Joe Strauss: Please accept the ChatMeister's apology for being tardy to this week's edition of Joe Strauss Live!!! Transportation and cell phone issues en route to Busch Stadium for this afternoon's voluntary workout are to blame, as well as a long line at the McDonald's drive-thru.
Before we ride the tsunami, a serious note about the recent passing of longtime Cardinals player, coach and instructor Dave Ricketts. I never covered Dave when was a Cardinals coach but always enjoyed speaking with him as an instructor at spring training and on occasion at the stadium. You didn't have to know Dave well or for very long to know that he was a genuinely giving, caring person. The same can be said of his wife Barbara. I'll miss Dave very much and know the Cardinal family is experiencing a profound loss. His life is being celebrated at a memorial service today. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.
Now the tide is coming in. Thanks again for your patience. It's time to catch the wave.

Brian R.: Joe,

Joe Man, hosting live discussions.

Why did Tony come back? If you cut the fat, I assumed he came back because he was assured the Cardinals, within reason, would make every attempt to contend during the two years Tony agreed to manage. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I understand correctly, the Cardinals will only trade for a impact but if....and this is a big if IMO, this player is signed through '10 or longer, doesn't make more than 10+ million a year, and the deal can't involve Garcia, or Rasmus, and most likely Ankiel, Ludwig, Octavo(sorry for the mispells) or Jay. How does this fit within reason? To me, its seems as though every assurance the organization gave him in October was nothing more than lip service. I understand the need for a greater commitment toward developing players, but the notion that you must hold onto every blue chip prospect is going a little overboard. Whether people like it or not, Tony is the best manager is baseball, and he gives the Cardinals a big edge over every team in baseball. Without him, we wouldn't have had a sniff of a penant chase last year, and this year, with this team, we wouldn't be over .500 this late in the season. Luhnhow and DeWitt can worship all the minor leaguers they want, but if Tony isn't around past 09, all the Rasmus' and Garcias' of the world won't make up for the amount of wins per year that Tony will take with him. I do agree that the youth movement should be the number one priority, but I also think that keeping Tony happy should be priority 1B. If the Cards fail to acquire a quality player before the deadline, they are fools.

Joe Strauss: For all the organization's public posturing this spring, no one expected this club would be 10 over .500 at the break. The hope was that the division would again be unexceptional, the club could hang around .500 and perhaps make a second-half run at a wild card. Well, the Cardinals have the league's second-best record as wild-card leaders and have only themselves to blame for raising expectations. John Mozeliak is willing to make moves but is reluctant to pay a premium for players who will contribute in the short term only. Mo' wants to acquire a LH reliever. TLR wants an impact bat to protect Pujols. A starter might be helpful if Carpenter or Wainwright fail to rehab in a timely fashion. There is quiet concern that if the Brewers with Sabathia pass the Cardinals (or the Mets with Santana), it will be difficult to run them down without significant improvement. Questions surround Wellemeyer's staying power and, yes, Pineiro has one win since April 29. Tony subtly suggests this team has overachieved and it's hard not to agree. I question whether the Cardinals would commit the package of players to land a Jason Bay or Matt Holliday. Bonds is off the table. Expect relief help and perhaps an additional bench bat. True, the Cardinals value their minor league players more than other teams, but that's not uncommon. At some point, however, the club will have to make hard decisions about which of its younger players it will package for immediate help. Stay tuned.

Dave Cobler: Hi Joe;
I am patiently giving the Cardinal upper management the benefit of the doubt as to why they are not supporting TLR's wish for an impact bat only because I would think (out of loyalty to Cardinal nation) they would be trying. However, if they are not trying, that is something altogether different. That would be like an act of treason. It is like sending a general off to battle without the supplies and men he needs to carry out the orders of his superiors to engage in battle that he and his courageous fighting men cannot win. Hope wanes and succumbs to gloom as they see the battle field in front of them. TLR is a great field general. He will fight with what he has and so will his troops to the end. But if Cardinal management does not lift a finger to help WHEN THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE COULD, then this 2008 ball club was put on the field of battle as a sacrifice for nothing but money. And that does not speak well of the organization and its committment to Cardinal Nation.
Also, as an "AVID LONG TIME" Cardinal fan, I have to sit here and watch this courageous Cardinal team YIELD to a victorious CUB team if help does not arrive AND I cannot do nothing in my power to help! NOOOOOOOOOOOO.....This club can whip Chicago. Just give TLR what he feels he needs to do it! I don't care if it is Barry Bonds. We're at war with THE CUBS!!!!! Does not this Cardinal ownership GET IT?? We have a chance to thwart the Cubs in their seemingly hour of glory even if it is as a WILD CARD. This could be the greatest Cardianl year EVER! Let's hope Cardinal Management picks up on the vision as it really is an appealing motivator. If they are loyal to this 2008 club, they will show it by going out and getting an IMPACT BAT. THE HOUR IS NOW! WE MUST CARRY ON THE FIGHT AT ALL COST (SMARTLY)!!! Your thoughts Joe????

Thank You Joe!

Joe Strauss: Calm down, big guy. It looks like the ChatHeads are a bit long-winded today. Don't forget it was Mozeliak who pulled the trigger on Rolen-for-Glaus and shrewdly slow-played the signing of Kyle Lohse for $4.25 million in March. The Cubs are a better team. They are the most talented team in the league. Their attitude is win-it-now while the Cardinals appear pointed toward reloading for the future. The Cardinals are fortunate to be where they are given the bullpen's inconsistencies and the offense's feast-or-famine personality. It looks as though Wainwright and Carpenter will dictate much of the tone in August and September. As for an impact bat, I'm open to suggestions since the club appears reluctant to disrupt its outfield configuration.

tc22: O Wise Sage of Chat,

Why isn't Anthony Reyes having an opportunity to start some games for the Cardinals? It seems that he has been banished to Memphis while other pitchers like Parisi, Boggs,and now Garcia are being called up and consistently overmatched! Sure Reyes has struggled at times up here, but why is he getting such a very cold shoulder now?

Joe Strauss: Anthony appears to be residing in a double-wide doghouse. He's been very good at Memphis and appears to be healthy. Of course, the Cardinals have seen this before and appear permanantly turned off by his resistance to Dave Duncan's philosophy. Anthony is a dogged worker, but even some within the Cardinals clubhouse believe him too resistent to what Duncan offers. The comments by TLR and Duncan last week regarding Mulder ("Who gives us a better chance?") couldn't have gone over well in Memphis or in some corners of the major-league bullpen. However, Mitch Boggs and Mike Parisi (and, of course, Reyes) are judged not ready for prime time. As for Brad Thompson... the Cardinals could do worse in the ChatMeister's opinion. (A case can be made that Thompson is needed as a long relief option.)

Brock Landers: Hey Joe: Welcome to the All Star break. What a joke it has become, sadly. Lots of talk about the Cardinals needing a bat, needing another starting pitcher, bullpen help. Isn't it crystal clear though to John Mozielak and Tony that we need someone to close games? Does Tony really have any faith left in Izzy and Franklin? Or Perez for that matter. Seeing we don't really seem to have a closer in the making for next year either (Perez has been just okay), don't we HAVE to get one to remain in the chase this season and beyond? I wouldn't mind overppaying if we can get a star who will be here for at least 3-4 years. This reminds me of the Dave Veres era and we hand no chance to win with him. Please me Mozeliak is trying to land a closer. Who might he be talking to/about? Too bad Kyra Sedgwick is not available.
Izzy's "stuff" doesn't seem to be stellar any longer and his confidence is shattered. Frankling just doesn't have it, plus both guys are in their mid 30's. Bullpens are built from the closer back. 20 holds and 22 blown saves, time for Mo to get busy.

Brock Lander

Thanks,

Joe Strauss: Izzy pitched well until throwing a shoe in Pittsburgh Saturday. True, Perez appears to be strugging when asked to pitch in multiple innings. Fuentes would be an option for this year if acquired from Colorado, but it's more likely Isringhausen will be given another shot at the role, barring additional messes. I would not describe Izzy's current confidence level as "shattered." A better word may be "frustrated." It's no surprise he wants back in his former role.