Joe Strauss: OK, your favorite hour (or two) of the week has arrived as Joe Strauss Live!!! is set to go from the Enron Field, er, Minute Maid Park press box. I'm sure the ChatHeads are ready to dive into the team's 6-2 start which, according to one P-D on-line wag, has made "fools" of the "so-called experts." I don't if a Kool-Aid addiction has gripped the Heartland or not, but the club played exceptionally well on its first home stand and obviously was within one ground ball of reversing Monday's loss. As we speak the Cardinals lead both leagues in ERA (2.41) and possess a plus-12 run differential despite standing tied for 11th in the NL in total bases and 14th in home runs. Intriguing stuff. I'm sure a tsunami of intriguing questions awaits the ChatMeister, so Let's Get It On!!!

Dave B: An open comment:

I would truly be extremely embarrassed if Cardinals fans treated an opposing team the way I just watched Houston treat us during their opening day ceremonies! I wouldn't necessarily cheer them loudly, but I certainly have more class than to boo them the way our players were booed today. That was downright rude! Your take?

Joe Strauss: Rudeness at a ballpark? No way. Next thing you know Cardinals fans will be yelling nasties at the Chicago Cubs when they hit town May 2-4. I've never heard of such a thing. Of course, JSL!!! looks upon rudeness as it does sarcasm. Never happen on this forum... Next.

Dave Laskarzewski: Mr. Strauss, Mr. LaRussa is one of the game's most successful managers. And, as respectfully as I can say, he has to be one of the most frustrating.

The Cards are rolling along. Five in a row. They show up in Houston's bandbox against a lefty. So Izturis - who is performing reasonably well hitting ninth - leads off and Duncan is batting 6th.

I don't understand. Maybe I'm not meant to understand. Chatmeister, help me understand. Thanks.
Why mess with what's working?

Joe Strauss: TLR wanted Chris Duncan in the lineup. (Dunc's only HR against lefthanded pitching was an upper deck shot at Minute Maid against Monday starter Wandy Rodriguez.) Obviously, Dunc' is not a leadoff candidate. Izturis has batted leadoff frequently in his career, though his OBP is admittedly light. As we speak, Little Cesar has a .429 OBP against lefthanded pitching. Yes, it's a small sample but the manager was looking for the best option for one day. Many of you, no doubt, wanted to see Brian Barton in the lineup. Fair enough. Barton's strength is not against breaking stuff and anyone who watched Monday noted that Rodriguez shut down the Redbirds with his curveball. You can argue the point, but that's the facts, Jack. The Cardinals will doubtless face Rodriguez again this season. The lineup next time will be worth noting.

Dave Cobler: Hi Joe;
Coming into the season my hope was that the Cards would at least compete from game to game win or lose. 7 games into the season and that has happened...and I think it will continue.
It appears that the opposing teams are going to pitch around Pujols until it gets around the league that they can't. So it is critical that the 4 and 5 holes be clutch and consistent. Which brings me to my question. Is Rick Ankiel and Troy Glaus your choice for 4 and 5 or would you rather see it switched up or someone else hit there? In my mind this is an issue that has got to work itself out by the end of the May so that the greatest hitter in the game gets his opportunities to swing at some decent strikes. To see him walk 200 times is a crime to the fans who pay big money to go to the park to watch him hit. It will be a very frustrating thing to see game in and game out.

Thank you Joe.

Joe Strauss: Good eye, senor. El Hombre already has walked eight times and last night appeared to expand his strike zone against Shawn Chacon. Though Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen were in decline or hurt last season, their reputations still commanded respect. The Rockies, Nats and Astros appear willing to challenge Glaus and Ankiel until further notice. Your observation has not escaped the notice of the team's front office. Ankiel appears more comfortable hitting in front of Albert rather than behind him. Glaus traditionally hits better in the No. 5 slot than the No. 4. It's an intriguing situation, and one that I can see becoming frustrating to Albert, who has yet to walk 100 times in a season but is on pace for 162.

P.S.: As for what the fans want to see... The game is played to be won. If a manager thinks he gives his team its best chance by walking a dangerous rival, so be it. If the club doesn't like it, do something to better protect your offensive centerpiece.

Catman: O Chatmeister,

It may be only one week into a long season, but will your profound pessimism of this team ever dwindle? The Cardinals are demonstrating real potential in a division that lacks a standout team. Do you still think our beloved Redbirds will be a sub .500 team by the end of September? Say it ain't so, Joe!

Joe Strauss: Those who accuse the ChatMeister of "profound pessimism" simply do not know his glass-one-eighth-full personality. Looking at the standings, I see a Milwaukee Brewers team that is 6-1 and ranked in the top three in hitting, pitching and defense. But, oh, wait. It's only seven or eight games, you say. At this point the ChatMeister thanks you for making his point.
The Cardinals have been better defensively than expected (at least here). Their rotation entered Tuesday night with a 1.12 ERA, prompting one ChatHead to wonder what happens if this keeps up all season. Well, if it keeps up all season, Bob Gibson's 1968 looks pretty ordinary, and that ain't gonna happen. Perspective, people, perspective.