| dub the beachcomber: Gordo, the Manny Ramierez controversy and a recent round two question made me come to a conclusion. PED's will continue to be used until owners are punished for carrying a user on their roster. It has to be a significant penalty, like loss of draft choices, etc. Something other than money. Right now, owners profit whether a player gets caught or not. Until that changes, nothing will. Has there been any talk of a solution like this? What is your thinking? Thanks |
Jeff Gordon: It's a novel thought, but the owners wouldn't likely vote to punish themselves -- and they run the sport. I believe teams DO pay a price when a key player is lost for 50 games. The Dodgers don't have to play Ramirez, but his absence will cost them victories and revenue this season.
Teams will have to weigh the PED factor when signing or trading for star players. |
|
Rambunctious: Hi Jeff!
Has Claude Wroten been participating in the off season workouts along with other participating players, or does his suspension prevent him from doing so? If the Rams are planning on releasing him, why don't they just do it? What is to be gained by waiting?
What jersey number has been assigned to Orien Harris, and why is he not listed on the Rams' roster? |
Jeff Gordon: I'm sure the Harris number/roster issue will be resolved before the final mini-camp. It doesn't matter much now. His bigger concern will be actually making the team.
Wroten must be reinstated by the NFL before he can participate in anything. I would expect the Rams to move on without him. |
|
goldhorns: hi gordo,
with the release of Tinoisamoa, we are now very thin at linebacker and DT. what may be in the "cards" going forward?? i find it crazy that we have no experience at WR, and no depth at LB or DT. Please tell me that we have intensions on addressing this?? we must, no??
thanks for your time. |
Jeff Gordon: The Rams addressed the DT issue by moving Brian Leonard to Cincy for Orien Harris. Harris and Scott are behind Carriker and Ryan.
Also, Victor Adeyanju can play inside. The Rams added some guys to get through camp, but they are vulnerable to injury.
Pisa's exit frees up money to spend at LB and elsewhere. He was shaping up as Witherspoon's back-up, so the team turned the page. I agree that Culberson, Vobora, Chamberlain and Larry Grant don't provide compelling depth. |
|
COGzilla: Good move letting pisa go and trading leonard. They were just part of a crowded situation at their spots.
Please tell me that they have their eyes on a sam backer and some more dline help.thanks. |
| Jeff Gordon: Again, Pisa's exit opening up a small budget for off-season shopping. As we've seen, Spagnuolo and Devaney will keep adjusting the roster in advance of training camp. |
|
| jccardinalfan: Do the Rams have any tricks up their sleeve for the rest of the off season?? Trades? FA? |
| Jeff Gordon: Expect them to tinker still, although they have move just about everybody who doesn't appear to fit their plans. |
|
cbc1b: do you think Pisa would have ultimately best served by moving to safety years ago?
do you hear anything on the blues trade front regarding the numbers of defensemen they have?
thank you |
Jeff Gordon: He doesn't have the wheels to do that.
As for the note, moving a defensive salary (McKee in particular) will be difficult in this economic environment. And with Brewer facing an uncertain future, John Davidson has to protect himself. |
|
| HEG: Gordo just a few comments regarding the Cardinals; first I have mentioned before that McClellan is a home run waiting to happen; he will look fine then all of a sudden he will give up a tying or go ahead run; when he makes a mistake it seems to really affect the outcome of a game; whether the mistake is a bad pitch or location. I am also wondering if Kahyle Green will be best selection at shortstop; he is slumpling offensively & looks unsure of himself at times defensively; it seems the starters are coming back to earth from their great start; Wainwright has yet to have a real good start and the staff all right-handed struggle with left-handed batters; the Cardinals batters all seem to be struggle with off-speed pitches and all teams start left-handers vs. the Cards; but overall the Cards are in pretty good shape with their record which would pro-rate to between 90 and 100 wins over the season; does any of these comments make any sense? |
Jeff Gordon: There are a lot of concerns. The Cards would like to see Khalil Green hit .260. If he doesn't, then he'll move on after the season and either Brendan Ryan or Tyler Greene will take over. All their pitchers keep the ball down -- especially in a place like Cincy. McClellan usually pitches with the game on the line, so, yes, his mistakes do hurt.
Overall, the Cards have scored a ton of runs so the group is not THAT vulnerable to any one pitch, off-speed or otherwise. |
|
| virginiatom: Knowing now that the Rams are playing Smith at right tackle, do you think that they should have used the #2 overall pick on a more critical position need, such as WR or LB or DT? It seems that right tackle wasn't the most critical need in the draft and that it could have been filled with a later round selection. |
Jeff Gordon: Spagnoulo wants to pound the ball on the ground. Tackle was still a top need, left or right, once Pace left. And Jackson will run behind the right tackle. Smith is considered an excellent run blocker. In time, Smith could move to the left side. Or, if Barron comes around, perhaps he could stay where he is.
But he offers a massive upgrade over Adam Goldberg. |
|
| virginiatom: Of all the veteran receivers out there, why did the Rams go for Carter? His resume is full of unproductive efforts on several different teams, which should be a red flag to this organization. What do they see in him which has lead the Rams to by pass those that are still out there that could fill the roll of a possession type receiver? |
| Jeff Gordon: Carter is a depth guy, no more. The Cards believe they already have traded for (Robinson) and drafted (Foster) their back-up WRs. And Derek Stanley has a real chance if he gets healthy. |
|
Tackleberry: Do you think that the Cardinals feel that, when Ankiel/Carpenter/Ryan are healthy, this team is without the need for a major upgrade?
If you could have one upgrade today (right handed bat, starting pitcher, etc.) what would you choose and what position would it be at if it were a fielder? |
Jeff Gordon: The immediate issue is Glaus. The team is due an update on him in a few weeks. If he is not going to play this year, I'd put "right-handed bat" as the top need, assuming Carpenter returns to good health. Barden and Thurston are great utility guys, but they are returning to earth.
I still believe Motte, Perez, Boggs and Jess Todd can shore up the pen if that group starts faltering again.
Now would be a good time for either Freese or Mather to relocate their stroke at Memphis, since the current bench lacks power. |
|
| virginiatom: Only a franchise as bad as the Rams would take their #1 overall draft choice in 2 of the last 3 years and then move them out of their natural positions for which they had performed so great, to a new position (Carriker and Smith). Do you know of any other team that has in the last several years drafted a number one pick and then moved them to entirely new positions? It makes no sense to me. |
| Jeff Gordon: Right tackle is not an entirely new position than left tackle. If he still played tight end in college, then got drafted as a tackle, then you would have a beef. |
|
FloTrain: Ahh Jeff, my worst fear for the Cards is starting to be realized... Ok, everyone goes through slumps, but this rotation is slumping a little too early... Wainright throwing WAY too many pitches every outing, Lohse has been roughed up last couple starts, Welle off and on, Piniero starting to get hit hard now that hitters are looking for that 86mph two seamer... Is Boggs the most reliable starter right now? Carpenter PLEASE come back strong and healthy and make it through a season!....
Don't know if you read Bill Simmons' article about the Red Sox and their '04 run (blatantly asking if the ENTIRE team roided back then) but could two STL teams been cheated out of Championships by Boston Roiders? Especially if a Beantown Homer like Simmons' would be even suggest '04 was tainted in a published article.... |
Jeff Gordon: But . . . it's not like the Cards have stayed clear of players with steroid pasts or suspected abuse. It's the nature of the sport. I believe abuse is still rampant, despite the crackdown.
At least MLB is getting serious about restoring some semblance of order. |
|
therealdealankiel: Gordo,
Is there reason for concern with Brett Wallace's high strikeout total? I know his OBP is very good, but I always thought his plate patience/coverage was highly lauded. Disclaimer: I realize it is still early. |
Jeff Gordon: This guy isn't Wade Boggs. He is a power hitter. The Class AA level has the best young arms short of the majors. He is in his first full year of pro baseball.
The key is plate discipline. The more walks he draws, the more excited Cards management will get. The more he makes pitchers work to him, the faster he will develop. |
|
| virginiatom: Is Flajole's defense similar to that which Spagnuolo ran? What do you envision the Ram's defense looking like in terms of style? |
Jeff Gordon: This will be Spags' defense. What you saw in Philly and New York is what he wants you to see here. If Little stays healthy and Long progresses, the Rams ought to generate more pressure with front four -- which is critical.
You will recall that Haslett had to run lots of gimmicks to get pressure. Over time, that catches up to a D. |
|
therealdealankiel: Gordo,
Aside from the new buzzkids (Mortensen, Todd and Lynn), what are the overall feelings on once highly-touted arms (within our organization, as I know these guys are not impact arms to most clubs) like Ottavino, Herron and Hawksworth? I continue to wonder what Ottavino's upside is and why he is taking a rotation spot in Memphis. |
Jeff Gordon: Adam just can't quite find the consistency. He'll have the rest of this season to do so, but next year Garcia returns from TJ surgery and Lynn ought to be at the Class AA level.
Hawksworth, in contrast to Ottavino, seems close to finally making it.
It'll be interesting to see if Walters quickly regroups and gains better command. He need to build on his big league experience and not regress. |
|
| WILLIAM: With the recent roster moves and cuts, is it any more likely now that we will go after some of the more established receivers still out before the season starts or does it seem like the front office is content with what we currently have? If such a move is made, don't you think that we would catapault into the discussion of turnaround team of the year? |
Jeff Gordon: This is a run-first team. You'll see lots of two TE sets. You'll see lots of two-back sets. You won't see a lot of four wides. So, no, WR isn't a transformational position on this team
The Rams expect Avery and Burton to develop. Devaney believes in Robinson. |
|
| Crazy_Legs: What's your take on why Pisa wasn't traded instead of cut? Doesn't make any sense. Thanks... |
| Jeff Gordon: Who wanted him? If the Rams couldn't trade Holt and Pace, two potential Hall of Fame players, then it makes sense that Pisa had no value, too. Teams didn't want to acquire the rest of his contract, as in the case of Pace and Holt. |
|
Adam Edwards: Thanks Gordo for these comprehensive updates. I check the site weekly to read these Q and A sessions and read every article you guys post. I check DAILY!
My question is this: Who will be our Day 1 starter at strong-side linebacker?
I mean, honestly I'm content with Chris Draft playing that spot because he's honestly the most well-rounded LB on our roster, but I always felt more secure with him in the rotation situationally, providing depth and coming in to allow a starter a breather. He is not very big by any standard, although reportedly larger than Pisa Tinoisamoa, but I still think he can be man-handled by blocking TEs or FBs. Do you foresee us picking up a solid veteran either for depth or to take over the strong-side spot to leave Draft for depth, and if so, what names might you have heard or what players still available might make some sense to you if you were Billy Devaney?
Thanks Gordo! |
| Jeff Gordon: The Rams like Draft in that spot, for now. I share your reservations, but I doubt the team could acquire anybody else to add more than depth, at this point. |
|
therealdealankiel: Gordo,
Can you give me a brief rundown on the impact that a 40 man roster addition has on a player as well as the club? It would be nice to call up guys like Mortensen and Todd to give them a quick look, but not at the cost of their development or their status with the organization. The addition of Shane Robinson is what got me thinking... |
Jeff Gordon: When you add a guy, you have to subtract a player. The Cards had a little flexibility coming into the season, but that has to be managed carefully.
I'm a big Todd fan. For him to reach St. Louis, though, the club would likely have to move a guy like Thompson to make that work.
I liked the Robinson move. The Cards had plenty of options on the 40-man roster, but none of those guys were hitting well. So a fast-tracking prospect got rewarded. Shane may never be more than an extra player, but he has hit everywhere he has been and he can run. |
|
Philip W.: I understand Pisa may not have fit Spag's desires for large linebackers, but what does this do for our depth at a critical position? I like our starters now but if one goes down early in the season we are up a creek without a paddle.
Do you think the plan is to shore this up with a free agent, or are they really that happy with the backups? |
| Jeff Gordon: With the money freed up, they will be able to add back-up help as needed. |
|
Rich: Good morning Gordo,
The new regime at Rams Park hasn't been shy about sending veterans packing.
Who do you see as being next on the chopping block? |
| Jeff Gordon: There appears to be no role for Klopfenstein here, but the Rams may need him to get through camp. |
|
| Mike: Hey Gordo, latly the starter that were doing good in April arent doing so well even with run support. But the pitcher who did'nt pitch so well in April (Wellemyer) is looking great. Will the other pitchers getback into there groove? Thanks |
| Jeff Gordon: This is the nature of the 162-game grind. The Cards had four of five guys going at one point, but that is rare. Carpenter will be a welcome addition, assuming he can get and stay healthy. |
|
tom: Hey Gordo,
I have a minor league question for you. What's your read on Daryl Jones? It looks like he had a big year last year, and has continued to hit at Springfield so this year(albeit with limited power thus far). Does he have legitimate big league potential? What kind of a defender is he? Thanks for the chat. |
| Jeff Gordon: He is "toolsy" -- he does it all well. He should be a gap power guy who can cover outfield ground and add speed to the bases. He and Wallace are exciting players at Springfield. |
|
| Tackleberry: If the season ended today, do you really think the Cards "platooning" culture could compete in the play-offs with teams like the Red Sox or Mets who field basically the same 8 guys every day? |
| Jeff Gordon: How did that work for the Mets in '06? |
|
| Will: Do you think that Ludwick is in a slump right now, or is he coming back to earth? I guess what I am really asking is do you believe that Ludwick will put up comparable numbers to last year, or will he be more of a .270 average, 30 home run, 150 strikeout, low on base percentage type of player? If he is the .270 player, will that provide enough protection for Pujols? I am of the opinion,like many others, that it will take two big bats to protect Pujols. Duncan has been solid, but will the Duncan/Ludwick combination be enough to make pitchers throw strikes to Pujols throught the season? |
Jeff Gordon: It's fair to say that we are seeing the real Ludwick. Good outfielder, notable power, solid run production -- but a lot of Ks and some cold stretches. He wants to be a 600 AB player, but La Russa does him a favor by spotting him against some tough righthanders when he has his whole team.
He is a "plus" player, but he has yet to prove he is a big-time star. |
|
| Armen Dacity: I'm interested in your opinion as to the timing of Pisa Tinoisamoa's release. Do you think it was done now so that he would have time to catch on with another team? To clear cap space to sign the draft picks? To clear cap space to pursue a FA or a trade? Some of the above? All of the above? None of the above? What are your thoughts? |
| Jeff Gordon: The team had to wait until the draft to see if a MLB fell to the Rams in the second round. Once that happened, freeing Draft to move over, then it was decision time. His exit gives the franchise added flexibility to shop as other teams let players go. |
|
| John: In your opinion was the Pisa release a good move or bad move? Why? |
Jeff Gordon: Good move. He wasn't going to start. A 5-27 team can't pay back-ups starter money -- there are too many other needs.
Pisa is a warrior, but his occasionally undisciplined play led to a lot of big plays for the other teams. And his injury history is an issue as well for a team starting over.
|
|
Armen Dacity: Jeff,
Do you think that, given where the Rams' HC, OC and DC came from, the team will be watching closely as to who the Giants, Eagles and Panthers release next month? If so, any names you think could be on the team's radar? |
| Jeff Gordon: Sure, there is familiarity there. But, again, this team is mostly looking for depth guys -- be it at DT, LB or S on the defensive side. I don't expect anything sexy. |
|
| Fresno Ram Fan: Who's next on the cut list, Klop, Hill? |
| Jeff Gordon: Hill will get every chance. Butler is his guy -- and Spags loves Butler. Corners are hard to find. If all goes well, Wade will have the toughest road ahead. |
|
| Armen Dacity: Keenan Burton seemed like an intriguing prospect last year, but clearly was slowed by his nagging knee injury. Any early word on how his knee is doing? |
| Jeff Gordon: I'd his ability or inability to stay on the field remains the concern with him. The skill and "want to" are there. Except for Stanley, everybody looked OK now. He will be interesting to watch in camp, when the grind resumes. |
|
| MNCardsFan: Hey Gordo what is your take on voting players in this era into the Hall? I think that it is nearly impossible to seperate those who used from those who did not, so they should get in. I don't condone PED use at all, but its not like the hitters were the only ones using either. The stats are inflated, but it could be argued that expanding the schedule is an advantage that players in the past didn't have either. What are your thoughts? |
Jeff Gordon: I agree with you. Trying to cherry pick which players to let in or deny is impossible. We'll never know the whole story. Lacking that, how can anybody be excluded.
I blame the owners, GMs and managers more than the players. They let this go on because it was good for business. It became the prevailing atmosphere. It can't be cleaned up retroactively, but denying certain guys their rightful place in Cooperstown. |
|
Steve B.: Gordo
Do you happen to know if anyone picked up Willie Tuitama (QB from AZ)? Did the Rams consider him as a FA?
Steve |
| Jeff Gordon: I can't see any evidence that he signed as a FA, but I could be wrong. I'm guessing his DUI case tanked his pro chances. That was bad timing. |
|
| Michael B.: While still early, fans have to like how St Louis has started the season. The offense will be okay, but I for one am still worried about our starting pitching. Wainwright seems to have more to worry about than just a delivery issue. Carpenter is electrifying when healthy, but no one expects him to be a consistent part of the puzzle at this stage. Lohse and Wellemeyer are on track, and Pinero has done well overall despite a rough outing or two as of late. If the Cards could magically add a top tier pitcher at this stage, would you pull the trigger payroll aside? To compete throughout the season, this still seems to be an area that will have to be addressed. Fans thought that this was a priority during the offseason. How long will we have to wait? |
| Jeff Gordon: The Cards invested heavily in Carpenter, Lohse and Wainwright. Chris suffered a non-pitching injury, which was a tough break, but the team is 3-0 when Boggs has pitched in his spot. On balance, there is no need to add another guy. If they do get to that position, I'd like to see them add a lefty. |
|
| Tackleberry: Do you think that the Rams are done making moves of "significance" this off-season? Devaney & Spagnoulo have quickly established themselves with this fanbase, by addressing lingering personnel concerns, but there still seems to be some glaring holes (RB depth, LB depth, an established WR) that can't be written off in the category of "we need to see what we have there." For the most part, everyone in Saint Louis already knows. If Draft was the answer, or Pittman was the answer, we'd know it already. |
| Jeff Gordon: There are still a lot of iffy spots, which you would expect after a 5-27 run over two years. But these guys are picking them off one at a time. This is literally a year-round process. The current roster will be evaluated almost daily as other players come free. |
|
GoodguyInCO: Hey Gordo, thanks for taking my question.
I'm sure that you have already gotten a lot of questions already about this, but honestly, I was shocked to hear of the release of Pisa. I understand he wasn't an ideal fit to the system, but he did led the team in tackles last year. He was a good guy, who played with heart and tenacity. Best of all, he wasn't all that expensive. Did we just throw the baby out with the bath water? More importantly, is this organization now more concerned with "sending a message" than with keeping talented players? |
| Jeff Gordon: The team went 5-27 the last two years. Leading a 5-27 team in tackles isn't all that great of a deal. Pisa missed a lot of assignments and he got hurt a lot. Witherspoon took his starting assignment. Once the Rams drafted their MLB, Pisa was done here. Life goes on. |
|
| joe roach: Do you think Tye Hill has a future with the Rams? He doesn't seem to be Spags type of corner. Wade may also be a hugh question mark. |
| Jeff Gordon: Agreed on Wade. And Spags likes big corners. Hill is facing his make-or-break NFL season. |
|
signed s. j.: Gordo--When do we get an interview with Ken Flojoe about his new defense. What do you,or he see as the strength & weakness of that side of the ball.
When do the shells go on ?? Lets get ready for football. |
Jeff Gordon: This is Spags' defense, so pay attention when he talks about it. It's his scheme and his team.
Weakness? Can the front four generate pass pressure? Can the cornerbacks get up and play some press coverage? Will the middle of the defensive line prove stout enough to stop the run with consistently? Can Draft really hold up as a starting LB? What if a safety gets hurt? |
|
| 5matador: Pisa Tinoisamoa was not the right sized linebacker for Spagnoulos system. However, he did lead the team in tackles and did so 4 of his six years on the league. Is there a deeper explanation for a 2-14 team to release it's best defender from 2008. Also, do you believe that Spagnolo will have the opportunity to bring in "his guys" before the fan base become restless again? |
| Jeff Gordon: Pisa was the best defender? Really? Don't think the coaches saw it that way. He was destined to be a back-up. The Rams aren't paying back-ups starter money, given all the other needs. |
|
| STLIrish2010: Do you see the Brian Barden/Joe Thurston combo as a realistic season-long solution for third base? If not, who is out there that would be available in a trade. Obviously we don't have the bargaining chips to blow anyone away, but we've got enough decent prospects now to part with two or three and receive a solid third basemen in return. What do you think? |
Jeff Gordon: That assumes that Glaus is, in fact, toast for the season. Which may be the case. And then, no, Barden/Thurston wouldn't hold up.
Ideally, either Joe Mather or David Freese would warm up during the next few weeks to alleviate this issue. The Cards have plenty to deal to get a fill-in 3B should other teams start dumping salary later this season.
Too early to speculate on which players might hit that list. |
|
rich: Jeff: Don't the Cards just have too many rookies to remain competitive? I mean they've already called up what is it 9 or 10 already and the season is only a month and a half old? I think April may have been they're best month and we may now see 500 or less baseball And is Shane Robinson the BEST player you have in the minors to call up? If so it may be time for a trade?!
thanks
Rich |
Jeff Gordon: If Carpenter, Ankiel, Ryan Glaus never play again, then the team may not play much better than .500. But Mozeliak will see how those guys fit back in before reconfiguring the team.
Besides, there are more blue chip guys in the minors -- Todd, Wallace, D. Jones, Mortensen. Keep 'em coming! |
|
| STLIrish2010: Have there been any contract talks with either Ryan Ludwick or Rick Ankiel? I love both these players, but I don't see us having the money to sign both. If you had to choose, which one would you rather keep. My vote's on Ludwick, as a righthanded hitter who can provide some legit protection for Pujols. Plus we have a young cf in Rasmus who seems ready to go, although like I said, I'd hate to see Ankiel leave after everything he's accomplished. |
Jeff Gordon: Ludwick has more value as a righthanded bat, but what is his real value? That will be defined this year. We're seeing the holes in offense, but he is still a good player.
Keeping him, Ankiel AND Duncan will be impossible, of course, because Rasmus is a stud. Something will give. Somebody will play there way out of the mix or into a trade. |
|
therealdealankiel: Gordo,
Can you give us a read on this Casey Mulligan character? 26 K's on 2 walks...what kind of fastball is he throwing? Does he have alternate pitches or is this Motte 2? |
Jeff Gordon: He is an old third baseman/catcher who couldn't hit. He doesn't have Motte's arm, but he brings more polish.
From Baseball America:
"Mulligan’s past history as a high school pitcher meant that when he went to the mound for the Cardinals, he didn’t have nearly the adjustment period many catchers turned pitchers face. He already has a solid curveball to go with his 92 mph fastball, and he also mixes in an occasional changeup. He also knows how to hold runners and field the position. But Mulligan’s secret weapon is his ability to change arm angles. He normally throws over the top, but when he gets ahead in the count, he’ll also drop down to sidearm or three-quarters to give hitters something else to worry about."
|
|
Dan M: Gordo,
I saw in an article today that Carp helped Waino find a flaw in his delivery with the help of some video. Where does the team get the video from? Do they have to use the stuff that is broadcast, or do they have their own cameras? If they have their own, do they share with other teams? For example, would Waino be able to get video of himself on the mound from the Reds game?
Dan |
| Jeff Gordon: The Cards tape and catalog everything. Their video department is very sophisticated. This is how correction are made. |
|
| Saul B: Why dump hardworking players with heart such as Holt & Pisa, yet keep an ineffective Bulger in the fold? |
| Jeff Gordon: Bulger's contract is the big issue. If there was no massive cap hit to let him go, then he would have been judged differently. |
|
BrandonRAMS: Hello Gordo,
Why didn't the Rams organization try and trade Pisa T. instead of just flat out relesing him? Were there no takers for him? Just seems that you could a least get a low number draft pick(5th,6th or 7th round could have been possible)for a guy that has lead his team in takles almost every year. Wouldn't you think? |
| Jeff Gordon: If anybody was willing to trade for him, the Rams would have done that. |
|
BrandonRAMS: Hello Gordo,
I know we got rid of B.Leonard, but do you know if any names might be getting tossed around at RAMS Park for the back-up RB spot? Or are we going to go in to camp with what we got for now? Two sorta big backs out there are Jesse Chatman(5'8 225lbs) and Chris Perry(6'0 224lbs) know of any interest? |
| Jeff Gordon: The Rams drafted a guy to fill the back-up role and his pass-catching skills give him a chance. There are plenty of bodies at RB, should one of the back-ups got hurt. |
|
Tone-Dog: Jeff,
What's the story on Tom Gorzelany? Could he be had cheaply, and would he be a good project for Dave Duncan? Are any Pirate lefties available, and what would it take to get one? What would it take to get Buehrle? Thanks for your time. |
| Jeff Gordon: I'd love to see a lefty in the mix, but if Carpenter returns the Cards will like their starting rotation -- especially now that Boggs has established himself as a decent No. 6. Long-term, Jaime Garcia is a good bet for the lefty slot. |
|
BrandonRAMS: Hello Gordo,
Any cornerbacks the RAMS are looking in to? |
| Jeff Gordon: If somebody lets a bigger CB go, the Rams might take a look. So far the staff is unmoved by what is currently available. If there was somebody they liked, he would be here. |
|
Tone-Dog: One for fun: What if David Freese is elected to the All-Star Game? Would they replace him with a current major leaguer, or would they let him play?
My kids saw that he was on the ballot and thought this would be funny. |
| Jeff Gordon: Since he isn't in the big leagues, he wouldn't play. |
|
MarkMyWords: Hi,
Do you know if they tried to rework Pisa's contract? Seems he would, at the very least, be the perfect backup to WW..... (Doubt he would agree to it though.) |
| Jeff Gordon: Unless he wanted to play for the minimum all of a sudden, there was nothing to talk about. |
|
| lstein: Thanks for taking my question. My understanding from scouts.com etc is that the knock on Null was that he did not have a stong arm and as a result could not go deep. The Rams camp reports have talked about his stong arm. What is the truth? |
| Jeff Gordon: His arm is strong enough for the West Coast offense, which is a lot different from the Air Martz offense. |
|
| kikosanchez: Why drop Pisa? Having him on the team doesn't hurt us, he knows how to tackle, Spags should have waited until he has the kind of lineman he wanted before he dropped him, I think that was the first dumb move by Spags, hope I'm wrong. |
| Jeff Gordon: Again, Pisa was No 2 on the depth chart. The Rams aren't going to pay starter money for that. |
|
newyorkram!: Hi Gordo,
I love your chats, they make me feel happy inside.
If part of the reason for Pisa's release was in fact due to his lack of size, it doesn't seem as though the Rams have a lot of options lined up behind him. According to my old eyes, Culberson is clearly bigger than Pisa. Draft is bigger, but not a big difference in my eyes. Vobora put on weight coming out of Idaho, but he's not much bigger, and I don't think that Chamberlain is any bigger at all. So, with that in mind do you think the starting SAM LB come September is currently on the Rams roster? Who do you see as being the best fit for what Spagnuolo is trying to accomplish on defense?
Thanks for your time. |
| Jeff Gordon: Who cares who is lined up behind the No. 2 linebacker? Will, Draft and The Wrestler's kid will start at LB. |
|
| ronjon1702: Now that they figured out what is wrong with waino, will they find out what is wrong with lohse? |
| Jeff Gordon: He's missing pitches, like Adam. And we'll see if Adam has fixed his problem when he actually faces hitters again. |
|
| Ed Johnson: Dear Gordo - What do we do now that the Rams have released Pisa? What are the chances of signing Antwan Peek or Napoleon Harris? Both are big, physical linebackers that fit Spags mold! |
| Jeff Gordon: Would they want to back up one of the starters? |
|
Ram Fan in Alabama: As always, thanks for the chat...
Do you know if any thought was given to putting Pisa over at Weakside LB and Witherspoon over at Strongside? I just don't understand releasing Pisa for nothing and I'm not sold on Chris Draft either. Getting a new MLB was great and a step forward but loosing Pisa puts us back a step (so we are almost back to where we started.)
Also, do you really think the Rams have the run stuffing DT they need to REALLY improve that Defense? And how is our new safety in run support? |
| Jeff Gordon: Butler is good in run support. The Wrestler's Kid is a strong tackler. I like Ryan at DT. Again, Pisa was slated for back-up duty. If the team thought he could switch, that move would have been made. |
|
| Rambunctious: A poster made the statement that Samkon Gado looked really good in minicamp recently, and that Samkon's performance to a degree inspired the trade involving Brian Leonard .. Do you have any knowledge of this? Thanks in advance! |
| Jeff Gordon: The real problem with Leonard was not fitting the offense. Too small for FB, not big enough for RB. It didn't matter which RB was brought in; Brian just didn't fit well here. |
|
Ramsfan: The best thing about listening to Rams radio was the insighful comments of Jim Hanifan. Why couldn't they have a three man booth with Hanifan, Savard and Farr. That would have been great. Would you please start a campaign with your media brethren to reinstate Mr. Hanifan to the booth with Savard and Farr?
Rams fans should definitely support a write in or call in campang to 101.1 to get Hanifan back in the booth. Its sad that they relegated him to pre and post game comments and then they tried to spin it that it would allow him more time for comments. The time for comments is during the game as the action is happening.
Remember that we all will be getting older and some management type will make a less than savory decision. So, lets not stand for this and you Mr Gordon could start the charge. Won't you help? |
| Jeff Gordon: I loved Hanifan in that role, but, trust me, the Rams Radio Network does not seek my advice. |
|
| Eric: Any chance Rams resign Pisa under more cap friendly contract to be backup/special teams? |
| Jeff Gordon: I bet somebody else brings him in. Surely somebody else could fit him into their system. |
|
| Jeepster: Jeff: Do you have an update on Glaus' recovery? Last I heard was he was in the Phoenix area and wasn't doing much of anything baseball related. Also, if he's truely done as a lot of folks tend to believe, does Mo make a move or try to ride out the season with Barton and Thurston? Seems like the Cards are still short a right handed impact bat. |
Jeff Gordon: I just talked to John Mozeliak about this. He said Troy hasn't been cleared for baseball-related activities . . . so time is starting to run out on this season.
Wake us up when he is hitting and throwing again. |
|
ramholio: Jeff, what did the Rams see in this Harris kid from Cincy? I have heard he is a good athlete at 300lbs but this league is filled with guys that are good athletes. If they were not good they would not be here. Out of all the dlineman that were deemed tradeable by their teams why this guy? Were the Bengals the only player for Leonard??
Thanks |
| Jeff Gordon: The Rams added a depth guy at a need position and moved out an unwanted player. Win win. It's not like teams were dying to pry Leonard from this team. |
|
| Rambunctious: Do you believe Spags will keep Ritchie Incognito on a short leash this year? It isn't easy to forget Cog's candybar episode when Haslett was HC. Ritchie is only signed for 1 year, and with several young guards breathing down his neck, would you agree that this is a make or break year for him? It would appear Ritchie isn't exactly a snug fit within the four pillars philosophy .. |
| Jeff Gordon: Hey, they'll all be a on short leash. But you're right. |
|
| MNCardsFan: Thanks for the thoughts on the PED question earlier. What is your thought on an outfield of Luddy, Raz, and Ank (great arm and skill for RF), for a long term outfield? I know that Dunc has hit well, which is why I think he offers the most value in a trade (particularly to an AL team). I just think that this gives the Cards the best defensive/offesive OF balance. |
Jeff Gordon: Chris has been a phenomenal offensive player this year, but the idea of having Ludwick, Ankiel and Rasmus covering the outfield is quite appealing. That defense would be awesome.
Duncan is gaining real value, BTW. A lot of teams could use that bat. |
|
| G Turner: Carpenter looks like he may be back in about two weeks. Ankiel and Ryan also will back before at at that time. Do you see us sending an extra pitcher down to get back to a five man bench? I hope we keep Boggs over Thompson. |
| Jeff Gordon: The competition is on! With Carpenter returns, the Cards would prefer to go with 12 pitchers instead of 13. That would really ramp up the competition. |
|
| michael: Can the Cardinals rwally hang in there like they have done this year with the Brewers now playing better ball and the Cubs finaly starting to hit. Do you see the Cards hanging around in the centeral or will they falter? |
| Jeff Gordon: The NL Central looks impressive. The Reds will win more games when they hit. The Brewers are hitting again. So, yes, the Cards will have to play a lot better to hang. |
|
| RealityCheck: Gordo, I was reading your answers so far and you say who cares who the backup LB's are. Um well you should care, when is the last time any LB of 3 played every down of every game? |
| Jeff Gordon: But . . . the Rams aren't paying millions for a back-up LB. Not happening. I'm not crazy about Culberson, based on what he did last year. I know the Rams do like Grant a bit. Last year's rookies were OK in limited duty. |
|
| G Turner: Blues have good young team. They need another backup goalie and a puck moving defensemen in addition to Johnson. Petro? A free agent (only if Brewer cant play). Are hockey contracts guaranteed like baseball? |
| Jeff Gordon: Oh yeah, they're guaranteed. So this makes cap management tricky. Teams can buy out players, but that is a painful proposition. A lot of players move because teams want to move their salary more than the actual player. |
|
| real ram fan from cali: 1 question how do you deal woth these Rams fans from stlouis: Earliers in the year all I read was get Pisa out of here now all of a sudden there crying cause hes gone .....His hard work and sweat led to us being almost last in every def stat....Lets let the new guys figure things out All STL fans should just stick to baseball......by the way Jeff you do a great job |
| Jeff Gordon: Pisa is a hard worker. This guy played hurt all the time. He is a tough guy -- but the team paid him a premium wage and he didn't play to that level. Now he doesn't fit what the new coach wants to do. |
|
| G Turner: What are the chances that the Missouri football team will have a vastly improved defense? |
| Jeff Gordon: Vastly improved? Dunno. Improved, sure, if they can clean up their pass coverage, that will happen. |
|
| magiardino: Hi Gordo. Re the draft... why pay ridiculous money for a #1 or #2 pick when you really don't need that pick until later on. For example, the Rams could have picked Monroe instead of Smith and saved about $20 million. If I were Detroit, I would have called the top 5 or 7 guys and said "OK, who wants to make $20 million, because that's all we are going to offer our pick?". Kind of like a reverse auction. The Rams could have done the same with their needs (Smith, Curry, Monroe, Crabtree, Sanchez, etc.) and saved a fortune. |
| Jeff Gordon: This issue has come to a head. I see the NFL negotiating a new deal with a rookie pay scale to fix this. You are right, it is absurd. |
|
FloTrain: About the rotation... It's gotta be a concern for most everyone... You got 5 guys who throw 86-92 mph, all right handed, etc... Waino and Welle should and could throw harder... Need Carp, need a lefty starter....
That's going to hurt bad if Glaus can't come back.. I agree with your article this morning, Thurston and Barden are nice but NOT everyday starters... Couldn't they have took a flier on hometown boy Joe Crede before he went to Minnesota? Your thoughts on a trade down the road... Also, I agree with you about the Central. It's going to be a dog fight all year... MIL and CIN are waking up. Wait til CHI gets Ramirez back... Cards can't keep being stuck in neutral... HAVE to make some Jocketty-esk moves to help the offense as the season progresses (ala Will Clark, Larry Walker, etc....) |
Jeff Gordon: If Glaus can't play, the team will need more bench power and another RH bat for the lineup. I don't think Barden is that guy. Is Freese? We'll see. I talked to Mozeliak an hour ago and he still holds out hope for the STL kid to offer a bat and glove this year. We'll see.
The rotation needs better command, not more speed. Make some pitches!
That's it for this week. That's for all the questions and comments. |
