BIG D's BIG ole' bag of mail

It's nice to have questions. I like writing what you want to hear about. I like making you mad. I like making you happy. But I like it the most when everybody plays along and is interactive. So, needless to say, I'm happy, and thankful (in the spirit of the past week), to present to you, for the very first time: BIG D's BIG ole' bag of mail.

So, with a black cat, something to drink, and Built to Spill in the speakers, I give you: your questions and my answers.

"Mark Mulder DOES suck and Jason Marquis CAN'T pitch. You can fault people from St.Louis for being bad fans, but you can't fault them for speaking the truth." from, Anonymous.

-Ok, so the first one isn't even really a question. But who cares. You're right, anonymous, in ways. Jason Marquis seems to be a crack head headed for detox. He won't listen, he can't pitch, and he shouldn't be back in a Cardinal's uniform. No doubts about it. Mark Mulder, however, is a different story. He was obviously hurt this season, but that doesn't mean he "sucks." Chris Carpenter was in the same boat, so I won't listen to the "Mark Mulder sucks" chants. He had a bad year, but he still has more wins than most left-handers over the last decade. As far as the fans go, true. They know they're baseball, and in that sense I say they are the most knowledgeable fans in all of baseball. Just not the best.

"The reason why Wisconsin doesn't get any consideration is because they've only played one team in the top 25 all year (Michigan) and got beat. Their non-conference schedule is ridiculously weak. Wisconsin couldn't beat USC or Notre Dame." from, anonymous.

-Huh, this isn't really a question either. The Wisconsin comment was pretty much a "not-funny" joke, more than it was a realistic comment. Anybody who knows anything about college football pretty much knows that the Badgers don't belong in the BCS Championship. My point was that Notre Dame doesn't deserve all the love it gets from the media. Either way, I wouldn't mind seeing a Badger-Irish match-up in a bowl game. And we can go from there.

"Hey Dave just curious if you the believe the Cardinals don't need to pick up a new outfielder? Because to me although they pulled through during the playoffs there are some HUGE questions out there. And what should they do with Wainwright? Closer or starter?" from, ballin'

-Love the question, ballin'. Best question I've answered yet. Yes, you're right. There are some huge questions in the outfield. I've never been a fan of keeping Chris Duncan. I understand that this statement could come back and bite me where it hurts, but I'll still make it. Defensively, he has a long way to go. And offensively, he's got pop but the question will be: can he continually beat pitchers, or is he one of those guys that fools pitchers in the beginning and gets burnt in the end? Duncan aside, I like the Edmonds signing. ALOT. But I'm a defense guy, so I can understand the concern from an offensive standpoint. And what else do we have? Juan Encarnacion. Yes, Juan. I like Juan and I think more people will like him after this upcoming season. I think he'll get better and better in a Cardinals uniform. So yes, I do like our outfield. And no, I don't think we need any other big name players. I think we could use Preston Wilson (or another player of his caliber) to come in and start 80 games next season, platooning the positions to help give Edmonds some rest, Duncan a break from lefties, and Juan a time to just relax (since he seems to enjoy that so much). Remember, I'm pretty sure Skip Schumaker is in the plans for next season. He should be a solid defensive player off the bench. I'm happy. We should focus on pitching.

As far as Wainwright goes, all signs point to him starting the season in the bullpen as a closer. These are the rumors. I don't believe them, for two reasons. Number one: the front office is, and always has been, banking on him as a starter. Until Izzy proves, consistently, that he's washed up, he will be our closer. The front office of the Cardinals won't spend money to fill another starter position so Wainwright can close and Izzy can sit on the bench. It just isn't going to happen, whether you like it or not. Secondly, you don't just transform from a closer to a starter over night, which is, essentially, what those rumors are saying. Closers are conditioned to throw one inning of baseballs. Starters are conditioned to throw at least five innings worth of baseballs. When you take a player from a "one inning role" to a "five inning role" you risk major injury, and the Cardinals won't risk that with Wainwright. If he doesn't begin the season in the bullpen, then it will take him at least a month from the time he leaves the 'pen until he's ready to be a "complete starter." I have a hard time thinking the Cardinals will go for this. I expect Wainwright in the rotation, and someone else closing games until Izzy comes back. Maybe Tyler Johnson. Who knows? (However, this could all change depending on how long Izzy is on the DL.)

"Why do you think the Red Wings are about to fold? If there is one team in the NHL that hasn't folded in the regular season in the last 10 years, its the Red Wings. Plus, they are only 2 points out of first place in the Central, and have been keeping pace with a hot Nashville Predator team. I hate the Wings, but they are a model of consistency when it comes to the regular season." from, Anonymous

- Oh, man. I dug myself a hole here. Let's see if I can explain myself. I'm an avid Blues fan. I love hockey. I love to play it and I love to watch it and I love, even more, to be at a game. And I hate the Red Wings. And I'm jealous of the Red Wings. And I want them to suffer in the hockey world. I'm sick of them being this "model of consistency." I'm sick of them winning. I'm sick of them taking players and coaches and division titles and Stanley Cup hopes from the Blues. I'm sick of "hockey town". The truth is, however, Nashville is VERY HOT right now, and the Red Wings are just playing their normal hockey.... and they're STILL keeping up. The truth is, the Red Wings are going to win this division...again. The truth is, they may even win a Stanley Cup this year. The truth is, I'm jealous....again. BUT the truth also is, they aren't in first place AS OF RIGHT NOW. And I think that means there is hope...and that, that alone, my friends, excites me. But in the end, I'll be disappointed. You're right, Anonymous, I had no business making that comment. I was out of my element.

I love the hockey comments and questions, however. Not enough people enjoy hockey.

Thanks for the responses. I really do appreciate them. Keep it up. And GO ST. LOUIS!!!!