With the Kyle Lohse  signing I feel that is a good start to the offseason. Its a contract that really isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I have a few Ideas that may bring us a winner in 2009.

Here is how I would like the line-up to look come opening day.

C-Molina

1b-Albert

2b-Lopez or Ellis. I like Lopez and I think he responded well in St. Louis, after all, how many second basemen have re-energized their careers in St. Louis? Ellis would be a good option as well.

SS- Edgar Renteria- I think at around 6 or 7 mil a year he could be a very useful bat in the lineup, and could allow tony to bat ludwick or ankiel 2nd like he wishes. I think Edgar could also be a good option in the 9th spot with Tony's lineup style.

3b- Glaus

Lf- Ludwick or Schu- Ludwick had a great year, dont trade him. If Colby makes the team, Lopez can lead off and Schu is a great 4th OF.

Cf- Ankiel or Rasmus- If Colby makes the team, that would really answer line-up questions and make our team much better overall. Ank is a great CF too.

Rf- Ank or Ludwick

Bench

IF- Miles- Great back up player if the price is right

IF- Freese- Corner player, opens a spot for Wallace at AAA, good backup for Albert and Troy

OF- Dunc- Unfortunately he will be back.

OF- Mather/Schu/Barton-- depends on Rasmus. I like Barton's speed

C- Larue- did a good job this year, accepts the role.

Rotation

You cant count on Carp to come back, they did that this year and it ended up coming back to bite them. Heres how I see the rotation shaping out

1- Waino

2- Lohse

3- Welle

4-Pinero

5- Boggs/Todd/ Mortenson/ Thompson- I dont like the idea of Kmac to the rotation, I think he is valuable in the pen.

Bullpen

Kinney

Franklin- shares time in the 8th with kinney

Kmac

TJ- if healthy

Motte

Perez- Battles with Motte for closer

Lefty reliever- would prefer Fuentes but wont happen, Ohman may be a good solution.

* Izzy- if he will take a low base high incentive contract, may be able to bounce back for one more year.

The other day my brother asked me if I could take all former cardinal players to make a coaching staff, who would I take. It made me wonder if anyone else had thought about it so I decided I would post it on here. Here would be my picks.

Manager- Jose Oquendo, I think he should get the job after Tony.

Bench Coach-  Larry Walker- was a very smart player and I believe he could possibly become a good manager at some point.

Pitching Coach- Mike Matheny, learned from Dunc, handled the pitching staff extremely well.

Bullpen Coach- Alan or Andy Benes, couldnt decide but I think either of these guys would be goo with assisting Matheny in helping the pitchers. I tend to think Alan may have a future with the club as a pitching coach once Dunc is gone.

Hitting Coach- Big Mac, his knowledge of hitting is astounding and he can teach hitters how to prepare for a game by using examples of how he wa able to prepare for each game and show them the techniques that made him one of the game's most feared hitters. Even if you say steroids were the reason, you still gotta be able to hit a pitch.

1st Base Coach- Willie McGee, ran bases well and fan favorite

3rd Base Coach- None other than the Wizard, Ozzie Smith, this town needs him involved with St. Louis baseball again.

I thought this may be an interesting topic to see who people would choose, if not, then oh well.

Long time reader, first time poster here. I was thinking about some possible ideas for Mo to possibly make at the deadline this year.

First I'll start with what I believe is the most pressing need for the Cards right now, a Left-Handed Reliever.

Even when he comes back, Flores is just not good enough for what we need him to be. I would personally love to see Ron Mahay or Damaso Marte if we could possibly get one of them. However, I know that is highly unlikely.

There are a few second teir options I think may be worth checking out.

• Eddie Guardado- Having a good year and Texas may think he is expendable. Should come at a reasonable price as well.
• Arthur Rhodes- May be the easiest LH reliever to pick up. Having a good season but the Mariners are heading no where.

Second on the list to me is the impact bat. There are a few middle infielders and outfielders that come to mind. Bay and Holliday to me are too far out of reach, i don't think Mo would pull the trigger even though we could probably put together a good enough package.

• Xavier Nady- Not sure if Pirates would keep him in the division but it could happen. Should be attainable at a moderate price.
• Brian Giles- Could possibly be a move like the Rockies made with Walker in 04 and I think Giles would be served well if he moved out of Petco. May not be too pricey because of his age and contract, type of move the Cards could possibly make. I know we have a lot of lefties, but a left handed bat could move in another trade or this one possibly.
• Barry Bonds- If he would play for the minimum, you never know. It would be nice to make an impact without trading prospects and Bonds would definitely see good pitches behind Albert and he would see better pitches in front of Bonds. I could tolerate Bonds if it got us to the play offs.
• Khalil Greene- A guy who I think would give us a good bat at a spot we definitely need one. Send Ryan in a package and we could improve vastly. Greene is also slick defensively and could use a change of scenery.
• Mark Grudzielanek- Never wanted him to go and with his age and contract shouldnt be too hard to get.Having a good year and  would look good batting in the 2 spot. Gets on a lot.
• Christian Guzman- Shouldn't comand too much and could open up the ability to trade schu or make him your 4th outfielder so we could get some more pop in the lineup. Guzman could bat 1st.

I think another need that has come up that a lot of people don't think is a problem is our starting rotation. Here are some guys I would love to see and then some guys who could provide decent starting pitching until Waino and Carp return, if they do.

• Josh Fogg- This guy should be at the top of the list because he should be easy to acquire and has decent stuff and can pitch good in the majors. He will keep you in the game and the Reds have him in AAA because they don't like him. Walt may also help LaRussa and Co out as well.
• Odalis Perez- Could also be put in the pen when the Aces come back. Having a solid year but wont command too much.
• Livan Hernandez- Type of guy the Cards like to pursue. Would be better in the NL and could rebound for a team that plays the defense the Cards do. Had interest in the past.
•  Kei Igawa- This is a guy who could be good in the NL, in my opinion. Yankees don't seem to have a use for him and could come cheap. Also, locked up until 2011, that could be a good thing at only 4 Million per year.
• Freddy Garcia- Don't really think it will happen but wouldn't cost prospects and has good stuff. If he takes a deal at around 6 mil after incentives prorated, I think it may be worth a chance, but I doubt the Cards would.

I know It was lengthy, but this is what the Cardinals could possibly bring in and not Mortage the future. Mo should definitely look into some of these options. Now, you can start the bashing because I know it is inevitable.

That the real reason Rolen and Edmonds are always having problems with LaRussa is that when they are hurt and not producing he calls them out in the papers and when Albert is hurt and not producing he makes excuses for him? I think that's be biggest problem with LaRussa as a manager, he plays too much favortism. If it wasn't for that then Dan Haren would still be a Cardinal. He didn't like Haren so they shipped him out, which is why they haven't shipped out Reyes yet, they are afraid the same thing will happen. The bottom line is, Tony needs to stop letting Pujols dictate what happenes in the clubhouse because it sure seems like that's the case. When Tony tells him to sit a game, he doesn't do it. So why should Scott and Jim sit down when Albert doesn't. Yes, I know he produces more than they do but thats a moot point. He still needs to treat him the same. When you are having problems with 2/3 or you "MV3" thats not a good situation.

Has anyone thought of the possiblity of the Cards moving Pujols back to third and playing Duncan at first makin left field available for that Right handed OF bat the Cards crave? And if you can move Rolen for a decent starting pitcher, this could possibly work out. I have been an advocate of trading Duncan recently because if he moved back to first or went to DH then it would be best for HIM and the Cards. This guy would be better off for the Cards if he moves to first or is dealt for a pitcher because we could find a bat that can produce like he can, a pitcher would be worth letting him go, IMO.

Also, Reyes needs to go, he wont be good until he gets away from Duncan. Duncan somehow doesnt want him to pitch the way he was successful in the Minors. But he did that in Game 1 of the WS and look how great that turned out. We need to make some moves that will be good for the team and these players, we could probably send reyes and a few b grade prospects to get Tejada and fill the SS hole for this year.