San Sebastian: I hope DeRosa ends up being a good first piece to addressing the Cardinals' woes, but we all know that what this team needs is protection for Albert. There seems to a lot of speculation about Matt Holliday, but I was just wondering about another slugger who plays for a woeful team - Adam Dunn. Even with his deadly defense, his 20 home runs and 56 RBIs would certainly provide protection for Albert. Then we can trade Duncan to an AL team for 50 pounds of veggie burgers and three stray cats. Do you think Dunn would be a good fit?

Joe Strauss: The club has previously had little interest in Dunn. Ironically, I thought Duncan offered resembled Adam Dunn Light his first couple seasons. Dunn is due $12 million next season. That's a heavy doughnut to swallow.

kwpres: As it stands today...odds....in your humble opinion...

Tony re-signing another contract with the Cards...

Pujols agreeing to any extension in the next 12 months...

Joe Strauss: TLR: A coin flip
EL Hombre: Possibly dependent on what Tony does. I'd give it 2-to-1 against right now.

Dan Curry: Can someone tell me what, exactly, is the matter with Troy Glauss? All you hear is that he's not ready, or still rehabbing. What does Glaus say? Whats the time schedule? Does he ever visit the team in St Louis?

Joe Strauss: Glaus suffered a tear in a muscle supporting his right shoulder. The remedy was to smooth the tear but not close it. He is hitting fine but experiencing discomfort throwing. The club plans to send him to Florida Thursday and hopefully on a minor-league rehab 7-10 days after that. Glaus has been in Phoenix and not seen in these parts since the season's first week.

chacha: Joe, reading about Rasmus's hiatal hernia made us curious about the pre/post-game spreads. Do the Cardinals have a team nutritionist? Is the players' food cooked in the stadium? Who chooses the menu? And most important, what do the media get to eat?

Joe Strauss: Rasmus' condition has more to do with how much he eats. He usually eats a lot after games rather than before. The result has been frequent nausea and vomiting. He's also trying to kick a dip habit. Food is either cooked on site or catered. The media eat in a dining area behind the Cardinals Club. We pay. Sometimes more than once.

albowwow: Why does management always wait until its almost too late to acquire help for Pujols? Couldn't we have gotten Hudson and Holliday at the beginning of the season without giving up nearly as much talent or money! and then what a lineup huh! a little speed , alot of pop , protection and no wasted money on Khalil and maybe Derosa....

Joe Strauss: Holliday would have required Lud', Schumaker and a pitcher before the season. That still sounds like a lot to me. A Silver Slugger, a guy coming off a .300 year and perhaps a Mitch Boggs or Chris Perez. Holliday is not the same guy who won a batting title in Colorado. At the time, I don't remember a groundswell for giving away the farm (or Ludwick) for Holliday.