Joe Ostermeier has covered the St. Louis Cardinals since 1985, including their three World Series visits since then, their seven trips to the playoffs from 1985-2005, and Mark McGwire's historic home run chase in 1998. He is a longstanding member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America and a voter for the BBWAA's annual awards and the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Because of the large volume of e-mail, not every question can be answered.
Submitted by Rebecca from New Athens, IL
Q: When will Cardinals management finally see Izzy as Cardinal Nation does? He doesn't seem to be very reliable in the closer role, and his number are over inflated. Seems to me, Reyes or McClennen would be far better options.
Answered 05/07/08 10:09:36 by Joe Ostermeier
A: Here's how the Cardinals see Izzy (and how the fans ought to view him) -- as the team's career saves leader and a linchpin of much of the club's success this decade. Isringhausen's contributions to this team can't be overestimated, even if sometimes his inability to nail down a win can be frustrating. Fans have to realize, though, that no closer is perfect: Ask San Diego about Trevor Hoffman's issues, or the Yankees about Mariano Rivera. Like any team, the Cardinals live or die on the performance of their closer, and Isringhausen has been better than most closers in that regard. His hip injury caused him to blow 10 saves in 2006, but last year he had only two blown saves in 34 opportunities. This year, he's nailed down the win 11 times in 14 chances -- still a good percentage. And while it's hard to watch a win get away, it's not unusual for that to happen to the best teams and the best closers. The Cardinals and Izzy fit both those descriptions, and nobody is going to be perfect every time out. And I'll say this about Izzy: He's a standup guy who is there when people are there to criticize him. Case in point: Every time I can recall that he's blown a save in a Cardinal uniform, he is standing at his cubicle in the clubhouse ready to answer reporters' questions about it. But the night he tied Lee Smith for the most saves in a season by a Cardinal (47), Izzy was nowhere to be found. I think that says loads about the kind of guy he is.Submitted by Rhonda from New Athens, IL
Q: I'm just wondering if Brandon Backe is having anger management problems. The replays I saw of the game on Sunday, April 27th showed Backe with a smirky smile on his face after he clearly threw at Yadier Molina's head. Do you think the home plate umpire should have ejected Backe considering what happened on Saturday, April 26th? I do.
Answered 04/29/08 11:26:12 by Joe Ostermeier
A: Backe's actions and attitude were the latest in a string of ugly episodes between the Cardinals and Astros in recent weeks. Maybe the two longtime NL Central rivals are just sick of seeing each other, but Backe's pitch near the head of Cards catcher Yadier Molina Sunday was no accident -- considering it came 24 hours after Astros catcher Brad Ausmus was buzzed by Adam Wainwright. Let's see: One team's pitcher throws close to other team's catcher, and the same thing happens the next day, with the teams swapped? Backe can deny the pitch got away, but I think we're all a little bit smarter than that. Because of that, I think the umps should have probably tossed Backe, but I'm sure they were worried about things escalating even more. After all, the Backe dust-up goes back to a snarling confrontation with Albert Pujols when the teams were in Houston, and the Stros took exception to a play at the plate involving Pujols and backup Houston catcher J.R. Towles. Boys will be boys, but there's clearly bad blood between these two clubs these days. Pencil in these dates on your fight card — May 27, 28, and 29 -- the next time the Astros and Cards play. Who knows? The tempers may have cooled down by then.Submitted by Blake from Belleville,IL
Q: Joe love the columns and insight on cardinal baseball. I have a questions for you that my friends and I debate, but never have come to a conclusion on the right answer. Q. What determines the umpires attire. Sometimes they have light blue and majority of the time it's black. Thanks for your time love your articles. Blake Dintelman Belleville, IL bedinte@hotmail.com
Answered 04/29/08 11:13:54 by Joe Ostermeier
A: Good question. The simple answer is this: The umpiring crews have various styles of clothing based on the weather: Usually jackets and dress pants for cool games during the day or at night, or a more casual shortsleeve garb for warmer weather. The decision is made the day of the game, depending on the conditions outside, and will vary -- if it's hot and sticky, the umps will try to stay as cool as possible; if it's cold, they'll bundle up, even with gloves and layered clothing. Each day, it is ultimately up to the crew chief -- the one umpire in the group of four who has the most seniority and is in charge of the group day in and day out. They travel with all their garb -- which makes for some startling images when their equipment has been lost by the airlines and they all wear borrowed outfits or their personal clothes.Submitted by don schwahn from Rocky Mount n.c
Q: What has happened to Josh Kinney is he still a Cardinal? A fan who used to live in Belleville years ago but still a die-hard Cardinal fan.
Answered 02/22/08 12:01:26 by Joe Ostermeier
A: Kinney is in the Cardinals' spring training camp, and is trying to return from elbow ligament transplant surgery a year ago. He is throwing off the mound in camp and is hoping to make a return to the majors at some point this season. But elbows are a tricky thing, and he's just back at the point where he's throwing and seeing how the elbow responds. The Cardinals were very happy with his work in 2006 -- he had a 3.24 ERA in 25 innings that year -- and the team really missed his contributions in 2007. So he will be watched carefully this spring as he makes his way down the comeback trail.Submitted by ed from howell,nj
Q: hey joe,i wonder about everyone who want to buy players.being close to ny it seems that maybe they woke and will try to build from within.what do to cards have in the minors besides the outfeilder.the excub factor is is going to hurt them.
Answered 01/28/08 20:03:48 by Joe Ostermeier
A: Ed, New GM John Mozeliak spoke to that topic when he met with reporters in January at the Winter Warm-Up and other team functions. He stressed the team will be focusing more energy on player development within the organization, working to upgrade the minor-league system rather than relying so heavily on free-agent acquisitions. That's a longer process than the quick fix on the open market, so I hope fans are patient as the Cardinals rebuild from within. You hear it both ways sometimes: People are upset about the big money that free agents get, and say they want the team to develop more players internally. And then you hear the same people wondering why the team hasn't done more this winter to improve itself. The fact is, it can takes years and lots of money (and sometimes, a few mistakes) to develop your own talent rather than spend big bucks out there to get free agents from other teams. Let's hope the Cards stay on that course, all the while maintaining a competitive team.Submitted by patty shoults from st. louis mo.
Q: i am the resident service coordinator at the villa at riverwood retirement home in hazelwood mo. we are planning a cardinals baseball event and would love to have a player or a hall of famer and fred bird. if you could please let me know how to go about this i would be ever so thankful.
Answered 01/14/08 01:26:21 by Joe Ostermeier
A: Patty: Please contact the Cardinals at (314) 345-9600, and ask to speak to someone in their Community Relations Department. The club arranges for players, other team officials (and Fredbird) to make public appearances at hospitals, retirement homes, and other charity events; I'm sure someone there will be happy to help you. You can also write them at this address: St. Louis Cardinals, 700 Clark Street, St. Louis, MO 33102.Submitted by Mari T from Springfield, MO.
Q: Can you give me the straight on what happened to Jim Edmonds, that would cause him to ask to be transfered. There must be more to what we've been hearing so far.
Answered 12/17/07 13:38:49 by Joe Ostermeier
A: Jimmy Ballgame is nearing the end of his career, and I think he wanted to finish it up closer to his home in the L.A. area, especially now that he's remarried and has a younger child. He also was told his playing time in St. Louis would be limited somewhat by the emergence of Rick Ankiel and the promise of Colby Rasmus, and I know Jim wants to be the everyday center fielder -- wherever he is. Last September we reporters broached the topic of Jimmy moving to right to make way for Ankiel/Rasmus -- ala Ken Griffey Jr. in Cincinnati -- and Edmonds wanted nothing of that idea. I also suspect the friction between Scott Rolen and Tony La Russa was wearing on Edmonds, who despite his rep as a sometimes difficult player was very supportive of La Russa. That surprised some of us, but I think Edmonds has realized (after years of not understanding it) that it's not an easy job having the corner office in the clubhouse. I think mostly personal concerns entered into Jim accepting the trade; I guarantee you, if it had been to Cleveland or Tampa or Baltimore or such, he would not have agreed to it. Southern California was the tipping point here, in my opinion. But the trade removes the player I think didn't get enough credit in his time here for all the playoff success the Cards had this decade; Jimmy was a huge part of that. When he went well, the team went well; when he struggled, the Cardinals did. What more do you need to know about how much he meant to this team and its string of playoff successes? For all the injuries he had recently, Edmonds was the most gifted defensive player we've seen in St. Louis this side of Ozzie Smith, and he had a huge run-producing role in the middle of that lineup every day.Submitted by Cards Fan from Columbia, IL
Q: Why don't Cardinal fans join me in boycotting all team activities and purchases until they show they are serious about fielding a team that can compete? Izturis is the worst signing I can even imagine them doing and makes no sense at all.
Answered 12/05/07 14:42:45 by Joe Ostermeier
A: I've no doubt the Izturis signing has upset a lot of Cardinal fans who will miss David Eckstein next year. On top of the other moves this winter -- re-signing starter Joel Pineiro and adding backup catcher Jason LaRue -- the team obviously is searching for another starting pitcher. But Izturis' signing lets the Cards move on to that quest, rather than continue to pursue a return by Eckstein. "We're trying to put a competitive club out there," new Cards GM John Mozeliak said when the decision was announced last week, "and Izturis is a guy we've talked about for a lot of years." Izturis, a switch-hitter who was a Gold Glover in 2005 and an All-Star in 2005, hit .258 overall in 110 games last season with the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. But he batted .276 with the Pirates after they acquired him from the Cubs in July. Still, the popular Eckstein -- a leader in the clubhouse and one of the smartest players on the team -- will be missed. He was a .300 hitter in his years with the club, but on the other hand he wasn't as strong defensively as the Cardinals would have liked. On top of that, the 32-year-old Eckstein -- he'll be 33 in January -- battled injuries the last couple years, and the Redbirds were trying to get younger at that position with the signing of the 27-year-old Izturis.Submitted by Anonymous from St Louis, MO
Q: The Cardinal's organization strikes me as a careful operation. TO that end, you would think they would have taken a disability policy on CHris Carpenter, and have an insurance company pick up his salary. If so, why aren't we talking about the cash the Cardinals saved from the insurance that could be used to acquire the starting pitcher they need next Spring?
Answered 11/27/07 14:54:28 by Joe Ostermeier
A: Generally, the Cardinals and other major-league clubs get insurance on their long-term contracts -- in this case, a five-year, $63.5 million deal, including a club option for 2012, that Carpenter signed last December. Any insurance benefit the Cardinals would have received on that deal -- given that Carpenter pitched only on Opening Day before the elbow injury ended his 2007 season and necessitated Tommy John surgery over the summer -- would go into the club coffers and be used for player payroll, other team expenses and so on. The Cardinals (and other clubs) generally don't make those decisions public, but they have said they will increase their 2008 payroll to about $110 million, up from about $100 million last year. Some of that will be absorbed by players due increases in 2008 -- Carpenter's salary was $8.5 million in 2007 but will be $10.5 million in 2008, for instance -- so there won't be much wriggle room for the team to add significantly to its player stock.Submitted by Symon Phoenix from ESTL, IL
Q: Looking at the list of available FA prospects, I see two names that jump out at me. Pedro Feliz and Kris Benson what are your thoughts on these two becoming Cardinals
Answered 11/27/07 14:44:58 by Joe Ostermeier
A: Of the two, Feliz is more intriguing to me. But him becoming a Cardinal would hinge almost completely on what happens (or doesn't happen) with Scott Rolen this winter. Feliz is primarily a third baseman -- he played 143 games at third for the Giants last year, hitting .253 with 20 homers and 72 RBIs -- but wouldn't have a spot in St. Louis unless Rolen was traded somewhere. As for Benson, I think the Cardinals have better options, both in the organization and on the free-agent and trade markets. Yes, he won 11 games for a not-very-good Orioles team in 2007, but his ERA was 4.82, he allowed 33 homers in 183 innings, and opponents hit .287 against him. For that kind of homer total, you'd expect Benson to be a power pitcher, but he struck out just 88 batters in those 183 innings, and walked 58. The old rule of thumb when you're looking at a pitcher: You'd ideally like to see twice as many strikeouts as walks, and you'd like to see the strikeouts and innings pitched match up better than Benson's numbers do. I'd say the Cardinals will be looking elsewhere.Submitted by Matt from Seattle, WA
Q: Do you think Scott Rolen will be moved this offseason?
Answered 11/08/07 20:31:04 by Joe Ostermeier
A: I think it will be difficult to trade Scott Rolen this winter, because of his shoulder injury, the surgery he needed to repair it, and the $36 million he is due the next three years in his contract. On top of that, he has a no-trade clause he'd have to agree to waive in order to be dealt. On the other hand, he and Tony La Russa have had an uneasy marriage the last two years, ever since Rolen got angry when La Russa sat him down in the World Series, and ever since La Russa thought Rolen wasn't being forthcoming about how much his shoulder was bothering him. That said, the two men can get along well enough for the club to have the services of a Gold Glove-winning, All-Star premiere third baseman -- as long as he is healthy. But trading Rolen now -- when he's missed a lot of time and seen a power dropoff because of the injury -- is akin to selling a stock when it is at its lowest value, instead of waiting for it to rebound. I don't think the Cardinals will move him unless they can get equal return, and it's hard to say what that amounts to when a player is coming off a couple years of shoulder problems -- and other medical questions before that period of time. The bottom line is this: Rolen is a premiere player, one of the best in the game when he's healthy, and shouldn't casually be dealt away because he and the manager aren't best buddies.Submitted by Alva Jones from Freeburg, IL
Q: With all the money the Cardinal Management has taken in and the way the sock it to the fans, is there a way to find out what their bottom line profit was for the last few years?
Answered 11/08/07 14:25:34 by Joe Ostermeier
A: The Cardinals' bottom line -- like that of any other major-league team -- is a closely guarded secret. They do not make public their financial situation, profits, losses, whatever. The Cardinals' constant sellouts of home games put them in better stead than many teams, of course, but on the other hand, their TV and radio contracts are less than other teams in larger markets. Back on the first hand, the Cardinals and the other major-league teams are profiting from great licensing deals and other national marketing plans that have brought unexpected monies to each club in the majors. On the other hand (there we go again), the Cardinals expect to have a team payroll of $110 million or so for next year -- a considerable chunk of change for those of us who remember when the brewery owned the team and had a payroll of $17 million or $18 million. But as some wag cracked wise at the ballpark last summer, I don't think they're serving peanut butter and jelly in the front office lunchroom just yet. And let's not forget the Cardinals are also having to pay down the debt of the new ballpark, which didn't come with as much public money and support as the owners thought. Anyway, the bottom line is the Cards' bottom line is a secret; since they're not a publicly held corporation, they have no requirement reporting their profits or loss each year. If fans don't like it, they can stay away -- but I imagine someone else will be happy to take their place.Submitted by A baseball fan from St. Louis, Mo.
Q: I saw where the Cubs declined to pick up the option on Steve Trachsel. Do you think the Cardinals will be interested in him and, if so, why?
Answered 11/05/07 11:55:44 by Joe Ostermeier
A: I think there are better free agent options out there, including Tom Glavine and a handful of other veteran pitchers who could eat up innings and be good leaders for the younger members of the Cardinals pitching staff. Glavine is especially intriguing; he's not the Cy Young winner of a few years ago, but he remains one of the smartest pitchers in the game. He'd be a reliable No. 3 starter behind Adam Wainwright and Braden Looper, and could teach a thing or two to youngsters like Joe Pineiro and the rest. I don't think the Cards would go beyond one year and an option for him, and who knows what will be available to players on the free agent market this winter? But Glavine is a better option that Trachsel, who doesn't seem to have that much left in the tank.Submitted by Anonymous from waterloo illinois
Q: what does the president of the cardinals actually do ??
Answered 11/02/07 21:31:26 by Joe Ostermeier
A: Great question, and more than you might imagine. Think of it this way: Mark Lamping is ultimately in charge of the fan experience at the ballpark, overseeing all aspects of the operations of the club that don't have to do with actual player development, acquisition and other on-the-field questions. He oversees the club employees that handle ticket sales, ballpark maintenance and improvements, and all the other things that go into what a fan experiences when he's at the ballpark -- the atmosphere, the music, the concessions, the ushers and other team employees staffing the ballpark. He also oversees business dealings for the team that involve advertisements at the ballpark, how the team markets itself in the community and with fans, radio and television deals, payroll and employee hiring, the afore-mentioned ticket sales and so on.Submitted by Symon Phoenix from ESTL, IL
Q: Is there any chance what so ever that the Cardinals will be major players for either A-Rod or Tori Hunter?
Answered 11/01/07 18:04:39 by Joe Ostermeier
A: Not likely, not in either case. The Cardinals simply don't have the budget to absorb an A-Rod contract. He's like to command a deal paying him $30 million a year, a figure that less than a handful of clubs can absorb -- Boston, Anaheim, and maybe the Chicago Cubs if they get their ownership questions settled. It's unreasonable for a mid-market team like the Cardinals, with a projected payroll for 2008 of $110 million, to pay one player a third of that total. Can you imagine how Albert Pujols, getting $14 million a year, would feel if A-Rod walked in the door making twice that next year? You'd also hamstring the club in attempts to build a team around a big-ticket player like A-Rod, which is why his market is extremely limited. Hunter isn't in that price category, but I think the Cardinals will concentrate on solving their rotation and shortstop questions before adding another outfielder. The Cards have some congestion in their outfield picture as it is, so I'm sure they will look at other parts of the club before that.
