Mike: Probably OT. With bowling going to Texas what of the St. Louis Sports HOF? I have not been since it was in the second coming of Busch Stadium and always really enjoyed it. I believe we need a HOF or museum near the ballpark.
Thanks for your responses. |
| Jeff Gordon: That building would apparently become part of Ballpark Village . . . if there IS a Ballpark Village in our lifetimes. |
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Michael Kent: Jeff ...
Please help me understand this infected knee issue with Rick Ankiel. The news accounts say he scraped up his knee while making a diving catch in the outfield. Then the scraped knee becomes infected a day or two later.
My question is this. How could head trainer Barry Weinberg have allowed Ank's knee to get infected in the first place? It seems to me that if you scrape up your knee, you immediately flush it out with some peroxide to kill the germs, put some antibiotic on it, wrap it up, and avoid the infection. Ank then maybe misses one game. But he's been out a week.
Did I miss something?
Thank you. |
| Jeff Gordon: Rather massive abrasions get infected frequently in sports, despite the best effort of training staffs. Football players playing on artificial turf battled similar issues. This was a huge concern for the Rams when they played on their old surface. |
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Dave Cobler: Hi Jeff;
As a human being and a Cardinal fan, I am so very proud of the character of this Cardinal ball club. It seems no matter who comes up to the big club from the minors, they fit in and contribute. I can only view this team from what I see and hear on TV and read on the I-NET. But these guys seem to be sincerely pulling one for another with but one focus in mind. Play hard with a focus to win on and off the field and do it by being a good teammate.
If we get the ailing arms back and can stay healthy, the ability will be there, but the character of this team may just lead it to places no one dreamed of this past winter.
Kudos to the entire organization for the talent of charachter that is in that Cardinal club house! It is so easy to root for this team and follow thier journey to the hopeful glory that they are striving to get to TOGETHER AS ONE.
I would love to get your thoughts on the matter Gordo.
Thank YOU so much for your time Jeff! |
| Jeff Gordon: Sunday's game was a good example. The Cards were dead in the water. Then the Astros made a few mistakes and the Cards pounced, with some unlikely players providing the heroics. The fact that so many kids are playing so well in a pennant race is encouraging. It speaks well to the '09 season and beyond. |
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| bob in indiana: Why parisi instead of reyes coming up and starting, i thought he was doing well in triple A. am I missing something like an injury or does larussa and duncan hate anthony reyes that much ? |
| Jeff Gordon: Reyes is coming to the end of the option period of his career. So if he ever comes back to the Cards, it will be to stay with the team or to be showcased for a deal. But he can also be showcased at Memphis, which is happening now. There is no hatred there, just other prospects (especially Boggs)pitching a lot better. Parisi was orginally promoted to eat innings in middle relief and be available for an emergency start. That is not a role the team wanted to leave Reyes in. At Memphis, he takes his regular turn while trying to prove he still has upside. |
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Fresno Ram Fan: Hey Gordo,
Do you know if there are any free agent safeties available? When is the FO going to realize that Chavous isnt what he used to be? I believe that area needs to be addressed if not this year then definitely next year. Thanx for all the inside info you provide us fans in CA. |
| Jeff Gordon: There is nobody out there better than Chavous. Now, if somebody interesting gets cut, the team could make a move -- just as the Rams made a move to add another QB. |
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| mitchell: are the Blues going to take Filatov or what? he says he is going to play in the NHL next year. The Blues need this guy. |
| Jeff Gordon: The guy intrigues me. I'm all for rolling the dice there, since he seems to have the explosive offensive talent this team needs. By trading for T.J. Fast, the team added still another defensive prospect to its pile. Now, actually signing a top Russian prospect and keeping him happy can be another thing. Pro teams in that country are paying NHL salaries to keep kids from coming over. The Blues would have to have certain assurances before making that pick -- if Jarmo and Co. believed he is the real deal. |
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| corey clark: any good blues news.as far as trades-who you think they would get from freeagents. |
| Jeff Gordon: I would expect J.D. to sign or deal for another goaltender, although he notes that the Russian league is poaching veterans like Robert Esche. The unfortunate Hannu Toivonen is better off in Finland; he totally lost his confidence this season. The fact he struggled badly in Peoria, too, is a terrible sign for his future here. |
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| roger from lake tahoe: seems like clubs are beginning to define their needs. any trade rumors involving the cards? what do you think are the team's main needs and do you see any action to address them? and with the good play of our outfield, is cody rasmus closer to becoming a bargaining chip? thanks gordo! |
Jeff Gordon: Rasmus is not a bargaining chip. He is a future starting outfielder, joining an impressive mix that will include Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick and Joe Mather.
Given the team's depth in the outfield -- and the long-term potential there -- I don't see why John Mozeliak would want to deal a ton of youth for a veteran outfielder like Holliday or Bay. To me, the picture has changed because of the way Ludwick and Co. have performed this year.
There are lot of starting pitchers on the block, but the Cards need to see what becomes of all their injured veterans before looking at any of that. The next few weeks will allow a few more kids to get a look in that role.
Eventually, Mo will become a seller of pitching. As for team needs, perhaps the Cards could add a impact middle-infield bat. But then again, the current group has produced pretty well by committee. |
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cross-czech: Why is Brendan Ryan licking his shoulder before each pitch he sees in an at-bat? Reminding himself to keep his shoulder up (or down)? Or does he just like the taste of the Redbird uni?
Thanks,
Steve Rataj |
| Jeff Gordon: He has some nervous ticks. That is just a part of who he is. |
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Wes: Are Wainwright and Wellemeyer expected to miss an extended amount of time? I thought I read that the Cardinals said no, but you never know...
If they do, then what are the Cardinals going to do about their pitching staff? Call up Garcia and move McClellan to the rotation?
Then you'd have Lohse-Garcia-Looper-Boggs-McClellan, but then you'd need another reliever, and is there really a legit one left in Memphis? Perez, McClellan, and Boggs are here - possibly Garcia if our 2 pitchers are out, and Jimenez, Reyes, and Parisi have done terrible, so they shouldn't even be an option.
Your info is appreciated, Gordo. Earlier we thought the Cards may have a surplus of pitching, but now with another injury they're in trouble. Guys like Clement and Mulder can't even be counted on to return either. What a mess. |
Jeff Gordon: One more injury would put the team in a bind. It's probably early to bring up Garcia, which explains the talk of moving McClellan to the rotation if Wainwright is due to miss some starts. They signed veteran Ron Flores for just this circumstance; if the team needed another reliever, he could move up and slide Villone into more of a long-inning role.
I would expect Pineiro to return soon enough to alleviate some of this trouble. I would hope the Cards do NOT rush Wellemeyer back with a sore shoulder. I would hope the team would take no chances with Wainwright, too. |
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Eric: Please tell me that Adam Kennedy will be DFA'd soon.
Are the Cardinals seriously going to stick with him? The guy is awful and needs to go. 2B is one position where the Cards could REALLY afford to upgrade.
Thoughts? |
| Jeff Gordon: If another team needed an everyday second baseman, Kennedy could probably help that team. Playing part time isn't easy for him, but Ryan and Miles need to get some ABs. On the other hand, Kennedy has played good D and hit in streaks. Also, he has next year left on his contract. Unless he becomes a clubhouse problem, there is no need to just discard him. This team is another injury away from him playing a lot. |
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Hal S.: Hello, Jeff,
As I understand things in the Rams' hierarchy right now, Al Saunders has full authority over the offense, Jim Haslett has full control of the defense, and Billy Devaney is responsible for personnel. So what, exactly, does that leave for Scott Linehan to do? Has he been relegated to being merely an overseer with extremely limited powers? Will gameday decisions really be his to make? |
| Jeff Gordon: He is still the coach. The draft, for instance, still ran through him. Haslett wanted Dorsey and didn't get him. He is giving both coordinators full reign, but that's what every coach should do. He will still guide the general direction of all the units and he'll have last say on personnel -- because Devaney can't make him play somebody he doesn't want to play. |
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| Jeremy W: Looks like the Blues have added to their defensive depth once again. TJ Fast looks like a good addition considering his age (20) and numbers from last season (17G, 37A, 54P, +29). Have you seen him in person or any tape to give us an idea of how he figures into next season? Could he fight for one of the last spots on the team or will he be waiting as a depth player? |
| Jeff Gordon: The scouting report: Good speed, high skill level. But let's see what he can do at the AHL level before getting too excited. The Rivermen need somebody like him for next season. The fact he left Denver U. for the WHL, to get more playing time, is a concern. So is the fact he needed his overage year in junior hockey to finally break through. The Kings didn't want to offer him a contract, so keep that in mind as well. But with Ian Cole still in college, the Blues wanted another potential AHL defenseman for depth. |
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| Tackleberry: If Wainwright is out for an extended period of time will the Cards most likely look internally for a replacement or would they consider a trade? I love what is happening with this staff, but it would be a shame to watch this great start to the season melt away behind not-ready-for-primetime arms auditioning in major league games. |
Jeff Gordon: The Cards could be vulnerable for a week or two, given the simultaneous injuries. That is why Sunday's unlikely win was huge. Also, Boggs' first start will be most interesting.
As for a trade, this team has an entire "shadow pitching staff" currently rehabbing injuries ranging from minor to major. Dealing for extremely short-term help would be a last resort and unlikely to make much difference. I'd rather see McClellan move to the rotation and his bullpen spot get filled internally. |
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| Ryan: How has Brett Wallace fared so far in ASU's Super Regional games? I'm curious as to what his numbers have been and how he's looked in the field. Thanks for the time, Gordo. |
Jeff Gordon: He walked and had a sac fly in Sunday's Game 2 loss to Fresno. In Game 1, Wallace had three hits and scored twice. He looks OK at third, but scouts doubt he can stay at that position in the big leagues.
You can check him out tonight in Game 2 of the Super Regionals on ESPNU. |
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| COGzilla: jeffrey, doesnt putting me at the guard spot weaken the position? like you said, i am a force of nature at guard. maybe having setterstrom and i out there instead of rhomberg and i will give us more strength and size? for everyone that worries if i can handle the thinking part, remember i have one of the top wunderlic scores on the team.peace out. |
Jeff Gordon: Richie Incognito seems confident that he can still play physical at center. And the added responsibilities of the position might help sustain his focus. I agree that an Incognito/Setterstrom combo would be physically impressive. Then, if a guard got hurt, Richie could still move over and let Romberg play center.
This team is building uncommon flexibility among the blockers likely to make the team. |
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| virginiatom: An offseason move, or lack of a move, confuses me in the Rams quest for not just respectability, but the playoffs and possibly, a championship. Over the past two years, the Rams' defense has been mediocre to poor, beset by poor tackling, run coverage, untimely breakdowns, and a lack of adjustment to what the other teams were doing. When Greg Williams became available, it was an opportunity for the Rams to hire a clear upgrade over Haslett, a coach who in 3 years produced nothing better than a defense in which the best could be said was "his players played hard for him," which means little in terms of actually stopping the opponent when you don't tackle, are outcoached, and can't stop the run or the short pass over the middle. Why would they chose Haslett again when Williams was available? The hype surrounding his defense in Jacksonville and the high expectations they have are infectous, and that could have been here. I live in the Washington area, and while I'm no Redskin fan, he consistently had their defenses ready to play and playing great. Passing on Williams is something the Rams will regret. |
| Jeff Gordon: Perhaps, although I liked some of what Jim did here with reduced personnel. When a D-coordinator loses both DEs and is forced to play merry-go-round with his corners, there will be trouble. Haslett came up with some innovative stuff to exploit Witherspoon's skill and Atogwe has become a nice player on his watch. The young DTs did well last year, too. But any team that can't generate a pass rush in its base defense is going to get in trouble. Haslett tried all sorts of exotic stuff to create pressure, but after a while it was smoke and mirrors. |
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| raymondo: Hi Jeff..On Rams, what do you feel their biggest as yet unmet needs/improves still exist in O & D...and do you think there's still a couple of trades and/or signings ahead in this regard? On Cards, same question, except sustitute pitching for D and emphasis the O (which I feel still lacks consistent punch in the middle of the lineup). |
Jeff Gordon: The Rams filled one need by landing a third quarterback with real NFL experience. That was big. The right linebacker or safety could still interest the team, despite the expressed confidence in the current group. Unless Culberson grabs a starting spot to move Draft into a utility role, fans will be understandably concerned about that position.
The Rams, as always, will keep an eye on the waiver wire.
As for the Cards, Ludwick and Glaus are generating power and run production behind Albert. Troy's last week changed the offense, no? Ankiel, when healthy, will add pop as well. I don't a glaring need there. And the middle infield committee is performing well.
What this team really needs is for even a handful of its injured pitchers to return. The Cards have an entire pitching staff on the injured list and they are still 11 games over .500. That speaks well to their future. |
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| Ryan: What's the latest on Ankiel? Will we see him in the Cincinnati series? |
| Jeff Gordon: Yes, you will. |
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ueaces: Hi Gordo,
Love the work you do and look forward to attending some of your remotes.
Gordo, only time will tell, but I keep waiting for Looper to start "stepping it up some". He is the one starter I have less confidence in than the rest of the rotation. Given the year experience he had from last season, I thought he might have been a little more effective this year. What's your take on him? |
| Jeff Gordon: You are correct. If the Cards get more guys healthy, can he keep his rotation slot? Not if he keeps delivering so-so results. Lohse, Wainwright and Wellemeyer have been terrific and Pineiro has really good stuff. By July, you may see real competition for rotation slots. |
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| Tackleberry: I am by no means a draftnik, but I was surprised that the cards took a SS in the 3rd round after just drafting Kozma #1 last year, and in turn passing on local product Tim Melville who had been projected as a potential 1st rounder, what was the thought process here? |
Jeff Gordon: It's like with their first pick, Wallace. His best position is first base and that spot is filled in St. Louis. But Wallace is a great hitter so the Cards took him to see what will happen. They have a ton of good pitching prospects, yet they added more. They drafted catcher Bryan Anderson earlier, even though Molina was clearly the long-term catcher here.
They are happy with Kozma, but they will keep drafting shortstops. They were happy with Tyler Greene, too, but he has stalled at the Class AA level. Teams just keep loading players into the system to create as much competition as possible. |
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Sass: Gordo - Please refresh my memory ... what does it mean when we're told a ball player is out of options? That's where the Cards stand on Reyes, no? Thanks.
Sass. |
| Jeff Gordon: They still had the option to send him out and get him back. But he is coming to end the of his option period, which means the Cards have reached the fish-or-cut bait stage with him. And they aren't ready to fish with him yet. |
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| Debbie, New Lenox, IL: Jeff: Instead of plugging McClellen into Waino's or Welley's spot (if they're going to miss any starts) is there any chance the Cards give Reyes one last chance? |
Jeff Gordon: Again, the baseball people would have to be convinced that he would come up for good and perform consistently. Otherwise, the Cards have been willing to leave him in Memphis, look at other prospects and wait for one of the 10 zillion injured pitchers to return.
If Wainwright and Wellemeyer were out for a while -- and if Pineiro didn't make a hasty return -- then it could get interesting. At that point, Reyes would have to come into play. |
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Chris: Gordo:
Any chance that they could make room for Lorenzo Neal at FB? I know he's 37 but he's still a bull and I'd love to see him blocking for SJ and mentoring Leonard. I don't know what he'd want in terms of $$ but since he hasn't been picked up yet I'm thinking he would be fairly cheap. |
| Jeff Gordon: Yeah, fullback is another area the team would address. A pure power run blocker could git nicely here. |
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| Bobby: Hello and thank you for the chats. So three quick questions. 1. I heard some rumors about the Cards being in the mix for Matt Holliday, what would it cost the Cards in a trade and how much would you expect him to want signing wise? 2. Your thoughts on our #1 draft choice? 3. When will the Cards give Pujols his well deserved monster contract extension so he retires here? Thanks for your time as always. |
Jeff Gordon: Will Albert finish his career here? You would like to think so. You would like to think an extension would be forthcoming, say, next year to make that happen. But his real market value is stupid -- $20 million per year at today's production level. The top pick Wallace was one of those just-in-case selections, since he appears more likely to play first base in the majors.
Holliday is a fascinating player, but Colorado would certainly want guys like McClellan, Mather and Anderson back for him. Maybe more. The more Ludwick hits, the less such a deal interests me. |
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Jonny Faux: Hey Gordo,
I have a Blues question for ya. I heard that teams can begin talking to free agent forward Blake Wheeler on Sunday June 8th. He is a very talented and very physical young prospect who failed to sign with Phoenix. I was wondering the probability of the Blues signing such a player. Do we have a shot and how much do you think he would demand?
Thanks for your time,
JONNY FAUX |
| Jeff Gordon: Interesting kid. The Coyotes claim they guaranteed him more money than other teams can now guarantee him, so I don't know what he is looking for. But I would rather see the Blues invest big dollars in an entry level guy than a thirtysomething free agent. |
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| Mike: Jeff, enjoy your stuff...no b.s. just honest reporting. What's the prognosis thus far on center? I read the reshuffle articles, what's the deal on Fry? I know your past thoughts were that he wasn't "ready"... how's he doing this year, will he be a factor in the shuffle? Thanks |
| Jeff Gordon: With Incognito and Romberg fighting for the starting spot -- and with Setterstrom able to play there in a pinch -- Fry will have to enjoy an amazing camp to get into the fight. That, or several guys will have to get hurt. His poor camp last summer put him on the back burner. He hasn't done enough since then to advance. |
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Curt, CA: Hey Jeff,
With four guys that can play center (Incognito, Romberg, Setterstrom, and Fry) on the roster, can't Linehan have one of them take over long-snapping duties? Or even one of the backup LB's? While Massey is very good, he takes up a valuable roster spot as he can't do anything else! Don't even get me started on Richard Owens...
Your thoughts? |
| Jeff Gordon: If somebody else could long-snap and play elsewhere, great. But those guys are hard to find. Obviously, one bad long snap can cost a team a game. A handful of bad snaps in the NFL can ruin a season. Hence the value placed on that job. |
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Dave S.: Jeff - What happened to Stuart Pomeratz (sp)? Did the Cardinals release him, trade him? I saw him pitch in High School and he was unhittable. Thank you for your help.
Dave |
| Jeff Gordon: The Cards let him go earlier this spring. He just ran out of time. Coming back from injuries, he didn't throw well enough to find a spot on the depth chart. The Class AAA and AA spots filled up in a hurry. |
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Robert: Linehan was reportedly brought here largely on the merits of his offensive system. Last year's flop had many causes, but isn't Al Saunders system markedly different than Linehan's, indicating that the primary reason for hiring Linehan has been completely abandoned by Rams management?
Do you think Linehan's offensive system should be abandoned? |
| Jeff Gordon: Al's offense is different, more like Martz's scheme but with the ability to use a power back and the tight end effectively. It will be much more creative than what Scott did, but without getting as reckless Air Martz sometimes got. Al, like Scott, want to protect Bulger from excessive blitzing. |
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| Robert: Regarding our new kicker Josh Brown...I've felt that Dane Looker's job has largely been secured by his relationship with Jeff Wilkerson as a holder. He's been great at that, and I think Dane's a first class player. But in his many years here, he still can't break into the top 4 WRs, so could Josh Brown's arrival spell the end for Dane Looker? |
| Jeff Gordon: Looker lost his hook, for sure. He and Hall will have a tough time fending off Avery, Burton, Stanley and Caldwell. |
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Scott Rhein: Hello Jeff, Thank You for taking your time to answer my question. With the draft comming on the 20th. Some sports sites are showing us taking Nikita Filatov and others are showing us Luke Schenn. What are the plus and minus of each? Has Nikolai Lemtyugov and Nikita Filatov ever played together on the same team? What are the odds of us getting another young Russian and having an all Russian line? Thank You for your time.
Scott |
| Jeff Gordon: Schenn is the safe pick, which is why insiders like the Blues to take him. For the life of me, I don't see why this team would draft still another "D" -- and a stay-at-home guy as well. But that's just me. Filatov is much younger than Lemtyugov, so I'm not sure how much they have played together. Both did time with Moscow CSKA's organization. |
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CS: Gordo-
Long time listener, first time caller.
Who do you see the Cards moving via trade? Are there any names floating around that they're interested in? I keep hearing people talk about Matt Holliday......can the Cards afford to trade for someone like him, then pay him when it's his turn?
Are there any free agent names the Blues are looking to add to bolster their lineup?
Thanks! |
Jeff Gordon: The Blues would shock me by going big in free agency. They weren't going to do anything big last year, then went for Kariya. Unless they moved McKee;s salary in its entirety, it will be tough to spend big this summer. And I agree with the philosophy of going young. Hossa is the one big FA prize and he could get $8 million a year.
Don't be shocked if some big name players get dealt, though. And the Note could get in that if the salary swap was right.
We've touched on Holliday. The more legit Ludwick looks, the less likely the Cards are to look for that type of player -- particularly when Colorado would want top young pitching. |
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| Robert: What's the scoop on a new contract for Steven Jackson? I hear soundbites on Chris Long, but based on proven vs unproven, I have to think getting SJ happy for the long term is the greater priority. What do you think? Will it happen before training camp starts? |
| Jeff Gordon: Well, it's a priority. But these things drag out forever. Zygmunt is very careful with his contract structure. |
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Jimmy K: Jeff -
with Incognito back at center, what would be the situation if Romberg were to win the center job? would Incognito move to RG and battle Setterstrom or does he back-up Romberg? |
| Jeff Gordon: Linehan keeps saying the best five would start. My guess is that Richie would move over to guard, but it's still up for grabs. |
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| dylan alig: With the cardinals selction of ASU thrid baseman Brett Wallace, does that mean that the team has no future place for David Freese? Troy Glaus should be able to hold down the third base spot until wallace comes up so Freese seems like the odd man out. How is wallace with his defense? All that ive heard is that his denfense is shotty at best and that he should make a switch to first base. That will pose a future problem as it did for Chris Duncan. So what future plans do the Cardinals have for wallace's defense and David Freese? |
| Jeff Gordon: Talking to Chris Maloney at Memphis, he raves about Freese's defense. His hitting still has to catch up to his D, but he made the jump from Class A to AAA. Wallace seems more likely to play first. |
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San Diego Paul: Dear Mr. Gordon,
As a Cardinal fan since the days of Stan Musial, I try to follow prospects as well as the current major league roster. I think there is some consensus that Bryan Anderson ranks as one of their most promising young players. Certainly his batting average at Springfield (.388) only reinforced Cardinal hopes for Anderson. It was therefore easy to understand his promotion to Memphis. What I don't understand is why he does not play every day at Memphis. He is hitting .324 there yet he is benched half the time in favor of Mark Johnson. Why? Do the Cardinals feel they owe something to Johnson who is 35? Or did they feel the some need to slow down the progress of Anderson who might put pressure on them to promote him to St. Louis. Please explain.
Paul D. O'Brien |
| Jeff Gordon: He has played 24 games since April, which isn't bad. The team is really working with him on his overall defense -- and, again, Chris Maloney had good things to saw about his progress. He is not big league ready, but he is getting there. |
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JakeD: Gordo,
Derrick Goold wrote about a few of the cardinals draft picks still playing in the college world series. When can we expect to see them play again? Whats the schedule look like for our guys still playing? i.e. Brett Wallace, Scott Gorgen.
Always appreciated! |
| Jeff Gordon: Wallace plays on ESPNU tonight, I know that much. Arizona State has the rubber match in its super regional. |
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| HEG: Gordo with the Rams entering this season I can see no more than 6 wins with the questions on the line offensively & questions on the defensive line but they should be better at quaterback with Green as back-up; can you see more than 6 wins going into this season? |
| Jeff Gordon: Yeah, that is pretty a good bet. I've been saying nine victories against this schedule will get Linehan an extension. But getting more than six victories against this front-loaded schedule will be tough. The Niners and Gridbirds will be tough, along with the Seahawks. |
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cardfan89447: Gordo, With all of our pitchers out for a rotation or two,who do you see replacing them in the meantime. I can see McClellan and Boggs in the mix, but do you think they will bring Reyes back up? If nothing else, he is a known guy. We know how far he can go into a game and his habits. If we put McC and Boggs into the starting rotation, who do we bring up to fill in the middle. Love Worrell can't wait to see where he lands in the mix.
Thanks,
Cardfan in Nevada |
| Jeff Gordon: Reyes is not a bad emergency guy, eh? If the Cards can get through the next two weeks, they will be fine. |
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| Ryan: I heard some rumors regarding Milwaukee making a pitch to acquire Brian Roberts from Baltimore. I doubt the Cards would make any push for him, but why shouldn't they? Kennedy is already a part-time player, and Roberts would fill the needs of a regular 2B, a guy to steal bases, and a leadoff hitter with occassional power. What would it take to land Roberts if the Cards decided to begin discussions with Baltimore? |
| Jeff Gordon: I like Roberts and have him on my fantasy team. But how about Ryan at 2B long term? The more Brendan hits, and runs, the less interest the Cards would have in a player like Roberts. |
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gdive: Jeff
Do you know if the Rams started talking to Chris Long's agent about a contract yet? It would seem that since Atlanta overpaid QB Chris Ryan that it may cause huge problems for the Rams. It would also seem that the sooner they start negotiations the better chance of getting Long signed by the start of training camp.
GDive |
| Jeff Gordon: Talked to Scott Linehan about this Thursday and he was still hopeful of getting this done before camp. But Zygmunt is careful, careful, careful. |
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David: Hey Gordo,
It's very interesting to see that the Cardinals are only 1 of 3 teams in all of baseball to have a winning record on the road this year. Why are teams struggling so much?
Also, do you hear any names that are being floated around in the Rumor Mill for the Cards? |
Jeff Gordon: Teams are built for their home parks, which is why it's tough to play them there. Cincinnati is a great example of that. Houston, too. And Philly. And the home team always gets a boost from the crowd, obviously.
As for rumors, the big deal for the Cards is getting injured players back. Only then can Mozeliak look at how his pieces go together. |
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Joe: Jeff,
I am pretty excited about seeing what Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton can add to the Rams Offense/Passing Game. Can you give me your opinions of them and how you think they have looked at the Rams Mini-Camp and the Rams offseason workouts? Thank you for your time and information! |
| Jeff Gordon: Burton has terrific hands. He makes a great catch almost every session. Avery can fly, but has to learn to run routes. Both are impact guys. |
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T. Fechtman: Gordo,
It gets very tiring hearing comparisons between players of different era's, Jordan vs. Kobe, do you agree?
Especially when career numbers go against current playing numbers which aren't even close. Chamberlain vs. Mikan, not even comparable.
I don't think there has been any player whiter than Mikan!
We should compare today's steroid laden corned beef vs. the 1950's corned beef, now there's a difference.
Is ESPN the only source for sports anymore? I'm growing extremely tired of the BS day in and day out from the ESPN punks.
Glaus' bat speed through the zone is measurably faster.
Do you think LaRussa will ever wear eye glasses that fit the style for the year 2008? |
Jeff Gordon: Ease up on Tony's shades. He's doing a great job.
Glaus is a whole different player, yes.
As for Kobe/M.J. -- remember that Jordan had to play against hand checks. Bryant gets an easier ride. |
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Jeff Pan: Hi Jeff:
Everyone is talking about trade for 2b Brian Roberts (31 yrs, 4hr, 22rbi, 284avg). How about we put a package together for Ian Kinsler of TX Rangers(26 yrs, 8hr, 36rbi, 308avg), both are leadoff guys right handed bats. Can we try to get him starting with Reys, Schumaker, Duncan, or another good young pitcher)? We will then have a powerful lineup like this:
Ian Kinsler
Joe Mather
Albert Pujols
Ryan Ludwick
Troy Glaus
Rick Ankiel
Yadier Molina
Pitcher
Casear/Brenden |
| Jeff Gordon: If I'm Mo, I'd go for Michael Young instead and park Ryan at 2B long term. |
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Jason: Gordo-
Looking at 2009...
Brendan Ryan, Cesar Iztruis, Aaron Miles, and Adam Kennedy are all essentially the same offensive player (maybe Ryan has a little more pop in his bat, but not much). Given contract situations and player ability, which of the four are back next year and why? Each have their plusses and minuses...
Thanks,
Jason |
| Jeff Gordon: Izturis is having a good season, relatively, but I'm not sure he is a good bet on a long-term deal. I'd rather see the Cards get an impact bat there, park Ryan at second, move Kennedy somehow and use Miles in utility. Or, maybe, go with Ryan at short and seek a better bat at 2B. But this is a good offseason for free agent SS, so that is a factor. |
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| Barry: Why isn't Nick Stavinoha mentioned along with Rasmus, Mather etc. as a legitimate Cardinal prospect? He's led Memphis in hitting all season. |
| Jeff Gordon: Mather has more power and versatility. Rasmus is an elite defender and runs well. But Nick can hit. He will bid for an extra outfielder role once the crowd is cleared out. |
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Adam: What is Brett Wallace's estimated time of arrival?
What does that spell for Freese? |
| Jeff Gordon: The scouts doubt that Wallace can actually play third base. So Freese and Allen Craig are still ahead of him. |
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| STLFANWI: Thanks for your time, Gordo! Is it time that a combination of Izturis, Miles, and Ryan patrol SS & 2nd, thus taking Kennedy out of the equation? Kennedy just does not provide the spark we need. Defensively he is solid, but offensively he is a liability. |
| Jeff Gordon: Adam isn't a liability, he just doesn't do as well as a part-timer. Miles and Ryan are better. So what is TLR to do? |
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| Jason: What's your take on Jesse Todd? What's his projected Major League value? |
| Jeff Gordon: His stature suggests he is headed to middle relief, but he has been nails in Double A. He is pitching well as a starter, very well. |
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Scott L: I have seen comments recently that the Blues are looking at a defensive defenseman for their first pick, and also that they may be willing to trade the pick to get an asset that could help them more immediately.
· First of all do you think the blues would trade out of the first round to get an NHL player or will they stick with the draft in what suppose to be a deep draft?
· Also, given the expected timing of some of their forward prospects like berglund, oshie, eller, hamjenson, and the forward at Michigan, and their defensive prospects like Cole, Jungland, Fairchild not to mention Polak, Wagner and Wyowieki (sorry for all the typos) and eventual contract expiration of McKee, do they need to look D or Forward?
· Also, hasn’t the NHL moved beyond just defensive defenseman, it seems like you need solid offensive instincts or your almost a specialist.
· Lastly, could Colin Wilson be the next Brindamor, and could the Blue draft the only two Danes ever to go in the top of the first round, in this case in successive years? |
Jeff Gordon: I agree that a defensive defenseman at No. 4 isn't very exciting. But I'd be surprised if they traded out for a veteran, since you can fill that need in free agency. In this case, I expect the Blues to stay young and use the pick.
I think they need a forward, given all the depth stacked up on D. Get a scorer! |
