LKP: Wow! What an effort our Rams put forth yesterday! The motivation of the Rams players reminded me of my son's 9 year old team picking their noses on the sidelines. How is it possible for a team to be this bad and to appear as though they don't even care? I almost feel sorry for Linehan, he looked like a deer in headlights watching his team go down again in flames. I'm really sick of hearing about Haslett being such a defensive guru and how complicated his defense is, apparently his players can't figure it out but the opposing offenses have no problem doing so. The players effort was disgusting..they were beat from the opening snap. Hill a first round bust (how did they pick him ahead of the corner in San Diego?, we took Avery instead of DeSean Jackson?, and kept the tea cup fragile Drew Bennett at wide receiver instead of the still productive Bruce? and Bulger mentally has lost before he even takes the field, and Jackson please keep your mouth shut and try to earn your big contract. Not only is the coaching bad, but the player evaluation is pitiful. If I were their coach and fortunately for their sakes I'm not I'd bring them in on Tuesday, let them watch the film and then we would head to the field and run wind sprints for 2-3 hours and nothing else, until each of them were puking on the sidelines. Then I would tell them that would be repeated every Tuesday after a loss. I think then you'd see more effort on Sunday's. This team has to get motivated or their toast. Thanks Gordo.
P.S. Where do I get a refund on my season tickets?

Jeff Gordon: Tuesday is an off day and the players association does have rules, but, yes, I would do something dramatic with a team after that loss. I always liked the old college approach of making the team practice after returning home from a loss. But that's more a high school thing than a NFL thing.

marpdagn: Hey, Gordo. Has Rasmus' stock fallen recently? All last year and up to the trade deadline this year, he was a can't miss "untouchable", yet we are hearing rumors that that is no longer the case. What's your take on Rasmus, where he fits next year and in the future? Seems to me that there is not room in the outfield for both Rasmus and Ankiel. Your take?

Jeff Gordon: Ankiel is pushing 30 and about to hit the big money. Rasmus is pushing 22 and a long way from free agency. Rasmus has more speed, Ankiel more power. Ankiel has a better arm, but Rasmus is better overall defensively.

Something does have to give in the outfield. The Cards will have to make a trade or two involving outfielders. Nice problem to have. But they would be crazy to deal Rasmus unless they get a 22-year-old shortstop or a 22-year-old left-handed starting pitcher.

HEG: Gordo summarizing the Cards year up to this point; the starting pitching has been adequate with all the injuries taken into consideration; the offense has struggled with men in scoring position with less than 2 outs; defense o.k.; then we get to the bullpen; you know at times they did their jobs but overall a disaster and I feel they are responsible for the Cards not being any higher in standings; boy they have a lot of major decision after- season ends; ex. whether to go with youth in pen, whether to add an impact bat in outfield because Shoe and Ankiels lack of hitting vs. lefthander; how many free-agent pitchers to re-sign; whether to go after better offensive hitters up the middle at second,shortstop; what is yuur take on these comments?

Jeff Gordon: You're on it. The Cards need a big RH bat at SS or 2B, two LH relievers and then two starting pitchers to replace Lohse and Looper -- unless the Cards keep those two. The righthanded relief will be OK with Perez, McClellan, Motte and Kinney.

The Goat: GORDO,
I don't know why everyone is giving Linehan such a hard time, he has shown he is really intense and wants to win? I think we need to get an even nicer guy in here to coach football?
Playing in a survivor pool this year will be fun, just pick who ever the Rams play.
At least we won't have to watch their home games on TV, they won't sell out anymore this season. They might torture us and make the game available to St. Louis Fans, that would be brutal.

Serena Williams and Ben Johnson would be a nice couple.

What did you think of Villegas' yellow belt and hat, metrosexual..I think not?
Do you think the Cubs will win the World Series? That's all they talk about in Chicago, how their going to win, who their going to beat..
Whatever you do, don't drive thru Chicago!

Jeff Gordon: The Cubs won't win the World Series without Zambrano. And the way they are playing, they won't get to the series.

Camilo can pull off that look. I can't.

bird_man: Gordo, thanks for your time. By now, we know what the needs of the Cardinals are for 2009, and the demand from other teams at those same positions. Could you please tell me what you envision as the starting lineup for the Cardinals next season? It's a hypothetical, but I figured you have a good grasp on who the Cardinals will acquire. Position players and pitching. Thanks!

Jeff Gordon: What the Cards will do is anybody's guess, because we are still learning about Mozeliak. He can make big deals, as he proved with Rolen/Glaus. I'll throw out a lineup that would be better that what the team has and would be easy to assemble.

1-Rasmus, CF (Over TLR's objection)
2-Ankiel, LF
3-Albert, 1B
4-Ludwick, OF
5-Glaus, 3B
6-Molina, C
7-Renteria,SS
8-pitcher
9-Lopez, 2B

Get Ankiel some more fastballs. Get some power and speed with Rasmus in the leadoff spot. Renteria provides more pop than Izturis. Lopez provides more pop at second base.

Of course, Mo will try to hit something bigger -- but there are so many pitching issues.

Rotation I can't predict, other than Carp, Wainwright and Wellemweyer will be at the top.