Live Chats

Cardinals chat with Joe Strauss

Bring your Cardinals questions and opinions, and talk to Post-Dispatch baseball writer Joe Strauss at NOON.

by Mike Smithon Sep 12, 2012 at 6:14 AM

We're up at 10 am Pacific time, which is way early for a ChatMeister who was up til 3 am crafting a game story for BFIB consumption, up again at 4:30 to do a talker hit, and up at 705 am to do yet another talker hit. The glamorous lifestyle of a beat hack. Of course, everyone wants to discuss the atrocity that occurred at Petco Park last night, when the Cardinals turned eight walks and three Padres errors into a 6-4 loss. It was a bad setback and came about largely because of three unearned runs in a five-run fifth inning. But if you've read the compelling prose in today's P-D you already know all that. Let's move ahead to talk pitching rotation, minor-league affiliates, pokerball, surfin' SD or whatever intrigues you. Hard to believe only three more regular season editions of Joe Strauss Live!!! remain. Let's ride.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:12:41 PM
Dear Chatmeister WaveMaster: On Monday, Chris Carpenter threw more pitches (70) in an afternoon simulated game than Jaime Garcia managed (60) that evening in the game at Arizona. By now, it's no secret Jaime can't pitch on the road. His next start would be a critical game this weekend in LA. So, why not swap them? Put the real warrior on the mound and let the road worrier throw the sim game. Your thoughts, please.

by RichRinCR 9/12/2012 5:13:33 PM
My sense is that an adjustment to the rotation is pending and will be announced before this afternoon's series finale. Mo' and Matheny have insisted Carpenter would not start Saturday's game and that if a change occurred either Miller or Rosenthal would step in. Again, I'm a firm believer in watching what the organization does and not necessarily moving all-in on what it says. I don't believe Garcia will be removed from the rotation; however, his next start may be moved to next week's series at home against the DisAstros.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:16:30 PM
Thanks for the chat Joe. On last night's pregame show Cal Eldred said - a couple times - that the GM needs to hand over the Jaime Garcia decision to Matheny and his coaches. So I ask you: who will be the decision maker on whether or not Garcia makes his upcoming start in LA - the Mozeliak or Matheny?

by InigoMontoya 9/12/2012 5:17:25 PM
It was somewhat revealing that Mozeliak spoke more forcefully and at length Tuesday about the Jaime situation than did Mike. Mozeliak addressed the media then spoke on-field to the manager. Mike met earlier in the day with Garcia, who was not inclined after last night's game to discuss what came out of the conversation. Garcia said he would prepare for his next start but did not specify when it would fall.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:18:54 PM
do is there any hope that maybe Taveras might get a call up ...just for his bat...if you look at our bench it is pretty week, Robinson, Jackson, Kasma....not much there

by redbird11290 9/12/2012 5:19:06 PM
Whose hope are you referring to? Mo' downplayed the possibility but acknowledged the thought two days ago. He said there were more negatives than positives to such a move, particularly since Taveras does not project to start next season. Certainly he is the bright, shiny object for many who believe a Double-A hitter who has never faced Triple-A pitching can step onto a major-league field for a first time and influence a stretch drive. That's a bit presumptuous. If your issue is Beltran's recent performance, Matt Carpenter would seem a more logical response.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:21:55 PM
Joe, it's rough surfing today. I'm not going to bang on the manager or GM or any of the players, but shouldn't this team be doing quite a bit better? I realize that age has slowed or shelved a few, but am I wrong to think that there is enough talent remaining to run away with the wild card at least?

by Bob 9/12/2012 5:22:08 PM
I was with you until a couple weeks ago. The loss of Furcal has further degraded a defense that was shaky to begin with. Eleven errors in 10 games is impossible to ignore. Monday's 11-3 loss featured almost a dozen drops, fumbles or poor throws. Players are being overexposed in some cases. The Cardinals insisted during spring training they would be proactive in resting veteran talents such as Furcal and Beltran. That never really happened. Furcal is now broken. Beltran is compromised. Now we see a team groping for the finish line. This team had a very high ceiling and a dangerous basement. Injuries were the man beneath the stairs.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:25:41 PM
Do you see the Cardinals going after a free agent shortstop or sticking with internal options for 2013? What about going after Marco Scutaro?

by captainjack 9/12/2012 5:25:55 PM
It makes sense that they at least seek out a veteran alternative at shortstop. For a team that once saw Ryan Jackson as that alternative, the club has performed all sorts of gymnastics not to expose him at this level.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:26:54 PM
Has Matt Carpenter been largely unavailable the last 2 games due to the hand lacerations? Otherwise no excuse that Beltran keeps giving away automatic outs when Carpenter is so productive

by dn3524 9/12/2012 5:27:03 PM
Carpenter insists his hand is fine.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:27:16 PM
Mighty Joe...I was and still am a big fan of the Carlos Beltran signing, but they rode him too hard during the first half and now the guy is running on fumes. How about giving Carlos a couple of days off and letting Matt Carpenter play some right (or put Craig in RF, Matty C at 1B). As cold as he is, Beltran seems to be swinging at way too many first pitches without results. And looking ahead to next year, how about adding some better depth to allow for more off days for Beltran.

by NY Card Fan 9/12/2012 5:27:34 PM
Beltran is a first-pitch fastball hitter. For most of this season he was extremely successful with that approach. Now he appears in between, which includes an inability to catch up to many fastballs. His bat speed appears to have slowed. When healthy, Beltran's actions are fluid, unforced, even elegant. That is not the case now. The club could use a RH-hitting OF for depth. Beltran still projects as the everyday RF and No. 2, 4 or 5 hitter.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:30:09 PM
Who do you project getting the most playing time at SS over the final few weeks?

by Mark in Columbia 9/12/2012 5:30:19 PM
It's literally a day to day decision. That's typically not a good thing for such a vital position. It's one reason I firmly believed Molina and Furcal the team's two most indispensable players. There are no good everyday options beyond them.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:31:16 PM
Quick subject change Joe.
Do you think Mizzou will bounce back this week or will their ugly finish against Georgia linger into Saturday against the Sun Devils?

by bailincreve 9/12/2012 5:31:29 PM
You've got to be concerned about their issues on the offensive line. ASU laid a beatdown on Illinois, but I question the value of that outcome. Truman stayed close, and even led UGA while last Saturday's game stayed sloppy. At some point UGA tightened its game. Mizzou continued to play at loose ends. The ChatMeister is still trying to reconcile the fourth-and-what? fake punt.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:33:25 PM
Even if Carp has only elevated to 70 pitches in simulations, isn't 5 innings of Carp better than 5 innings of Garcia or Shelby Miller on Saturday?

by Jake 9/12/2012 5:34:13 PM
It's quite a leap to believe Carp' will be efficient enough to spread 70 pitches within five innings first time out.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:34:55 PM
Hey Joe, if the Cardinals make the Simulated Playoffs will Carpenter be available for Game 1?

by Wes Mailman 9/12/2012 5:35:23 PM
Sir, leave the snark to professionals.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:35:37 PM
Hey Joe...The Cards are having trouble keeping it all together and appear to be tired. Do you think the long hard run to the World Series last year is catching up to this veteran team? What if anything have the players said related to this?

by Great White North 9/12/2012 5:36:44 PM
The players, as you'd expect, deny fatigue as a factor. Any team that plays well into October is going to experience more wear than those who don't. I thought it an issue with the bullpen early on. Guys like Salas and Rzpeczynski were ridden hard down the stretch. So was Motte, who has delivered a solid season. Boggs has been used very aggressively this season. Berkman arrived at spring training hurt. Carpenter story is well known after last year's 273 innings. Waino' is tracking toward 200 innings a year after TJ surgery. Furcal played 100 games for only the second time in the last five seasons before breaking down. There are a lot of physical reasons to explain the team's recent fade.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:40:14 PM
Last year I really felt that Furcal acquistion was the glue that kept made the epic run possible. Now without him, the Cards really seem quite ordinary. What say you on the coorelation between the Cards current struggles and the timing of Rafeal's departure from the everyday lineup?

by nick n 9/12/2012 5:40:56 PM
I think I've already made the connection.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:41:08 PM
A few chats ago you said Furcal was a piece we had to keep healthy....oh how right you were! Who do you feel is our best alternative?

by Denver 9/12/2012 5:41:25 PM
It's an ad hoc situation at present.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:41:38 PM
You mentioned it earlier, but it seems clear that Ryan Jackson is not the answer at SS. I dont believe many feel that Kozma has the bat or Descalso the range to play there either. With the understanding that Furcal projects to be back in 2013, what kind of priority will it be this off season to find a reliable alternative to Furcal (and maybe even at 2B) this off season. Thanks, Max

by Max 9/12/2012 5:42:04 PM
As noted, I believe it will be on Mo's winter shopping list.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:42:18 PM
(2nd try after a false start) Welcome to San Diego, Joe! I've been at the last two games, watching Carlos Beltran play on fumes. His defense is still top level, but he rarely makes good contact even on outs. His best swing last night was on a high foul pop-up. Is there any chance Matt Carpenter or Adron Chambers could start today in right field? Beltran is stoic, but he just doesn't have the physical condition (currently) to do the job at the plate. Thanks.

by hewie in san diego 9/12/2012 5:42:56 PM
We don't make out the lineup card. Carlos received a day off on Saturday and returned Sunday to contribute two hits, including a home run. That performance may convince the club he needs to remain in the lineup. It may also indicate that his bat freshens after a day off. Given the level of concern expressed last Saturday, I thought Carlos would receive more down time. Of course, Matt Carpenter sustained an injury that night as well.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:44:40 PM
Thanks for the Chats. No disrespect to Matheny, but how many more wins do you think this Cardinal team would have if LaRussa was still in the dugout? While yes, the players still have to execute, I feel he has made a number of poor choices late in games as evidence by our 4-10 record in extra innings and 17-23 record in one run games. I don't have the stat for when they are tied going into the 7th or 8th innings to fairly judge. I also feel some of our fundamentals have been lacking especially bunting. Per ESPN, our current expected W/L should be 80-62, or 5 more wins against our 75-67 record. 1. Over/Under TLR adds 10 wins to this year's ballclub? 2. Outside of experience, what do you think biggest in-game managerial difference is between TLR and Matheny?

by halfmannal 9/12/2012 5:45:19 PM
The same question was asked about TLR in his latter years with the club. No matter the manager, he becomes the first target for criticism when a team is perceived as underachieving. I thought there were far more surprising in-game moves earlier in the season than now. I also stated here that the club would rue those games it gave away within a 20-11 start. Naturally, a vocal segment of the BFIB flamed me for being negative. But an objective observer had to fear hits to a veteran roster, especially given how aggressively Matheny used Furcal and Beltran. The rent has come due. It's just a matter of whether the tenant will be evicted before October 3.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:49:00 PM
Looking back do you think the cards should have been a little more proactive in taking the Beltrans and Furcals out in the 6th/7th innings of some of those blowout games played early/mid season? Seems it might have saved some wear and tear if it made any difference at all. I still think the cards are going to take the second wild card only because they have 9 games against the astros and cubs left and no one really seems to want to overtake them besides the phils and brewers and they still have a ways to go with the amount of games left.

by Scott 9/12/2012 5:49:49 PM
Players don't benefit appreciably from innings off. The value comes from sitting a player for an entire game or, if necessary, limiting him to a late pinch hit appearance. Numerous players have explained to me that it's not getting a "day off" if he's thrown into the game at some point. Of course, depth allows a manager that luxury. Berkman's early injury and the failed Tyler Greene experiment sorely diminished this team's depth.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:51:41 PM
Baseabll is full of stories of players who excelled in the majors after so-so careers in the minors--is it possible that Kozma (despite "THE ERROR" last night) could be one of those players? Thanks.

by The Urf 9/12/2012 5:52:09 PM
Thanks for the rhetorical question.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:52:24 PM
Hey Joe, Is Garcia still a long term option for the Cardinals rotation or do you think he could be moved in a trade this off season? Thanks Max

by Max 9/12/2012 5:52:32 PM
Your question is asked daily by various members of the organization. if a contending club has to adjust its rotation to accommodate a starting pitcher within a stretch run, the issue certainly has to be re-examined in the offseason.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:53:43 PM
If Quad Cities and Batavia aren't renewed as minor league affliates, any ideas on what cities would be in line to step into the Cardinals minor league system? I'd love it if Southern Illinois could end up with an affliate

by dsmith1119 9/12/2012 5:54:12 PM
We'll know today what other cities were not renewed. Peoria is now available, I believe. The club could also examine the South Atlantic League. The matter should start to clarify next week.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:55:25 PM
Joe: Do you think we (and MLB) has seen the last of the Puma as a player?

by The Urf 9/12/2012 5:55:35 PM
Probably. That's too bad.

by jstrauss 9/12/2012 5:55:58 PM