marvin slay: Mr. Gordon

Now that the Rams have a fullback Mike Karney, I am betting that Spags expects Stephen Jackson to have an outstanding year next year.

My read is that if he doesn't do exceptionally well (however you want to define that) that Stephen will be gone the following year even if he gets injured (heaven forbid). In other words there are no more excuses...and another injury may mean he is accident prone...

Whats your take?

Marvin Slay
San Diego

Jeff Gordon: Next year is a huge season for Steven Jackson, yes. But I don't see the Rams blowing him out two years into that contract. Jackson is a rare talent, a game changer.

Mike: Alburt hasnt hit a homerun yet in spring. Is this usally how he starts off?

Jeff Gordon: Albert is fine.

Aloha Cards Fan: Tyler Johnson:
Good morning Mr. Gordon,
Young lefty reliever that experienced early success; overcoming surgery;contract not extended. Where is he? Have we no interest in him? If so,why?
Give us some juice, baby.
Thank you!

Jeff Gordon: Coming back from injury, he signed a minor league deal with the Mariners. The Cards must have been convinced he was toast -- since several of the lefties they signed this offseason offer none of Tyler's upside.

BillP: Hey Jeff, does the NHL have on it's agenda to review the topic of playoff format? I mean the current setup pretty much renders the current divisional alignments useless. I mean what's the point of divisions and divisional games when they basically mean nothing. Either go with what you had in the old days, top 4 teams in each division and have divisional playoffs or scratch the divisions and just have a Conference standings and have everyone play each other the same number of times. I mean personally I like the old divisional set up but the fair thing to do would be to scratch the divisions and go with the Conference standings, so that's probably what I would decide. What's your take and is the NHL looking at this? Thanks and Have a good week !

Jeff Gordon: I like the conference playoff format in a 30-team league, since it assures that the best teams will make the playoffs. And I still like the division-weighted schedule, especially since the NHL went back to having Western Conference teams playing all the Eastern Conference teams once a season.

The division-weighted schedule creates easier travel and it does create the possibility for rivalries.

But here is what I would do: Take 10 teams from each side of the league in the playoffs and have a four-team play-in on both sides of the league.

In the old days, the NHL allowed 16 of 21 teams. Now 14 teams miss. As the NHL fights to keep its fan base, postseason expansion would help.

Michael Kent: Jeff ...

Should there be any amount of concern at this point in spring training that each of the Cards' top three sluggers - Albert Pujols, Ryan Ludwick, and Rick Ankiel - is without a home run and that they have just 17 RBI collectively in 16 games through Sunday? If that's not a concern to you, what would be from your standpoint?

Thanks.

Jeff Gordon: Ludwick's struggle is a minor concern. If he doesn't loosen up and start stroking some shots, he could be uptight coming into the season.