After being gone for a few days, it’s good to see that you’re all still fired up. The next two weeks or so will be the most important stretch for the Cardinals this off-season,  with the arbitration date (for offering) on Dec. 1 and the winter meetings to start Dec. 8.

Q: Mr. Hummel,
Thank you for giving fans the benefit of your wisdom and experience.  Based on the rumors we’re hearing and the reports here on StLToday, the Cardinals front office seems set to repeat the same mistakes. Case in point: 1.) It appears they will depend on Carp to be healthy next year, despite their disastrous experience with depending on rehabbing pitchers the past couple of seasons; 2.) We’re hearing that it is likely that Izzy will be brought back as closer and no one is reporting any efforts to sign a closer through FA or trade. I don’t understand why the Cards would want to take these chances when they’ve blown up in their faces recently.  What if Izzy is signed, has a good spring training and then falls apart at the beginning of the season again?  We will be in the exact same spot we were in last year, with no one ready to step into the role effectively and no chances of being able to trade for someone until July, if then.  I don’t understand this thinking.  Is it just being
cheap? Misplaced loyalty? Or something else?  What is your opinion of what the FO is thinking?  And I also don’t get the movement for bringing Renteria back.  He is getting old and his skills are declining, as evidenced by his stats the last couple of seasons, I believe. I’d rather bring Izturis back than roll the dice on Renteria.  We aren’t going to be getting the Renteria of old back, so he’s a crap shoot.  I thought this team wanted to get younger, but instead they are looking at signing veterans in their 30s.  As usual, the Cards’ actions don’t match their words.  Thank you for your time.

A: The Izzy thing is a hot-button issue although if there are no guarantees offered to him should he come to camp, I’d be OK with that. I, too, wonder about Renteria although I’m sure the Detroit folks _ Leyland, Dombrowski _ gave La Russa their honest assessment of Renteria’s skills, declining or otherwise. Let’s see what shakes down after the Dec. 1 date for teams to offer arbitration to their players. So don’t too excited what happens _ or doesn’t happen _ for a few days. I am, however, in favor of infiltrating more youth, i.e. Perez, Motte, Rasmus.Thanks for the kind words.

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Q: Mr. Hummel, good day to you, sir. I understand Cardinals management wanting to wait to hear how Carpenter is coming along, but if he doesn’t , or even if he does, and is ready for spring training, will he be able to go the distance? The big names (and with that the big $$$), Sabathia,Sheets, Lowe, Burnett, Peavy are just out of reach due mainly to their salaries, or what they need in return.But how about a trade? We seem to have a pretty good farm system at this time and some major league players that would fit well with other teams. What about a LH starter, for instance Danks
with CWS, or Maholm with PIT? Or Hernandez with SEA, or RHP Billingsley with LAD (yes I heard he broke his leg, but say he should be ready for spring)?

Regards,

Greg Feeney

A: Greg, all fine names but players those teams are unlikely to give up, because the teams have control over them for a few more years and they don’t make that much money. But, you’re right. A trade may the way to go for starting pitching rather than dipping into the starting pitching free-agent pool.

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Q: What would you think about the following scenarios and the chances of them happening?  The Cardinals trading for Brian Roberts and what would it cost?  Sign Renteria _ that could give us two good veterans at the top of the order and also solidify the middle infield (if the trade for Roberts happened).  This would allow our talented young outfield to hit from 4-7.  Also what do you think about signing Ludwick and Ankiel to deals similar to Yadi and Wainwright.

A: Brad, I’m a big Roberts fan, too, although the Orioles steadfastly have refused to trade him before. The Orioles need starting pitching _ they had just one 10-game winner in 2008 _ and a shortstop. The Cardinals don’t have much to offer in either regard there.

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Q: Would the Cardinals be interested in going after Javier Vazquez from the Chicago White Sox in a possible trade, considering his subpar year?
With our abundance of outfielders to send their way it seems worthy.
A: Jimmy, possibly, although Vazquez has a contract that would him $23 million for the next two years. A little high for a declining hurler but I would ask about him, at least.

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Q: We need to go after Kerry Wood.  What are the odds?  He would be a great setup man or even closer until the yonger guys are ready.

A: Jeremy, the odds are small that you could get Wood on a short-term deal. If the oft-injured , righthander can get a deal longer than two years, he would be out of the Cardinals’ interest level.

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Q: Why has Mark Worrell not been given more of a chance in the majors? His numbers are oustanding in the minors and it seems he was hardly given a chance in St. Louis. Why is that?

A: A fair question. I am presuming the Cardinals’ brass doesn’t feel the sidearmer can retire lefthanded hitters well enough, nor does it think he throws hard enough. But I could see him being some sort of specialist for somebody else. The Cardinals have so many righthanded relievers already.

Q: Dear Commish,
Why is everyone talking about starting pitching? Didn’t the Cards blow a major-league-leading 31 saves?  I believe the cards should go after K-Rod or even Kerry Wood to show that they do not want to lose the division because of blown saves.  Don’t get me wrong. Peavy would be awesome, but let’s fix what cost us the division first.

A: K-Rod and Wood will be out of the Cardinals’ price range but I concur that starting pitching was not the major issue last year.

Q: Cardinal farm system has several players, especially pictures, on the verge. Maybe we should take the year to merge young blood with the old and be ready for 2010. Boggs was voted the top starter in AAA. Todd and  Mortenson are not far behind, and Garcia will be ready in 2010. Anderson should either be traded or brought up mid-season. I believe Mather, Rasmus, and Jay are ready and should be on the roster by end of season. So there is no need to spend a lot of bucks on a starting pitcher, just beef up the bullpen. As much as I love Ludwick, check his second-half half stats, and his injury history.  Let’s trade him for a top-notch middle infielder while we can.  We have plenty of outfielders.  What do you think?
A: Al, I’m with you on promoting from within although I’m not sure the rest of the fan base, let alone La Russa, wants to “be ready” for 2010.