Joe Strauss: All right, everybody way, way up for another satisfying session of Joe Strauss Live!!! coming at you from the Cliffs at 8th Avenue, otherwise known as the Busch Stadium press box. We've got a lot of grown to cover as many of you seem fixated on various outfielders either with the major league club or at Memphis. At least I'm coming to you from the Central Time Zone this week, unlike last weeks 11 a.m. Pacific Coast time challenge. (Question: If the ChatMeister posts at 11 a.m., does that mean it takes two hours to reach St. Louis? Ahhh, a free public education is a great thing.) Without further ado, let's goofyfoot for 60 or 90 minutes on the Internet tsunami that is JSL!!!

Lynn: Omniscient Chatmeister, is there any word about how Izzy looked when he threw off the mound last Friday? Is there any word about what his "rehab" schedule looks like while he is on the DL?

Joe Strauss: Eyewitness accounts said it went "fine." I don't think there was any question about whether Izzy would handle a situation in Florida. Even during his struggles with the Cardinals he was described as lights out in the bullpen. Problems began once he came through the door. There has been no estimate of when and where Izzy will begin his minor-league rehab, but I think it's fair to expect a game (or five) at Palm Beach, Springfield and Memphis before he's seen back at Busch. He is disabled, so technically it's an open-ended arrangement. Once he begins a rehab assignment, he's on a 30-day clock.

Larry Harnly: Precisely what will Jason Isringhausen prove working out in Florida? If he gets extended spring training hitters out, he should. He needs a confidence boost, but how will getting those hitters out accomplish that? He needs better command of his curve, which could happen. If he is healthy, why can't he return in a short period? Who is the last veteran closer you can recall being sent to the minors for a similar reason?

Joe Strauss: Well, his hand has apparently healed enough for him to face hitters on Monday. The issue is more mental than physical. He was having problems before his open-ended smash of a clubhouse TV in Milwaukee. The Cardinals don't want him back until he sorts through the confidence problems he was experiencing. Bringing him back in a role other than closer invites a bunch of other questions the club believes would represent another set of distractions. The last guy I remember going through something like this was Mark Wohlers, who closed out a World Series for the Atlanta Braves before experiencing an Ankiel-like problem with command. The Braves eventually disabled him, citing "inability to perform." Wohlers resurfaced eventually but was never the same. He is now out of the game.

eshawn: What do you think about the possibility (probability?) of instant replay in baseball? My worry is that once they have it for home runs, it will be expanded to out/safe at first base or home plate, then eventually, balls and strikes. And while they are at it, they might as well look closely at those double plays. Also, I don't think there is any way they can do this in a timely fashion and the game is long enough now! Enjoy the live chats, sometimes informative and always entertaining!

Joe Strauss: Sometimes informative? If you ain't learning here, eshawn, then you'd better put down the pipe and pay more attention.
As for you replay question... I'm against it for some of the reasons you cite. Home runs will be the first excuse. Before long, advocates will expand its usage for safe/out, fair/foul calls. I doubt it would ever be used for balls and strikes, but you'd have to be fairly naive to think those currently pushing it for home runs would stop there. Games that already stretch for more than 3 hours would become interminable. In other words, we agree. But do something about the pipe habit, man.

Rick: Joe
I enjoy this every wednesday. My question is what are the Cards going to do about the six hole in the batting order? Its always a weak spot that I think needs upgraded. What can be done to make it a damage spot. Thanks Rick

Joe Strauss: The Cardinals' No. 6 hitters have currently driven in 23 runs. The league average for the spot is 26. However, No. 6 hitters here enjoy the game's most prolific on-base machine (Pujols) hitting three spots ahead. The .757 OPS is middle of the road, almost the same as the Chicago Cubs (.764). Most of that is attributed to Yadier Molina's improved batting average. The pitcher hitting two, rather than three spots, behind also skews the equation somewhat. I believe with smurfs hitting No. 7, No. 8, No. 9 and No. 1, the Cardinals need more power in the No. 6 spot, a la Larry Walker, Reggie Sanders, etc. It comes back down to needing one more power bat. It's why TLR wanted the club to dive headfirst into the Tejada trade talks.