Joe Strauss: All right, Everybody Up! It's time for another semi-weekly installment of Joe Strauss (Dead Or) Alive!!! As promised, we return after another significant development, the hiring of John Mozeliak as general manager after the Cardinals' four-week search took them about 20 paces down the hall. I'm sure you have opinions and questions about Mo and other pending Cardinals matters. Meanwhile, JSL!!! comes to you from "an undisclosed location." The black and gold bonfire-and-pitchforks crowd is out after taking exception to today's column about their fabulously gifted but underscheduled team. Mr. Cheney, please pass me some toast.
Let's get cranking. The Secret Service prefers to keep me and Mr. Cheney moving every 90 minutes or so; we may not make it to 2 p.m. But in response to popular demand, Let's Get it On with JSL!!!

Aaron: JSL rocks my socks off!!!

I hear all the chat-chit about the Cards needing an impact bat. Wouldn't a lineup with Ankiel, Duncan, Pujols, Rolen and Edmonds batting 2-6 be enough impact? I know you can't count on Rolen and Edmonds for a full season but I would think you would have to spend your dough on some pitching sauce. Also, do you think Ludwick can hit .270 with 30 bombs given 500 AB's?

Remember, the Chatmeister doesn't wear a watch because the Chatmeister decides what time it is!!!

Joe Strauss: The central question revolves around health, very difficult to predict for veteran players coming off a third shoulder surgery (Rolen), chronic hurts (Edmonds, Pujols) and season-ending hernia surgery (Duncan). Ankiel proved he can hit major league pitching. Now he needs to prove he can hit it consistently. Ludwick's production per at-bat was outstanding last season. Tony La Russa spotted him well. Ludwick has a big swing and big holes but crushes mistakes. He's a valuable platoon player. The Cards need to first address their rotation then pursue an impact bat or SS with what's left over.

Tony: Hey Joe, how about those Tigers climbing the ranks? My question is about the young Florida Marlin who seems to have taking a liking to Pujols. Do you think the Cards have the trading chips to go after a guy like Miguel Cabrera to fill the hole in the infield and the right handed power bat?

Joe Strauss: El Tigres are very impressive. I think Chase Daniel is deserving of Heisman consideration but, unfortunately, the Tigers' underwhelming schedule hurts his visibility. You have to be impressed by the defense's improvement as well. They are not a one-trick pony. As for Cabrera, he's very gifted but he's also going to be very expensive. Cabrera has cultivated a not-so-great reputation as a clubhouse guy. The Marlins are not pleased with his conditioning. He has gained, by some estimates, 80 pounds since reaching the major leagues. For a team recently hurt by injuries, I don't know if it's the best fit.

Dave: Hey Joe. I don't think the Cards' situation is quite as dire as people think. Just like the Rams this season, they were plagued by injuries to key players, such as Rolen, Molina, Carpenter, Mulder, and to a lesser extent, Edmonds, Encarnacion, Eckstein, and Looper. Common sense (and a lot of hope) suggests that this team ought to be healthier come 2008. Now I know that having a new GM decreases your ability to speculate on this, but assuming that this team is somewhat better because players are actually on the field, do you think it would be beneficial for the Cards to wheel and deal during the GM meetings and early free agency period, or should Cardinal Nation expect the same cautious approach that we've seen the past 2 seasons? Given his comments during his introduction last week, I get the impression that Mozeliak wants to make a swift impact in his new role. What's your take on this?

Joe Strauss: I don't compare NFL and MLB. The Rams were fundamentally flawed before their injuries. So were the Cardinals. Comparisons end there for me. I expect the Cardinals to make an impact trade for pitching. From a marketing and a competitive standpoint they can't afford to stand still as the core of this team ages. Mozeliak enters a very difficult situation. The market is threadbare and he possesses minimal trade leverage. Moving a high-priced veteran player could perhaps address multiple needs but that, too, is very complicated. The Cardinals have to get healthier or they have no shot. Either Mulder or Carpenter will have to contribute at some point next season. Too much payroll is tied up with too few players.

John in Arizona: The Chatmeister's voice is heard across the continent. It seems most of the "spin" I have read on the Rolen/TLR feud indicates that Tony wants to kiss and make up and Scotty ain't buyin. I can't believe this all came about because Rolen was "benched" when he was hurt and unproductive. There must be more to it than that. Is Rolen just a malcontent (ask Larry Bowa) or is there some justification for his discontent? Will he become a cancer in the clubhouse? It isn't Rolen's fault he got hurt, but I, for one, am becoming a little bored with this seemingly childish pouting. In the school of
"what have you done for us lately," it ain't much. All Cardinal fans, myself included, would love to see a healthy, happy and productive Scott Rolen at third. That said, I question whether he will ever be (a) healthy; (b) happy; and (c) productive. Even if we have to eat a lot of his salary, I'm beginning to think it could be addition by subtraction. What is the Chatmeister's take?

Joe Strauss: I'm not so sure TLR wants to "kiss and make up." My take is that the manager has challenged Rolen to resurrect a career detoured by injury and perhaps loss of motivation. Rolen has not responded to TLR's challenge but I think it safe to say Scotty won't be headlining the next ARF benefit. Rolen became disillusioned the organization's handling of his shoulder in 2005 and the relationship has never repaired. The 2006 playoffs widened the riff when TLR benched Rolen. (Rolen subsequently took a cortisone shot and finished the postseason on a 10-game hitting streak.) Without taking sides here, it's safe to say that having a disaffected star player subtracts from the clubhouse. Likewise, Rolen supporters would say perceived double standards are equally corrosive. It's a mess. If Rolen is healthy, I believe his disposition will improve. But I no longer believe his relationship with TLR can be salvaged.
There... you've got my take.