Joe Strauss: All right, everybody back up as we begin another rousing hour or two of Joe Strauss Live!!! direct from the palacial upper study of StraussHaus in suburban St. Louis. The Commish, Rick Hummel, is working the beat in Detroit while the ChatMeister enjoys some long overdue and well deserved down time with Mrs. ChatMeister and our lovely daughter, both of whom heavily are suggesting I do various household chores that the JSL!!! budget unfortunately can't contract to outside help. As Mark Mulder would say, "Whatever." From the looks of things, the tsunami of questions is rolling in as predictably as the tides. If you're reading this now, consider yourself cutting edge. If you're reading later, you've probably heard many of the bits ripped off by local broadcast media. Such is life as an Internet goliath. Let's Get It On!!!!

Dave Cobler: Hi Joe;
If I understood your closing remarks from last week, you were wanting us chatheads to grade the various parts of the Cardinal club at this point. OK, here goes...

Manager & Coach's: A+
Starting pitching: A
Relief Pitching:
right handers: B+
left handers: C
Team Defense: B+
Team AVG Hitting: B
Team Power: C+
Team Speed: B
Stolen Base: C
Team chemistry: A+

If I were to put a label on this 08 Club, I might call them the "REDBIRD BOBBERS". Just when you think they are down, they "BOB" back up, as we have seen most recently in the KC and Boston series. Also no one is giving them any respect or hope from the start of spring training to present.
But there you have it Joe. Those grades are all from mere observation as I have not missed a game this year.
How would you grade my overall grade and I would be interested to see how you grade these REDBIRD BOBBERS according to the categories I have listed.

As always, thanks for your thoughts Joe!

Joe Strauss: I think you're in the ballpark, Dave. As much scrutiny as the rotation has received, it's second in innings and third in ERA among NL clubs. I might be a little tougher on the bullpen by knocking down each side a half-grade. I'd rate the power a C and the defense a B. Nothing dramatic. Thanks for your opinion. Hopefully others will share as well.

john: You thoughts about Mulder starting again? Is this a sign of the 7 horsemen?

Joe Strauss: Is the Mulder situation such a fiasco that the Almighty has added three more horseman to the Apocalypse. You've got a bigger starting field than the Preakness. War, Famine, Pestilence, Bad Back, Bad Rotator Cuff, Strange Arm Slot, Uninsured Contract... oh, the humanity.

Tackleberry: JSL,

I'm reading your Monday blurb titled "Izzy Acsending" and I am cringing. How in the world do you characterize that performance on Sunday as anything resembling an ascension? Izzy walked two, allowed a hit, and needed 24 pitches to get out of that frame. Plus he got a huge boost from Cora who swung at a ball that almost hit him.

Joe Strauss: The ChatMeister doesn't "blurb," Tackle... He composes, crafts and hones. That said, the reference was to Izzy striking out consecutive hitters in a bases loaded situation on pitches that induced swings and misses. Isringhausen couldn't miss a bat for three weeks before disabled. Would it have been better if he'd thrown 9 pitches and gotten beat? If Cora is swinging at a bat that almost hit him, might it be because there was late movement on the pitch?
Blurb, indeed.

Brett: What do you think the Cardinals 2009 rotation will look like? We have a lot of young guys, although they could use a little more seasoning. Do you see them going after another starter, either at the deadline this year or in the offseason?

Joe Strauss: As stated in last week's chat, I expect the Cardinals to more actively pursue pitching than a bat. Given Mulder's situation, Clement's move to the bullpen, Carpenter's setback and the lack of confidence in A. Reyes, B. Thompson and apparently M. Boggs as this point in his career, I anticipate the team will investigate rentals like Randy Wolf and C.C. Sabathia and perhaps Erik Bedard, who has done a fantastic job of underperforming while alienating the entire population of Seattle. If you're looking for a Pineiro type this season, Miguel Batista could be had after being shipped to the Mariners' bullpen. (Batista is signed through next season and is getting absolutly smoked this season. The M's would have to offer significant salary relief in any such deal.)