Joe Strauss: All right, sorry for being a little tardy. Got stuck at the Taco Bell drive-thru then learned they've discontinued Southwest Steak Bowl. Took me another five minutes to get the Cust. Service number to vent my outrage. The humanity!!! Oh, well, at least the ChatMeister has his weekly into cyber-utopia, otherwise known as Joe Strauss Live!!!, to look forward to. From the questions awaiting, the ChatHeads are frothing after last week's tepid performance caused largely by the team's poor planning. Imagine: Scheduling a game opposite JSL!!! Apparently heads rolled. Plenty to choose from this week as the clinching date approaches and the team's ungainly termination of a record contract grabs headlines. Time to catch a big swell. No boogie boarders allowed.

Randy: Hi Joe

Has Mozeliak ever stated that he felt pressure from the fan base to make some trades this year and did that have any impact at all on his decisions to go ahead and make the DeRosa, Lugo and Holliday deals?

Joe Strauss: Mo' has not made such an allowance, but a number of folks within the front office and elsewhere within the organization are convinced fan interest/outrage and media scrutiny helped push a few buttons. I also believe comments made by Albert Pujols in June played a significant role in motivating the front office. After going public with his "they're not blind" comment, El Hombre was kept abreast of the club's maneauverings. Coincidence. I think not.

Jim V: Hi Joe -

A lot of talk in baseball is about respecting the game.
(Do I bow my head when discussing baseball?)

What is your definition of respecting the game and
give me some examples.

Also on TLR: Grecian Formula 16 or Just for Men?

Thanks

Jim V.

Joe Strauss: Gonna be a tough room today, I can tell.

Space_Jam05: What are your top three favorite baseball movies and top three baseball books?

Joe Strauss: Movies: The Natural, The Natural, The Natural
Books: The Natural (very different from movie); Eight Men Out; Living on the Black (fortunate enough to cover both principles, Glavine and Mussina)

NY Card Fan: Mighty Joe,

Given Rasmus and Ankiel's ongoing futility against LH pitching, I applauded TLR moving Skip to CF last night and playing Lugo at 2B. Skip responded with a 3 hit night and the lineup flourished top to bottom. Do you think TLR might adopt a similar lineup during the playoffs when the Cards are facing a lefty, i.e. Cliff Lee? By the way, REDBIRDinNY advanced this idea a few weeks back...and the Chatmeister dusted him off with a high, hard one. Maybe the kid is on to something...

Joe Strauss: A few weeks ago TLR was insisting no way while Ankiel and Raz' seemed to still have a fighting chance against lefts. Raz' did homer against a lefty Tuesday night. While explaining away Monday's configuration as match-up driven, there's suspicion that TLR may be doing some playoff-testing here. To put Schu in CF and Lugo at 2B against LH starters gives TLR enormous ammunition against an opposing bullpen. It also leads to a natural defense switch late in the game, moving Schu to 2B (never thought I'd say that) while putting Raz' or Ankiel in CF. The double-switch possibilities are endless! If it works out that way, I'll send an autographed poker chip to REDBIRDinNY.