Joe Strauss: All right, everybody up for another riveting session of Joe Strauss Live!!! Once more, the ChatHeads are goofyfooting on the Internet tsunami that is JSL!!! Thanks for taking a moment of your time to put down your NFL draft projections and schedule rankings. Hopefully, the next 60 minutes will provide meaning to an otherwise drab work day. I know it does for me. Without further ado, Let's Get It On!!!

Rose Levy: Hey JSL!!!
This is my first post though I have been an avid reader for some time. Just curious on your thoughts, what if the starting pitchers we are bringing back from injury don't perform as well as the ones we are currently starting? (i.e. pineiro over thompson) would TLR/Duncan consider just pitching the best availiable pitcher and not consider salary/commitment? thanks!

Joe Strauss: Pretty good query for a first-timer, Rose. TLR insists the rotation is a place for the "five best available." Many, perhaps you included, wonders if the statement reads "five best available*...."

As in, "the five best available except in cases where a players is signed to a multi-year deal."

TLR insists he doesn't manage this way but there is significant pressure for Pineiro and Mulder to perform since the club has committed a combined $24.5 million to them. TLR acknowledges Pineiro returned to soon from the disabled list. Now, the club has limited options except to carry 13 pitchers to compensate for short innings from the rotation. I also believe until Pineiro finds his form, it makes it doubly difficult to activate Mulder. Wellemeyer is among the league strikeouts leaders but is not a consistent 7-inning pitcher. Looper remains dogged by consistency issues. Lohse had been outstanding until Tuesday. But the fact remains this team and its bullpen are in trouble whenever Adam Wainwright or Lohse throws a shoe. My answer: to think that such matters are not affected by salary is naive. Let's just say those making the gold get every benefit of the doubt. (See: Mark Mulder, 2006; Matt Morris, 2005 postseason.)

G Money: Mr Chat:

You have just replaced T. LaRussa and MO as manager and GM. B. Ryan is now on the roster for which picther? Do you replace Izturis with Ryan? If not, how much playing time does he get?

Our pitching depth can be used for trades. Do you trade for another middle infielder with a good bat or for more top notch minor league talent?

Joe Strauss: G. Money, you have just described a dream scenario for many within Cardinal nation. However, accepting both roles would represent a loss of power, influence and money, so I'm unfortunately not available. As for your question, Ryan should take Brad Thompson's roster spot barring an injury to another pitcher on the team charter to Pittsburgh. I can envision a time share between Ryan and Izturis, not a replacement. I would hold off trading for another middle infielder unless a significant talent (Brian Roberts?) can be had. Why change Band-Aids? If you recall, this year was about transition and discovering what the organization has to offer. A positive start has overshadowed that underlying truth.
Remember: Kool-Aid is fine in appropriate doses. Drinking too much causes loss of perspective. Examples abound in local broadcast media.

Todd Fechtman: Mr. Chatster
Why does Glaus look so non chalant at the plate?
His hitting really can only improve, because right now he's at the bottom of the bucket.
He doesn't look like a power hitter to me, does he look like one to you?
I'm really disappointed with his overall play and lack of enthusiasm.
How does he perform in batting practice?

I took my son to the game Friday night, what a treat! The ball that Pujols hit sounded like it got shot out of a Cannon. Thanks.

Joe Strauss: Glaus is more concerned about his hitting than even you and the ChatMeister, Todd. I don't know about nonchalant. At times, he looks as if he's pressing for his first home run. Glaus had six hits in three games entering the Pittsburgh series and is driving the ball more frequently. Glaus is a limited defender. That should come as no revelation except to those who pimped the guy as a legitimate defensive replacement for Scott Rolen, arguably the best third baseman of his era. Right now, Glaus' hardest hit balls are to the deepest part of the park. The Cardinals have played at Busch (a poor hitter's park early in the season), AT&T (the toughest HR park in the league) and now go to PNC (a RH hitter's nightmare). There may be a question whether Glaus remains a 30-HR guy, but he is still a power bat. Hold off on the "another Tino Martinez" letters for now.

alrammer: Oh wise one, answer why everybody keeps making a big deal that the cardinals are batting the pitcher 8th and Itzuris 9th? Why a big deal? The pitcher simply is a better hitter than Itzuris!

Joe Strauss: Both points well taken. I enjoyed a recent USA Today article that devoted a forest's worth of newsprint to determine that hitting the pitcher 8th is neither a plus or a minus. But it's a great distraction from more legitimate issues confronting the team, so why not keep it rolling?