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STL sports chat with Jeff Gordon

Bring your Cardinals, Rams, Blues and Mizzou questions, and join columnist Jeff Gordon for a live discussion starting at 11 a.m.

by Mike Smithon Aug 24, 2012 at 2:23 PM

Two minor league questions and one thought about one of your recent columns:

by CurtisGans 8/27/2012 3:51:23 PM
Looking at how the Cardinals must respond to the Dodgers. www.stltoday.com

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 3:52:33 PM
Will Pinkel sit on DGB because he's a freshman, or will he turn him loose?

by ZachAttack 8/27/2012 3:52:39 PM
Turn him lose. Many freshmen will play roles this year. Got to go with your best athletes.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 3:53:20 PM
Two minor league questions and one thought about a recent column. What's the injury sidelining Sam Freemen? After he was sent down, he did very well until his last outing and then he was disabled. Also is Mike O'Neill in the class of Taveras? Lastly when you wrote that the Cards shouldn't be spending money on position players with what's in the pipeline, wouldn't it be worth it to make a run at Stephen Drew, figure out how you balance him and Furcal for a year and have a shortstop for several years?

by CurtisGans 8/27/2012 3:53:23 PM
O"Neill is more of a Shane Robinson/Adron Chambers extra OF type. Drew has a mutual option on his deal for 2013 and I imagine Oakland will try to keep him after making the move to get him. Drew likes manager Bob Melvin. As for Freeman, he suffered an ill-time oblique injury. That could wipe out his bid for a September recall.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:00:37 PM
Hi Jeff read your article regarding the Dodgers deal and I'm afraid that TEAMS like the Dodgers Yankees and other major market teams will ruin baseball without a salary cap. I'm interested in your opinon regarding this Thanks

by Bud 8/27/2012 4:00:40 PM
A salary cap is impossible for baseball becaue the revenues differ dramatically from team to team. But I believe a team can contend with a $100 million to $110 million payroll year after year. Contending with a $60 million or $70 million payroll year after year would be very difficult.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:02:22 PM
@gordoszone I've said this is the way the cardinals and most teams have to go for years. Only way to compete long term

by GregSiegelman via twitter 8/27/2012 4:02:31 PM
Hey Gordo, what a difference a week makes. I thought the Redbirds were dead after the 19 inning loss to the Pirates but now I'm feeling like they are starting to play well again. Do you think their chances at one of the wild card spots are still likely? Or do you think the Dodgers and Braves do it?

by Uncle Leebo 8/27/2012 4:02:40 PM
Rams release FB Todd Anderson, and undrafted rookie from Michigan State.

by Jim Thomas via twitter 8/27/2012 4:02:56 PM
The Dodgers should make a big push with all these new players. I'd expect that team to topple the Giants in the NL west or die trying. So the wild card play-in game might come down to the Cardinals, Braves and Giants. How about the Cardinals-Braves? Would Atlanta look forward to that?

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:03:52 PM
Scott Wells goes extra mile for children : bit.ly via @STLtoday

by Jim Thomas via twitter 8/27/2012 4:04:13 PM
Former Rams K Josh Brown indicates on Twitter that he has been released by the New York Jets.

by Jim Thomas via twitter 8/27/2012 4:08:29 PM
RT @Kickingitwith3: Best of luck to the 2012 Jets... Thanks for one of the most memorable camps in 10 yrs. GREAT GROUP OF GUYS!!

by Jim Thomas via twitter 8/27/2012 4:09:50 PM
Hi Gordo, What it the latest on Berkman? The last report I saw it didn't appear to be very positive. Do you see him being able to come back to help out this year or is it beyond repair? I suppose he will be as a Sept. call up and hope he can be of some benefit.

by Jim H 8/27/2012 4:10:19 PM
He is 1 for 5 in two games for Memphis with a walk. He went to Triple-A hoping to regain his timing so he can help the team as a pinch-hitter.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:10:53 PM
Gordo, how concerned are you with the state of the Mizzou offensive line ... most of the internet forums are predicting doom and gloom for Mizzou in the SEC. Whats your take? Do you think Mizzou can be successful with a lot of young offensive lineman this year filling in?

by Uncle Leebo 8/27/2012 4:11:02 PM
That line couldn't afford to take injury hits and it already has. The Missouri offense asks these guys to block in space. SEC defenses will test that ability early and often. Some kids will have to grown up fast as other players get banged up in the weekly grind. BIG challenge.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:12:37 PM
Are we seeing the beginning of the Bulger mindset taking over Bradford? If so, better start looking for a new QB right now!

by Skid Row 8/27/2012 4:12:43 PM
Sam certainly lost his comfort zone in a hurry against Dallas. The Rams staff needs to get on top of that ASAP.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:13:23 PM
Any chance the Rams might explore a trade (possible future pick) for a decent RT?

by Deeke 8/27/2012 4:13:29 PM
Anything is possible. The waiver wire is filling up today and it will load up again later in the week. Expect the Rams to keep shopping.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:14:19 PM
Is it wise for the Cardinals to let Waino keep pitching? Yes he's pitching well and is essential to their playoff chances. But his long term health is more important, no?

by Jake 8/27/2012 4:14:24 PM
If Adam is showing now outward signs of fatigue, there is no reason to shut him down.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:14:44 PM
Like most people, I have other responsibilities and usually cannot watch this chat live. I used to be able to submit questions in advance, but that is no longer allowed. Why shut out people like myself?

by Encino 8/27/2012 4:14:55 PM
The old format was technically a one-hour chat. This is a three-hour chat the usually starts early and ends late. I suppose we could start it earlier and just not respond to anything until later in the day.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:16:02 PM
RT @ESPNStatsInfo: #AllenCraig has filled in nicely in the absence of Albert Pujols in St. Louis. In 60 games at 1B, Craig has a .326 BA ...

by Jeff Gordon via twitter 8/27/2012 4:18:34 PM
Hi, Gordo! The Ram defense has been largely disappointing in pre-season games. Do you think we'd be better had we retained the services of G Williams as DC? How do you think Ram players are responding to the "leaderless" Defense experiment?

by Hang Time 8/27/2012 4:18:54 PM
The NFL suspended Gregg Williams for the season. Rams had no say in that. As for leadership, Jeff Fisher will remind that he invented this defense and he has two former And assistant head coach Dave McGinnis is a former D.C. and head coach in the league.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:22:29 PM
The Dodgers trade made tons of headlines but was it a smart trade? No doubt Adrian Gonzalez is a top flight hitter, but Crawford is hurt and has been unproductive for two years and Beckett is clearly declining (even though leaving the AL East should help). Seems like taking on the two bad contracts and giving up two legitimate pitching prospects is a lot, and now the Red Sox can spend at will again if they so choose.

by AP 8/27/2012 4:22:32 PM
LA is betting on Beckett regaining his old form in a new setting. Pitching in the NL should help that. Taking Crawford's deal was just the price of doing business. He was a terrible fit for Fenway and he tried to play hurt for a while. But, yes, he is quite a long-term risk for the Dodgers. Long road back for him.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:24:41 PM
who do you think the Rams will keep, Austin Davis or Clemens?

by Deeke 8/27/2012 4:25:22 PM
If the Rams keep just two QBs, I'd expect them to keep the veteran with lots of experience in this offense. Davis is a nice project but no more.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:25:49 PM
Two hypothetical questions Gordo first one if the Rams held the first pick in the draft you think they would've drafted Luck and traded Bradford and the second one at the deadline with the rays looking for a frontline starting pitcher and first baseman you think they would've went for a trade of say Shelby Miller Allen Craig Tony Cruz and another throw in for Jeremy Hellickson and Wade Davis

by Chris 8/27/2012 4:25:50 PM
I wouldn't have given up on Bradford in order to put a rookie at the helm of a bad team.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:26:42 PM
What causes the Cards to absolutely resist adding a starting pitcher (rental is ok) for this pennant drive? Saunders was dealt this weekend, Volquez is on waivers and etc. I don't get it? Lynn and or Kelly in the pen makes this a better club. Adding a guy like Volquez for this season without over paying would make huge sense to me. A guy like him could take pressure of Lynn, Kelly or Garcia...what gives to the resistance? Can't have too much pitching...

by Lee 8/27/2012 4:26:58 PM
The Cardinals already have six starting pitchers. Lynn's slip moved Kelly back into the rotation, but I certainly wouldn't give up on Lynn. Also the team really likes Trevor Rosenthal, who should add a power arm in September. Saunders or Volquez would have been fine additions if the team was scrounging for a fifth guy, but the team wasn't.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:30:07 PM
How is Pead in pass protection. Is he a liability. Can we use him on passing downs?

by Dreyfus 8/27/2012 4:30:16 PM
That's another area where he needs work. You noticed that Steven Jackson was called on to protect Sam on passing downs against Dallas.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:30:51 PM
Will the Cards add a waiver wire bench bat? Thanks

by Lee 8/27/2012 4:33:32 PM
That is a move that would have made sense when Greene got the short haircut. Kind of surprised it didn't happen.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:33:56 PM
Read your article today about not trading away pitching. I generally agree, but there is another article on the site today discussing possible destinations for Elvis Andrus. It mentions the Cards as one possibility. Would you be tempted to trade one of the young starting pitching prospects for Andrus if an extension could be worked out in advance? Cards don't seem to have any starting shortstop prospects, have been unable to develop anybody, and Furcal is unlikely to be the answer beyond his current contract. Thanks.

by George M. 8/27/2012 4:34:51 PM
Perhaps next summer the Cardinals can start looking at future shortstops. By then the team will have a clear idea of what it really has with all this young pitching and whether it really has more pitching than it needs. But when was the last time the Cardinals had more pitching than they needed? Never, really.

by Jeff Gordon 8/27/2012 4:38:15 PM
I don't want to argue about SB, but would like to know how you think Fisher should handle the backup QB position. My opinion is that Davis should get several series with the 1st string to see who is capable of running the offense in a game situation if - when - SB goes down. Faulk and the other commentator clearly were impressed with Davis, said he fired up the offense, had great huddle presence, excellent pocket awareness, and was a real playmaker. (OK, I'll point out that SB seems to lack several - all? - of these characteristics.) Clemons is Schoettenheimer's guy from NY, but we know what he can do.

by Tony Albers 8/27/2012 4:38:28 PM