Michael Kent: Jeff ...

Looking at the Cards' No. 1 picks from each of the last four annual MLB drafts, the only one not getting an invite to camp this spring is Pete Kozma (2007). This has to be a little bit disheartening for Kozma, considering at one point last summer he and Brett Wallace were sharing the same infield at Low A Quad Cities. Wallace his since leaped ahead of Kozma. (But I suppose to be fair to Kozma, he was drafted straight out of high school while Wallace had three years of college ball under his belt.)

So let me ask you a couple of questions. How critical will it be for Kozma to break out this season, wherever he may be? (Or maybe a fairer question to ask is what sort of offensive numbers will the Cards want to see from him in 2009?) And where will he be to start the season? Palm Beach or Springfield? Surely he won't start at Memphis ... or will he?

Thanks.

Jeff Gordon: Kozma is a long ways off. He ought to start at Memphis and put up really good numbers before he tries to play at Springfield.

He is due to make the jump offensively, as Daryl Jones did last year. If he doesn't, then it might be time to adjust expectations downward for him.

That pick didn't excite me at the time because the Cards passed on high-end pitching to save money and fill a long-range need.

Brett: If you were in charge of the Cardinals, would you be happy with what you've done this offseason? Be honest. What would you have done differently?

Jeff Gordon: Right now I'd have Looper and Ohman under contract, shoring up the rotation and the left side of the infield. And I would be monitoring Chad Cordero carefully to see how his rehab from shoulder and arm surgery is going.

Otherwise, I agree with the concept of hanging onto the OFs and seeing how it all plays out. There are still moves to be made, but I would have done a few more coming into camp to create more competition and trade leverage.

Tim: So who,s you best guess on who will get released. Right now I would say Bennett, Chavous, Little, mabye even Tinoisamoa and outside chance of Pace. Although I think he got a few years left in the tank. he played well when he was on the field but he just needs to be on the field.

Jeff Gordon: The cap savings on Little aren't great enough to justify his exit. The cap savings on Pace would be great, but can the team find a sure-fire replacement. Pisa, Chavous and Bennett are all strong possibilities to go. Holt we've already discussed.

Tackleberry: It will be very interesting to see what early moves Spagnuolo/Devaney make with regards to releasing players. There is a lot of dead weight (mostly players past their prime) on this team. That being said, do you think the lack of consistency displayed by the rookie receivers last season will weigh on the Rams decision to release or trade Holt? Even if the Rams draft Crabtree, they'd be relying on three WR's with no more than one year's experience, and that hurt them at times in '08.

Jeff Gordon: Holt's injury history, high salary and obvious unhappiness add up to a departure. At least one of the high-priced veterans has to go and Torry is the most easily replaced.

Tackleberry: Do you think the Rams will ever try and fill their need for a consistent kick & punt returner? The only position in Saint Louis has been more of a revolving door is the Cards 2nd basemen. And at least some of the 2nd basemen have been decent.

Jeff Gordon: There is some sentiment about trading back from the second overall pick and targeting Maclin.