Joe Strauss: All right, tsunami-riding ChatHeads. Everybody Up!!! for the third regular-season edition of Joe Strauss Live!!! I hope all of you can tear yourself away from the non-stop analysis of the Rams' 2008 schedule to endure 60, 90 or even 120 minutes of talk about the local first-place nine. Far be it to criticize the local 75 cent publication, but doesn't it seem priorities are a little skewed when there's a poster-sized schedule of a team preparing to exercise the draft's No. 2 overall pick and the ChatMeister is ONLY stripped across the TOP OF THE PAGE!!! How about tease to the Rams' schedule (4-12, realistic; 5-11, optimistic; 6-10, seek counseling for Kool-Aid addiction) while poster-sizing the ChatMeister!!! Give the people what they want!!! Oh, well, without further delay, let's dive into hardcore analysis of the NL Central's dominant team du jour.

Will L: JSL!!! Always love reading the Q+A.

First off, I'm glad to see the cards off to a solid start. My question has to deal with Kyle Lohse. I know its early but my feelings are that we need to lock him up for 3 maybe 4 years. Give him 30 million with some escalators and get rid of Clement. I know Clement can be nasty, but he hasnt been healthy and Lohse is a solid workhorse that is tearing lineups up NOW.

What is your view on this?

Joe Strauss: Is this Scott Boras appearing under a pseudonym? Lohse has pitched three games after signing a one-year, $4.25 million deal. He's an innings-eater regarded as something of an underachiever. His demo fits neatly with those who have improved under Papa Dunc'. But let's wait until at least, oh, the end of May before we start telling ownership to open up the vault. Clement is making progress in Jupiter but is still weeks away from meaningful competition. I'll grant you this: The Lohse signing was a solid stroke by John Mozeliak. He slow-played the market and found value. Remember how this works the next time the bonfire-and-pitchforks crowd is screaming to give some career 68-79 pitcher $10 million per for four years.

Scott: I know the Cardinals are looking for a bat behind Albert, and for three years or so I have thought about Ken Griffey JR. Can he be had?

Joe Strauss: Griffey is in the final year of a deal that pays him $12.5 million this season plus a $4 million buyout if the club does not exercise his option for '09. A healthy Griffey would be interesting but you're assuming several things... 1. He stays healthy, 2. The club does not want to promote Colby Rasmus near the trade deadline, 3. The Cardinals are in contention, 4. The Cardinals are willing to part with one of their current five. It's interesting Roto talk but I don't see it happening unless the Reds were suddenly willing to pay a division rival to take its marketing centerpiece off its hands. Doubtful.

Nathan: I think the Cardinals need more production from the middle infield, and I doubt they'll get it from the combination of Izturis, Kennedy and Miles. At last look, they're all batting around .220. Any chance of prying Brian Roberts loose from Baltimore? He seems to be a durable and productive player, who can steal some bases. Will we see Hoffpauir, currently playing 2B at Memphis, in St. Louis this year? It appears he's off to a fast start, batting .371 w/ an .896 OPS as of April 14. What's the status on Brendan Ryan and will he have a spot in St. Louis when he's healthy?

Joe Strauss: The Cardinals have long had interest in Roberts, due $6.3 million this year and $8 million next. The Cardinals also owe Adam Kennedy $3.5 million this season and $4 million next. I'd say $20 million for two years is a lot to pay for second base unless you can find a taker for Kennedy and his contract. I do believe the Cardinals are amassing enough pieces to broker a significant trade, but the Orioles remain one of the most difficult teams to deal with because of a dysfunctional structure.
Hoffpauir is again hitting well but he is tagged as a limited defensive player. He can't play anywhere else, which is also a strike unless you count him as an everyday player.
Ryan is due to arrive in Springfield any day to continue his rehab assignment. A place on the roster depends on who TLR believes more valuable: Ryan or Rico Washington.

Derek in San Francisco: Joe,
Thanks for fielding my question last week regarding Duncan. I went to the games this past weekend and paid attention to Duncan. He saw the ball really well Saturday. I understand we've got him locked in for a while, and it makes sense to keep him, but where and when do we play him? He even butchered a ball on Sunday at 1B that Pujols likely handles. Also, Ryan Ludwick deserves more playing time. He was clutch, hit the ball hard, and handles RF pretty well.

Joe Strauss: Always glad to make a ChatHead's week. It's a good problem when playing time becomes an issue among five productive players. Agreed, Duncan has struggled so far with a hamstring problem but he's lifted his average to .310 and has taken almost as many walks (6) as strikeouts (7). Ludwick has homered in his last three starts. Schumaker is en fuego. Barton remains intriguing and Ankiel leads the team in home run and RBI while re-surfacing above .300 last night. This bunch is ownership's dream: five guys making a total $2.65M or so accounting for 29 of the team's 64 RBI and 34 of its 66 runs. As for Dunc's defense at 1B... he's no Gold Glover but El Hombre, who is, whiffed on a ball last Saturday that cost Jason Isringhausen a save.