heynow: Can you please explain the rule 5 draft? Thanks for you time. :)

Jeff Gordon: The Rule 5 draft allows teams to poach prospects from other organizations under certain conditions:

The player drafted cannot be on the other team's 40-man roster.
The player drafted has been a professional for three years (if signed at 19 or older) or four years (if signed 18 and younger).
The player must stay on the big league roster (25 men, plus disabled) of the new team for one entire season. He cannot be sent to the minors without clearing waivers or being offered back to his original team. He cannot be warehoused on the disabled list for the whole season.
(He can be sent to the minors on a injury rehab assignment, as Brian Barton was last season.)
Once the player spends a whole season on the big-league roster, as Barton did, then he is a regular member of the 40-man roster and normal rules apply.

It cost $50,000 to poach players under these circumstance. The idea is to keep teams from stockpiling prospects in the minors without giving them a chance to advance.

Tim: Im not backing up Incognito at all when I say this I think hes a completeidiot so dont get me wrong but before people judge him anymore Id like to say one thing. He has had to hear from fans all year how much him and his teamates suck and how this guy should leave town and how this guy needs to sit the bench and also how hes a loser because he nearly cost a win but showed that theres someone on that team that actually cares about winning. But everybody is so shocked when he says somthing back to the fans showing off his frutration on how no matter what stadium hes in(even the dome) hes going to get cheered against. So how exactly does that get anyone on that team motivated to play knowing your getting cheered against in your own stadium. So I just thought Id defend Richie a little even though it was an idiotic thing to say. Thanks Gordo always look forward to monday chats

Jeff Gordon: Misguided though he may be, Richie does care. Fans want to run him out of town, but he could really blossom in a different setting -- one where there is more leadership and peer policing.

Tim: Since the Braves are pretty much out of the running for Peavy do you thin the Cards might jump in? Just kind of an idea what about Ankiel Todd and McClellan for Peavy?

Jeff Gordon: Don't rule Atlanta out. There is still room for give and take there. The Braves have a shortstop to move, which really appeals to the Padres. Ankiel would be difficult to lock into a long-term deal, so I'm not sure that would interest San Diego. The Padres really have financial trouble now.

And I'd rather keep Todd and McClellan for low dollars and bet on their progress next season.

Tim: So whats going on with Bell why is he losing so much weight I mean 20 pounds since the start of the season thats not good for a lineman. Its the obvious reason why hes struggling if he can get back to 300 theres not a doubt in my mind he will be the Jacob Bell of Tennesee.

Jeff Gordon: That is one of the mysteries of the season. As it stands today, Bell is a massive free-agent bust along the lines of Drew Bennett.

Michael Gordon: Remind me why the ramsare paying Green so much. The guy was good like 6 years ago.

All the players in STL are losers and are so used to losing that they drop their heads the moment something goes wrong. And that attitude infects everyone who comes in. Most of the defense have horrible football instincts.

Finally, is tye hill still under an injury cloud or do the rams really feel that Jon Wade is a better option to be active. Dear god, talk about a bust.

Jeff Gordon: Hill is not at full speed. There is a lot of rebuilding to do there, physically and mentally. And, yes, he rates as a major bust at this point in his career.