I can confirm the Cardinals are done. I took the 12:30 am red-eye through DFW to attend yesterday's clubhouse cleaning. I can attest. It's over. Like you, I thought the Cardinals were poised to run out the series in five games. Probably unlike you, I thought they were in big-time trouble once the series returned to AT&T Park. I like the Tigers in the World Series.

First, stop yelling. Furcal is the starting shortstop if healthy. The Cardinals owe him $7 million next season. He is the man if available. Questions remain at second base, the left side of the bullpen and perhaps in one rotation slot. Carpenter should look different in spring training. Grading him following a hurried return post-surgery is unfair. However, questions do surround him and Jaime Garcia, whose left shoulder remains a source of concern. We should know more about Furcal and Garcia this time next month.

In another uniform. Think National League. Think Left Coast.

Needs to go? The club won a World Series in 2011 and got within a game this season and you're laying it on McGwire? The rotation couldn't get past the fourth inning and the defense conspired for 10 unearned runs in the NLCS and McGwire needs to go? C'mon. The Cardinals had the most prolific offense in the league for most of the season. By some standards, they did for the entire season. However, an iffy bench and a lack of LH pop took a toll. They got pitched by the Giants. When you have a power-based attack, feast or famine comes along for the ride. Restructuring the bench could offer more flexibility but I'm unsure how John Mozeliak views this. The smurf attack we saw this year does little to intimidate rival managers or their bullpens. In that sense, Matheny was at a serious disadvantage in late-and-close situations. But I'll take my chances with Jay, Beltran, Holliday, Craig, Freese, Molina, Carpenter and Furcal as an offensive core. Matheny's reluctance to change things up in the postseason, however, spoke volumes about the bench's limitations.

Fans are allowed to play GM but they aren't allowed to touch the buttons, which is a good thing. The same folks who screamed about ninth-inning chaos during the latter days of Isringhausen and Franklin now get itchy with Motte coming off a year in which he tied for the league lead in saves. Motte is relatively young and first-time arbitration-eligible. He has closed a World Series. He has the appropriate mindset for the role. I fail to see the downside. Rosenthal is dynamic, to be sure. But unseating Motte for an unproven commodity appears more than rash. I'm still intrigued by Rosenthal as a starter. If there is a reliever who could become available, it is more likeliy MItchell Boggs, whose 2012 may appeal to some as a closer. Like Motte, Boggs is now arbitration-eligible. I'm not predicting Boggs will be traded. I'm just saying he better fits the profile of an available talent than Motte.

Many share your opinion. I would have opted for Rosenthal given his strikeout capability. There were numerous postgame critics that thought Matheny could have been more aggressive with removing Lohse and Kelly. It's debateable to already be down 7-0 in a Game 7 before reaching for a second reliever. However, to be fair it's difficult to attribute a loss solely to pitching when the lineup scratched for one run in the series' final 28 innings. Meltdowns are typically group efforts. This was no exception.

There were obvious differences in ballpark atmosphere between Game 5 at Busch and Game 7 at AT&T. Busch seemed a nervous place in Game 5, an odd vibe on the verge of a clincher. AT&T was on its feet for all of Game 7. It was as loud as I can recall at an outdoor stadium. As a bonus, Giants fans didn't need to be prompted when to yell -- except for the silly, predictable PA-induced message to go crazy immediately before FOX went live in its pre-game. Criticizing fans in any way is verboten with this organization. It helped grease the skids for Rasmus' and Franklin's departures. Players are reminded to cite the fan base as part of their talking points at any contract signing or trade announcement. To some, the whole "best fans in baseball" marketing tool becomes a wee tiresome.

Agree with No. 1, take issue with No. 2. The postseason asks for a quicker trigger finger in many situations. Criticism over his handling of Wainwright in Game 5 of the NLDS would still be at a roar if not for the club's unprecedented comeback. I can understand being slow to the bench due to obvious depth issues. There were only infrequent depth issues in the bullpen this postseason.

It shouldn't. The fascination with Adams is intriguing, since he is coming off surgery and is ostensibly blocked at his only position, first base. His ceiling for next season appears as a bench bat. Wong will be given every chance to compete for 2B in spring training. Taveras does not project to start next season, despite what the HPGF would have you believe. Barring injury to others, the Cards' top position prospect projects at Memphis.

Lynn had rolled through three innings. You really want to hook him there? You don't get to manage the game backwards after the fact. Sorry. No, TLR would not have hooked Lynn in that situation. There would have been other differences in the series, but not there.

Very, since I reported it. Carpenter said Tuesday he will work at five positions this winter: RF, LF, 1B, 3B and 2B. He realizes the only way he reaches 500 at-bats is by collecting 80-125 at-bats at four or five different spots. Carpenter says he intends to lay low for a week then throw himself into conditioning while shuttling between Houston and Dallas. He and Allen Craig are incredibly mature players for their experience level.

1. They've never been seen in the same place at the same time. 2. AT&T did itself proud during the NLCS. The Giants are the rare organization that actually seems glad that the press is covering its event.

Not to my knowledge. For all the lightweight media speculation about Cardinals ties mattering, GM Jeff Luhnow dismissed bench coach Joe Pettini rather than interviewing him for the job. Another reason to believe what you read over what you hear.

He has not been contacted, according to my information.

At some point, yes.

Fair point. Matheny remained with an incredibly static lineup all postseason. GIven the offense's struggles, I think it a fair consideration to bunch the team's hottest two bats -- Beltran and Molina -- in, say, the Nos. 4-5 slots and move Craig to the No. 2 or No. 6 spot. Carpenter could have received a start at third base while hitting in the No. 2 spot. This reads like second-guessing. Understood. But it is something I noted prior to Game 5. Of course, benching Freese would have elicited a backlash as well even though he finished the series in an 0-for-10 skid.

You win the game. HItting Holliday was intentional, in my opinion. It was also predictable. Cain had telegraphed his intent before Game 3. As I recall, the Cardinals used Motte in a blowout situation against the Nationals. With everything on the table in a Game 7, you push. Cardinals fans would have expected nothing less from their team. I did not hear any griping except for heavy suspicion that Holliday was hit intentionally.

The club has said nothing publicly about the coaching staff. It will be addressed internally in the very near future. Very near.

The turf's gone, sir. Whiteyball went with it. Vince Coleman now plays lots of golf. The Cardinals' flaws were obvious long before the NLCS. That's how the Giants exploited them. All future references to WhiteyBall should be sent to 1-800-STL-LORE.

I believe there is wiggle room for concern. He never looked like the pitcher the Cardinals suggested would impact the postseason. The two starts against the Giants were very difficult for him. Coincidentally, there were against a team willing to grind at-bats. Carpenter's success stems largely from his ability to pitch inside. He was never able to do consistently. His velocity was also down. I would expect to see him closer to form next spring. But it's a question until he answers it.

He's pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League. Sanchez has yet to demonstrate the ability to get outs in the strike zone at this level. His mechanics remain inconsistent and he has a history or arm issues. Yet many remain infatuated. Many have passed him. If you recall, Sanchez' success in 2011 came mostly by getting swings at pitches out of the strike zone. He labored once hitters narrowed him down.

Jay projects at leadoff. The second answer should be obvious based on what you saw in September and October.