It's your right as a BFIB to be concerned about anything you wish about this team. I'd be more concerned about the Cardinals solving Kris Medlen or a righthanded bullpen's ability to control the Braves' lefts late in the game. Lohse did not pitch well at Turner Field earlier this season and several of the Los Bravos bats have small-sample success against him. Should Lohse stumble, I'm fairly confident Mike Matheny and Derek Lilliquist will exercise a quick hook. If the bats labor against Medlen, I don't know where they turn. The Braves have won 23 straight Medlen starts.

Folks within the organization believe Kozma capable of at least holding the position should Furcal eventually require elbow ligament replacement, causing him to miss the first two months of next season. As we speak, Furcal does not believe he will need surgery. If that holds, I would expect a more liberal time share between Raffy and his backup. That scenario also fits Koz'. Matheny makes no apologies for falling in love with Kozma's talent this month.

Personal issues in California combined with a relatively minor role within the Cards' bullpen. Right now, Mujica, Boggs and Motte will work the last three innings regardless of matchups, according to Matheny. I imagine the club will keep Rzep' and Freeman on its roster for Friday's game. The interesting decision comes should they advance. Not a whole lot of confidence shown in either recently.

No. The decision was made more than a week ago. I would have been surprised if they had gone in another direction.

It seems as though MLB will wait to release game times until sites are determined. The AL is a mess right now. Of course, the Yankees' potential involvement is also an issue. Not my way to run a car wash but the ticket-buying public seems willing to put up with it. TV is, of course, king.

Yes.

Highly doubtful. I'd be stunned. The Puma had a bad reaction to recent batting practice. He has no base to hit against. He'd require a pinch runner if he reached base. His condition is not comparable to Kirk Gibson in '88 if that's where you're going. He's hurting and not mobile. Berkman, Westbrook, Furcal, McClellan, etc. will accompany the club during its postseason run. That is a good thing.

Doubtful Yadi, Holliday or Beltran appear. I'd expect some Tony Cruz, Matt Carpenter and perhaps a dose of Sugar Shane or Chambers. A cameo for Ryan Jackson, Steven Hill and Bryan Anderson might be a nice touch.

Medlen is very aggressive, suggesting his bullpen roots. That aggressiveness has made him very efficient as he has 89 strikeouts against just nine walks as a starter. The Cardinals can be an effective first-pitch-hitting team. Holliday and Beltran are examples. Medlen's aggressiveness does leave him a bit vulnerable to home runs. (He's surrendered four in his last five starts.) If the Cardinals hurt him, the long ball likely will be involved. He has allowed more than five hits in only one start thus far. Medlen hasn't thrown 100 pitches in a start since Sept. 3. He's in good form. However, this is a big stage for a 25-year-old California contemporary of Joe Kelly. The Cardinals' best chance may lay in landing a big swing early.

I think that's a fair assumption at the moment.

The way to work it would be to use Berkman as a pinch hitter. Matheny could then pinch hit for The Puma after he is announced. However, I'm not sure Berkman wants such a forced ending. It might be a nice gesture to have the Puma take out the lineup card and acknowledge him at that time. I agree, something should be done for a guy who helped unite what had become a chilly clubhouse prior to his arrival last season.

Lynn has a history of effective relief. He is the natural life preserver in case Lohse or any other starter struggles in a postseason game. He can also be used surgically for a late-inning strikeout or ground ball. He's a valuable piece even if he's not in the rotation. His available allows Matheny to be far more aggressive should a game teeter early. Jaime Garcia has outstanding career success against Cincinnati. I would anticipate him starting Game 2 of the NLDS with Carpenter and Lohse following. Waino' would be available for a Game 5.

You just answered whey Furcal-Koz' appears likely at this point. There is no palatable free agent option. I don't buy dumping Jaime Garcia for a SS unless you project the acquisition as the team's future at the position. Funny that many of those who screamed for the Cards to overstuff their rotation by signing Roy Oswalt last winter now want to trade away a perceived surplus this winter. Jaime has his quirks. So do many major league players. He's also a special talent who offers a lefthanded complement within a system that is overwhelming RH. But back to your original question: I don't anticipate more than a depth move at SS unless doctors wave off Furcal for the majority of 2013.

It's a gimmick. It takes the game a step closer to a garage league mentality that we see in the make-it-up-as-you-go-along postseason scheduling. The possibilties for a travel carnival in the American League are very real. It becomes a negative when it can affect competition. That's where this year's format has gone. I know Cards fans love the format because it got the locals into the tournament. However, I believe the wild card game is merely an incremental step toward further expansion of the postseason, either with more teams or longer postseason series. What's good for TV isn't necessarily good for the game. I know: Get off my lawn.

I believe there is that potential. Key word: Potential. I'm not saying he will be moved. But there is plenty of evidence is place on the roster is now written more in sand than in concrete.

It depends when the stumble occurs. If it's before the sixth inning, I can see Lynn getting involved. Kelly and Rosenthal are sixth-inning options. In a one-game format I would think the late-inning formula applies even if the Cards trail.

I believe I just projected him for Game 2 of the Division Series.

No, and ..... not yet. Welcome to postseason 2012. This is how MLB rewards its touted ticket-holders.

There will be a brutal decision involving the bullpen's right side. Assuming that Lynn is in the pen with one LHP, that leaves six spots for Lynn, Motte, Boggs, Mujica, Kelly, Rosenthal and Salas. Somebody's got to go. Salas has been erratic, true. However, he also got arguably the season's biggest out when he escaped a bases-loaded jam in Los Angeles against Matt Kemp Sept. 16. Salas doesn't scare, in my opinion. His stuff has been less consistent this year, perhaps because of the heavy wear he shouldered last season and October. It is also very possible the club could tailor its roster for a specific opponent, which may make Fernando live for a round (or two). Fernando has allowed 11 hits (2 home runs) and six walks to 43 batters faced. He has allowed seven earned runs in 8.2 innings. Most would say those numbers depict a vulnerable pitcher.

The Cards may have to go counter to their wait-em-out philosophy against Medlen. They may have to attack him as more a late-inning reliever than a starter or else risk constantly hitting in pitcher counts. Medlen will challenge this lineup. That may be a good thing for the locals. As noted earlier this season, Beltran is among the game's most prolific first-pitch hitters. For some reason I see Allen Craig factoring in this game.

I don't bet baseball. But I would go to a poker room. Like Davey says: I always bet on me.

it depends on how you define close. I believe Rolen will struggle to get 50 percent of the vote. Injuries sabotaged him at a production position. He has a tight end's physique with a basketball player's feet and one of the most accurate infield arms I've ever seen. I would love to be wrong in my prediction about the HOF.