- 1 The Powerball numbers: 10, 13, 14, 22, 52 and Powerball No. 11
- 2 McClellan: Larry Conners "issue" proves Facebook is not your friend
- 3 Jury recommends 75 years for St. Charles County cable guy convicted of sexual assault
- 4 Two drive-by shootings Friday night in St. Louis
- 5 Goldenrod Showboat remains in limbo after auction
- 6 Rookie St. Louis cops starting careers on foot patrol
- 7 AP courses vs. dual credit: what's best for high school students?
- 8 Fire at Webster Groves High School quickly put out
- 9 One St. Louis charter school to close, another in trouble
- 10 Train crash injures dozens; 'amazing' no one died
Live Chats
Cardinals chat with Joe Strauss
Submit your questions and comments about the Cardinals NOW; talk to Post-Dispatch baseball writer Joe Strauss starting at 1 p.m..

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We are here and live!!!, which certainly beats the alternative, as the Cardinals continue to meander through third place within the always intriguing NL Central. The club is in an 11-20 funk which has seen its offense erode while its starting pitching has found footing. Skip Schumaker began a rehab assignment today at Memphis, picking up a hit while playing CF. So much to discuss as the Best Fans in Baseball* (property: STL Cardinals Marketing LLC) continue to roil. And with some good reason. The surf looks very choppy. Grab a long board and climb atop The Tsunami. Today, ladies to the front of the line. Cowabunga!!! -

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Joe, at present the Cardinals seem to have two active players best suited to play first base (Craig and Adams), one injured player who would be the starter at first base if he were healthy (Lance Berkman), and an ailing outfielder (Carlos Beltran) who might benefit from playing first base given the state of his knees. Given the Cardinals surplus of corner infielder types, do you expect the Cardinals to try to play either Craig or Adams more in the outfield to relive Beltran? -
You're dismissing Craig's knees, which are hurtful enough that third-base coach Jose Oquendo held him last night rather on what seemed a solid scoring chance. This team has fallen victim to the variable that we warned against this spring -- a high injury factor. The club is greatly diminished not only because of who's missing but because of the afflictions bothering those in the lineup. Note Tuesday's outfield: Holliday (back), Beltran (knee), Craig (knee). Then Beltran goes face first into the wall and appears to jam his wrist. A few weeks ago we suggested a bad moon rising. It now appears to have risen. -

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Miller's velocity is down a tick. It has been since spring training. He's getting hurt by home runs and pitch inefficiency. Yes, the organization is concerned. The signature prospect entering this season, Miller has been replaced by Oscar Taveras as the organization's No. 1 talent. The assumption that Miller would receive exposure to STL this September may prove erroneous. Indeed, there there are those who believe he might benefit from a return to Springfield. Nine home runs allowed in the last 21 innings and an escalating ERA suggest a negative trend. -

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Craig's first exposure to second base came while TLR was recovering in Arizona from shingles. Joe Pettini was bag man for the move. As I recall, Miguel Tejada twice spared Craig when he stood in front of the base on a double play ball. Craig never turned a DP in his brief exposure to the position. Mike Matheny has voiced little appetite for a return engagement there. -

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Jay has yet to take a two-handed swing since being shut down in Jupiter. It's fair to say his return remains weeks away. He has continued to strengthen his right shoulder. We are now almost nine weeks removed from his collision with the Busch Stadium outfield wall and the shoulder "sprain" that the club initially thought would not require a trip to the DL. Having been exposed by the club then, Jay may be protecting himself now. -

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I am not optimistic. But as many ChatHeads may suggest, I typically lean toward realism. Garcia is dealing with tears in his cuff and labrum. Yes, most pitchers show some wear in those areas. But noticeable differences exist between now and the physical performed prior to him signing last July's contract extension. You should wait to exhale. -

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Motte's allowed 27 baserunners in 26.2 innings. That's hardly Franklin-esque or late-stage Izzy-like. He's gotten hurt by four home runs, including Sunday, when he appeared for a second straight day. He has employed his cutter with fair success. Motte surrendered only 2 HR in 68 regular season innings in 2011. That's the biggest difference in his performance. I suggest there are bigger issues within the 'pen than Motte. -
i think the BFIB have to realize this is a true transistion year, from the old regime to the new regime and the playoffs might not be in the cards this year, pun totally intended. As a certain scribe pointed out this spring, this team's health was in question from the opening day of camp, and a betting man would have taken the over on trips to the DL. 2012 will be forgiven thanks to the miracle 2011 season but 2013 looms as the pivotal year for the Cardinals future. Consider this a plus year for the owners. 3.2 million fans, little gruff. Thanks for the weekly chats, -
Fair points all. However, I also thought the Cardinals the best team in the NLc. A $116 million payroll doesn't suggest transition to me. It should create expectations of a postseason. However, organizational depth did not square with the injury risks the club carried into the season. If the Cardinals had spread injuries to Puma, Schu', Jay, Craig, C. Carpenter, M. Carpenter, Garcia and McClellan over an entire year, they may have survived without issue. However, for all to go down within the first 60 games is a credible excuse/reason for a .500 record (31-31). I do question whether this club can get to October without an impact move. Carpenter and Berkman are huge variables now. The bullpen needs to be addressed for a second straight year. -

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Many share your concerns about Rzepczynski. I have asked him point blank. He denies a physical issue. However, his slider has gone from a weapon to a hit-me pitch. Until that pitch improves, he is vulnerable. And, yes, I agree he was overexposed earlier this year. The situation came to a head in Atlanta. Adding an eighth reliever should give Matheny more flexibility; however, the club still requires a second veteran lefty. Mo' has steadfastly denied that need -- at least publcily -- but it's becoming too obvious to ignore. Sam Freeman has offered some encouraging early results. But experience is in very short supply within this bullpen. -

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First of all let me say this: You're the only scribe I would expect to shoot straight, so please do. Best case: Birds get Carpenter, Berkman & Schumaker back mid summer. The bullpen rights itself and we're back in the thick of things in the NL Central. Worst case: None of the above come back healthy, clubhouse leadership arodes, Matheny hits the panic button and we finish 4th in the division. Where do you fall? And again, give it to me straight... -
Not sure what you're asking. Best case, this team collects itself and wins the division. I've said repeatedly -- and still believe -- this to be the NLc's best team when whole. However, it no longer looks as though this team will be whole again this year. Craig is playing on a bad wheel, so how does his condition improve? Beltran has to protect his knee while playing almost every day. This team relies heavily on guys vulnerable to breakage. Complicate the situation with losing Jay, Schu', etc. and you've got a mess, which pretty much describes the current state of things. Worst case, the club continues to crater, Carp' doesn't make it back and July 31 looks like an opportunity to discard rather than acquire players. The next several weeks are critical. -

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Joe - At what point do we move on from Tyler Greene? It's not a secret anymore that this "potential" is nothing but potential. He seems way in over his head at the big league level, at least in a Cardinals uniform, and has not improved or really helped the ball club one bit. Maybe I'm not being "fair", but how many chances has this guy been given already. -
He's received several. The club will have numerous roster decisions when/if certain players return. Greene's play has been inconsistent, but he has factored heavily in several wins. Nobody looks particularly good right now. With a full roster his role would change. Daniel Descalso hasn't looked as good as he did last year. Furcal is in a four-week funk at the plate. Matt Holliday is hitting for average but is without a home run for almost three weeks. The situation is jumbled enough that the manager has batted Molina No. 2 and No. 3 in the lineup. Frankly, I never thought I'd see that. It's fair to say a lot is being thrown against the wall right now. Not much has stuck. -

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From the outset I've reported that ne negotiated a settlement with the club and is in de facto retirement as Cardinals pitching coach. Other have chosen to employ the club's verbage of "a leave." That's not my information. Dunc' made clear at the time he is available as a consultant. To my knowledge, the club has not approached him for such input this season. As for individual pitchers.... -
Has there been any talk about firing any members of the coaching staff? I realize the injuries have played a large role in the team's decline, but for the most part the pitching staff remained in tact and has deteriorated considerably. I can't recall the last time the Cardinals fired a coach mid-season, but it would seem at least from the outside that Liliquist may be on the hot seat after his postgame meetings with Matheny a couple weeks ago? -
That's not my impression. One should also remember that Mo', not Matheny, put together this coaching staff. Lilliquist was also the guy who oversaw the staff during the final seven weeks of last season. Funny, no one was screaming for his head then. Or when the staff pitched brilliantly in April. My take is that the manager might benefit from being more reliant rather than less so on his pitching lieutenants. -

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I was concerned about 3 things in April. 1. letting Dotel and Rhoades move on in favor of Romero and Linebrink. 2. Starting the season with Westbrook in the rotation. 3. Our unwillingness to bring in Oswalt when he clearly wanted to jump on board, and we clearly had a potential issue with carps health. MLB is always been about pitching. The moves and "non moves" made by MO this offseason made us vulnerable. How often can you add Roy Oswalt as your 5th starter?? He'll be giving Texas quality starts soon.
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Let's be intellectually honest for a moment. Yes, the Cardinals might have secured Oswalt with an overwhelming offer in February. But remember Oswalt balked at the Tigers' $10 million bid. He seemed to prefer a "Clemens" arrangement in which he pitched only a fraction of the season for heavy jack. My information is the Cardinals reached out recently but could not ascertain what his price would be. A number of subtle issues may have pushed Oswalt toward the Rangers. Perhaps you are correct and Oswalt will become a factor this summer. But his health history and layoff pose hurdles as well. He's not a gimme putt.
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