Melvin: Can i please get Jim Hasletts email address so i can give him a earful over are starting safety Chavous?!!!!!! Its mind boggling this hasnt been addressed in the draft or free agency the guys a bum!!!!!!!! That is all Jeff Thanks for your time!

Jeff Gordon: I don't have Jim's e-mail address, but I believe the organization is well-aware of fan angst over Chavous. I side with the fans over the coaches on this one.

Darrell Porter: Jeff,

You say you have heard that the farm system is developing legit players, but how come everytime the Cards are talked about by others outside of STL, they kill on the farm system? This past weekend on XM Holden Kuschner and Jim Duquitt killed on the Cards system and the fact that the Cards are overvaluing their prospects. Which is it?

Jeff Gordon: Most legit experts view the Cards system as improving -- from awful, overall, to decent. The 2004 draft was especially bad. The last few drafts were much, much better -- and now the Cards are pretty strong in some spots. There is still work to do, though, which is why the team doesn't want to move a bunch of kids just as the numbers are better. This is also why the Latin American investment is large.

I would keep Rasmus, McClellan, Perez, Ankiel, Mortensen and Garcia. Those guys appear to be core-type guys.

Mel: How does Scott Linehan seem to be handling the added pressure this year so far with camp and the regular season approaching? And have you heard of any possible pickups for defense?

Jeff Gordon: Scott has been super loose this summer. Good for him. But the road from 3-13 to 9-7 will be a chore. A big, big chore.

As for free agents, the better possibilities at DB and LB will come deeper into camps when teams unload viable veterans.

roger from lake tahoe: gordo, what good power hitting shortstop prospects do other teams have? are there any the cards would be interested in? i would think that to keep in line with the rebuilding philosophy the team should target a young shortstop. thanks

Jeff Gordon: Either Michael Young, in a deal, or Furcal, as a FA this offseason, would fit that bill.

Ken Wilson: Hey Gordo,

What was your impression of this weekend's series with the Cubs in which the Cards had the lead only once, at the end of the 9th inning of Saturday's game. Are the Cubs simply the better team or did the Cards just have a so-so week (3-4) against two tough opponnents?

Jeff Gordon: The Cubs are better, by a lot. Can the Cards get better by bringing back injured guys, making a deal or two and promoting kids? Yes, but the Cubs are still the team to beat. Look for them to make a big deal in response to the Sabathia move.