Dave Mac: Hey Joe, Hope you are enjoying spring training. The Cards are currently tied for first place this year, and this may hold up all they into late March, say the 31st or so.

My question is this, now that the Cards are going after another pitcher (the last of the ones who couldn't find a job anywhere else). Is there any reason to think we are really in contention this year? Houston, Milwaukee and Chicago all added good players, we did not. Really, give us some hope here.

Joe Strauss: We deal in reality at JSL!!! Hope's down the street at soft-and-cuddly Bird Cage, er, Bird Land. As were you, I was disappointed in last season's finish, though rampant injuries contributed heavily. It's very disconcerting that there are more questions about the rotation today than when camp opened. It's telling when Dave Duncan says he has never dealt with so many issues so deep into camp. Dunc' says it's not time to panic. The ChatMeister, for one, thinks a little panic might be in order for the front office.
You want hope? Good seats are still available for the season's second game. How's that?

LPD: Any chance Schumaker will be the everyday centerfielder instead of Ankiel? I think Schu is better defensively in center and Ankiel's arm is used to best advantage in right.
Thoughts??
Thanks!!!

Joe Strauss: I can live with either. Ankiel has the division's best OF arm, but Schumaker isn't far behind. Schu has lost some explosiveness in his legs since undergoing knee surgery two years ago. Ankiel takes some funny routes to balls but will likely grow into the position quickly. Impressive outfield arms are a rare commodity these days. Watching Ankiel and Schumaker gun the ball is an underrated pleasure.

Jeff: Joe, With the addition of Joel P's arm woes and with all the other question marks surrounding the staff, if this team were to leave camp now it would have the worst pitching staff on opening day of any team in modern Cardinal memory. I understand Mo's caution, but, come on -- Cardinal fans have earned the right to expect at least an attempt to find help to address the issue. I can understand not wanting Ponson (baggage) or Colon (medical woes), but there are a couple of pitchers out there who could help out so that the season wouldn't be a throw-away season. I'd appreciate your views on the remaining pitchers who we could possibly acquire -- and which ones you feel would be the best fit for the team. Thanks. Jeff from Iowa.

Joe Strauss: The club is moving on Lohse, though ownership is not enthralled with spending heavy jack on him. Beyond that, the club must pursue trades, and teams are reluctant to part with arms for another 7-10 days. Ironically, the Chicago Cubs are perhaps best-equipped to deal a starter. Sean Marshall would be a nice fit. Jason Marquis, probably not.

Tackleberry: I can't help but feel a mild satisfaction watching the Cardinals have to potentially shell out $5 million for Lohse, when they could have signed Colon/Fogg/Ponson to a much friendlier deal had they not been such tight wads. You can't blame the ownership for injuries to Pineiro, but a better medical evaluation of Clement and a more honest assessment of the Mulder/Carpenter situation probably would have allowed the Cardinals to avoid this pinch by adding a couple more suitable arms early on.

Joe Strauss: So noted, T'Man.

The Slider: Joe: Don't really know where to begin. The Cardinals middle infield looks like a joke, the rotation looks like a minor league staff and to top it off there seems to be a substance abuse stigma hanging over this team. Is this a last place team?

Joe Strauss: Notice the ChatMeister goes where Mo' did not tread. The Opening Day rotation has issues. The club acted decisively regarding Spiezio so I'm not sure it's fair to assign it additional hangover. I don't see this as a last place team. The Pirates are woeful. But I can not lie: The ChatMeister prognosticated a fifth-place finish for the Birds in Sporting News' baseball annual. Then again, I picked them to win last season, so whaddaIknow.