Around the horn

Man on the inside Lboros picks up on the possibility that Cards' Assistant GM John Mozeliak, a candidate for the Reds' GM job, could grease the skids, as it were, for some helpful midseason trades (lboros supposes Junior). But if you're not interested in Griffey, don't get your hopes up: with the Reds, it's slim pickins; the team's only other players projected to have an OBP in excess of .350, for instance, are Adam Dunn -- the the one player besides Junior that people actually pay to see in Cincy -- and Ryan Freel. Then again, if Jocketty were able to pry Dunn away from his former understudy, it would be fun to have both him and fellow TTO achiever JEdmonds in the same outfield, wouldn't it? One of the best headlines in months Cards report for spring training in 23 days -- Joplin Globe headline Oh, and don't forget the new ballpark

Atlanta and St. Louis are not the same. St. Louis fans, the game, the atmosphere and all - it's so fun to be out there.

-- Adam Wainwright

First, kudos to the youngster for his wisely worded distinction -- he complimented Cardinal fans without condemning the Braves', yet we can all read between the lines. It's nice to hear a player -- especially a young one -- realize how good he has it. Or was he talking about Elaine?

Breathtaking.

-- Tyler Johnson on his experience playing with the Cardinals

That crazy Hoot, I

I can remember the first game in the big leagues when Bob Gibson was pitching and all he told [me] was that 'Hey Reitz, you just catch the ball; I'll drive the run in.' 'Yes, sir, Mr. Gibson.'

-- Ken Reitz

Is there anyone even remotely like Bob Gibson in the major leagues today? He's not dead yet!

I learned a lot from him.

-- Adam Wainwright, on Dave Duncan

Thanks for the scoop

If our pitching holds up and if Scott Rolen stays healthy all year, I think we are going back to the World Series. I clearly see the Cardinals getting better than the Cubs or the Astros.

-- Bob Carpenter

He may give Ozzie Smith a run for the Captain Obvious title, but I like Bob Carpenter. I really do. If Mex is his hero, he can't be all bad, can he?

The last two times I've been up here my two favorite players of all-time have introduced me, Mr. Keith Hernandez and Mr. Cal Ripken.

-- Alex Rodriguez, at the 83rd annual New York baseball dinner.

Baseball Analysts on the NL Central Sorry I didn't mention it earler: Baseball Analysts Rich Lederer and Bryan Smith had a chat last week and touched on the Cardinals' chances in 2006 (I excerpted in places).

Rich: St. Louis won 100 games last year, the most in baseball. Will they win 100 this year? No, probably not. But, let's assume they slip back to 90 games. Who else in the division is in a position to win that many? Bryan: This seems like the argument with the AL Central last year. "Even if the Twins regress..." Now I'm not saying the Cardinals shouldn't be the division favorite, they have certainly earned it. But I wouldn't rule out the Astros, the Cubs, or the Brewers -- my pick -- to win 91 games. Rich: ... I like the Brewers and wouldn't be surprised in the least if they captured the Wild Card spot in the NL. That is one fun team. Bryan: I agree. A lot of high ceilings on offense with a good, young pitching staff and a better coach. That's one good formula.

The Brewers do seem to be the underground favorite in the NL this year, a Senior-Circuit version of the small-market Oakland A's. And what's this business with the Cardinals having "earned" the status as favorite? They may have earned it, but that's irrelevant. Their team may not be what it was in 2005, but they still have to be considered the favorite on the merits of their current roster (and the relative shortcomings of their rivals). Weaver Watch Further in the conversation, here's Lederer on Jeff Weaver:

I gotta tell you, Bryan, I just don't understand these guys. How could Weaver pass up, say, a 3 x $9M offer from the Dodgers? Is it really worth an extra million bucks or so a year to leave your hometown team? I mean, is that incremental money going to have any bearing whatsoever on your lifestyle or your kids or grandkids?

Ken Rosenthal doesn't smell anything developing either:

The market for Weaver remains unclear. The Orioles backed off after acquiring right-hander Kris Benson. The Indians were interested only if they traded right-hander Jake Westbrook earlier in the off-season. The Mets can't be ruled out, but don't seem especially eager. If Weaver ends up accepting a one-year deal, his decision to reject the Dodgers' offer of a one-year contract through arbitration will appear short-sighted. He could have remained in a comfort zone pitching for his hometown team.

Now, both Lederer and Rosenthal blame Weaver for holding out, but it's not as though he's had a flurry of offers, like, say, the rich-man's Jeff Weaver, AJ Burnett. Would someone please explain why Jeff Weaver can't get a job? Not that I'm concerned for his welfare, but it seems strange that AJ Burnett can get a five-year deal at $55 mil, Kevin Millwood five at $60, Matt Morris three at $27, Jerrod Washburn four at $35 and Paul Byrd two at $14. There's no middle market. It's enough to make one recall the odd market dynamics in the old days of collusion. That Crazy Hoot, II Buster Olney reports this anecdote from the baseball awards ceremony:

Gibson presented the NL Cy Young Award to Chris Carpenter and recited Carpenter's stats, including a league-leading seven complete games. He also mentioned Carpenter's 241 innings pitched and said that back in his day, going fewer than 300 innings might have meant a demotion to the minors.

It probably came across as a joke, but with Hoot, you know he was dead serious.