Joe Strauss: All right, everybody back up for 2008!!! After what must have been an excruciating wait for all of you, Joe Strauss Live!!! is back for a second season. Camp's been open for two weeks and as we speak the Cardinals are doing battle against St. Louis University at Roger Dean Stadium. It's been a very long winter for a number of reasons and I regret having to postpone our scheduled Feb. 13 opener. A personal matter intervened. We may make this a regular spring feature if last summer's tsunami of interest returns. We may also involve general manager John Mozeliak in an uncoming JSL!!! segment, turning Mo' loose on your questions with the ChatMeister on hand to provide the additional "perspective" you demand. Stay tuned. Since we haven't engaged in JSL!!! since late December, let's dispense with any further tease. Let's Get it On!!!

Fuhrig: Chatmeister,
Thanks for returning to take our questions, even when your thoughts must be elsewhere.

You wrote a few weeks ago that the Memphis ownership is unhappy with the talent they're getting. Is it possible that Juan Gonzalez -- RBI machine, two-time MVP, potential Hall of Famer, star of the Mitchell Report, pride of Puerto Rico -- was signed as a potential draw to sell tickets in Memphis? Thanks and regards,
Frank in Arlington, Virginia

Joe Strauss: The Redbirds won a PCL-least 56 games last season, their fifth losing season in five years. Attendance bottomed out, as even Rick Ankiel's presence and Mark Mulder's rehab did little to stir the fan base. I think it's fair to say a winning team would mean more to the franchise than a single "name" player. You never say... but I'm guessing you weren't totally on board with the signing of Gonzalez to a non-roster deal. A competent pitching staff might be a good start for the Triple-A town.

drelboc: Hi Joe;
You have been missed. I Hope you are doing well.
My question pertains to the the Cardinals 2nd base quagmire. Which Cardinal do you see as the cream that works his way to the top?

Thanks Joe!

Joe Strauss: Quagmire? I take it you're not too impressed with the possibilities offered by Adam Kennedy, D'Angelo Jimenez, Aaron Miles, Brendan Ryan, Jarrett Hoffpauir and Brian Barden. As TLR suggested earlier this spring, Kennedy is a potentially significant part of an improved offense. I suspect that some sort of modified platoon will emerge between Kennedy and Miles. However, Jimenez (a non-roster guy) has credible offensive credentials. Your skepticism about the positiion may prove well-founded, but I think it's OK to let the situation play out this spring before trashing it. If Kennedy reverts to what he was in Anaheim, the situation looks much different.
Thanks much for your kind greeting.

John Sepela: Joe
I don't understand the Juan Gonzalez situation. He didn't play the outfield during the winter leagues and the Cards didn't move to the AL, so they don't have access to the DH. Where, exactly, does he fit in this season in STL? Or was he strictly signed to help the AAA club?

Thanks
John

Joe Strauss: Gonzalez was signed primarily to provide a RH power option off the bench and an occasional outfield presence. He must play his way onto the team. The Cardinals were impressed that he would start the season at Memphis, if necessary. For a guy virtually out of the major leagues for three seasons, Juan G. looks in good physical shape. His bat will dictate the Cardinals' course. Intriguing for now.

Tacleberry: JSL,

Is it fair for me to be skeptical of reports from Cardinals traing camp? I mean seriously, the only reports that have materialized to be less are that of this ownership's willingness in free agency or at the trade deadline. Remember how good Kip Wells was last spring, need I remind this chat how that turned out. My pointis that it seems like the rose-colored lenses are often donned in Jupiter relaying more optimisim than realism to this fanbase.

Joe Strauss: Point well taken, TMan. The tendency is to look at the glass as at least half-full this time of year. When Anthony Reyes dials it up in live BP, you notice. Do you then erase his 2-14 '07 from your memory? No way. (Or at least I don't.) But when he walks into camp throwing strikes free and easy, you wonder where it might be headed. Your memory regarding Wells is spot-on. Many wanted to anoint Kipper as the Cardinals' next career turnaround midway through camp. Randy Keisler became an overnight sensation against the Twins last spring when he struck out 5 straight, including Justin Morneau. It's spring training. You don't fall in love in March or in September.

brian robertson: hey joe do you think the cards will sign another free agent pitcher? i would love to see the cards sign kyle lohse!! also i would love the cards to sign kenny lofton to be our leadoff man!! what do you think about it? thanks brian

Joe Strauss: There is a greater chance they'll sign another pitcher, but only if concerns grow about Matt Clement's status or Mark Mulder's ability to contribute before June. David Wells has expressed a willingness to come here after dissing St. Louis two years ago. Given a healthy Clement and a recovered Mulder, the rotation of Wainwright, Clement, Looper, Mulder and Pineiro does not look bad. That also creates a question about A. Reyes, who is not considered a good fit for relief.
Please no more suggestions about bringing 40-year-old leadoff men into camp...
As for Lohse... he was considered a top tier guy in an extremely thin market. He (or his agent) obviously overestimated his value. Given the money the Cardinals have tied up in their current starters, you'd have to tell me the benefit of adding another $5-6M.

Sue Dorn: "Normalty"???

Joe Strauss: Touche.
I believe the word to which you refer is "normality." I also believe a different headline ran in the P-D print edition regarding R. Ankiel.

Sandy in Cailifornia: Chatmeister,

Love your columns, DTV won't give me the Spring training show on Fox midwest(Blackout in my area like the idiot Giant fans can learn something top secret), can't wait for real games.
Anyway how is Albert's elbow in real life, and do you think he will make it through the season at 100% or not? Is surgery a real possability?

Thanks

Joe Strauss: Albert has been told not to wring out his arm in camp. He is making fewer throws than usual during drills while being monitored closely. The elbow is not 100 percent; the ligament is likely to further erode. There is a strong suspicion that replacement surgery is inevitable. The question is when. Pujols visited Dr. Jim Andrews this winter and was told he could continue to play. It's month to month.

Bruce, S. Dakota: Hi Joe, thanx 4 the insights!
Opening day outfield plan is Ankiel/Duncan/Shumaker/Ludwick & drum roll please->Gonzo. Barton is retained via DL allowing Juan a longer & real game look. Should Juan not cut it in Apr, he's sent down/out and activate Barton. If Gonzo is tearing it up and someone else falters early, Barton comes up. If all five are clicking, Barton heads back to Cleveland, and Rasmus comes up a month or two later when someone eventually falters/injures/gets traded.
Thoughts?

Joe Strauss: It's been a long winter in S. Dakota...

Ryan: How much will the knee hinder Brian Barton's chances of making the Cards' roster? I guess it's feeling good enough for him to knock out a HR in his first AB of the Spring, so that's a good sign!

Joe Strauss: Performance will dictate Barton's future. He has appeared to struggle at times during live batting practice but hit an opposite-field jack with a helping wind in Wednesday's first inning. He has looked raw against breaking stuff but it's still early in camp. His arm is somewhat short. Remember, the Cardinals must keep him on their 25-man roster all season or else allow the Indians to reclaim him for $25,000. The knee condition supposedly won't prevent Barton from participating fully. The more we see, the more we may like.

Catman: Joe,

If all of our starting pitchers have great early season performances and no one gets hurt the Cardinals could actually challenge the Cubs for an NL Central championship. However, I'm not at all sold on Mulder or Clement due to their past injury histories. If these two guys implode and Anthony Reyes has his usual inning or two that approaches 12.00 ERA each game we are in SERIOUS trouble. Wainwright should be very good but Carpenter's success this season will depend on his recuperation. His surgery doesn't suggest that he'll come back at 100% for quite some time after he returns. Looper and Piniero are decent 4 or 5 starters at best. How can the Cardinal's spin doctors possibly think that trusting in our present starting staff will produce anything but a season several games below .500? Doesn't pitching win championships anymore? I like the youth of this team and that their middle infield defense will be better. But doesn't this questionable pitching situation suggest "rebuilding" instead of "reloading"? THANX!

Joe Strauss: Come on, Fidel, I heard you had stepped down.
It's only spring training. Time to work on tightening up those questions. Based on your question-speech, it may be better to say: "I think the Cardinals' rotation is overmatched and am tired of you guys making it sound like the '71 Orioles." Try again next week.

Andrew Fleming: Don't you think it is in poor taste to let #15 go to someone else so soon after the Edmonds trade. All he's contributed to the Cards, they should at least give it a few years.

Joe Strauss: Others have noted the same. However, Hal McRae wore the number distinction during a long major-league career. I don't see how allowing McRae to wear his former number is a slap at Jimbo. I agree that the Cardinals should withhold the number from another player for a few years.

joel haynes: Is there a pretty good chance that the pitchers will hit 8th again this year? I think it actually worked pretty well last year.

Joe Strauss: TLR said he was leaning toward the arrangement prior to camp. On Tuesday, he said he would definitely go with the alignment. Enjoy.

roger from lake tahoe: joe - so great to get you back for more jsl live. my question has to do with reyes. in his major league career he has proven to be very effective for a few innings then suddenly blow up. this has to be a psychological problem. i think he should be given the long reliever job where he has done well. then work him into the rotation when he is confident and at his comfort level. does or has he worked with a sports psychologist? and if not then why?

Joe Strauss: I'm not a shrink and I don't play one on TV. Anthony has lacked the putaway pitch necessary to limit his pitch count in the major leagues. It doesn't take a mensa member to figure that the more pitches one has to make, the more prone he is to mistakes. If Anthony tightens command of his fastball, he'll become less vulnerable to big innings. I'd keep Dr. Phil on hold for now.

Ed: Joe,
Thanks for having Joe Stauss Live! I just read your article on Rolen. Who do you think was most at fault for the whole Rolen LaRussa spat? I have a hard time faulting a guy who wants to play even though he's hurt. Granted, he should have been more honest about being hurt so I could see why Tony was upset. It seems like the reason it got to point their relationship was beyond repair was that Tony making this public, the last straw being the comments he made at the winter meeting which I thought was totally unprofessional. It seems like if he would have kept this in the club house from the beginning they could have worked through this. There are times to call out players publically (especially if they slacking off), this didn't seem like one of them. Your thoughts? Thanks,
Ed

Joe Strauss: The Cardinals were committed to trading Rolen before the winter meetings. Though the organization spin insisted he would be with them in spring training, the potential disruption and obvious acrimony between player and manager made it impossible. The club would have invited a six-week circus. The situation nearly came to a head after the '06 season but both parties entered a truce after ownership and the front office got involved. After Rolen and La Russa met last September, the situation was irreconcilable. Tony's comments may have increased the degree of difficulty -- J. Mozeliak could not be pleased by TLR's Nashville comments -- but it did nothing to change the ultimate outcome.

Michael B.: If I remember right, Jarrett Hoffpauir was invited to the Major League Camp. How is he doing? Does he have a chance to make the team?

Joe Strauss: You remember correctly. Hoffpauir enjoyed an impressive offensive season at Springfield and Memphis last season. He is considered a limited defensive player, however, and that will likely offer a significant hurdle to his further advancement.

The Guch: Where did my man Goldberg go? I thought he'd Phollow me to Philly.

Joe Strauss: Joel Goldberg is in Kansas City where he will make Dayton Moore's job pure Hades. We wish him all the best.

Matt D: If Bonds could help the team, would you sign him? If so what lefthand outfielder would he take at bats from. Also do you think the season ticket holders would revolt?

Joe Strauss: Barry Bonds might help this team but, no, I would not sign him. I think whatever patience the fan base has for a re-tooling would immediately evaporate. That's my 2 cents.

Joe Strauss: OK, chatheads. That's going to have to hold you for this week. After a week of exhibitions we'll have more to go on next week. This is going to be an extremely interesting five weeks. Sorry I didn't get to more of your questions today but, hey, it's spring training for writers, too.