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Join columnist Jeff Gordon for his live STL sports chat at 1 p.m. Friday

Bring your Cards, Blues, Mizzou, SLU and MLS questions and comments, and talk to columnist Jeff Gordon in his weekly live chat.

3rd & 7 37yd

Jeff,

After it's all said and done which Cardinal, Yadier or Pujols do you think would win the "My Favorite Cardinal of my lifetime" poll? That'd be a great poll for you to put up. I'd vote Molina in a heartbeat.

by Ballfour 4/1/2022 8:43:30 PM
Albert wins that poll if fans forgive him for leaving. Because his decade her was unlike anything we'll ever see again.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 8:44:08 PM
You're looking on the Cardinals making in-season additions? Based on what? The last several years?

by Billy W. 4/1/2022 8:44:22 PM
Yeah, like last year when they retooled the bullpen, fortified the rotation and upgraded the bench on the fly to embark on an epic winning streak.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 8:45:00 PM
Us fans are keeping all our fingers crossed but doesn't Dakota Hudson look pretty good thus far this spring?

by Nick N 4/1/2022 8:45:08 PM
He's a really good pitcher when healthy. And he's healthy.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 8:45:30 PM
Publications questions the pitching of the Cardinals and I do understand their concern. Saying that, the front office rather shop the Asian market (K-Mart Blue Light Special) rather than making meaningful additions. The likelihood of the additions being successful are limited to say the least. In your opinion, why do the FO make token additions (Martz) instead meaning full additions. Pitching is the key and is the main reason the Brewers are the favorites. Finally, it appears some of your colleagues at the Post are buying and defending the FO.

by John 4/1/2022 8:46:03 PM
Matz was 14-7 last season, so that's not a token addition. Mikolas came from overseas and went 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA in his first season here, so there is value to be found on the fringe markets. Did the Cardinals find value for this season? We'll see soon enough.
As for not spending huge money on free-agent pitching, that is something that will continue under DeWitt. Given the high rate of pitching injuries, he believes a team is better off investing in scouting and developing young pitching in quantity and quality rather than throwing giant dollars at a guy who could blow up.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 8:49:58 PM
I liked the Archer signing by Minnesota. Any indication StL might have taken a flyer on him? I realize he has been out awhile, but his numbers were decent in
A small sample last season. Are there any other “low hanging fruit” starters out there? Anyone? Bueller?

by Brad in TN 4/1/2022 8:50:13 PM
I thought the same thing about Archer. On those type of guys, the front office assessment is "Can we fix this guy?" and "Are there better options already on the 40-man roster?"

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 8:51:41 PM
If Girsch is the GM,why are we even having this conversation about Mo? Do other teams let their President do it all,like Mo,ignoring Girsch? please explain.

by chico 4/1/2022 8:51:59 PM
The President of Baseball Operations is the big boss, No. 2 to only the owner. Some guys in that elevated spot let their GM do much of the talking. But since Mozeliak makes the calls, he should probably be the one explaining them.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 8:53:32 PM
What do you make of Binnington? Is he a goalies whose game just had a short shelf life, or do you think he can return to his perch as one of the best in the league?

by Longtime Blues Fan 4/1/2022 8:53:43 PM
I have not written of Binnington, but he has some work to do. He competes hard when he gets his chance -- but while Husso looks calm and quiet in goal, Binnington scrambles. I keep expecting him to take the job back . . . but now we're getting in range of the playoffs and Husso is still the guy.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 8:55:47 PM
You think Hicks is who the Cardinals hope forces the issue as their "set" closer before too long?

by Nick N 4/1/2022 8:55:58 PM
It appears Marmol is going the modern route of using various guys to close and using his high-leverage relievers at various points in the game. He will have fewer set roles than Shildt did.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 8:56:53 PM
You said you didn't like Clayton Kellers contract, but until his bad leg injury he had 28 goals and 35 assists. His age and local kid been a bright spot for the Blues. IF the Blues did get Kellers what line would he play on?

by thowardmax 4/1/2022 8:57:06 PM
I don't see a spot for him on this team. The Blues have a strong Top 9 forward group and several of those guys can check and kill penalties, too. Keller has playmaking ability and finishing skill, but he lacks unique qualities. He is not big, physical or exceptional fast. He could help a lot of teams, but not this one at that price.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:00:56 PM
When DA made the trade with Detroit it seemed he wanted to get out of the Sunny contract for next year. Thinking Sunny wasn't going to be the same player after all his surgeries. Now he can give that money to Husso.

by thowardmax 4/1/2022 9:01:14 PM
Payroll projection played a role in that trade for sure. The Blues have a lot of young forwards pushing up and they can use that money elsewhere.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:01:55 PM
I get that the Cards have talented youngsters in Sosa, Edman, and Gorman, and DeJong still offers value to the team. But the presence of JD Drew and Placido Polanco didn't stop Jocketty from acquiring Renteria to move Polanco to 3B, then Edmonds to move Drew to RF, and then Rolen in a move that sent Polanco away altogether. It's tough as a fan to hear the FO say, "we have a good roster" when the previous group more often seemed to have an approach of, "but we think we can still make it better."

Agree with you that the best way to quiet critics would be to take the ~$20m saved on a SS upgrade and use it fortify the rotation. But if they're going to try convincing us VerHagen is the next Lohse/Suppan, I can't say my hopes are high on that front either. I appreciate the team's sustained success in the DeWitt era, but too often it feels like they're measuring themselves against teams with lower resources and expectations, rather than against what should be the goal for *this* franchise.

by Phil 4/1/2022 9:02:35 PM
This team made big commitments at first base and third base. They had their catcher for a year, they liked their four young outfielders and their second basemen. We'll see of they look stupid for not spending big at shortstop.
As for Jocketty, he lost his gig here over player development concerns. Bill DeWitt Jr would rather develop talent than trade for it for spend big for on the open market. The team got better at player development after Walt left.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:05:17 PM
Whether true or not could the Blues claim Binnington has an "injury" and replace him w Lindgren? With as tight as the race is can they afford to take the chance he will play better in the upcoming back to backs? Isn't his money guaranteed and therefore only his pride would suffer?

by Paul J 4/1/2022 9:06:44 PM
I don't believe the franchise has given up Binnington. Doing something like that would tell him and the rest of the NHL that you believe he is finished.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:07:33 PM
You would think that by now, the BFIB would know to put little, if any, stock in spring training game results. But here we are.

by sempleman 4/1/2022 9:08:03 PM
This spring training, short as it is with little ramp up, is especially useless for evaluation.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:08:37 PM
Can DA find a taker for Binnington or what would he have to give up to get someone to take JB and his contract?

by thowardmax 4/1/2022 9:08:52 PM
Apparently there wasn't much interest in him at the deadline, due to all the cap constraints. This issue could be revisited in the summer. In the meantime, Binnington could help matters by playing well when he gets a rare chance.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:09:52 PM
Is Jeff Albert pretty much on cruise control as hitting coach for at least this season?

by Nick N 4/1/2022 9:09:54 PM
No, he has to show up for work each day and work with the hitters.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:10:11 PM
The DEA just posted a picture of DeWitt and Mo on their bulletin board as targets for dealing to a fanbase. The drug, nostalgia. It creates a false high all while lowering your inhibitions and skewing your expectations. Very dangerous and very prominent on the streets of St. Louis.

by Tackleberry 4/1/2022 9:10:39 PM
Well, that's cynical take. Would an Albert Pujols Toenail Clipper promotion turn that frown upside down?

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:11:58 PM
Do you think Berube will last out his contract? What if this team either fails to make the playoffs or is ousted in the first round? As this roster evolves is he the right leader? Isn't it easier to change one coach than the makeup of a team? How do you see this playing out?

by Paul J 4/1/2022 9:12:06 PM
I see the Chief getting next season for sure. This is a team in transition and the new nucleus still needs some work, in fairness to him.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:12:45 PM
Hey Jeff -

Wondering your honest rating of the Cardinals' front office as compared to the rest of the league? Encompassing everything in terms of baseball intelligence, generating fan engagemnt/revenue, and keeping up with trends/building a foundation for future success. Obviously we gotta be top half of the league, but would you rate us top 10? top 5? Does the Schildt fiasco taint your rating at all?

by AG 4/1/2022 9:13:10 PM
Counting the ownership, this has to be Top 5 operation: Consistent success on the field, huge business success with the team and its related development, lots of high-end prospects in the pipeline . . . what it has done in this market ranks high among all franchises in all sports. Yes, DeWitt and Co. inherited great tradition, but, unlikely A-B at the end, this group built on it and sustained it.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:16:39 PM
Because it's still just a business is the Shildt story a good time for parents to teach their children of all ages some valuable life lessons? Don't overestimate your value. No one is irreplaceable. Don't "piss" the boss off. Be passionate but know where and how to temper your enthusiasm? Unless it's your business know your place in "chain of command." Don't cry over spilled milk. Life isn't always fair so learn from your experiences and move on. Any others you can think of?

by Paul J 4/1/2022 9:16:45 PM
That about covers it.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:16:55 PM
What is it looking like at the moment for Flaherty in terms of timing and the most likely case for his return assuming no further set backs?

by Nick N 4/1/2022 9:17:11 PM
At this point the Cardinals would have to feel good if he got back by June.

by Jeff Gordon 4/1/2022 9:17:58 PM
What about whittgren? any word on his status? will he make the team?

by Roy Hobbs Cousin 4/1/2022 9:19:20 PM