draft.

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Cardinals outfielder So Taguchi was around Busch Stadium on Monday, working out and chatting with his returning manager, La Russa. Taguchi is waiting for his family’s pet dog to get clearance for a return to Japan — and doing a little World Series coverage for a Japanese network — so he’s spending this month in St. Louis. How much  longer he’ll spend in St. Louis remains to be determined. After picking up Jason Isringhausen’s option for 2008, the Cardinals have two options remaining — both of which must be addressed in the days following the  World Series. They are:

• So Taguchi … $1.1 million for 2008 ($100,000 buyout)
• Gary Bennett … $900,000 for 2008 ($50,000 buyout)

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THE LINEUP: Some Cool Games I Attended

Or, in honor of the Colorado Rockies making their first World Series appearance tonight a chance to mention my favorite day at the ballpark, which was …

1. Colorado’s First Home Game — Was one of the 80,227 who packed into Mile High Stadium and saw Eric Young crack the most wonderful home run any of us Coloradoans had ever seen (with apologies to Joey Meyer). I entered a lottery to score tickets and took my dad and a dear friend. Best. Day. Ever.
2. Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS — One of the best games any of us will ever see.
3. Albert Belle’s Bat-gate Game — While in college, was there in Chicago when Belle’s bat was confiscated at the plate  to see if it was corked.
4. The Opening of Coors Field — It was in 1995, an exhibition game between the New York Yankees and Rockies. Just after the strike ended.
5. Jim Abbott’s  start after his 1993 No-Hitter —  Pops drove me from Boulder to Kansas City for the Yankees series and Abbott, a few days removed from his no-hitter, made the start in a 6-5 Yankees loss.
6. Game 4 of the 2004 World Series — Sorry Cardinals fans, but it’s not too often you see 80-plus years of agony end. Or is it? … Because a year later I was at Game 4 of the  2005  World Series.
7. Penultimate Home Stand at Tiger Stadium, 1999  – Flew in from New Orleans to see the place before the Tigers left it. Saw Detroit vs. Toronto and the Luis Polonia show. He hit hit two homers in the series (Deivi Cruz hit to the series finale). Checking my notes: Shawn Green hit a home run off the World Series 1968 banner, a blast at the old ballpark. I remember it for Polonia, who was an RBI Baseball star (63 homers one season) on the original Nintendo system.
8. Jim Edmonds’ catch at Kansas City — That one where he’s with the Angels and  has his back to home plate and dives onto the warning track to make the catch. Yes, that one.
9. Pedro vs. Piazza, Fenway Park,  2000  – An interleague matchup between Boston and the New York Mets. Most I’ve ever spent on a  ticket. Worth it. Got to see my favorite player  from my youth (cue the peanut gallery) and got to see, later in the series, Carl Everett blow a gasket when Ron Kulpa traced a line near the batter’s box to remind the temperamental Red Sox slugger where to stand.

A quick honorable mention: The Yankees-Mariners game at Safeco Field where the Yanks and M’s brawled a bit, except Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez who stood near second base chatting. Had great seats to see this unfold. That was the game that led, among other games, to Chad Curtis’ departure from the Yanks.

Back to  more interesting rankings with the next Lineup.  

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