Joe Strauss: All right, everybody up for another always-too-brief session of Joe Strauss Live!!! We're coming at you Live!!! from Roger Dean Stadium where the Cardinals are getting ready to duel the D.C. Nationales in the first of a day-night doubleheader. I may have to cut short today's chat before it's scheduled 2 p.m. conclusion but I'm sure loyal ChatHeads will recognize the ChatMeister's commitment to starting things an hour earlier than listed. So without further delay, let's get it on!!!

Scott: Hey Joe,

There has been a lot of talk about 2008 being a transition year for the Cards, and that there would be more aggressive spending and re-loading after this season in preparation for 2009 because of increased payroll flexibility. If that is true, what will create the flexibility, how much payroll will be freed up, and exactly what do the Cardinals plan to spend this newly created money on?

Joe Strauss: Depdending on whose options are declined or rejected, the club could realize about $38 million in flexibility after this season. Jason Isringhausen ($8 million) is due for free agency and the club holds an option on Mark Mulder ($6.5M). Juan Encarnacion ($6.5M), Braden Looper ($5.5M), Scott Spiezio (2.5M) and Russ Springer ($3.5M) are among those scheduled to come off the books. Matt Clement is guaranteed a $1.5M base but has achievable incentives worth another $7M. Troy Glaus' salary decreased by $1.5M next season while Chris Carpenter, Joel Pineiro and Yadier Molina enjoy salary escalators. As for how they'll spend it, here's hoping the club will expand its search to beyond pitchers with questionable injury histories and position players who can be had on one-year contracts. I make no guarantees.

Dave: Hey Joe,

So why does the club need to pay Spezio? Surely they have conduct clauses in their contracts. The reason the union is so strong is that the clubs are scared to fight for what is right. It just frosts me that these weaklings who lie and can't conduct themselves responsibly still make out like bandits. Spezio ought to man up and walk away from his contract .... but I know that puts me in fantasy land.

Joe Strauss: Spiezio has not been convicted of any wrongdoing, only charged. If the Cardinals had attempted to suspend him they would have faced a lengthy and potentially nasty challenge from the Players Association. Would the club have banished Spiezio from camp? A decision was made that the potential distraction was not worth $2.4 million. A better question might be: Why would the club guarantee Spiezio, a utility player, two years? Remember, the Seattle Mariners released Spiezio from a multi-year deal before he signed as a non-roster player with the Redbirds. Another question might be why the club believed a month's outpatient treatment for drug and alcohol abuse was sufficient to bring him back last September. What happened in California last December reflected a series of miscalculations by the club, in the ChatMeister's opinion.

a two-year contract

Catman: Chatmeister,

I'm dreaming of a top notch starting five for the Cardinals, but I always end up waking up in a cold sweat! No Carp, and big gambles on Clement and Mulder. I'd like to think that some of the youngsters like Wellemeyer and Reyes could be very productive from the start. Do you think that Reyes and Wellemeyer could have breakout years?
I love the Juan Gonzalez pick up. Isn't he a sure bet to make the move north on the 25 man roster? Which OF's do you think will start the season in Memphis?
Why not give the kid Brandon Ryan the starting job at SS? The errors he had last year were primarily at 3rd and 2nd. He looked pretty darn good when he played SS. He's also the best offensive threat we have at SS.
Thanks Joe.. keep up the goooooood work!

Joe Strauss: Lots of questions here. The ChatMeister will address a few. Wellemeyer turns 30 in August. He's no youngster. The starting rotation is in transition as the club waits on Mulder and Carpenter, who are due more than $17 million this season. Reyes recent comments about his better self-image as a pitch do not exactly square with the organization's perception that he badly needs to develop a put-away pitch. Clement is vital for the innings he represents. If he goes south, it's Groundhog Day for the rotation. A shortage of innings will again stress the bullpen. As for the sweats, try Benadryl.
I may touch on some of your other interrogatives later.

Catman: Joe,

Is Kyle McClellan a real threat to get some innings as a starter in St. Louis before the Sept 1 callup??

Joe Strauss: That depends on how he performs at Memphis and the stability of the Cardinals' rotation. I would give him a shot. McClellan has been impressive so far this spring, though I may differ from some camp followers who have him ticketed for Cooperstown. Let's see how he handles the rotation after spending last season in relief. He's got decent mechanics, a good assortment of pitches and appears to have an idea. He's 23. And, of course, HE's LOCAL. There are things to like. But he's never made a start above Class A. Let's not hyperventilate yet.