Joe Strauss: Sorry for the delay. But the Tsunami is coming to you today from a replacement computer that had not been coded to the exacting JSL!!! specs. I'm sure you understand. That said, there's an overwhelming number of questions, comments and the predictable homage for the ChatMeister, especially given the short notice. General Managers meetings open in Chicago on Sunday and the off season's tempo will officially begin. As many of you are aware, the club has released reliever Brad Thompson and outrighted infielder Joe Thurston and reliever Matt Scherer off the 40-man roster. Here's comes the wave. Time to jump on the board and go for a ride. Remember, no boogie boarders allowed. This is full contact chat!!!

kat89447: Hi Joe,
With the low chance of retaining Holliday, wouldn't it be a better idea to maybe put the money in DeRo and then some pitching? It seems that between DeRo, Skip and Freese we could cover LF, 3rd and 2nd with Lugo being in the mix and maybe Tyler Greene to help? If we can't find one heavy bat behind Albert, maybe lots of contact hitters instead. More of a "Whitey Ball" type of player. We are never going to have a strong enough bat to go behind Albert so maybe some speed instead?

Joe Strauss: Holliday has yet to file for free agency and pessimism grows surrounding his return to St. Louis. The ChatMeister is among those who have dialed down expectations on retaning Holliday, but it's impossible to rule it out given that his market has yet to take shape. The Cardinals need a power presence behind Pujols. Beyond Jason Bay, there are few alternatives to Holliday in this year's free agent market. Chairman Bill DeWitt recently denied that the club has made Holliday an offer; however, there are suggestions that the Cardinals discussed a 6-year, $96 million framework with Holliday's agent, Scott Boras. That, obviously, is nowhere near the "Teixeira money" (8 years, $180 million) that Boras was talking about during the NLCS. GM John Mozeliak is on record as saying David Freese deserves first crack at third base. De Rosa is coming off wrist surgery. He will also be seeking an everyday gig. The Cardinals could presumably offer him left field with the possibility of a move to third base if Fresse doesn't work out. But that still leaves the Cardinals short offensively. As for your speed suggestion, the Cardinals aren't equipped to play that game, not when El Hombre is your leading base-stealer. A guy like Xavier Nady represents a second-tier option in left field; however, without Holliday, the Cardinals would appear heavily dependent on Colby Rasmus maturing and Ryan Ludwick enjoying a 2008-type season. Thanks for the question.

Steve: I have heard rumors about Adam Dunn to the cards if Holliday doesn't come back what would the cards have to give to the Nationals in return and what would be the better deal Dunn or Holliday?

Joe Strauss: The Washington Nationals' signing of Adam Dunn to a 2-year, $20 million deal last winter ranked as one of the most bizarre of the off-season. The Nationals are unlikely to contend in Dunn's lifetime, much less during the term of his deal. With a new GM on board, perhaps the Nats will move to spread payroll to address more needs than to attract fans with a sideshow. Dunn is due $12 million next season. In some ways he is a lefthanded McGwire, a power figure who strikes out a lot but also could improve by narrowing his strike zone. Yes, he is a brutal fielder. But the Cardinals have made concessions in left field before. Short of salary relief, it is debateable what the Cardinals can offer for a player of Dunn's magnitude. As Baseball America will confirm in upcoming weeks, the farm system is badly depleted and does not project an everyday position player. The Cardinals are in a tough predicament. My opinion is that Holliday is the better option. But tying him up for 7 or 8 years also poses problems with payroll flexibility.

hugeCardfan: Joe, how close is your ear to the ground? Any rumblings on FO offers to Holliday? I would think by now Boras' speed-dial is revved up to warp speed even as he hopes we'll bid against ourselves a couple times before the Yankees and Sox are even brought on board.

Mo had to know that it would eventually come to this for a real accounting whether that trade was a net positive. It's hard to write off Wallace et al for a three and out postseason. On the other hand, it's probably better to want a contract badly than to want a bad contract. Glad I'm not Mo right now.

Huge

Joe Strauss: Mo' deserves consideration for MLB Exec. of the Year. But last season's moves will quickly receive scrutiny should Holliday and De Rosa bolt.
Consider:
Luke Gregerson (and Mark Worrell) for Khalil Greene (now a free agent).
Chris Perez and Jess Todd for De Rosa (now a free agent).
Wallace, Clayton Mortensen and Shane Peterson for Holliday (now a free agent).
The Cardinals also lost Luis Perdomo (their return for Anthony Reyes) to last December's Rule 5 draft in order to protect Scherer, who never reached St. Louis this season before being outrighted off the 40-man this week.
Gregerson enjoyed one of the most underrated seasons by any NL rookie pitcher this season. Perez seemed to find his footing in Cleveland. We'll see about the Oakland trio. Whether these guys pan out or not, their absence saps the organization of significant trade leverage.
The Cardinals went all in on this season, making their Division Series wipeout all the more painful.

CSWest: Hello Mr. Strauss,

Scoring runs was clearly an issue in 2009. However, I'm not sure what the Cardinals would and should be looking at to help address the issue.

If you were running the Cardinals, what would you be looking for? Speed? A high OBP guy? A more consistent hitter that isn't streaky? Or is it something else? Thanks.

Joe Strauss: Since you asked...
Albert Pujols would become my cleanup hitter behind Schumaker, Rasmus and a No. 3 hitter currently not on the roster. Ryan Ludwick as a No. 5 is OK if he's supported by a competent No. 6. Yadier Molina has made tremendous strides offensively but should not be seen above No. 7. As Rasmus develops, he could slot into the No. 5 or No. 6 role. As he develops, Brendan Ryan could fit as a No. 2 guy. Most of you probably agree with me that as currently constituted the Cardinals are not a power team. Their lineup misses what Troy Glaus provided in 2008. Another LH bat with at least gap power would help this team's balance. At one time some believed Rick Ankiel might be taht guy. That no longer appears likely.
The Cardinals scored runs last season; they just scored them inconsistently. Another No. 3-type bat might diminish the "python" nature of their attack.

KB in O'fallon: Hey Joe! Thanks for firing up JSL in the off-season.

Couple questions about Cards prospects. Allen Craig and Lance Lynn
were recently named the organizations 2009 players of the year. Where
do they project down the road? Legit prospects or AAAA players? I've heard
Craig can really hit, but is there a position for him?

Also, what are Jaime Garcia's chances of making the squad next year as the
5th starter. Given Tony and Dunc's track record with youngsters, will he
be given a legit shot in spring, or will they instead try and dig up some
recycled hack from the scrap heap (i.e. Wellemeyer, Kip Wells, etc).

Joe Strauss: I thought Craig the most intriguing minor-league player last spring training. At 25, he followed up with a legitimate first season at Triple-A. Now projected as an outfielder, Craig has a big cut but hits hard to all fields. Like most Cardinals position prospects, Craig strikes out a lot. It's hard to envision a lineup featuring him and David Freese on a regular basis. That would leave three players with little pop (Schu, Ryan, Molina) and three others with one year or less major-league experience (Craig, Freese, Rasmus). That's a huge leap of faith. Again, the lack of LH power is alarming.

Either Garcia or Mitch Boggs will likely open next season in the rotation. Lance Lynn made one start at Memphis after 22 appearances at Double-A Springfield. He's a big guy who has made much headway in only 29 pro starts after his selection as a supplemental pick in the '08 draft. He surrendered only 5 HR in 126 IP at Springfield. As we've seen before, projecting minor-league numbers at this level is very dangerous. The fourth starter may fit the description of a "dumpster dive," -- a one-year guy (Smoltz) who can offer innings and experience. How the club apportions its money this winter may well dictate how much they can spend on that veteran starter.

ueaces: Hi Joe,
Great to have you back on the chats...always a must read.

Joe, I find it hard to believe that Cardinal management is as sold on the bullpen as they say they are. They saw Franklin's September meltdown like everyone else. I really like Ryan and believe he is a quality pitcher. But some insurance for him would be a reasonable move, and there are a host of right handed relievers available. Signing someone like Dotal or Chad Cordero I think would make a lot of sense.

Joe Strauss: You may be onto something. TLR said after the season he projects Franklin as next year's closer. But he also said after the season that Hal McRae projected as next year's hitting coach. Obviously, things change. You're "insurance" suggestion is shared by several within the organization, including Dave Duncan. The Cardinals may not look to replace Franklin this winter but they may seek a fallback who would be brought on board as a set-up type.

Larry L.: Hello Joe,

Like most I hope the Cards can sign Matt Holliday. But if they can't sign him within the two week exclusive window I hope they just move on. If it drags on and the Cards stay in it they will lose out on everyone else. Also, why don't they wrap up Smoltz, and Derosa now? I think these two are ready to sign.

Joe Strauss: It's a 2-way street. Smoltz wants to get paid. De Rosa wants an everyday job and a multi-year deal. Smoltz is certainly a complementary pitcher at this stage of his career. Coming off an injury, the same may be said of De Rosa as a position player. That said, there is universal support within the Cardinals clubhouse to bring him back. A true "glue" guy, something this team sorely needs.

Joe Mather: O Tsar of the Tsunami.....

Will I ever make the big club again?

Joe Mather

Joe Strauss: To be honest, haven't heard your name much lately, big guy.

Scott Boeckelmann: Can you see Big Mac being groomed as a future St Louis manager? I also think keeping Tony around goes along way to keeping Albert.

Joe Strauss: McGwire once harbored thoughts of managing. I don't know where that stands now. The question may come up if he consents to a press conference later this month. There may be a few other questions waiting for him as well.

Dave pagano: Do you see the Cards possibly going after Bay, Nady or Damon? Probably a lot cheaper than Holladay.

Joe Strauss: The Yankees reportedly have strong interest in retaining Damon. Bay fits the Cardinals perfectly. Nady is intriguing for several reasons. He hits LHP extremely well. He turns 31 next week. The Cardinals originally drafted him in 1997 as a high school player but he did not sign. Nady drove in 97 runs in 2008 while splitting the year between Pittsburgh and the Yankees. Nade required a second ligament replacement surgery earlier this season after beating out Nick Swisher for the Yankees' starting RF job. He would likely come for a short-term deal, further enhancing his appeal locally.

KidTwist: Any chance we see a Allen Craig/Daryl Jones platoon in LF? Good combo of power, speed, average, left handed and right handed. Also cheap, which the Cards like.

Joe Strauss: The Cards are pushing Daryl Jones hard. Still considered by some the Cardinals' top position prospect, Jones remains raw defensively and hits for little power. He projects as a LF. Frankly, you don't see many starting left fielders with little power these days. Jones is only 22. It's too early to pass judgment. But the same source (JSL!!!) that said it was very likely Brett Wallace would play his first major-league game for an organization other than the Cardinals believes Jones is a platoon major-league OF at best. It would probably be helpful for Jones to take a Triple-A at-bat before the hyperventilating begins.

Redfeather: Hi Joe;

I see the Blue Jays claimed Jarrett Hoffpauir from the Cards. Is this a blunder by the front office or was their simply no room in the Cards plans for him so that they had no choice but to expose him to the risk of being claimed?

Joe Strauss: The same people who insisted Hoffpauir had major-league potential will now say it was no blunder. I'll go along on the second point. Hoffpauir, 26, is an interesting offensive player but lacks the range to play middle infield. He does deserve a chance somewhere, as he walked more than he struck out at Memphis this season while showing greater power (14 HR, .486 slg. compared to .383 in '08.) However, he was not going to receive that opportunity from the current admininstration. Too bad the Cardinals couldn't find a trade for him.

jeff clemens: Who is your favorite lacrosse player of all-time? I'm guessing T.S. Eliot or Zippy the Chimp.

Joe Strauss: There was this guy named Brown who once played at Syracuse. Kinda lost track of where he ended up, though.

Bert: Should be a busy winter for Mo. Lots on the Honey Do list.
Kindly rank these in likely hood of happening:

1. Sign Holliday, Sign De Rosa, Sign Smoltz, let the team that was hot in late summer have a full year to give it a go.

2. Sign Bay, Play Freese at 3rd, Sign Smoltz, the Cards lose out on Holliday and De Rosa.

3. Sign Nady, Sign Lackey, Freese at 3rd, Ankiel back as a 4th OF. Pitching wins, unless your the Yankees.

Joe Strauss: Purely speculation: Sign Nady, re-sign Smoltz, go young for No. 5 starter, trade for lh-hitting depth, perhaps add RH set-up type who offers insurance as closer. Obviously, I'm not inflating expectations here.

Ryan: El Diablo,
Conventional wisdom is Cards need to sign Holliday or Bay and then the offseason is a success. Is there any interest in signing Miguel Tejada + a 2nd or 3rd tier OF (ex: Nady, Derosa, etc). Tejada is penciled in at 2B and Skip goes back to the 4th OF. Tejada is insurance at 3B for Freese or even SS for Ryan.

Thanks

Joe Strauss: Tejada now projects as a 3B. He is deficient at SS at this stage of his career. He did collect 199 hits last season. He also has a PED past as well as inconsistencies about his age, so he does fit. He probably wouldn't fit the ChatMeister's plan of a No. 3 hitter in front of Pujols since Tejada's power has eroded, he's a DP machine (61 the last two seasons) and he rarely walks (19 in 673 plate appearances last season). Again, without Ankiel and Duncan, the Cardinals are very thin in LH hitters and Tejada would do nothing to address that deficiency.

Leecard: Oh Great Chatmeister, it has been so loooooong. How many days until spring training?

It appears to me that few teams will have the money and the willingness to sign Holliday to the dollars we hear he is seeking. I keep hearing the Yankees, Mets and Angels. If those three teams don't make a run at Holliday, does that increase the Cards' chances of signing him? In other words do you think there are other teams besides those 3 that will push the price way up? If none of those 3 teams are involved in the bidding, will the price be more reasonable? Have you heard about any other teams having interest in him?

I am hoping Holliday does come back to the Cards. I am very biased but I think from a strictly baseball perspective the Cards have more to offer than the Mets, Yankees or Angels. Even though the Yankees and Angels do have very good teams. Does he think the Yankee fans would have cheered him the game after the dropped fly ball? I have serious doubts they would have. Does he want to be a part of the circus in New York? whether it's the Mets or Yankees. The Angels are in the AL and on the coast. That's very different from where he has had his success. And only in St. Louis will he have the best hitter in the game hitting in front of him.

If Holliday doesn't come back to the Cards - and unfortunately I do not think he will be back - what is your most hoped for solution for another hitter in the outfield? What would be the most ideal case in your opinion after Holliday? Thanks.

Joe Strauss: I believe the ideal situation will end up being the team that offers Holliday the most money for the most years. Feel free to romanticize the decision as much as you like. The bottom line is the bottom line until further notice.

Leecard: What players will be offered arbitration by the Cards? If I had to guess I would say Holliday, DeRosa and Piniero. Do you think there is any chance any one of them may come back on a 1 year arbitration deal? I can't see the Cards taking the chance offering it to anyone else, fearing the player make take it - Glaus, K. Greene, Ankiel.

Joe Strauss: I would think it safe to assume Holliday and De Rosa will be offered arbitration. Pineiro is a dicier decision. If he accepts, he could safely assume a $10 million salary for '10. That would shred the Cardinals' salary structure.

Leecard: What is your best guess on what will happen to Ankiel next year? I can't see any team paying him big bucks. Do you think the Cards will bring him back in any role? Do you think McGwire can straighten him out? I would love to see that - the 2008 version of Ankiel would be huge next year - but unfortunately I don't think he will get there again. Have you heard anything about what the FO and Tony are thinking about Ankiel? I don't want to hack on him, I really wish him well but he just didn't hit last year. The Cards need more from a 4th outfielder than they got from him last year. Thanks.

Joe Strauss: TLR's comments after the season heavily suggest Ankiel will be elsewhere next season. The Cardinals obviously have committed to Rasmus as their future CF. That fact chafed Ankiel as the season progressed, especially in September when his playing time shrunk further. At 30, Ankiel is still a young hitter. Sporadic playing time did not fit him well. Best-case scenario for him: A team, possibly a second-tier club, signs him as an everyday player and he remains injury-free. Taking 500 at-bats in a hitter's park (Cincinnati?), may do a lot for him. This was an extremely frustrating season for him.

Jim Hency: Afternoon Joe, When a player signs a contract and in that agreement there is a deferred payment, is the deferred part included in the present year payroll or part of the payroll in the year it is to be paid.

Joe Strauss: The club includes it in current payroll because it must fund the financial instrument that provides that deferred payment.

bstam: Albert has said to the media that he would rather peopel focus on Matt and Joel instead of him since he has two years remaining, you do think he understands that it's a double edged sword in wanting to keep those players but also not wanting to be in a financial sitaution to not be able to compete for him without a doubt?

Joe Strauss: Albert has previously stated he does not want to be stranded with a non-competitive team that lacks financial flexibility. Obviously, if the club first acquires Holliday for 6-8 years, Pujols has a better idea of what the team looks like. If he commits and the club then cries poverty, he's in the position he fears. Oddly enough, Holliday may want to see that club first commit to Pujols for the same reason. Despite this summer's aggressive trades, suspicion persists within the industry about the club's willingness to push payroll. Most, including those who represent leading free agents, believe the Cardinals can not remain a perennial contender if they anchor themselves at $100 while committing $45 million per year to two players -- or even $25 million-plus to one.

BDAx2: Much like the temps turning chillier, and the leasves turning a beautiful orange and redish hues JSL!!! comes along just in time to soothe ones nerves.

Fast forward to Nov 2010. Say Cards win 90-95 games in regular season, Pujols looks to be injury free for 2011 and is resigned to long term deal. Big Mac turns in a decent rookie campaign....your gut feeling...is TLR back or is this it for him one way or another? If he is done toss me Top 3 on the leader board as replacements.

Joe Strauss: I believe it more than coincidental that TLR signed a one-year deal to return. Until he says otherwise, my assumption is that 2010 is his last rodeo in St. Louis.

toughout: Joe, could the Cardinals have pulled off a trade for Cliff Lee using a prospect package similar to the one they shipped to Oakland for Holliday?
I know everyone said the real need was power in the middle of the lineup, but it's hard to argue that with a three-man rotation of Carp, Lee, Waino that they wouldn't have at least made it to the NLCS and likely the WS.

Thoughts?

Joe Strauss: The Cardinals talked to the Indians about Lee at the 2007 Winter Meetings but couldn't make it happen. Remember, Lee was coming off a 5-8, 6.29 season in which he had spent time in the minor leagues. This year the Cardinals needed hitting more than pitching. They won the divison then crapped out in the Division Series. It's hard to go anywhere scoring six runs in a best-of-five series.

Steve: So Joe,

Do you think what we gave up for Holliday would have been sufficient to acquire Carl Crawford?

Joe Strauss: Very interesting question but one that I honestly can't answer. I would think Tampa Bay would require more immediate help than what the Cardinals gave Oakland. Wallace obviously wouldn't project at 3B over Longoria. Pena would also block him at 1B. My guess is Rasmus would have come into play.

Leon Archer: Has Skip expressed any opinion on whether he wants to stay at 2nd base, or go back to the outfield? He put in a lot of work, and stepped up big when the team needed him to make the change, and in doing so made himself an even more valuable player.

Joe Strauss: If the Cardinals could acquire an impact hitter to play second base, Schumaker could return to LF. Since that is unlikely, I'll take TLR's comments at face value about Schumaker being next season's starting 2B. It will be very interesting to see how Schu' fares in arbitration this winter.

NY Card Fan: Hello Joe!

Long time, no chat! Hope you haven't lost your edge due to the layoff and will be firing strikes today.

I'm sure you'll field a ton of very specific questions today regarding 3B, LF, and the starting rotation, but my question is more general in nature. With Pujols approaching age 30 with a year and an option year left on his contract...Carpenter mid 30's, 2 years left on his deal...and Wainright really entering his prime...isn't it precisely the right time for the Cardinals to go "all in" over the next two-year window? If so, I'd rather see proven veterans like DeRosa filling the lineup and rotation openings over largely unproven prospects like Freese or Craig. The Cards need to be penciling in established major leaguers from the get-go next year...not going with unproven rookies and hoping they pan out well. Mix in the young guys off the bench sprinkled with spot starts, but now is not the right time to be banking on them for critical everyday roles. I know the budget plays a big part in these personnel decisions, but the time is NOW, while we have the best player and two of the best pitchers on the planet. Thoughts?

Joe Strauss: There's a lot of merit to your comment. Indeed, El Hombre may feel the same way. Should the Cardinals go cheap next season without first signing Pujols it is extremely likely that would color how TLR and his first baseman would look at their futures here. TLR turns 66 next season. If next year becomes a struggle... if the McGwire hiring becomes a freak show... if there is a repeat of anything resembling 2007 or 2008, I don't see him back. Again, ownership distinguished itself in making a short-term push this summer. Those who advocated that approach now wait to see if there is a willingness to do so long-term.

Tom: Joe,

I love the secret weapon, and am hoping that he sticks around to take the helm after Tony retires. I have heard that there are internal divisions within the organization about Jose's credentials - what are your thoughts on this and are there any indication that Oquendo is likely to be on short lists for other openings around the league this off-season?

Thanks

Joe Strauss: As with most issues, there are different viewpoints regarding Secret Weapon. If TLR were to leave, Pujols' thoughts would be weighed carefully. He and Oquendo are extremely close. I'm sure the club would seek La Russa's thoughts as well. The scouting/player development side would weigh in. The selection would offer an interesting window to the franchise's direction.

Primetime04: I actually have two questions:

Question#1: With all this talk about who's going to play 3B next year, why haven't we heard about the one name that has semmed to get be really lossed...the A's Eric Chavez. He was( and may still be) a Gold glove-caliber 3B man, and, he's switch hitter, I believe, with would be perfect behind Pujols. I hear health is an issue with him, but, that's what you have DeRosa's and Freese for.

Question#2: If the Cardinals are so worried about about signing Hollidayw, shouldn't we be looking at players like Sanchez from SF, Carl Crawford TB, and Bobby Abreu, instead of worrying about Holliday so much. I'd like to keep Holliday, if he wants to be here, but I would think that the game plan would have to focus on OBP and low K's.

Joe Strauss: Crawford is one of the game's most exciting talents. Abreu has experienced a dramatic power fade and, though he remains a legitimate base-stealer, is a minus defender. Chavez has played 121 games total the last three seasons. He has back issues that have been described as "career-threatening." That's a little more severe than blowing it off by saying, "I hear health is an issue with him..." That's like saying "I hear Lenny Dykstra's having some cash flow problems."

brunt6: If another team makes a player available in the Rule 5 Draft, which team gets first shot at taking him? Is there some order to it or is it first come, first serve? Anyone look good for the Cards to obtain?

Joe Strauss: Teams pick in reverse order of record for the previous season. Since teams have yet to submit their 40-man rosters, it's impossible to say who may command interest.

Tom: Hi Chatmeister,

My Dad contends that Brad Thompson was in LaRussa and Duncans' doghouse. I counter that he just wasn't that great of a starter, and was useful in long relief or as a spot starter. Thompson's release today will do nothing to help my argument with my Dad.

What's your take on Thompson's time as a Cardinal?

Thanks,
tom

Joe Strauss: It's undeniably true that the current regime fixates on the best within some players and the worst among others. Thompson seemed to operate from a deficit. His sparing appearances during the second half made it all but a foregone conclusion that the club would non-tender him next month. Rather than clutter their 40-man roster, they chose to release him to assign the spot to a younger player. Thompson has value, but he allowed 314 hits in 274 innings the last three seasons while struggling for consistent action on his sinking fastball. He sensed the staff's lack of confidence in him and it affected his outlook and, to some degree, his performance. Thompson was a good teammate whose contributions in the '06 postseason were huge. No pitcher dealt with more role challenges or more shuttling back and forth from Memphis than Thompson. The move from St. Louis to Memphis was long ago christened "The BT Express."

Tom: Hi Chatmeister,

Watching the dominant offense that the Phillies have, I've been wondering if part of the problem for the Cards is that we really have only one star offensive player that came up through our system, Albert Pujols (Rasmus remains to be seen). The Phillies, however, have three, in Rollins, Utley and Howard.

Is the Cards offense the product of poor drafts?

Thanks,
tom

Joe Strauss: My thoughts on the Cardinals' drafts are widely known. They too often have selected college position players based on numbers rather than players with higher ceilings. Rasmus, a high school player whom the club almost lost to the Florida Marlins in the 2005 draft, is an example of what the club should be looking for rather than "bat" guys who don't project defensively. Allen Craig is an interesting "bat" guy but he shouldn't be your most compelling breakthrough possibility. We'll see about Wallace. Until further notice, Rasmus appears the only impact offensive player the Cardinals have drafted since 1999. You may debate Molina (2000), Schumaker (2001) or Ryan (2003). I'm sure I'll now be appropriately scolded.

Mike: It is clear where the advantage lies in this year's World Series...the closer position. Who are some shut down guys that could possibly be wearing the birds on the bat next year?...I think this is the Cardinals' biggest weakness as evidenced in the last month of the year into the playoffs.

Joe Strauss: I would maintain the Cardinals' biggest deficiency the last three weeks and in the playoffs was a sputtering offense. Franklin was outstanding for five months before collapsing in September. Barring an undisclosed physical problem (always a possibility), I think it safe for the Cardinals to enter the season with Franklin as their closer. If the need arises, a mid-season acquisition could occur. But since you asked, Billy Wagner, Jose Valverde, Fernando Rodney, Brandon Lyon, Trevor Hoffman, Kevin Gregg and Mike Gonzales are among those available.

vsiderio: Dear master of the tsunami;

Last spring I retired after 42 years in the H.S. classroom teaching primarily A.P. English literature. I'm in desperate need of giving a quiz, so it might as well be to you.

1. Starting 3B in April, 2010 will be:
A. Freese
B. Glaus
C. DeRosa
D. Beltre
E. none of the above

2. Starting LF in April, 2010 will be:
A. Holliday
B. Craig
C. Ankiel
D. Bay
E. none of the above

3. Closer in SEPTEMBER, 2010 will be:
A. Franklin
B. Motte
C. Smoltz
D. Valverde
E. someone obtained at trading deadline

4. In September, 2010 Mark McGuire will be:
A. back in California, having quit mid-season
B. hailed as the main reason for the team's new found patience at the
plate
C. decried as the reason for the team's lack of offensive improvement
D. on his way to a place in the Hall of Fame
E. no better off than he is today in regard to the Hall of Fame

Joe Strauss: A,E,A,E... Just don't give me those essay questions.

Yadier: I can steal a base faster than this chat is going...You have good answers but they're really long, shorten them up a bit to get to more questions.

Joe Strauss: Wow, that hurts.

UofIx3: Do you see Jayson Werth as a free agent outfielder option? I never seem to hear his name.

He grew up near Springfield, so I wonder if he's a Cards fan.

Joe Strauss: You probably never hear his name as a pending free agent because he's signed through next season. But, yes, he does have Illinois roots. Not that anyone cares, but I covered the Orioles when they drafted him in the first round in 1997. He was a tall catcher whom the club steadfastly refused to move from behind the plate. The Orioles eventually traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays for a non-descript reliever. The Jays moved him to the outfield and Werth finally became a productive player for the Dodgers and a star player for the Phillies. Amazing how things may have gone differently if the Orioles had listed to the so-called "outside experts."

Edward: Gabbert's ankle really seemed to bother him during the last 2 losses (especially every time he threw a bad pass), yet the thing miraculously got better for the Colorado game.

Who gets credit....good Dr. or bad team?

Joe Strauss: Gotta love that Big 12 North, the BCS "relegation league."

Edward: Thoughts on making a run at Lackey if they miss out on Holliday?

If they can't score a lot of runs, why not have the best rotation in baseball?

Joe Strauss: The Cardinals are heavily invested in Carpenter, Waino' and Lohse. To throw another heavy pitching deal on top of those really limits them to make a significant move for a hitter the next several seasons. It's almost a given they will have to give one rotation spot to an organization pitcher while going year-to-year with the other.

waterdog: JSL,

You mentioned the need for a #3 bat if we would move Big P to the #4 slot. Does Craig represent the type of contact/gap power that you speak of? He would surely see a high dose of fastballs. If his bat is MLB ready and we need a bat...it sure seems like a nice fit. Tell Ryan, Freese, and Colby to get to every ball they can and let the kid hit. His dad isn't a coach in the system is he? No? Then it just might work out that he can't play D if he hits.

Still, the big question is...will Dom Tony even consider moving Big P down in the order?

Joe Strauss: TLR is steadfastly opposed to moving El Hombre out of the No. 3 spot. I've long thought Albert would work well hitting cleanup. TLR insists it's one reason "I'd like to manage against you someday."

Brad: Joe,

While hitting did seem to betray us in the end, I was pretty worried about our pitching towards the end (outside of Carpenter and Wainwright). Carpenter seemed to tire a little at the end (understandably), but Pineiro's smoke and mirrors looked like it started crumbling, Lohse was battered all season but had some strokes of pulling it all together and now the #5 is completely a void.

What do the Cardinals do for the rotation? Pineiro has said he'd like to stay, but is he really worth what he can earn on the market?

Joe Strauss: Pineiro is a tough fit for financial reasons. I still find it humorous that some considered Pineiro saying he would like to stay "news." It would be "news" if any pending free agent said, "I can't wait to get the hell out of here" or "I want to stay here so badly I'm willing to negotiate a below-market deal now." But a player saying he would like to return, thus keeping his current team as a potential suitor... wow.

Ed in Clayton, MO: Kirk Herbstreit called the Big 12 North "disgusting" and "terrible" on Saturday.

Do you disagree?

Joe Strauss: I said long before last Saturday that Herbstreit is the best CFB analyst going. I'm even more sure of that now.

Offsides: Keeper of the Tsunami,

Any chance Pujols signs an extension before the start of the 10' season? Riding the wave while awaiting your
answer.

Joe Strauss: Albert said recently it's in God's hands. I don't know if the Creator will be asking for an automatic escalator, full no-trade protection, nothing deferred and 30 hours' annual use of a private jet.

David: Just wondering, what drove the decision to ask Khalil Greene and Kinney to go home rather than letting them at least be around the team and experience the postseason?

Joe Strauss: The skipper.

GB in Sikeston: If he's 100% healthy, what chance is there that Chris Duncan gets invited to spring training by the Cardinals? At one point in the not-too-distant past he certainly provided the kind of left-handed pop the Cardinals so deperately need now. And, for what it's worth, I think you should schedule a weekly chat session even during the off-season so that we chat heads can have our much-needed fix!

Joe Strauss: Such an invite makes sense now that McGwire is in the house. Big Mac and Little Dunc' have a strong working relationship. Suggestions to this effect have not elicited a positive response from those within the organization who still remember the nasty blowback created by last July's trade. Dave Duncan recently said his song first had to get healthy. My information is that Little Dunc' checked out fine when examined by the St. Louis surgeon who performed 2008 cervical disc replacement. We'll see. Clearly, the situation became uncomfortable for everyone connected to it this year.

Big Rich: Mighty Rider of the Wave - Why is there no love for Skip Schumaker as the Cards everyday second sacker? I thought that he really came a long way defensively and even the change of position did not affect his offense. Everyone seems to believe that we can have a roster full of 25+ homer hitting robots but I have had enough kool-aid to know that is not possible. I think that Schu being the every day guy with Lugo going against the nasty LHP would be a good tandem. What say you - O Great One!

Joe Strauss: You're likely to get your wish.

collier11: What is the timeline for Miller getting to the bigs if he pans out, 11 or 12?

Joe Strauss: He's a high school kid. Any time before 2013 should be considered an upset. He's not Rick Porcello.

Jeepster: Off topic but who do you have as your number 1 right now in college football.....Florida, Texas or Alabama?

Joe Strauss: This week I'd have to say Texas. Two weeks ago I would have said Alabama. Four weeks ago it was Florida. It will never be Iowa. That said, the SEC Championship Game should be renamed the BCS Championship until further notice.

Kevin: I swear I'm not a pessimist but I'm already worried about next year. Joel was really good for part of the year and I'm concerned that whoever we exhume to take his spot In the rotation won't be as good(reclamations are far from a sure thing). I think as a whole the offense will be a bit better than it was with Mac as hitting coach but I don't think the improvement he provides will come close to making up for not having holliday. I see next year shaping up like last year only without the youngsters to trade at midseason to plug the wholes. The only upside I can see as of now is Freese can't be to much worse than what we were getting from 3rd for most of the season. Please tell me there is more.

Joe Strauss: There are now more reasons to believe the Cardinals will win fewer than 91 games than more. The McGwire hire is intriguing. The organization is tacitly saying they believe someone with zero professional experience as a TEAM hitting coach is a better choice than someone who had 15 years' such experience (McRae). Yes, there was some clubhouse dissatisfaction with McRae's work. He was too passive for some. However, it still seems a rather large leap of faith to assume McGwire will be a success. Former Cardinal Jack Clark is among those critical of the hire. Still waiting for the announcement when Jack the Ripper will be referred to as "former Fox Sports Midwest analyst" Jack Clark. Remember, Jack, the Cardinals are the rightsholder's "partner."

lbomm: Hi there, Mr. CM,
Good to have you back on the air...
Any chance that MLB and the Players union will come to its collective senses and either (1) shorten the regular season back to 154 games or (2) shorten the playoffs (5-game league championship series, anyone?) so that baseball isn't being played in the cool of November? And, as a bonus question, will the Fox/MLB honchos ever go back to daytime World Series baseball? Surely, they know that they're slowly eroding their fan base by leaving out the kids (and future chatmeisters, too). Last question: what Einstein allows a four-team division in the AL while leaving the Cards in a six-team div? Time to move the Astros to the AL West! Your thoughts?

Joe Strauss: What hallucinogen are you taking, sir? The "best interest of baseball" clause is actually "the best interest of FOX" clause. It's more likely the Division Series will expand to a best-of-seven format, taking the Series even deeper into November. Day baseball could happen, but only as an experiment that would likely be discarded due to poor ratings opposite football. Since the leagues' are such in name only, a more practical solution would be to install six 5-team divisions and have at least one "interleague" series going throughout the season. Of course, a more practical scheduling solution would be to shorten spring training by a week and begin the season in late March while also incorporating at least two DH in each team's regular season schedule. Of course, that would cost each team at least one gate, eliciting disapproval from owners. Follow the money, baby.

Double Dogs: Joe,

How often are players paid? Are they paid year round or for the six months they are playing?

Joe Strauss: Players are paid twice monthly during the season.

Scott: You stated earlier that deferred money counted towards the current year payroll. What, then, is the advantage of deferring it?

Joe Strauss: Depending on how long the money is deferred, a team can purchase an interest-bearing annuity that diminishes the contract's present day value.

vivaelhombre: Chatmeister, I have read recently, that the cardinals are very interested in Cuban ace Aroldis Chapman. My question is do you think it conceviable, and beneficial for the cards to sign this guy to a long term commitment? I understand we might have the liberty at doing so, but what are your thoughts?

Joe Strauss: The Cardinals have interest but not at the money initially floated. The Boston Red Sox are still believed front-runners for Chapman. There are questions about Chapman's age and his make-up due to an allegedly combustible personality. GM John Mozeliak said two weeks ago the club was still performing its "due diligence." It would seem a bit out of the box for the Cardinals to make such a commitment while maintaining their current payroll structure. Stay tuned.

Joe Strauss: That's a wrap for this weeks chat, sports fans. I signed on more than three hours ago. So I'm guessing that many of you have squandered half of a productive work day while riding The Tsunami. Good for you. I would expect another edition of JSL!!! to crash ashore before December's winter meetings. We may do some daily chats at the Meetings themselves. Thanks much for the overwhelming response on such short notice. It only underscores the power of The Tsunami. If you need a daily fix, I can be reached at my e-mail address or on Twitter at the creatively crafted address: JoeStrauss. Thanks again.