THE WATERCOOLER

Question: Now that closer Brian Fuentes is out of the equation, what is the Cardinals No. 1 priority?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Same as it ever was: starting pitching. It’s folly to assume Chris Carpenter can return to full health and form. And shouldn’t the Cardinals at least take a look at Trevor Hoffman? He had a strong second half in 2008. Does the Hall of Fame closer have one more solid year left in that arm?

DERRICK GOOLD
What “is” the No. 1 priority and what “should be” the No. 1 priority are completely different questions. What “is” the No. 1 priority apparently is positioning themselves with a flexible budget so that they can: a) swoop in with a vulture’s savvy when other teams are selling off parts (yes, I’m looking at you Houston) and, b) brace themselves for a revenue stream that could fall short of initial estimates. What “should be” the No. 1 priority hasn’t changed. It’s starting pitching. The Cardinals simply do not have enough known quantities to fill out their rotation. They need someone who they know will fill innings and there are plenty of options out there. (A Braden Looper-type, even if it’s not Braden Looper, per se.) The Cardinals are counting on a healthy Chris Carpenter, and he has the salary to mandate that. But they should consider Carpenter a bonus. Build a rotation that can contend without him and be a favorite to win with him.

RICK HUMMEL
I don’t think there is a No. 1 priority. I think they need a starting pitcher and a closer. They rank equal in my mind. And I don’t think it would be impossible that they’d consider signing a pitcher who’s done both … started and closed.

DAN O’NEILL
That is somewhat of a loaded question because I don’t believe Brian Fuentes ever was in the equation, not seriously anyway. I think the Cardinals should be looking for bench strength right now. I think pitching is going to become available later because of the economic conditions. There are going to be a number of free agents signing late, ala Kyle Lohse, accepting shorter term deals, hoping for an economic turnaround and a solid 2009 so that they can cash in next winter. They don’t call me Dan “DeWait” O’Neill for nothing.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

MEET COACH MOSS: No, Winston Moss has not been named the new Rams head coach just yet. But he at least survived a round of defensive bloodletting by the Green Bay Packers. According to the Associated Press, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy cleaned house Monday by releasing defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and five other assistants. According to the report, assistant head coach-linebacker coach Moss was the only major defensive coach to keep his job. Moss interviewed Saturday for the Rams head coaching position, the first of multiple candidates expected to visit.

Moss has not commented yet on whether he feels it would be better to be fired by the Packers or hired by the Rams. Stay tuned.

FORGET EVERYTHING YOU’VE LEARNED: The Arizona Republic makes a case for the Arizona Cardinals to beat the Carolina Panthers this weekend … and bases it on historical data. No, not the fact it’s the Cardinals first trip to the playoffs in 10 years. No, not because they haven’t advanced past the second round since winning an NFL title in 1947. The Cardinals have a chance, they say, because other lower-seeded teams have gone on the road in recent years to win Super Bowls.

I’m thinking those other lower seeds didn’t finish the last six games of their seasons 2-4. And I’m guessing that if you went even a bit deeper, you’d find that those other lower seeds were not outscored 167-70 in four such losses. But if the good folks in Arizona think historical data is on their side, all I can say is, “Good luck with that.”

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THINGS TO PONDER

YES TO RICKEY, NO TO McGWIRE: The Chicago Tribune polled its nine baseball Hall of Fame voters to see who they chose to induct into this year’s class, which will be announced on Jan. 12. Base-stealing leadoff man Rickey Henderson received the only unanimous nod. Also going in on the Tribune ballots were Andre Dawson and Jim Rice. Conspicuously absent from all nine ballots … Mark McGwire. You can take a look at all nine complete ballots and read why the writers voted for the players they did at the Chicago Tribune web site.

BULLETIN BOARD BLUNDER: Nothing like calling out a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback just days before facing him in a national championship game. But that’s exactly what Oklahoma defensive back Dominique Franks did earlier this week, saying Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (who won the Heisman last year) would be only the fourth-best quarterback in the Big 12.

No. 2 Oklahoma will square off Thursday night with No. 1 Florida in the BCS championship game. Given a chance to respond at a media event today, Tebow just laughed off Franks’ comments and took a pass on responding. But Franks better beware of Tebow’s passing (both on the field and off). Imagine a game-winning pass from Tebow that sails right over Franks’ hands. Nothing better than letting your play do your talking for you … particularly to a DB who may find himself on a nationally televised island Thursday night.

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STAT OF THE DAY

$423.5 million — Total amount the Yankees have committed to just three free agents this offseason. A press conference has been scheduled for tomorrow to announce that first baseman Mark Teixeira’s eight-year, $180 million deal has been finalized. Other deals already completed by the Yanks include seven years at $161 million for pitcher CC Sabathia and five years at $82.5 million for pitcher A.J. Burnett.