Doug: Any updates on MU recruiting for football. I know we lost Gabbert, but who else is on the radar?
Also, any new rumblings/rumors in regards to MLS in Collinsville? |
| Jeff Gordon: Don't know about the MLS, but PowerMizzou.com reports that Missouri offered scholarships to DeSmet cornerback Robert Steeples and Oklahoma TE K.J. Williams. Both kids are giving the Tigers a good look. |
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| Mario Frimpong: Who will be the starters at linebacker this season and do you see anyone on the team challenging for a starter's spot? |
| Jeff Gordon: Chillar, Witherspoon and Tinoisamoa at the Rams' starting LBs. Alston could make his move as a pass-rushing specialist. The scouts like McGaricle's potential to make the team, anyway. Draft is there for depth and special teams -- although media types aren't as high on Chillar as the coaches are. |
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| jim mense: This year, what will be the biggest surprise of the 1)Rams, of the 2) NFL. My answers: 1) Adam Carriker is even better than the Rams thought and wins Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, 2) Michael Vick playa well despite mounting evidence of his guilt in this dog fighting crime. |
| Jeff Gordon: Carriker will have an impact, but his job is to wrestle two blockers and let the linebackers enjoy glory. He won't earn national honors today that. As for Vick, this may be his last shot. IF he stays out of further trouble, he will get one more shot as a starting QB. If the Falcons go nowhere again, then even Arthur Blank may give up on him. |
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Thomas Turniawan: Hey Jeff;
So now that we have McMichael, Klopfenstein, and presumably Walker (for his blocking) as the top 3 TE's, what is going to happen to Byrd? I mean, we invested a 3rd rounder in this guy. I know he has some character issues now (all the rage these days), but yeah, is he even going to see the field this year? Thanks. |
| Jeff Gordon: Byrd is a great athlete, so he could steal a job by starring in camp -- especially on special teams. His unusual athlete ability would jump out in kick coverage. But his citizenship issues and rookie struggles will put him on the outside looking in as camp starts. He has to REALLY show, because Linehan loves McMichael and Klopfenstein's talent and Walker's dependability. |
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| Howard F.: Hey Gordo, I am a Baltimore Rams fan, so I don't get much info on them unless it is through the NFL Network. I have two questions. First, what are the chances of us getting Sam Adams, I know he has weight issues but I feel like his presence would solidify our dfensive line. I worry that Linehan will burn Carriker out by asking for too much, too soon. Not because he isn't capable, but because he is a rookie, Adams presence would help him and maybe even Kennedy. Second; Living in Baltimore, it seems as if St.Louis, the RAMS especially doesn't get much national exposure. Our stories are limited and they seem shorter in time allowed. Am I being overly sensitive or is their some type of media hush rule for the Rams? |
| Jeff Gordon: They are pretty set at DT heading into camp, with Carriker getting the early nod to start. The Rams haven't made much news because sanity has prevailed on Linehan's watch. They haven't made flashy moves, just solid ones. |
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| Andrew Fuchs: Do you think that it would be a wise move for the Blues to try and sign Bill Guerin given the success he had with us last season or save that money to maybe get Scott Gomez or Daniel Briere? |
Jeff Gordon: I'd bid hard on Gomez, who is a young unrestricted free agent. Trouble is, he will get offers of $6 million-plus and contenders like Detroit could get into the mix. Guerin would be a nice mid-priced addition -- but only after the Blues added a center.
How does Blues Nation feel about Michal Handzus? If he is healthy after surgical repairs, his size and defensive prowess would make an interesting player here.
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| Mike Egan: Is there still a possibility that Adam Timmerman could be brought back? With so many young guys on the line his experience could help their development a lot. |
| Jeff Gordon: When I walked to Timmerman about a week ago, he gave no indication that the Rams would consider him -- unless injuries hit. Incognito and Setterstrom did fine at guard last season and Claude Terrell could factor in. With Andy McCollum giving it another shot the Rams have the veteran depth needed. |
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| Andrew Gausling: How long will the Cardinals watch Ankiel crush the ball before they call him up to try and help this struggling offense? It is obvious that the pitching staff feels as if they have to pitch perfect games due to a lack of run support. |
| Jeff Gordon: Young Musial will play in St. Louis this season. If the Cards don't make a move soon, the team ought to play for next season -- and giving Ankiel 200 at bats at this level would be a step in that direction. He and Duncan could be the future here . . . as long as Rick makes the same adjustments Chris did to close holes in his swing. But Young Musial has almost freakish hitting potential. It is no joke. |
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| Larry Sheehy: Is it just me or does anyone else have the desire to see the Cardinals start playing small ball with Chris Duncan batting 4th or 5th and having a little guy (Eckstein or Kennedy) bat 2nd? |
| Jeff Gordon: Duncan should protect Albert against RH pitching. Kennedy would be fine in the No. 2 hole. This is not so much about "small ball" as getting a run producer lower in the heart of the batting order. |
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| Shane Sorenson: Does it appear that the OL is building camaradarie? |
| Jeff Gordon: That came last year, when Incognito and Setterstrom gave the unit a more physical dimension. Linehan loves the power running game -- and those guys got to knock people down. Barron is a great run blocker. A healthy Pace with these guys and maybe Fry would eliminate a lot of "finesse" chatter about the Rams offense. |
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| Shane Sorenson: Has any of the rooks or RFA stood out? |
| Jeff Gordon: Linehan has obvious man love for Carriker, who is hard-core. He gushed about him at the rookie camp. For impact, also look to some of the younger vets getting a bigger chance last season. Alston is a great athlete, for instance. He could become an attacker for Haslett on passing downs. With better athletes, Haslett will come up with all sorts of new twists. |
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| Rich: I just want to say how sick and disgusting of the Cards upper mgmt I am. I'm talking about DeWitt and company. Cheap, cheap, cheap should be they;re name. The Cards are coming off a World Series, plus they're flush with money from the old and new Busch but still refuse to shell out any money for decent pitching or a strong bat. The Cards learned years ago that no pitching equals no winning. Yet, they come into this season with only one proven starter (Carpenter). Also, don't expect Reyes to turn it around while with the Cards. Duncan ( whom I think is a good pitching coach for veterans) has messed him up so bad that he'll never been any good with the Cards. One, more thing on this ,...the Cards are nothing but 'bottom feeder's when it comes time to sign a pitcher and with this altitude they're never get another decent starter! |
Jeff Gordon: Had they paid up for Suppan, they might have another two or three victories. Their problems are so massive -- Carpenter's injury, wholesale failure by the key hitters -- that one signing would not have made a difference. The '07 free-agent pitchers were a mediocre bunch. They went after Schmidt and he developed a bad shoulder. They offered Weaver a two-year deal and he blew up in Seattle.
But here's the challenge for the owners: They will have some dead money on the payroll next season with about $17 million going to Edmonds and Encarnacion. Will DeWitt and Co. still spend the necessary dollars to overhaul the roster and field a contender? |
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Dean Sever: Jeff,
The rumor mill suggests that Michael Handzus, Bill Guerin and/or KT might be back in St. Louis next season. While these are three quality guys, I would hope the Blues would try to make a bigger splash in the FA market, especially given their cap room. Any chance of a "top tier" free agent like Drury, Smyth or Briere wearing a Blue Note next season?
Thanks,
- Dean |
| Jeff Gordon: As I mentioned elsewhere, Gomez is the guy I'd want. 'Zus or Guerin would be fine, but a playmaking center is the team's No. 1 need. |
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| david fish: I was rather surprised and let down by the way the Rams defense played last year, as was all of us who are avid Rams fans. Haslett was supposed to be this savior of the defense. I for one was offended(I don't want to hear about first year excuses). Will they play this year with more urgency, spirit and determination. Will Haslett be there only two years and leave. I like Richie Ingognito do you think he can turn into a pro boweler. We need more attitude on this team I would almost accept the penalties. Will we see more of a nasty streak. I love Torry Holt but it's dissapointment to see him smile after a loss. Thanks Fishman Rochester N.Y. |
| Jeff Gordon: Haslett will have more to work with this year, especially at the point of attack. That will make all the difference. I'd still like to see a more forceful MLB, but the Rams believe Witherspoon will more effective with better DT play in front of him. |
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| Bruce Porfilio: Last season Marc Bulger finally found a "leader's voice" when he called out his team mates when the Rams hit the skids in 2007.Any indications that Marc will build upon that experience to become a more demonstrative and interactive QB? Rams seem to lack players on both sides of the ball who are chemistry and intensity-builders? |
| Jeff Gordon: Marc will never be the noisiest guy ever, but he is comfortable with his role and his place with the coach. He will assert himself in his own way. He will be a different QB compared to the start of the '06 camp. |
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| nick: Why havent we signed sam adams yet. Its so obvious what we need is a huge run stuffing dt. Last year we needed to address this need and we didnt and guess what we were 31st in the league vs the run. Please tell me we are going to sign him or possibly make another run at kris jenkins. Please, Please, Please tell me we are going to get it rigt this time. |
| Jeff Gordon: That guy is Carriker. |
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datsportsguy: There are several things I'd like to know regardng the 2007 St Louis Rams. Any or all of the questions can be asked:
1. Is our newly aquired rutgers hb...looking more like a FB, or is he the legitimate backup behind sj.
2. whats the hold up on Sam adams...Linehan mentioned he looked good...why did or did he leave without a contract offer?
it appears beef in the middle is what we need!
3. IMO...before Randy came...Walker appears to be the best TE we had...he is tough and has good hands..though I prefer him over KLOP, he and byrd are still ina running for the 3rd TE spot..how is the competition looking.
thanks gordo |
| Jeff Gordon: Leonard is the real deal as the back-up RB and back-up FB. Linehan likes 'em big. He is no ballerina, but he has hands. |
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Andrew From Toronto, Canada: Congratulations first and foremost on a great offseason and a great draft.I am really excited about the players we brought in in free agency and the new crop of rookies.
My question is the NFC West is looking like an elite division this year more than ever, what are we going to need to do in oreder to win the division and/or make the playoffs? |
| Jeff Gordon: The Rams must at least slow down the run. And they must convert in the red zone. Improvements in those areas will put them in the playoffs. |
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Kevin.L.Dixon: Q 1. After the draft and the free agents the Rams picked up do you still think that they will go 9-7.
Q 2. Do you think that the Rams will still try and get Jenkins from the Panthers? If so Why.
Q 3. How are the Rams to getting Grant back as a Rams. |
| Jeff Gordon: I think they are set at DT, unless something bad happens. Ryan and Jackson are competing for a spot and both are run stoppers. Wistrom would be a desperation fallback, if he really wanted to return and if somebody got hurt. And, yes, I still see 9-7. |
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| Kenny H.: Jeff, you mentioned here previously that the Rams were really high on James Hall, which is understandable given their decision to sign him. But what do you and your colleagues think of his viability as a starter? Have you seen film of him or anything? It seems odd that there is such optimism over a Detroit Lions reject. If the guy was a solid starter, why would their head coach, a former d-line coach, let him go? Given the Rams' EXTREME difficulty hitting on defensive linemen this decade, you can understand my skepticism. |
| Jeff Gordon: Fair question. I'm still a Victor Adeyanju fan, so I'm wait and see on Hall. If he helps on third down, great. But I'm with you. I don't see him having the impact on the outside that Carriker will have inside. |
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| gilbert snyder: i am sure i am not the only cardinal fan wanting to know how much longer will they keep kip wells in the starting rotation. |
| Jeff Gordon: Wells pitched well enough to allow one run in his last start. Two runs scored on mishaps by Bennett, then he was left in too long because the Cards were losing and they needed more innings from Kip. On a good team, that effort was good enough to win. |
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| Jeff Steimel, Cedar Rapids, IA: How has Claude Wroten looked so far this spring? I like what the Rams did last year trading down in the first round to get the extra pick in the 3rd they used on Wroten. If he could turn into a solid NFL player, it would be another nice move for Linehan to hang his hat on. |
| Jeff Gordon: Wroten, to me, might be more interesting than Hall. He is versatile and he is an attacker. Good athlete. Can he stay out of trouble and take advantage of his chance? That's the question. |
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| Ben"13to 80" Lanzo: With the addition of McMichaels and Bennet the Rams have added to the most explosive offense in the NFC West . I don't understand why all the NFL experts have given the Rams virtually no chance to win their division let alone go to the big dance.Whats your take on this Gordo and please don't preach soley on our defense being horrible. |
| Jeff Gordon: I loved the Bennett and McMichael additions. But this was a great offense between the 20s last season. Let's see if the Rams score TDs. That is what experts want to see too. |
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Tim: I've always been supportive of Tony even though there are so many decisions he makes that drive me batty from time to time. His latest is keeping Duncan and Edmonds out for two days in a row. Why does he baby them against lefties? They're major leaguers and are getting paid to play. They can't get better against lefties unless they're playing!
And I'd like an explanation of why we never hear about right handed batters having trouble against right handed pitchers? Thanks for taking time to hold these online chats, Jeff. |
| Jeff Gordon: I'm with you on Duncan and Edmonds. Chris is going to a 600 AB player here. It might as well start sooner than later. Edmonds was starting to hit, so I'm not a fan of sitting a borderline Hall of Fame candidate when the team is scuffling. Especially when you look at the alternatives. |
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| Fred Wied: I think the additions to the RAM offense will actually help the defense. They will control the ball more on long drives and keep our defense off the field plus make the other offense one dimentional. Do you agree? |
| Jeff Gordon: Better special teams would help the D with field position. And more TDs would help the defense get into attack mode. The great Rams teams were OK against the run because didn't have the luxury of running so much in catch-up mode. |
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| Chris Gelsinger: Hi Jeff, with Jocketty rumored to be on the prowl for starting pitching is there any interest in taking a chance on Mark Redman who was just released last week from the Braves or has another team already picked him up? With that being said, are there any big names out there available? I know the beginning of the year I heard Brad Penny's name a lot in the rumor mill but no way LA can part with him after the way he has thrown.....thanks |
| Jeff Gordon: Penny is staying put. Redman throws the ball about 60 miles per hour, but he is one of the guys Walt has to at least look at. What choice does he have? |
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Shane Gray: Good day Jeff:
I strongly believe Ron Bartell's progress has been undervalued by many. He has shown to be at least above average in coverage, a playmaker, his tackling has improved, and he is one of the few guys we have (along with Jonathon Wade) who can match up with the taller wideouts. I'm hoping he is no worse than our nickel back this year. Gordo?
As poor as our defense has been the past few years, I also believe we have nothing to lose by mixing in the 3-4 at times if for no other reason than to show another look. I know the Rams are toying with the idea and we have better personnel to employ it now with Carriker, the reported improvements of Wroten, better LB depth, etc. Do you think they will run the 3-4 at times and should they?
Finally, I read in ESPN magazine that Shaine Smith from Hofstra, the undrafted free agent WR we signed), could be this years Marques Colston! What that is based on, I have no idea. Heard anything on his progress thus far or that of fellow rookie speedster Derrick Stanley, the Rams 7th round pick? I would love to see the speedster make the team as we could use an infusion of team speed although Torry should be faster this year with a healthy knee. A deep threat, though, would be nice i.e. Kevin Curtis. |
| Jeff Gordon: We'll see about Smith. He has a long way to go. His story is a heck of a story, though. We'll have fun with it in camp. I, too, like Bartell. He is a big athlete capable of playing a variety of roles. He was pretty raw when he came in and moving around hasn't helped that -- but teams need players like him to settle on an active roster from game to game. |
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Steve Bonin: The Seahawks have made a point of taking key defensive players from the Rams in free agency in years past. This seemed like a great strategy in terms of strengthening the Seahawks at the same time as weakinging the Rams. Frankly, I think it was a fairly smart approach.
Knowing this, I had to laugh when the Seahawks acted as they did (like babies) when the Vikings raided them for their best offensive lineman.
Can we expect the Rams to try to pay special attention to division rivals for future free agents?
I really do not want to see the Rams swept by the Seahawks again, especially considering the way they did it last year.
Steve Bonin |
| Jeff Gordon: The Seahawks overpaid Wistrom and they overpaid Fisher. It's all about value gained. Managing the cap is tough enough without trying to play the weaken-the-opponent game. In the pre-cap days, that was a better strategy. |
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steve W: Gordo,
Looking at the Cardinals situation from managements viewpoint, it is about making money.(Urinal anyone?) So with a team who sells out almost every home game, why inprove the team? It would cost more to the payroll than they would get in return. I think that's why this team did not re-sign any pitching during last season and it continues. Until they empty some seats this will be a mediocre team. |
Jeff Gordon: If the Cards just wanted to make money, they would have let Edmonds and Mulder walk. If anything, they might have overspent to keep as much of the World Champion team together as possible.
That being said, the ownership will be on the clock for '08. Major work could be needed. Will DeWitt and Co. pony up the needed dough? |
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| Grant: Hi Gordo. Thanks for the time. My question concerns pitching (surprise, surprise). Is there anybody outside the organization worth consideration right now to help shore up the starting rotation? I saw where the Braves recently released Redman, does he have anything in the tank? OK, I'll be the one to ask this week, what about Weaver? Will the Mariners release him and would the Cards be interested again? |
| Jeff Gordon: If Weaver was released of that contract and a totally free agent, the Cards would have to look at him -- preferrably in the minors, where he couldn't hurt the team. Right now, a lot of teams need pitching. The big budget Mets have revived Jorge Sosa, for goodness sakes. And there isn't much out there. Hence the Todd Wellemeyer Experiment. |
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| Eric Barnhart: It seems that the Blues are set in goal and defensively, they have a great blue line, but do you think that JD will look to add a puck moving defensman along with help at center in this summer's UFA market? |
| Jeff Gordon: No, they are set on "D." Erik Johnson can move the puck. The Blues need to get Christian Backman to assert himself more consistently. |
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| Ron Phillips: If the Cardinals were to trade Scott Rolen, would this be giving up on the season and unloading a high salary player? What possible teams would be willing to take Rolen? |
| Jeff Gordon: The Dodgers would be a good fit for Scott, IF he were hitting the ball and IF he were willing to go there. Trading Rolen would be a salary dump and an attempt to speed up the team's overhaul. And, yes, it would be a white flag on this season. |
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steve smith: Do you think this will be the breakout year
for Jimmy Kennedy now that we will have a good rotation
of linemen now. |
| Jeff Gordon: Carriker should make him better, since his arrival moves Kennedy into a more realistic role. Adam's aggression ought to rub off on him, no? |
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| Jason: With the additions of defensive players addressed in the draft for the rams, do you think it is enough to significantly improve the defense overall? If not do you think the Rams added enough weapons on the offensive side of the ball to compensate for the short comings of the defense? |
| Jeff Gordon: Look for some improvement in all three areas -- especially in run defense, kick returns and red-zone scoring. Those were the areas of biggest need. |
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| Yarko: The Rams made some great additions to their offense with Bennett and McMichael, Do you thing that we will witness the return of the greatest shoe on Tuff? |
| Jeff Gordon: This is a different type of offense -- ball control and power running. Bulger will throw it around some, but this team will be more deliberate and presumably more sound. The key, again, is the red zone. |
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Alan Crosswell: Will Dallas Drake remain with the Blues ???
If he stays do you think he will retain the "C"
In any case who would be the likely candidate ?? |
| Jeff Gordon: Drake may be a luxury as the Blues try to add more skill. Jackman is a natural captain candidate now that he excels for Murray. Brewer is another possibility. |
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tim dollins: Sir Jeff:
Obviously Kip Wells isn't the answer for a number 2 starter, (or 3,4,5) what can we do to replace him in the rotation? Shouldn't we at least attempt to swap him and Franklin for a couple of starts?
Thanks
Tim |
| Jeff Gordon: Franklin is so good in the eighth inning that swapping him out could create two problems while trying to fix one. But if you have to start Wellemeyer, you are truly desperate. |
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Joe Rigney: Jeff, given the coming of age of Steven Jackson, Marc Bulger and Torry Holt in their primes, and key offseason addtions, it seems to me that the only thing standing between the Rams offense and a 450 point season is the quality of the O-line. Many people got excited about the O-line propects during the last 3 games of the season when the Rams beat Oakland, Washington, and Minnesota (the latter looking to set an NFL record for rushing yards allowed).
How bullish are you on an O-line that starts Pace, Setterstrom, Romberg/McCollum, Incognito, Barron, and McMichael? |
| Jeff Gordon: As run blockers, this is a STRONG group -- especially if Fry progresses at center. This is a very physical bunch with lots of growth potential. |
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| Joe Coppin: Please give us an honest assessment of how ready the rams are to do a better job of stopping the run this year? What various factors will contribute to that goal? |
| Jeff Gordon: Carriker is the obvious difference, along the addition of another run-stopping DT from the competitive pile. But the same LBs and safeties will have to do a much better job. Keep Pisa healthy! |
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| Alex: Is Jimmy Kennedy in jeopardy of being cut? Do you feel that there is any trade value there if he's outplayed by the other DT's on the roster? |
| Jeff Gordon: He would really, really have to stink to get cut. Let's see what he does in his new role in camp. The Rams just need him to be solid in his "walk" year. |
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Mark from NY: Regarding the RAMS offseason moves...what area of the team do you feel still needs improvement?
Thanks,
Mark from NY |
| Jeff Gordon: I want to see more from Witherspoon and Chillar. And more hitting from the safeties. |
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| ROBERT SANDERS: Since the Cardinals are already in the get everybody healthy mode. Is it foolish to allow Eckstein, Rolen and Edmonds to have time to get healthy too? It looksd to me like Carpenter and Mulder are sorely needed so why not rest the three I named just now extensively so that when all get back to health the Cardinals can see what they can salvage from this season. Brewers are sliding so looks like we have something to work for before the season ends. |
| Jeff Gordon: Edmonds is healthier, so you play him. I want to see more of Miles at SS because he is hitting, but Eckstein was hitting better until his latest setback. As for Rolen, I don't know what was wrong with him before his collision with Young. The ball just wasn't jumping off his bat. I don't know if that was a rest issue. |
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| Rick: It's been very frustrating to watch TLR continue to mishandle another young player. Why is Chris Duncan playing 2 out of every 3 games? |
| Jeff Gordon: Again, I want to see Duncan get 600 ABs if healthy. Period. |
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| Joe: Additions like Alston (a rush LB), Carriker (ideally a 3-4 RE), and the obundance of WLB's we have makes me think that we are evenutally going to switch to Haslett's 3-4 D. Given that we aren't fully equipt for it now I would imagine we will use it sparingly this year but when, if ever, do you see us converting fully?? |
| Jeff Gordon: Good question. Haslett said he could use some 3-4 when he came here, but he lacked the personnel for that last year. This year's group has more flexibility, especially on the D-Line. Alston could be an interesting outside guy in that look. |
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| Royce Kendall: I just have a couple of things to say. First this team has no heart, especially Rolen,Edmonds. And Encarnacion has too long of a swing to be effective as a hitter. I for one am not that impressed with pitching coach Dave Duncan, he just can't solve this group of pitchers problems. |
| Jeff Gordon: Duncan can't save everybody. He has helped the Cards win consistently since he came here, but he is only human. And if this team hit for Wells and Reyes, the results would have been different. Look at what Marquis did with run support. |
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| Don: How long before Kip Wells is let go, optioned, released or etc.? I know he looks better now than he did, but how long can this go on? Any updates on the Jeff Weaver saga in Seattle? |
| Jeff Gordon: Wells is pitching well enough to win some games, believe it or not. But unless he drives in five runs per game, he has no chance. |
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| Chris Humes: At this point, why not let Ankiel come on up and play. It will certainly nto be the asswer they are looking for, but it sounds like a good start. Look, i am a huge cardinal fan living here in Jupiter, FL, but still am able to follw them enought thru the post and mlb.com, and it seems to me that it is time to start going young. What do you think>? Thanks. |
| Jeff Gordon: I wouldn't rush Rasmus to the bigs ahead of his time, but, sure. I'd look at Ankiel sooner than later. He could be a big part of the future. |
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rob: In your opinion, what are the top needs for the Blues for next year? How quickly do you see them realistically being in the playoffs and going deep again?
thanks |
| Jeff Gordon: The Blues just need to start the year the way they finished it. They need to add a true No. 1 center and keep developing Backes and Stempniak on the wing. Boyes could be a nice piece of the future, too. Their goaltending is solid, as is their D. |
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| cybershot: HAS THERE BEEN ANY WORD ON HOW CARRIKER HAS DONE IN THE OTA 'S AGAINST THE STARTING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN,INCOGNITO ESPECIALLY. |
| Jeff Gordon: He manhandled the rookies. Richie and Setterstrom are a fairer fight in run-defense drills. All these kids are physical. |
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| Mark Yates: I want to know if the Cardinal ownership really thinks that they did everything they could to put a competitive team on the field this year. This organization is one of the top (4) in all baseball, but this year they are embarrassing the strongest fan base in the country. I cannot beleive that this organization doesn't have the money to go out and make the right deals for players that can make a difference. Please answer me the question do you beleive they are stong armed by dollars and do you beleive they have done everything they could to put a winning team on the field? |
| Jeff Gordon: They could have spent more on pitching, obviously -- but unless management had the foresight to let Edmonds go and trade Rolen for a gaggle of prospects, this season was going to be difficult. Too many key players failed all at once. |
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| Stu-Carbondale,IL: Hey Gordo, What are the chances that Walt is pursuing a trade as has been reported today? It would seem difficult this early in the season to get someone unless they put a package together headlined by Reyes and Encarnacion. Also, Yadi has my vote for the All-Star team, he has improved his consistency and is the best defensive catcher in the game today. your thoughts? |
| Jeff Gordon: He can ask around, but his trade options are limited. Who wants a winless young pitcher with an extensive injury history? Or an indifferent outfielder due $6.5 million last season? Or a third baseman with an eight-digit salary and a history of severe shoulder injuries? |
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| Rick: Over the last couple of months, there has been some speculation over acquiring Miguel Cabrera from the Marlins to provide a middle of the order power to protect Pujols. Do you think Walt has been shopping the Marlins for a mid-season trade, and if so, why not take a look at a power middle infielder such as Dan Uggla? |
| Jeff Gordon: You can look at those guys, but who do trade? Wainwright, Garcia and Rasmus might get you into the Cabrera discussion, but the dude is putting on a LOT of weight and he will soon command an eight-digit salary. Uggla has a nice stick, but, again, you have precious little to deal. Trading out of this mess will be impossible. |
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| Tim Tallis: Looking ahead to the future, and assuming we get a healthy Carpenter and a healthy Mulder back, do any of our starters, even Wainwright, stay in the rotation next year? |
| Jeff Gordon: Yeah, Looper, if he holds up physically. Don't write off Wainwright yet, although it is fair to note his lack of minor league succcess as a starter. He was just OK at the Class AAA level. |
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| Jeff: Last year, I was pleased to see Tony LaRussa loosen up a bit during the post-season run. The team seemed to play tight the last several weeks of the regular season, but I give credit to Tony for changing his approach. It seemed to me that his cool confidence carried over to the team's resolve. The team played with nothing to loose and everything to gain. It looks like this year's team is again playing tight and I think alot of it points back to the skipper. The DUI in spring training obviously did not help matters. Your thoughts? |
| Jeff Gordon: There is a lot going on, for sure. And TLR is no picnic when times are tough. But I can't believe his intensity is causing all these veterans to tank at the same time. Simultaneous slumping caused the team to play tight and pitch tight. A winning streak could change everything . . . but how do they make THAT happen with that rotation? |
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| Tim Tallis: It is really looking like Carlos Zambrano will be a starter next season- he has been spuratic this season- is a change of scenary all he needs? Do the Cards have a chance of signing a big name pitcher like Zambrano in the off season or are we too invested financially in Mulder and Carpenter? |
Jeff Gordon: Adding a $15 million-per-year pitcher will be tough. If Carpenter and Mulder are healthy at the end of this year, they will be the go-to guys next year, with Looper in the No. 3 holes and Pitchers TBA in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots.
So far, nobody has asked about Blake Hawksworth! |
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| Jack: When will the Cardinals bring Ankiel in to play clean up spot? He can hit now and can do some damages. He should play behind Pujols. I like this line up- eckstein, duncan, pujols, ankiel, rolen, edmonds, miles/kennedy, molina. Only 6.5 games out and it isn't over for the Cardinals. We need to bring in hot bats and stay in pace behind the Brewers then when Mulder and Carpenter come back, we're ready to defend the world series title. Don't you think so? |
| Jeff Gordon: Bat Ankiel clean-up? They are desperate, but not THAT desperate. |
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Ryan Sullivan: Gordo,
In regards to sending down Reyes, one can't look at his numbers on the season or his previous 2 starts and argue against sending him down. The team is just starting to hit and I think he deserved a couple more starts in the majors. With his emergents in the minors in '04, he looked like a future front of the rotation pitcher and made other good young pitchers expendable. So far he has not lived up to the hype, do you think the organization is extra hard on him because of this? |
| Jeff Gordon: He was pitching well enough to win some games, with hitting. But the club wisely decided not to expose him to any more failure at this point of his career. They don't want the weight of his winless record to hurt his progress. This was a far-sighted move. |
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| Tim Tallis: Eckstein is really starting to turn it on. Assuming he is going to want a multi-year contract would it be worth resigning him or are we going to try and get younger after the early season offensive strugles? |
| Jeff Gordon: Right now, he is a back burner guy for next season. And I don't know where his market value will be. He could come back for fewer dollars on a one- or two-year deal. I don't know that Brendan Ryan will be the answer for 2008. |
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| Tim Tallis: How long until we start giving Miles some serious playing time? I know Tony is good about match ups but hasn't he earned a chance to play almost everyday - you would think giving the older guys time off would help out right? |
| Jeff Gordon: I want to see him get more ABs, but Eckstein was hitting, too, and Kennedy has come on a bit. So the rotation will continue. |
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Ryan: Gordo,
Would a Drew Brees like contract be a reasonable comparison for what Bulger could receive? Brees is younger, but the two QBs had similar seasons last year, and Brees contract is more reflective of market value than Hasselbeck's 2005 deal. How much of "hometown discount" will they grant the Rams, if at all? Thanks for your time. |
| Jeff Gordon: Bulger wants to be here. He can the coach are on the same page now. He enjoys getting more pass protection than he got in the Air Martz scheme. So I see the Rams giving him a fair deal, like they gave Little. He doesn't want to go to a bad team, so he won't chase every last dollar. |
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Ben: Hello Jeff,
Do you believe there is any chance the Blues will make a run for Ryan Smyth? Surely the bidding will get ridiculus, but he'd be a great addition and might like a reunion with Doug Weight.
Anybody else you think they could use/have a real shot at getting? Any chance of getting Guerin back?
Thanks.
Ben |
| Jeff Gordon: I believe they will harder for a center, but, sure, Smyth interests them. i do believe Ryan has a chance to become dramatically overpaid, though. I'm still voting for Gomez. |
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| Tim Tallis: It seems like Tampa Bay has an unlimited supply of young talent in the outfield. What are you thoughts on trying to acquire a Johnny Gomes, Duke, Baldelli, or even Carl Crawford? Are they all out of our price range? |
| Jeff Gordon: Baldelli's struggle makes you wonder he could be fetched for a more moderate price. But I'm betting on a future Cards outfielder of Duncan, Rasmus and Ankiel with Jay and Schumaker as the extra guys. |
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| Tim Tallis: Albert Pujols is due to be a free agent in a couple of years. He SHOULD become the highest paid player in baseball at that point. Do you think he will stay loyal to the Cards or will he look for the money? If it becomes a bidding war is there any way that we win? |
| Jeff Gordon: Pujols won't give the Cards much of a discount. If this team is winning -- and if this team wants to buck up in a big way well before that contract expires -- then he might re-up. This is a pride thing. Albert understands where he stands in the game. If the Yankees want to pay him $25 million or $30 million per year, what could the Cards do about that? |
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| Tim Tallis: Is this going to be the offseason that the cards spend money on a big name talent? Who are we most like to land and what position, besides pitcher, is our biggest need. I figure Rolen and Edmonds are nearing the end of there career and Izzy and Eckstein are getting older also.... |
| Jeff Gordon: Torii Hunter wold be a great Cardinal, but Edmonds has a year left on his deal and Rasmus on the come. If A-Rod opts out of his contract in New York, that would get interesting. Andruw Jones may have jumped the shark. Crawford is a fascinating player, for obvious reasons. The owners would have to eat some contract dollars to make anything happen -- that is what fans should focus on. |
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David: Gordo,
It seems as though everytime we start to see signs of live out of this Cardinals team, they turn back around and show us why they've been under .500 all year. When the pitching is good the hitting is horrible and vice versa. Do you forsee the seasoned veterans coming out of their slumps or could old age just be catching up with this team for good (Edmonds, Rolen, Eckstein)? Do we even have anyone worth the trade value of a young, energetic player? |
| Jeff Gordon: This team will play better. This team will hang around the NL Central "race." But this team will need a couple of HUGE, positive surprises to make some sort of headway. Even if Rolen and Encarnacion start hitting and Edmonds and Eckstein maintain their recent upturn, the team will need to get some pitching from unexpected sources to contend. |
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| Keeva: Did Adam Carriker play NT in college? If not why does Scott Linehan feel so strong about him starting and playing the NT position? Thanks! |
| Jeff Gordon: He faced double teams in Nebraska's 3-4, which is why Linehan believe he can add bulk and take that role. |
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| Dave Cheney: I'm wondering when the Cardinals will take their slumping season seriously enough to make any drastic moves. For example, bringing Rick Ankiel up to play right field regularly, or thinking about adding a true starting pitcher to their rotation instead of former relievers and lastly, how about trading Encarnacion, Rolen or Edmonds for someone with a good bat? Waiting until after the All Star break might be too late. Thanks. |
| Jeff Gordon: I'm not sure any of those vets have any trade value whatsoever. If Rolen started hitting, he could become a trade chip. But right now . . . |
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George Mavris: If the defense finds itself at or near the bottom of the league in rushing defense again OR overall, will the Rams/Coach Linehan cut loose Jim Haslett and his defensive staff which, frankly, has not fielded a good defense since his days in Pittsburgh which - in all honesty - was probably good in spite of him rather than because of him.
George M. Mavris |
| Jeff Gordon: Haslett needs players to stop the run. He has more beef up front this season, but the Rams still need to get bigger at LB and tougher at safety. Haslett did OK with the personnel he had last year. |
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Scott from Southern California: good am gordo -
if dante hall does not work out as our #1 return man, due to either injury or losing skills, per say ....... what player on our current roster would be the frontrunner for both kr and pr ? |
| Jeff Gordon: Hagans will still hoping to get a look there, but I'm sure there is a viable plan B. |
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| Jerry Buckner: I know many people consider CARDS fans some of the best in fan support, but what is your take on ownership and their letdown this season? It's rather embarrassing to see this team versus the other contenders last year.. |
Jeff Gordon: Are the owners to blame for Albert's HR and RBI totals? For Rolen's stats across the board? For the slow start by Edmonds and Eckstein? For the injuries to Encarnacion and Carpenter and Kinney? A lot went wrong and little of it involved the owners.
Again, judge the owners for how they respond to the wholesale failure of veteran players in '07. What will the '08 team look like? Will they be willign to pay players to go away? |
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| Tom: I watch quite a bit of baseball since I have the Extra Innings package. I live in Wisconsin so I can watch the Cards without the blackout rules. It just seems to me that part of the pitching woes seem to be because when the pitchers do get ahead in the count, they just seem to pick away at the corners and pretty soon the count is full and they have to bring one in. I don't see that in many of the other staffs and I was wondering if that is part of Duncan's strategy; to pick away at the corners. We don't seem to go after hitters when we have them in the hole. |
| Jeff Gordon: The idea is to pitch aggressively to the edges of the strike zone -- never center a pitch, but still try to get away. That, of course, is a tightrope walk. And the Cards have fallen quite a bit. |
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| Jerry Buckner: If the CARDs decide to put on a "fire sale" this year, who do you expect to garner interest and what could we look for in return? |
Jeff Gordon: Rolen, if he hits, would have value. Edmonds, if he hits, would have value. Izzy, if he is healthy, would have great value. The Mets could use Adam Kennedy at second base. Flores could help a winner. Franklin might get a sniff if this was a total sell-off.
If the Cards bail, they would add young everything -- pitchers, position players, whatever. Their organization is still thin. |
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| Michael: I e-mailed this to you earlier and then noticed you were having a chat: What’s with Tony’s obsession with right-handed hitters against left-handed pitching? I understand the theory behind it, but the results don’t seem to back it up. The Cards continue to struggle against soft-tossing southpaws (sometimes no-namers) and I’ve never understood why you just don’t play your best players. Part of the reason that this theory drives me nuts is that it seems that most of the redbird righties struggle mightily with lefties as well, so the lineup just gets so watered-down, there’s no one to respect within three spots of Pujols. How do you develop a player like Chris Duncan without letting him see a steady diet of the type of pitching that has been the birds’ nemesis for years? |
| Jeff Gordon: Tony doesn't want to put Duncan in a position to fail, which I get. But at some point he needs to break through as an everyday player. He isn't 21 years old. As for the overall approach against LH pitching, he is looking for ANYBODY who can help him beat a southpaw. This team is utterly helpless against them. He will try anything. |
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| Pat D: Are the Cards out of options with Rick Ankiel? With all due respect to Skip Schumacher and Ryan Ludwick - why hasn't Ankiel been given a shot? |
| Jeff Gordon: Ankiel was a free agent who signed a minor league deal. The options thing is over. He could have signed anywhere this winter and chose the Cards. And, sure, we need to see him soon to see what he has. If he comes up and hits the ball, the Cards will have to buck up to keep him. Other scouts are noting his speed/power combo for Memphis. |
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| CKarr: Other than Colby Rasmus, who are the Cardinals pinning the future on? |
| Jeff Gordon: Hawksworth, to some degree. He is progressing in the Memphis rotation. Garcia at Springfield is another pitching prospect. OF Daryl Jones intrigues them for down the road. C Bryan Anderson can hit. Guys like Travis Hanson (3B)and Chris Lambert (P) really stalled. |
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| Aron: How is Wroten developing as a DT or DE? |
| Jeff Gordon: He can play both, which really helps him. People want the Rams to add Adams or Jenkins, but Linehan likes Carriker in that role -- and he likes his versatility to move outside in some sets. Ryan and Jackson are pure run-stopping DTs, which is why the flexibility is desired. The Rams really like their mix at DT. |
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| Jeff: I saw over the weekend that Major League Lacrosse is looking into possibly expanding into St. Louis. Any thoughts on this? Where would they play? etc... |
| Jeff Gordon: No idea, although SLU or the Busch Conference Center might be big enough. My daughter plays lacrosse and I actually watched the NCAA title match, so I might pay to see that . . . |
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Loren Baker: Jeff, I am a life time ram fan and believe are offensive line is going to really Gel this year. If that happens do think the Rams could have another 500 point season
Thanks
Boiseramfan |
| Jeff Gordon: I like the O-Line, too, and I like this team for a 9-7 season. |
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Jerry B In OHIO: Hey Jeff,
Who do you see the Blues drafting in the 1st round this year that could make an immediate offensive impact? |
| Jeff Gordon: There are number of equally good forward prospects in the top 10, but none of them will have an instant impact. So we wouldn't be stunned if the Blues packaged the other two No. 1 picks and something else to get a young scorer of some description. |
