kaeagles: Joe,

You said today is all about telling the truth. Okay. Are the Cardinals a good enough team from top to bottom to beat out the Cubs and/or Brewers for a playoff berth?

Joe Strauss: A month ago, when they still led the wild card, I rated their chances a '4' of reaching the postseason. Sunday, I assigned the Milwaukee Brewers a 3:5 shot. (Big Brown went off at 1:5 in the Belmont). With Wainwright and/or Carpenter healthy, I'd rate the Cardinals with a puncher's chance. The Cubs are out of reach. The Brewers are volatile enough that they could come back to the Cardinals.

Joe Strauss: OK, everyone out of the water!!! The sharks are again circling as the Cardinals prepare to open their clubhouse. Rumor is Mark Mulder may again be in the house. We'll see. I suspect the Cardinals will announce Wainwright as Friday's starter. It's going to get interesting next week. Indeed, the Brewers will be playing the Cardinals hours after the conclusion of JSL!!! Talk about a mid-week holiday!!! I hope you enjoyed this week's tsunami as well as Mo's warm-up act. He promised to reappear before October and we intend to hold him to it. Thanks again.