| Tackleberry: Is it true that after his hit on Friday that Hoffpauir was quarantined by the team after appearing symptom free of ACV (Anti-Clutch Virus)? We know Pujols is immune, but it is nice to have someone who is not suffering from full-blown symptoms. |
| Jeff Gordon: Yeah, the kid wasn't scared. It is amazing how many veterans on this team failed to hit in the clutch during the first half of the season. That the Cards survived the first half with Albert flying solo is amazing. |
|
| Tackleberry: The trio of Duncan/Ankiel/Thurston continues to start because.........? I am not a Duncan hater, in fact I was once a "defender," but how many backwards K's can he card? Ankiel might just be Matt Stairs with a plus arm and a wreckless abandon in the outfield. Thurston, well, is DeRosa ready yet? |
Jeff Gordon: At least it's been a few days since Thurston ran into a hugely costly out.
The Ankiel/Duncan tandem has been so bad that John Mozeliak must pay more attention to the Troy Glaus updates. That is how desperate the situation is. |
|
| dpier1mc: what is going on with thurston--why is he still up here and why is he playing with hoffpauir up.? |
Jeff Gordon: Hoffpauir is a second baseman. But then again, so was Thurston until this year.
Jarrett has big league plate appearances and he has been on base four times. If TLR doesn't want to start him for Thurston, then why not start him at second, move Skip to the OF and bench both Duncan and Ankiel? |
|
| dpier1mc: of the rams four top recievers;do any of them have az hakim skills? |
| Jeff Gordon: Actually, Stanley could be the same type of player. But in this offense, slot receivers won't be too busy this year. |
|
John W.: Jeff,
Colby Rasmus continues to impress. Do you think he has a legitimate chance at ROY honors? He is currently projecting 500 ABs, 20 HRs, 65 RBIs, and a .282 average (with above average fielding). Thanks for your thoughts!
(Bonus Question for you Gordo - any word on Shelby Miller getting signed?) |
Jeff Gordon: I having nothing new on Miller, but the Cards HAVE to sign him. Given the money the club just spent in the Dominican Republic, I don't expect that to be a problem.
Rasmus will play more in the second half, barring injury, so he could beat those projects. That would win him the award. |
|
stlcardsfaninarizona: Hello Gordo from Arizona,
The Cards seem to be getting their bats going again and the pitching is coming around also. It is really making the season exciting, but I am still concerned about Duncan. He seems to have a 'short' swing with no follow through. You would have to believe he is still protecting his back and this is hurting his numbers. I can't believe he will ever get 'back to form' in this manner (no pun intended). I am interested if you have any observations concerning his swing and what is keeping him from getting his average up and his power back. |
| Jeff Gordon: He doesn't look good at the plate at all. He battles and draws some walks, but he is a shell of the guy we saw before the injuries. That's a shame, because he worked hard to come back from a difficult operation. |
|
| kat89447: Hey Gordo, It has been mentioned on Twitter that the Cards need a low cost type player. Any thoughts on who might help us and not break the bank? |
Jeff Gordon: The Cards can afford to add a mid-cost guy. Between now and the trade deadline, the Cards can assess Mark DeRosa's impact, track Glaus' progress (can he play third this year?), track Brett Wallace's progress and see if any of the veteran outfielders on hand progress.
My guess is the same as yours -- this team needs help. Trouble is, most teams pushing players will want young pitching in return. And the Cards spent from that well to get DeRosa. So Mozeliak would rather move position player prospects. |
|
lilred: With the Cards' continual troubles against lefties, could we please see DeRosa at third, Hoffpauir at second, with Skip, Rasmus, and Ludwick in the outfield against lefties? And repeat that lineup for at least six games (against LH) to see if it clicks? I for one think that TLR's constant lineup changes have been good in the past. But this year, no one except Pujols and Molina has shown any consistency, and I think the changes have left everyone lacking confidence and wondering "what's next?" This team needs an offensive identity.
lilred |
Jeff Gordon: Can't argue with that. Jarrett helped the team win one game, why not give him a look?
It seems obvious that teams know how to pitch Tyler Greene, so he may need a tune-up at Memphis. |
|
| virginiatom: For the Rams, its more about their future than wins and losses this year. However, for Bulger, this is about his confidence and his future with this team. With that in mind, wouldn't it be helpful to go and get Burress, providing he can play, and give Bulger a target to go too, especially in the red zone? The success of a quarterback has so much to do with the abilities of their wide receivers, and while what we have may be the future, they are unproven and both Robinson and Burton have had injury problems in the past that has cut short their playing time. If I was Bulger, Tim Carter wouldn't exactly inspire me as the veteran I would want to have on my team. If you know what you have going in with Burress, and the league allows him to play, why not take a chance and give your quarterback some legitimate help to succeed out there? |
| Jeff Gordon: Spagnuolo saw all the stuff that happened with Burress behind the scenes in New York. He doesn't want to put up with that nonsense this year while establishing a program. |
|
| virginiatom: Where do we stand with the ownership situation? I saw a piece on 60 minutes about John Bon Jovi and his desire to purchase an NFL team. Do you know if his name has ever come up? Also, given Rush's conservative stance on many issues and controversial statements in the past will prevent him from getting the league support necessary to buy the team? I realize that none of these guys are football people per se, but there doesn't seem to be alot of legitimate football people stepping up, which, considering how rare the opportunity comes up to own a team, is odd. |
Jeff Gordon: Limbaugh would have to make nice to win over the league. He is smart enough to play that PR game.
As for Jon, he had fun in the Arena Football League. He is buddies with Bill Belichick. If he got a group together with some serious capital, the league could do worse for an owner. He understands marketing. |
|
Adam2: Hey Gordo thanks for taking my question.
With Troy Glaus being a notoriously slow starter which included last year, do you think that even if he does return to play this year that he will be effective being that he is just starting his season and coming off an injury? |
| Jeff Gordon: Excellent point. The Cards say he is currently at the February stage of hitting. Given his history of poor Aprils, that isn't encouraging. Maybe the warm weather will help him regain his timing more quickly. |
|
Glenn: Gordo,
Thanks for doing these chats and the great job you do. I enjoy your work very much.
Seems obvious to me that if the birds are to stay on top, at least two of the three (Duncan, Ainkel, and Ludwick) will have to step up in a mighty way the second half of the season. I can Luddy doing this, but have a hard time imagining the other two turning it around. Thus, IF Troy Glaus is able to effectively contriubute once he comes back, I believe Tony will move DeRosa to the outfield. But if that doesn't occur, I think the Cardinals chances will deminish quickly. Do you feel the organization has enough "bullets" to make another significant move to bolster the offense if need be? |
Jeff Gordon: The Cards have plenty of position prospects to move, but their supply of young pitching is depleted -- since Cleveland will take another arm as the player to be named late for DeRosa.
That will make it tougher. Guys like Duncan and Ankiel obviously have limited trade value now. |
|
| Tim: Hey Jeff I thought the all-star game meant something. Could you tell me why there are four 1st BASEMENS? |
| Jeff Gordon: Because they can hit and you see a LOT of pinch-hitting in All-Star games. |
|
| Ed Tschabold: At what point does the Cardinal brass declare that Chris Duncan - more strikeouts than hits,lumbering mess in the outfield, powerless ABs - and Joe Thurston - base running gaffs, miniscule BA, errors - are more liabilities than assets. I believe just about anyone that they chose to bring up from AAA would contribute more than those two. They have no trade value and Duncan is making more than the minimum. Unless Ankeil cranks up his performance significantly his contribution is bordering on the Mendosa line. I appreciate his athleticism; maybe he should try gymnastics. |
Jeff Gordon: This is painful for TLR, since he really wants Ankiel and Duncan to succeed. But as he admits, Ludwick and Rasmus will play regularly in the second half. And one way or another, the Cards will add new bats to this lineup.
The time is running out on all the non-performers. |
|
rich: Jeff: Why does LaRussa continually play Joe Thurston? The guy can’t hit, consistently makes base runner errors and as show in Saturday game when the play is right in front of him (runner on third going home and Thurston fielded the ball and instead of going home which would have gotten the runner, threw to 2nd) but LaRussa started him almost ever game last week. Now, if ask Tony why he’s playing him he’s going to say he has nobody else at 3rd. But, last week when DeRosa played 3rd he started Thurston in left. I don’t get it.
Also am I the only one that thought Duncan’s slide into 2nd was horrible and a bad play on Duncan’s part? He clearly went out of the base line and was actually on the shortstop side of 2nd base going after the Reds player. |
Jeff Gordon: Duncan was just trying to break up the DP, but I'd be unhappy if I was on the Reds side.
Thurston will have to earn his ABs after the All-Star break. Right now he is playing by default. |
|
Josie Wales: Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the good work. My question of the day...
What do the players (aside from Albert) think of the way Tony manages the ballclub? If I was Rasmus, Luddie, or Ryan I'd be frustrated having to platoon with Duncan, Ankiel, and Thurston. Do the players see it differently? |
Jeff Gordon: The guys want to play. Ludwick, in particular, has the right to get frustrated. He is finally putting up some numbers, so there is no reason to sit him. As a rookie, Rasmus could expect to sit some as he adapted. But he is on fire now, so he has to play.
Ryan has to keep himself physically ready to play. If he does that, he'll play almost every game too. |
|
drelboc: Hi Gordo;
What do you think the chances of Albert playing late into the ALLSTAR game are?...10,20,30,40,50 PERCENT (or more?).....
THANK YOU Jeff! |
| Jeff Gordon: This is his show. Bet on him getting multiple at bats. |
|
Max: Hey Gordo,
Brett Wallace has really heated up over the last few weeks at Memphis. During that span most of his AB's have come in the cleanup spot. Assuming the Cardinals wait until Spring Training next year to promote Wallace to the big leagues, where do you see him hitting in the lineup when he first arrives? Where do you think he hits once he establishes himself as a proven big league hitter?
Thanks,
Max |
| Jeff Gordon: We'll see Wallace this year, barring a setback of some kind. In the least, he'll come up in September. Since Albert hits third, Brett will hit somewhere from No. 4 to No. 6. |
|
| danandjonelle: I think paying $3.1 million to a 16-year-old is outrageous. Why aren't all players subject to the draft? |
Jeff Gordon: Life in the Dominican Republic is quite different. It's not like those kids can play on a high school team, a Legion team or a travel team. The Dominican kids who don't sign early lose developmental time that American kids.
Baseball GMs would love to see a draft system used for international prospects -- be it the teenagers in the D.R. or the old guys in Japan -- but that might be impossible to enforce in those countries. |
|
Kevin: Jeff,
Two questions:
1 - Do you think the Cards will move on a trade for a big bat and a pitcher?
2 - Could you share a brief story of a time when reported rumors of a trade in one city caused a GM in another city to make a move and trade for the same player the previous team targeted? What impact do rumors carry?
Thanks,
Kevin |
Jeff Gordon: I can see the Cards adding a hitter, for sure. At the moment, the Cards believe Lohse can come back from his injury and Wellemeyer can enjoy a better second half. That assessment could change during the next three weeks, of course.
GMs are well aware of the rumor mill. The read stuff on the Internet. But they also know from their own direct communications with rival GMs what is going on. When Boston put Manny Ramirez up for bidding, LA GM Ned Colletti knew he didn't have what the Red Sox were looking for. But he knew he had a fit with Pittburgh -- and he knew that Pittsburgh had players Boston wanted.
Pittsburgh was never going to deal for ManRam, so Ned worked the three-way deal that gave Boston Jason Bay, the Pirates younger players and the Dodgers Ramirez.
Ned read the market, knew what each team needed and managed to pull off that deal under the gun. |
|
c-redbird: Gordo,
Thanks for the chats, I really enjoy the chance to ask you guys questions. My question is regarding Rick Ankiel. In Ludwick, it appears, we are seeing a hitter getting his timing back and also starting to counter the adjustments that pitchers have made in pitching to him. In Ankiel, it seems as if we are seeing a hitter not able or not willing to make the adjustments necessary to hit at the MLB level. Ankiel doesn't seem the sort of personality that wouldn't be coachable. So, and I hate to ask this because I am a fan of his, but have we seen the best of Rick Ankiel? He seems to be just hacking in every at bat.
Cory |
| Jeff Gordon: The man is floundering. Duncan has physically reason to struggle, coming back from neck surgery, but Ankiel just can't get it done mentally. Too bad, too, since he flushing away millions of dollars. |
|
| danandjonelle: What is the status of pitcher Mark McCormick, once a touted prospect? I thought he had minor off season surgery but he has not pitched yet this year. |
| Jeff Gordon: He came back this spring, made a cameo appearance in the big league camp and later pitched in minor league action. Alas, the Cards shut him down again due to shoulder issues. Sad. |
|
TeeJay: Hey Jeff, do you think that with the recent play of Ryan at short
and Schumacher at second that in the next couple years the FO can
quit trying their stopgap measures and consentrate on more important
things such as a LH Starting Pitcher and a RH'ed outfielder? |
Jeff Gordon: DeRosa could end up at 2B if he re-signs, allowing Skip to return to the OF. Either Freese or Wallace could play 3B next year.
Then the team could focus on RH-hitting power and a LH starting pitcher. |
|
Kevin: Jeff,
Is it possible that MLB will put the "parity lid" over the Cards since they acquired DeRosa and kill any future deals this July? Do the Cards just have to go with what they have even if they wish to add someone?
Thanks,
Kevin |
| Jeff Gordon: Mozeliak will keep looking to improve the team, from the inside or the outside. |
|
| CardSurfingatwork: Are the Cardinals interested in Jon Garland if the Dbacks show interest in moving him? He looks like he is currently in a bit of a rough stretch with a 4.81 ERA, but would probably be a steady upgrade over Wellemeyer if he doesnt build on his last performance and goes south again. |
| Jeff Gordon: I like the idea of adding a lefty starter. Garland could be a good fit here. But IF Lohse returns and IF Wellemeyer strings together some good starts, then Mozeliak won't have much motivation to add a starter. Duncan is committed to giving Wellemeyer every chance to turn things around. |
|
williemcgee51: Gordo,
I don't need to go into how big the next 7 games are. With the off-day, and the pending return of Kyle Lohse, it seems we have an opportunity to play with the rotation a little bit.
With Wainwright and Lohse pitching tomorrow night, it seems Lohse will get the day game and Wainwright the night game of the Sunday doubleheader in Chicago.
It seems we have Thompson set for Friday and Carpenter Saturday, but I think we should flip them and have Carp on regular rest on Friday afternoon. This would give us a chance to steal the first game, and a very good shot at the third and fourth games on Sunday. Any word on this?
As for the Milwaukee series, we seem set with Wainwright/Wellemeyer/Pineiro.
As much as I would like to see someone else get Wellemeyer's start, it seems he earned another shot after the SF game, and taking his win last month in Milwaukee... |
| Jeff Gordon: I would kept the rotation intact and let Carpenter get his extra day. After all he has been through, why fool around midway through a season? |
|
| Youthguy50: Do you think we will see K. Greene again this year with the major league team? Do you think he was brought back too fast last time even though he got off to a fast start? It just doesn't make too much sense. |
Jeff Gordon: I agree that he came back too quickly. Now that the team has DeRosa returning from his injury and Hoffpauir hitting a bit, there is no motivation to do anything.
Will we see him before the end of the year? He'll probably get one more chance, while the team waits for Glaus/Freese/Wallace developments and potential end-of-the-month trades. |
|
williemcgee51: Gordo,
Do you think Tony and Dave will re-shuffle the rotation after the break, or keep the guys on the same schedule?
I personally would like to see a staggered rotation, with Wainwright kicking off the second half, followed by Pinerio, Carpenter, Wellemeyer and Lohse. I think this would provide a solid defense against long losing streaks, and it spreads our top 3 guys out so that we are not using them all in an easily-winable series, and then rolling Lohse, Wellemeyer and Pineiro out in a series that we desperately need Wainwright or Carp to pitch in (PHI, LAD, MIL, CHC, etc.)
Your thoughts? |
| Jeff Gordon: I agree that splitting the big boys up would help this team get a little more continuity. But given Adam's high pitch counts, I'd want to give him extra rest coming out of the break. |
|
williemcgee51: Gordo,
What type of player does Wagner Mateo project as? I have heard he is an advanced youngster with pop. Do we see him as a top of the order speedster capable of 20 HR's, or a middle of the order power bat? |
| Jeff Gordon: For that money, the Cards would like to see him in the middle of the batting order in 3 to 4 years. |
|
| Will: What are the chances that we will see Wallace called up in the near future? When he is called up will it be at 3rd, or will he be placed in one of the corner outfield spots? |
Jeff Gordon: He has been working hard at third base, so I'm guessing he would play a bit there. I'm still guessing September for Wallace, to come up as a pinch-hitter. I'm still expecting the team to add another veteran bat, be it Glaus or another trade target.
But if he keeps hitting, why not take a look?
As for next year, I'd prep him for the outfield and get David Freese's RH bat ready for 3B. It would be nice to see Freese get some at bats once he returns from ankle surgery. |
|
williemcgee51: Gordo,
Does the questionable MLB success of Jaime Garcia, Clay Mortensen, Mitchell Boggs and Jess Todd force the hand of the front office to get a deal done with Shelby Miller?
We continue to hear about the next guy in the system, but they come to STL and appear to have spot-starter upside versus fixture-of-the-rotation upside. There is obviously a lot of risk in giving a HS pitcher that kind of money. But guys like Porcello and Beckett continue to prove that it is a risk worth taking once in awhile.
The true fans can see the vision that the front office has. With the Mateo signing, Rasmus promotion, Wallace and Miller drafting, this team has an eye on winning beyond 2012.
Speaking of Garcia, what is his status, and can we expect to see him in Springfield or Memphis in 2009? |
Jeff Gordon: Todd and Mortensen had one game. Both are top prospects. You'll notice that Hawksworth started poorly, got to stick and performed quite well in subsequent appearances.
Garcia wasn't healthy when he pitched last year. If he comes back strong with his new elbow, he could move into the 2010 rotation.
Boggs put up good numbers here, with the team winning all four starts. His struggle back at Memphis is a big concern, though.
Miller IS a key guy to sign. He has front-of-the-rotation potential, unlike the other starting pitching prospects this team has. He wants to turn pro, so I'd expect this to get done. |
|
williemcgee51: Gordo,
Inevitably, we will start seeing the All-Star replacements scrolling across the bottom of the ESPN ticker. I would rate Carpenter and Gallardo among the top pitcher's that should be considered...who else would you add?
What about position players on the NL squad? Any omissions that are bothering you? |
| Jeff Gordon: Scott Rolen ought to be here. Or Miguel Cabrera. Too bad the AL can't take all their good third basemen. Carlos Pena wonders what he had to do to get the nod. |
|
| Vince: Why are the Cardinals trying to find a starter to replace Thompson/Wellemeyer? They have someone already in their bullpen that has already been a starter in the minors and would only need to be stretched out....Kyle McClellan. They can put Thompson back in the pen for the long relief role and Wellemeyer in the relief role that McClellan was taking care of in the pen. |
Jeff Gordon: I like the idea of moving McClellan to the rotation, but the loss of Perez -- and the potential loss of Jess Todd -- makes him more valuable to the bullpen right now.
I see Thompson returning to the pen after one more start and Wellemeyer getting every chance to stick in the rotation. |
|
Max: Hey Gordo,
Even though his Cardinal career hasn't got off to the best start, I would imagine the front office would still do everything it could to sign DeRosa given what they gave up to get him. If they are able to re-sign him, do you think he plays 2B and Skip moves back to the OF which would strengthen their defense in 2 spots or do you think Skip stays at 2B and DeRosa is more of a utility guy that could play potentially 5 spots in the field?
Thanks,
Max |
| Jeff Gordon: I like the first option. DeRosa likes second base the best. The demise of Ankiel and Duncan opens up a spot in the OF for Schumaker, since DeRosa would add good pop at 2B. |
|
| Kevin: What happened to Ludwick's face? |
| Jeff Gordon: He claims he suffered rug burns in a hotel room fall. That's his story and he is sticking to it. |
|
| rvines217: Question: Should Albert go on the DL for 15 days, do you think the Cards would score before he returned? Question: Have you ever seen a more incompetent player in a major league uniform than Thurston? Comment: He can't field a bunt, he can't lay down a bunt, he can't run the basis and he hits .210. Surely we have an "egg" somewhere who can do better. |
Jeff Gordon: Nice to Joe join the party yesterday, but, no, he hasn't done much to keep his spot. At least Barden can play steady D at third and provide a little RH pop on the bench.
Since Brian returned to Memphis, though, his ABs have been hard to come by. |
|
mitchem1: Hey Gordo,
Do you have any ideas about what people around the league think about Rasmus? I've seen enough of him the first half to think he's as good as advertised, maybe better. I enjoy watching him -- his athleticism just sticks out. I wish we could get Ankiel going -- that would be a couple of stud outfielders. |
| Jeff Gordon: Colby is making some adjustments at 22 that Rick still can't make. That is the difference between the two. Rasmus is arriving right on schedule. |
|
GoBlues!: Gordo,
Was Chris Carpenter not eligible for All Star consideration with only 12 starts? His ERA, even with his poor start a week ago, is still amongst the best in the league. I wondered if he was snubbed because St. Louis was already well-represented, or just not eligible with his significant stint on the DL. |
| Jeff Gordon: You have to have somebody from every NL team in the game. The Cards had three other players, so it was tough. There are a lot of All-Star caliber pitchers this year. |
|
| SqueezePlay82: What's the status of the sale of the Rams? Has there been any news as far as to potential buyers? How is Checkett's standing in this process? Thanks for your time! |
| Jeff Gordon: I have no update to offer. I appreciate Checkett's effort, but I wonder where he would get the capital for the purchase. It's not like the Blues are flush with cash. |
|
scott rhein: Hello Jeff, I have a Blues question for you. What do you think of the Blues resigning Crombeen? He was a -9 rating last year. Do you think we could have gotten someone better? With Chicago improving and Detroit being the team that they are. I think we should take a deep look at our 3rd and 4th lines.
Thank You
Scott |
| Jeff Gordon: I like Crombeen. Tough kid, a good third- and four-liner. As for getting something better, that's going to cost you. |
|
scott rhein: Hello Jeff, I have another question for you. What is the current status with the Blues and Roman Polak? Do you think they will resign him? What are your thoughts on bringing Polak back?
Scott |
| Jeff Gordon: I'm a big Polak fan. If he gets an offer sheet, the Blues better take it -- or their defense will take a step back next year. |
|
scott rhein: Last question Jeff, I have read on ESPN and Hockeybuzz that the Blues are looking for another defensemen. I have heard Bergeron mention. What are your thoughts and what have you heard?
Thank You
Scott |
| Jeff Gordon: Zubov and Schneider also drew mentions in the scuttlebutt. The Blues are looking for a PP QB for the first or second unit. Brewer's lingering injury makes this move even more important. |
|
Fun Bobby: Good afternoon and as always, thank you for taking my questions/comments. First just want to congratulate Pujols, Molina, and Franklin on their All Star selections. All well deserved.
Few questions.
1. Since its imperative that Ludwick gets going, why doesnt tony bat him 2nd for a while, to get his timing back? he did this a lot last year whenever he started to slump, i mean is there a better spot in the order to bat?
2. Isnt it obvious that Rasmus should be in the line up everyday? And platoon Duncan and Ank?
3. Do you think its about time Wallace be brought up to put even more pressure on these guys who arent producing (i.e. Duncan, Ankiel, Thurston, T. Greene)? And let him slug it out?
Thanks for your time and insight. |
| Jeff Gordon: The No. 2 slot makes a lot of hitters better. But . . . team needs muscle in the No. 4 hole and there aren't many candidates for that with DeRosa out. |
|
| 2ndhalfrun: How many more chances does tyler greene need before he gets sent down? I can not even remember the last time he got a hit. What about sending him down for donovan solano, hes been hitting the ball well all season long for memphis and do you think ankiel will find his swing again? It just seems that he is lost at the plate and the only thing you can expect out of him is a pop up or a strikeout. |
| Jeff Gordon: It's early for Solano, but Hoffpauir could stick around once DeRosa comes back. T. Greene IS struggling mightily. This isn't helping his development. |
|
junglejim: Gordo,
The Cards just signed the 16year old Dominican, when can he go to the minors. Do they have to wait until he is a certain age, how can they protect him from injury until he is old enough to report to a minor league team? |
| Jeff Gordon: The Cardinals have a team in the Dominican summer league, so he can play right away in the organization. |
|
| Ramsong: Hi Gordo: Does anyone besides me feel that Carpenter should have been named to the All Star team as well? With the exception of one game, Carp has been dominating. A .084 WHIP is insane. I think except for his injury he would have been a no-brainer. He certainly deserves it ahead of Ted Lilly, IMHO. Thanks! |
| Jeff Gordon: But the NL needs somebody from every team, so that makes assembling the roster an inexact science. |
|
| cardsfaninphx: So, our offense still hasn't come around. Who is the OF bat the front office is looking to acquire? Please say it's a RH guy who can at least hit at the mendoza line. Also, why isn't Colby playing everyday? Sure appears that he's our best offensive threat in the OF, no? |
| Jeff Gordon: Rasmus IS the top OF right now, which is shocking. And, yes, the Cards would like another RH hitter. If that's Glaus, then DeRosa goes to the OF. If he can't play, then the Cards need an OF. |
|
| Larry L.: Any chance that Rick Ankiel could return to pitching? He's a few years older; more mature and possibly able to handle the pressures. |
| Jeff Gordon: Uh, no. |
|
netboy65: Gordo,
First I gotta give you props, you answer about a bazillion questions during your chat, don't know how you get it done. I'm sure most of the talk is about the All-Star game, but I want to shift gears for a sec..we all know what's left on the Blues' shopping list (not much) and I've heard some of the rumors, is there anything with any substance to it that you can share? |
| Jeff Gordon: Plenty of offensive defensemen are still out there, so, for the right price, they would like to add one. Which one? Depends on how the market plays. |
|
wifflegray: .336 AVG / 31 HR / 82 RBI / 66 BB / 10 SB at the midway point of 2009?? It's mind boggling production given the extended slumps of Ankiel, Ludwick and Duncan this year. How many major leaguers wouldn't mind having those numbers at the end of the year? Absolutley Incredible! We are lucky as baseball fans to watch Albert Pujols play for the St. Louis Cardinals. I hope ownership does everything in their power to keep him a Cardinal until the day he retires. With that said, do you think Albert will stay a Cardinal for his entire career? How large and how long of contract do you think it will take to keep him here for years to come? Thanks for the time and taking my question.
Tim G. |
| Jeff Gordon: He has two years left, so it would take at least five more on top of that with top-end money to interest him. |
|
| Lawarence Marmie: Was is the status of Claude Wroten? Any chance he's lighting up and kicking down his girlfriend's door in St. Louis this season or does Spagnoulo do what Linehan and Haslett should have done and cut the umbilical cord? |
| Jeff Gordon: I don't see where Wroten would fit into the whole pillars thing. |
|
Max: Hey Gordo,
Colby Rasmus is having a fine start to his major league career. I would imagine it wont be too long before Brett Wallace is living up to the things that have been said and written about him. Besides Rasmus and Wallace, who is the next position player in the Cardinals system that you feel will have a significant impact at the major league level?
Thanks,
Max |
| Jeff Gordon: Freese is still a prospect. Too bad he needed ankle surgery this year, but he could start at 3B next year. |
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Lawarence Marmie: Yo Gordo,
I happened to be in St. Louis last weekend (Sorry, I didn't stop by for drinks) and took a ride around the stadium. Now, I know it's baseball season and it's a big Cardinals town, but if you were to take away the few small banners hanging from the street lamps that said "Go Rams", I wouldn't have known what team even played there. I've was in the dome several years back and thought it came off as an airport hanger that happened to have a Rams helmet on the center of the floor- it seemed more like a place that the Rams happened to be playing rather than their home. I don't live far from the Link in Philly and I can tell you that the entire area is bathed in green and filthy with Eagles propoganda- you have no doubt about who plays there even if you've never watched football in your life. Also, just visiting the sports stores in the city, they seemed to have just as much of product from other NFL teams as they did the Rams- how is that possible? I know the Bears are relatively close, but you don't see large amounts of Giants or Redskins junk in Philly sports stores and vice versa and geographically, both of those cities are closer to Philly than Chicago is to St. Louis. What's up with you midwesterners? |
| Jeff Gordon: Five wins in two years will beat the enthusiasm out of fans. |
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John: Hi Jeff,
I want to start off by saying that I hope El Hombre spends the rest of his career in St. Louis. However, would it really be wise for the Cards to spend over 25% of their payroll on one player? It seems that this relationship can only work if Albert is willing to take less than market value and also the owners will have to be willing to raise payroll 10-15 mil per season to make this work. Undoubtedly, the FO will have to open contract talks with Albert this offseason. If it doesn't seem like a fit for both parties, Albert's value will never be higher. How do you think this will play out? |
| Jeff Gordon: The Cards can pay him full price and still contend. Two things must happen: Don't waste millions on injured guys and develop lots of good young players to balance the budget. |
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| poole25: Gordo, Do you see any future in St.Louis for Chris Duncan? Everyone has stop talking about his limit defense because of his bad offense. I don't see a bright spot here. |
| Jeff Gordon: Given his power outage, it's hard to imagine him having much of role after this year. |
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Mike E. in Chicago: Hey Gordo,
I wish my dad was the pitching coach so I could play leftfield and hit cleanup as well b/c that is obviously all it takes! I mean seriously when is this going to stop? He can't hit since his injury and he could never field so I just don't see how he is able to wear the birds on the bat and start no less!
Thanks! |
| Jeff Gordon: If Ankiel could hit, Duncan would seldom play. Replacing two guys is tough -- and that is where the Cards are now. |
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mjdelpe: Once you accept the fact that what we have is what we got, you can get past all the whining about getting more help, and just enjoy what looks like to be a very thrilling race to the finish for the 2009 NL Central pennant. Maybe we get a shot in the arm by getting Glaus back or Luddy '09 morphing into Luddy '08, or even a surprise trade deadline pick-up (I don't really see that happening).
With 5 of the 6 teams having a realistic shot at this, I have two questions.
Do you see any of the 5(or even 6, maybe??) pulling away from the pack? Any one team seem to have that capability?
If not, than, is there one/two players on the Cardinals roster that you feel are either closest or the best bet to pick up some of the slack and help Albert carry this club? |
| Jeff Gordon: If Cincinnati could hit a little bit, that front-line pitching could carry the Reds. Don't count out Walt Jocketty. We know he can make a late move to add offense. |
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| zbodine: If Glaus comes back healthy. Don't you have to play DeRosa at 2B, and Move Shumaker to OF, esp since Rick and Duncan have been struggling to say the least? |
| Jeff Gordon: Agreed. |
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D-Mac: Hey Gordo,
Is there a minimum number of starts a pitcher needs to get into the All-Star game? If not, how did Carp get passed over? Geez O Pete, he could shut down the AL for an inning or two pretty easily. |
| Jeff Gordon: Just a numbers game with other teams need a rep. |
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Max: Hey Gordo,
Along with being a Cardinal fan I am also a fan of my hometown Brewers (remember, they were once upon a time an AL Team) and while that gets confusing at times there is no confusion as to how important the farm system has been for the Brewers over the last 5 years. It is nice to see the Cardinal farm system on the rise as well. Even though it is yet to be determined what impact those players will have on the major league team there is no denying the system is much better off than it was a few short years ago. Given that, please tell me there is no way the Cardinal front office will cave in and trade Brett Wallace....right?
Thanks,
Max |
| Jeff Gordon: The Cards would have to get back a long-term offensive threat to move Wallace. Given Brett's defensive issues, he is hardly untouchable. But I doubt the team would move him until knowing whether Albert will lock in for the long haul. Wallace is Plan B at first base for 2012. |
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D-Mac: National League Wins All-Star Game, stops slide of AL Wins Finally!!!
(I am taking the Senior Circuit for a milk shake or OB Clarks Pizza, you in?) |
| Jeff Gordon: Any chances gets walked intentionally in the All-Star Game, too. |
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| marpdagn: Hey, Gordo. Any info on how Glaus' rehab is going? Is he able to throw? Assuming he rejoins the team by Aug 15, do you see then Derosa going to 2b and Skip moving back to the OF, or do you see the Cards moving in a different direction? |
| Jeff Gordon: The early returns on Glaus were encouraging, but let's see where he is in three weeks. |
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| doctor_323: Hey Gordo, I would like to discuss the 3 black holes in our lineup. Larussa tends to live and die with guys who have been with him a long time, so I assume that is why Ankiel continues to play. Duncan is 'the coaches kid' so I get that one, but what is his obsession with playing Thurston everyday? Even those few games Derosa played, he managed to find at bats for Thurston in left field. |
| Jeff Gordon: If DeRosa returns, that will knock Thurston out. And you will see Ankiel and Duncan lose a lot of at bats in the weeks ahead =- especially if the team adds another bat one way or another. |
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| Ray Lankford: this strecth of games against brewers and cubs should be an eye opener on our chances to win the division. who do you think is the best of the three teams with current rosters? |
| Jeff Gordon: The Cubs have the best talent, but they aren't great at actually playing baseball. Lots of goofiness there. Milwaukee lacks the pitching. The Reds have front-line young pitchers, so they could become the team to beat with a bit more offense. And Houston has some muscle, too. |
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| Mizzoufan: Do you think Blaine Gabbert will develop into the type of quarterback Chase Daniel was or maybe even better? |
| Jeff Gordon: Different type of QB altogether. He has NFL-caliber arms strength, but can he read a defense and run this offense? Daniel was terrific that way. |
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FloTrain: Congrats to Franklin for making the All-Star team! After last year, WOW! what a turnaround... Without the season he's having, Cards would NOT be in first, to say the least... Ok, liking what I'm seeing out of Rasmus. Kid looks good and hopefully gets the chance to play regularly the rest of the year. Cracks me up when fans "mentioned" him as trade bait for a veteran arm last year... Which brings me to Wallace. I think he's in the same category. Let the kid play down in AAA, lose some weight and get in better conditioning this off-season and with a 2-3-4-5 of Rasmus/Pujols/Ludwick/Wallace next year... That looks pretty good..
Also, somethings gotta give with Ankiel and Duncan. Who goes? Cannot keep them both after this year. Neither one would bring anything in a trade... Outfield in '10 from L-R of ?/Rasmus/Ludwick. Who's your LF? |
| Jeff Gordon: Skip in LF, DeRosa at second and either Freese or Wallace at 3B -- unless Glaus finishes huge and wants to re-up for reasonable money. |
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Steve: Jeff,
Armchair GM question for you.
While we were dealing for MDR do you think if we asked of Cliff Lee was available also? Do the cards have enough “Faberge Eggs” to make that deal, and if they do would you have? |
| Jeff Gordon: Lee would cost a fortune, in terms of prospects. Since the Cards lack top-of-the-rotation starting pitching prospects, it would be tough to make that deal happen. |
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| bh: What happens to the Rams season if SJ39 gets hurt? |
| Jeff Gordon: It's not like this team was headed to the Super Bowl with him. First things first: The Rams must establish strong blocking and tackling and go from there. Down the road, this team will need a quality second RB and better WRs to make the playoffs. (Also, it may need a new QB). |
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Lawarence Marmie: Hey Gordo,
When is your boy Haslett's UFL season supposed to start? |
| Jeff Gordon: Thursday nights, later in the fall -- IF it happens. |
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rich: Jeff; That was my point earlier in regard to Duncan's takeout slide on Saturday. We all remember how Dusty Baker liked to carry grudges when he was manager of the Cubs and now this incident may refuel the fire he had against LaRussa and the Cards.
Thanks
Rich |
| Jeff Gordon: That would not surprise me. |
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| Mizzoufan: What is your early predictions for Mizzou's and the Rams' regular season records? I am thinking 8-4 for Mizzou and 6-10 for the Rams! |
| Jeff Gordon: I'd agree with that. Both would be good numbers for those teams. |
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| stltn: Assuming DeRosa comes back healthy, What is the likelyhood of us acquiring another starting pitcher via trade? It seems this is the only reasonable hole left to fill. How about packaging Duncan, Thurston, and another to get a quality SP? |
| Jeff Gordon: What team would trade for those guys? |
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Lawarence Marmie: Gordo,
Where do you rank Mariano Rivera in terms of all time closers? Do you rank him #1 because of the amount of saves and how many have come during the important postseason games or are you going to drink the Yankee Haterade and pick someone else? |
| Jeff Gordon: How you do argue against Mariano? Can you imagine being the closer in that highly charged atmosphere? Which relief pitcher has pitched more high-pressure games? |
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| Ray Lankford: I love what Pujols has done for the Cardinals but it is suprising to me how little talk there is of STEROIDS with him. Its hard to imagine he is one of the only clean sluggers of the past decade. He hasn't always been this big (i get that argument a lot). he has put on some mass since begiinnning as a rookie and i don't think these baseball players are in the weight room that much. just sayin. |
| Jeff Gordon: Albert was thick in high school, thick in JUCO and thick as a rookie. And, yes, he does spend a LOT of time working out. |
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Lee: Jeff,
Any chance for Adam Dunn OR Freddy Sanchez OR Doug Davis OR Jon Garland OR Jarrod Washburn becoming a Cards player this July?
Also, any thoughts that Wainwright could be dealt this winter with the high pitch count and durability challenges that brings?
Thanks,
Lee |
Jeff Gordon: Don't see Adam going anywhere while he is under this affordable contract.
Dunn can't play the OF, which is a problem.
Garland or Davis would be nice additions, but Duncan is willing to ride Wellemeyer right now. |
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Kevin L.: Hey Gordo-
Great chat (as always) - quick question -
With the HR Derby taking place in St. Louis, in his home stadium, among tens of thousands of his hometown fans, after getting the most votes nationwide calling for his participation, why has El Hombre not committed to his participation in the event? He said this weekend that it depends on how he "feels" but as a person traveling from hundreds of miles away to see the Derby, I know I am not alone in saying that I would be more than a little disappointed (and a bit angry) if he decided to sit out entirely. What gives? |
| Jeff Gordon: If his elbow is killing him -- and that is a possibility -- then he shouldn't participate in the HR Derby. His top goal is to get back to the playoffs. |
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Lawarence Marmie: Hey Gordo,
Why do you suppose the gutless sportswriters that were all over A-Rod, Palmerio, Clemens, and Bonds never questioned if all those Patriots championship were also tainted? Rodney Harrison was caught using them and Larry Izzo was actually caught dealing them. Does ESPN really have all you guys on short leases? I'm thinking yes since no one ever questioned the legitimacy of having someone associated with the Red Sox investigating the whole baseball/steroids scandal. Amazingly enough- not one Red Sox player was named. |
Jeff Gordon: So . . . you're a big Boston fan, I take it.
Funny how the steroid outrage in baseball doesn't extend to football. |
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Matt: Any chance the Cards try to add Garrett Atkins. He was having some trouble earlier this year but turned it on (a little) lately. The guy has put up some solid numbers in his career and could use a change of scenery.
Thanks! |
Jeff Gordon: He could fit the bill IF Glaus can't come back or comes back as a 1B/DH. But if Colorado is still in the wild card, the Rockies will want immediate help in return. Not sure the Cards can offer anybody immediate help right now.
That appears to be it for now. See you next Monday! |
