Steve: Great to see you back again JSL---you should be a clear cut fave for BCS Champion of Chats!!!!

If Chris Duncan is acknowledged as the Cards top major league trading chip do you think that having Dave Duncan on the staff affects their willingness to move him?

Joe Strauss: To be honest.... yes. It certainly makes it more difficult from an emotional standpoint.

Dennis: Hey Mr. Strauss,

You have every right to your opinion about Mizzou Football, but have taken a look at the top 10's strength of schedule? Jayhawks, who I am sure you are in love with because of the 76 they put on Nebraska like everyone is, has a SOS in the 100's. Have you taken a look at Ohio St.'s out of conference schedule? Not very impressive. Oklahoma's? Again, not impressive. Just wondering what your beef is with the schedule if you looked around the country at other teams non-con.

Thank you for taking time to answer if you choose to.

Joe Strauss: I have exactly the same issue with KU as Mizzou. My point isn't confined to this season, though arguing as such makes it easier for you. Missouri hasn't had a similar opportunity to "stretch" itself for decades. Come on. Dial in with Notre Dame, UCLA, Iowa, Virginia... anybody outside the Big 12 who can fog a mirror. Is home-and-home with SMU what you're looking for? (Was Troy already booked?) Michigan plays Oregon. Virginia Tech plays LSU. Tennessee used to play Notre Dame. Texas played Ohio State. With Daniel as QB, Mizzou is a made-for-national TV club. (Oh, yeah, Oklahoma drilled Miami.) Right now the Big 12 has three teams in the Top 7. After the conference title game it will likely have one should Oklahoma win.

Kyle: Wow. There is a lot of negative reaction about your article. I found the criticism fair. I love St. Louis and Missouri but I think, at times, we become insular and don't realize the image that the nation sees. Mizzou not scheduling tough non-conference opponents damages their reputation nationally and hurts their recruiting.

I agree with your article. (I guess I should have just said that.)

Joe Strauss: How dare you say such things.

old mizzou, proud mizzou: Chatmeister,
I know of your expertise on ACC and Big East Football. Do you think the Hokies can win out in the ACC and do you think West Virginia is worthy of playing in the Rose Bowl. JSLive!!! is my favorite

Joe Strauss: I'm bullish on the Hokies and believe they will roll Virginia to reach the conference championship game, which I anticipate them winning in a possible rematch with BC. West Va. is a very live team along with Oregon and LSU. As stated, I believe Michigan will shock OSU. (If only the Wolverines hadn't scheduled Oregon.)

Dan: Is it time to just scratch the Gold Glove thing all together? If Yadier Molina isn't a Gold Glover, there is no such thing. They always reference Gold Gloveswhen introducing a HOF'er or naming HOF credentials, but I think that this year just proves that they really mean NOTHING. I think another sports writer on this site said it best. It's no wonder these managers get fired so often if they can't even identify the best defensive players in the league.

And for the record, great article on Tiger football. They need to earn the fans back, and tough non- con games are the way to do it. The basketball team has been doing the cream puff thing for years, and it DOES affect post season selections, as it should in football.

Joe Strauss: As stated before, games played factored in Molina's diss. I wonder who should be entrusted with votes? The managers and coaches who supposedly know the game so much better than the writers? The writers whose objectivity is questioned every November when awards are announced? The broadcasters who are hired and fired at discretion of the team? Or should they feed the stats into a computer and accept what comes out? Worst of all, there could emerge a system that would eliminate debate.