Joe Strauss: All right, everybody up! We are LIVE!!! at this week's edition of Joe Strauss LIVE!!!, the sometimes informational but always self-promoting vehicle from the Post-Dispatch's on-line division. Much dicussion this week about who may be coming and going as the trade deadline approaches next Tuesday. Before we proceed, a bit of housekeeping. I erroneously mentioned last week that Josh Kinney wears No. 24 for the Redbirds. I don't know what was in my Diet Coke as I wrote that, but bench coach Joe "Pepe" Pettini does the number honor. My apologies to all ChatHeads and especially Joe, who's enough of a class guy that he never scolded me for the gaffe. (Of course, he may be among the 2 percent of St. Louisans who actually don't read JSL!!!.... Naaaah.) We've got almost two hours this week, so Let's Get It On!!!

Nick: Joe,

You do great work and I appreciate this discussion every week. Give me your gut feeling on these people and if they'll be here next year.
Tony Larussa, Walt Jocketty, Jason Isringhausen, David Eckstein, Anthony Reyes and Kip Wells.

Joe Strauss: Nick has discovered the key to having his question answered on JSL!!!: Flatter the host. You ask for a gut feeling, that's what you'll get.
I believe Eckstein, Reyes and Wells will be elsewhere unless the Cardinals and Eckstein agree on a short-term deal after the season. If healthy, Eckstein can likely do better than that elsewhere. All three may be in play in the next week.
As for Tony, I believe it's his call, and after reading a few more editions of JSL!!! he'll probably be a goner. I believe the organization needs to do something to underscore Jocketty's importance. He is arguably underpaid given his tenure and track record. This hasn't been an easy year and a number of organizations are likely to inquire about his availability should his status/happiness remain an issue. A jump ball, in my opinion.

Jolene from Memphis: Mr. Strauss, could you provide any information as to the health of Mike Shannon's wife, Judy? I know she has been ill for the past year and with Mike's absence from calling the games, it seems to speak to the continuing and/or worsening of her health. And is there any way to send cards or letters to the family?

Thank you.

Joe Strauss: That's a personal matter best left for Mike and his family to address. But it's fair to say all of us around the club are thinking of Mike and Judy. I would suggest any correspondence directed to Mike or his family be addressed to him in care of the Cardinals at 700 Clark Street, St. Louis, 63102. Thanks for asking.

Bradb: It's Hall of Fame weekend, so it's time for a HOF question: the first time candidates for the Hall over the next five years are very weak. The best next year are David Justice and Tim Raines. (I suspect Goose Gossage will go in alone next year). Ricky Henderson will probably go in 09, then you're looking at either marginal guys like Robeto Alomar and Edgar Martinez (2010), or fellow steroid suspects Juan Gonzalez and Rafael Palmero (2011). In your opinion, does this lack of shoe-ins and upcoming fellow suspects open the door for Mark McGwire?

Joe Strauss: No. McGwire barely received 25 percent of the vote last time. He needs 75 percent. There has to be a tectonic shift for that to happen. People don't like hearing it, but McGwire's best chance arrives the day after Barry Bonds is voted in (if he's voted in). McGwire could also help himself by addressing the shadows that follow him in retirement. I doubt that will occur. It may be accurate to say that it means more to some Cardinals fans that McGwire gain entry to the HOF than to McGwire himself. The issue does make it more complicated, however, for the Cardinals to bring him back as a coach.

Kevin: Joe,

With middle relief at a premium, with the forecast for the 2008 Cards rotation being weak, why in the world would the Cards trade Springer or any other core middle reliever? They cannot afford to add good middle relief this winter plus add other pieces. I hope they renew Springer's contract as they did Franklin's.

Thanks,
Kevin

Joe Strauss: Springer is a pending free agent who signed for $1.75 million last winter. Franklin and Flores have been extended, Flores through '08 and Franklin through '09. Springer, a hard throwing guy who could serve as somebody's set-up guy, has significant value to a contender in, say, Philadelphia or Atlanta. If the club desired, it could re-sign him this winter.