Joe Strauss: OK, everybody way, way up!!! for another 90-minute entertaining (?) session of information and validation. For those of you who have asked about the glamorous lifestyle of your sportswriting gods, the ChatMeister is packed for the ballpark, sitting at his Marriott Courtyard desk gobbling down chips, some gruel disguised as soup and sucking on a Tropicana Twister. Ain't you jealous? But look at the perks. For the next 90 minutes I get to ride the unstoppable tsunami known as JSL!!! Mark Mulder starts tonight at Citizens Bank and the Cardinals are mulling whether to modify their long-term view to accommodate a pennant race. I'm sure much is on the ChatHeads' minds, so let's put on the wet suit, grab the board and catch the weekly wave.

tc22: O Chatmeister,

With less than promising starting pitchers like like Boggs, Mulder, Pineiro, and Thompson and a fading Wellemeyer aren't the Cardinals forced to make a deal for a servicable, innings eating starter NOW? July 31 might find us 8-10 games behind the Cubbies and several games behind Milwaukee for the wild card the way we're playing now. Our bullpen is over worked and there is still almost 70 games to go in the regular season. Aren't a starter and a LH reliever a nesessity if this team expects to compete for a playoff this year? If so WHO are possible candidates? Thanks Joe!

Joe Strauss: The Cardinals insist no. John Mozeliak pointed out Tuesday night that current projections have Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright ready in the first or second week of August. Some of us may perceive that as overly optimistic; however, the club believes the return of either offers greater upside than anyone available on the trade market. Of course, the plan is predicated on the Cardinals hanging in there another three weeks, perhaps with Mulder in the rotation. Randy Wolf and A.J. Burnett are available. Wolf would represent an intriguing rental at nominal cost (Anthony Reyes plus...?). The club is serious about acquiring a LH reliever, perhaps sooner than later. The Pirates offer two attractive possibilies, Grabow and Marte, but may be reluctant to deal within the division. The Reds are pushing Jeremy Affeldt (and his salary), a guy who excited the Cardinals last winter. The Giants' Jack Taschner is a matchup type who could fill the role once held by Tyler Johnson.

Ben: Hey Chatmeister,
I'm guessing you're not drinking the Mulder Kool-Aid yet.
How far away are we from having Thompson and Reyes getting the ball every 5 days for the big league club?
How far away were these thoughts in spring training?

Joe Strauss: I am, shall we say, willing to be positively surprised tonight. It would be remarkable for Mulder to waltz into Citizens Bank Park and control one of the game's most dangerous lineups. Things to watch: how long can Mulder maintain his velocity in a starting assignment; how consistent he can achieve sink with his new, lower arm angle (it's what hurt him in his last relief outing); how long does TLR wait until he activates his bullpen (projected pitch limit 75-80). Of course, most interesting will be the club's take on what Mulder delivers. Thompson and Reyes are now considered viable alternatives by the club. Reyes is just off the DL. Thompson also recently exited the DL and was already active when the decision was made to start Mulder. It's more likely Reyes or Thompson will be traded than they will again become starters for this organization.

Tackleberry: JSL Live (The "What's Our Answer to Sabathia?" Edition)

The one thing that bugs me about all the Cardinals "serious" injuries to key players over the past 3 seasons, other than the obvious of not having those players available, is that each year at the trading deadline and during free agency it gives the ownership/management a built-in excuse to not add payroll either by trades or free agent signings. It seems like the Cardinals try to "sell" the fan base on the concept that these players returning to the team is as good as a trade. In theory, maybe, except that, like Mulder in 2007 & 2008, there are no guarantees that the return will be successful. Even when the return is successful it is a gradual process that may not even render the expected results until late in the season, just due to the player regaining form. I feel confident saying that this team needs a boost to compete in the stretch run this year. It may be an impact bat or a starting pitcher, but if the club keeps filling voids internally this team will fade.

Joe Strauss: I don't see a question but I believe you speak for a significant portion of the fan base, T'berry. So your manifesto is posted.
I will offer one difference this year: The club may has well have sold crack pipes to the fan base last year while teasing Mulder as the equivalent of a July 31 "trade". He was not physically right, as subsequent rotator cuff surgery proved. Meanwhile, they floated him out there three times as a pennant race collapsed on them. Carpenter and Wainwright have significantly more upside this year than Mulder did in '07. For that matter, Mulder and his new-look mechanics offer greater possibilities than last year's return. That said, I have not spoken to many within the organization who truly believe Mulder is a panacea for what the rotation needs.

tc22: Joe,

What's all the excitement from the Brewers fans signing Sabathia? Sounds like a move out of pure desparation to me. Every season C.C. (Crispy Creme) is a donut away from landing on the DL and spends plenty of time there. Sabathia and Sheets will both be exiting Milwaukee next year via free agency and once promising P Chris Capuano (who the Cardinals almost traded for months ago) will probably never pitch again due to serious shoulder injuries. The Brewers are telling their fans that their time to make the World Series is now and they traded their best young prospect for a rented mule who may pull them into a wild card if he stays healthy. If the Brewers fail to make the playoffs what made Milwaukee famous will make a loser out of their GM Doug Melvin. What's your thoughts on this deal. O Wise One?

Joe Strauss: They're going for it. Ned Yost's posterior is now squarely on the line. But I don't see how one can criticize an ownership and front office trying to give its long-suffering fan base a playoff team. Sabathia is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. Doug Melvin may be in line as this year's Executive of the Year.