That's right. My name is Walt Jocketty and I'm going to tell you how I'm going to fix all of my team's problems.

To start with, I'm trading Jeff Suppan in a 3 way deal. The trade involves the Astros and Nationals. Jeff Suppan and Skip Schumaker are gone. To go with them, John Gall and Chris Lambert. Alfonso Soriano is sent to my team to play 2B and Livan Hernandez is also sent over to my team. The Astros pick up Jose Guillen and Suppan. They (the Astros) trade off Luke Scott, Mitch Einertson, Josh Flores and Ezequiel Astacio to the Nationals. The Nationals walk away with Lambert, Gall, Schumaker, Scott, Einertson, Flores and Astacio. Pretty good. I now have 3 quality starters: Chris Carpenter, Anthony Reyes and Livan Hernandez.

Well then, my next move is to move Adam Wainwright into the starting rotation. How is this possible? I trade Jason Marquis. Where? Well, that's an easy one. I trade Marquis, Aaron Miles and Rico Washington to Arizona for Shawn Green and move him to LF.

Well, after this, I tell Tony La Russa to set up the lineup like this (giving him some lefties to work with):
SS David Eckstein     LFShawn Green     1B Albert Pujols     3B Scott Rolen     2B Alfonso Soriano     CF Jim Edmonds     RF Juan Encarnacion/C Yadier Molina     C Yadier Molina/RF Juan Encarnacion

Now, here's the new starting rotation:
Chris Carpenter     Livan Hernandez     Sidney Ponson     Anthony Reyes     Adam Wainwright

Now, I know what you're wondering, what about Mark Mulder? Well, who knows how long he'll be out. After he's ready to get off the DL, I send him on a four start rehab assignment. After we decide he's ready, we activate him and move Wainwright back to the pen. Also, you are wondering why the Diamondbacks make that trade. Green, Luis Gonzalez and Eric Byrnes are going to be moved for the youth movement. Miles is a good player that can give the Diamondbacks a little flexability at 2B. Rico Washington can play the infield and would be a good backup. Marquis and Webb will be a dynamic duo for them. Well, what about the RF spot? Chris Young takes over in right. What about the Nationals? The Nationals stock up on some young talent and get a few vets for their team. A nice trade.

So, yes. What do you think? I know, I'm a great GM. With these moves, I've jump started my team and will keep my team in first the rest of the year, not to mention we end with the best record in the majors and win the World Series.

Thanks for reading!!!!

Well, for the  most part, the Cardinals have had a great first day. They went back to their old days of drafting college pitchers. The guy they drafted out of Northeastern named Adam Ottavino. So, here's a quick glance.

OTTAVINO: he is so close to the counter to get his cup of coffee. The Cardinals said that he isn't one of those pitchers that takes forever to get ready. If he signs right away (I haven't found out if he has signed yet), he could see a September call-up in 2006, then a few chances in 2007 and should find a permanent job in 2008. PREDICITION: fights with BRAD THOMPSON for the 5 job in the rotation. Loser goes to bullpen (more than likely THOMPSON).

CHRIS PEREZ: Perez moved into the closers role in college and has got some good stuff. Amazingly, he fell down to 42. He has a great fastball and he shows light down in the Cardinals future bullpen. He could also be on the 2008 squad, but might get his full-time shot until 2009. PREDICTION: setup man for MARK WORRELL. Perez will throw THOMPSON into a long relief job.

THOMAS FURNISH: Furnish threw a no hitter at the beginning of the year and has a decent fastball and a great curve. This kid, being a lefty, could get a job in the rotation, but is unlikely. The Cardinals want Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder to be the 1-2 combo in the rotation for a while. So, this could move Furnish to the bullpen for a while. PREDICTION: Furnish will be in the bullpen starting in 2009, and will be the #5 guy in 2010 or 2011.

JON JAY: Jay is an outfielder and could upset Hector Luna, Brendan Ryan or Tyler Greene. Jay is a centerfielder that could play left. Now, before I said Luna could move to left to make room for Greene and Ryan. With Jay, one of those three could be moved to another team or to the bench. Jay's an exceptional outfielder. PREDICTION: Backup centerfielder in 2010.

SHANE ROBINSON: Robinson is a leadoff hitter, plain and simple. This kid can run and score runs. He plays center. He'll be an everyday player that will be thrown in the herd of players that might stay around (Greene, Jay, Luna and Ryan). Robinson won't be moved, my personal guarentee; however, he'll amke others move. PREDICTION: Everyday centerfielder and leadoff man.

These are the best players that the Cardinals drafted. This is amazing. The Cardinals were ranked so low in farm systems, and now the future is bright. They'll be ranked in the top 20 by next year. Remember this: being ranked 29th before 2005 and then be in the top 20 before 2007 is huge. The present is bright and the future is brighter.

     The Cardinals have never really been known for having a deep farm system. And who can blame these people? Walt Jocketty (my hero) is a win-now type of General Manager. When he sees someone really good (i.e. Albert Pujols) he holds onto them because he knows that's one less spot he has to fill on the roster. Everyone else, he adds via trade.
     Lets bring some of these names up that Jock traded some young "talent" for. Adam Kennedy (ok, he's good) and Kent Bottenfield (a now gospel singer) were traded for Jim Edmonds. Bud "No-hit wonder boy" Smith (he had a no-hitter) and Placido Polanco (I miss him...) and Mike Timlin were traded for Scott Rolen. Oh yeah, Smith hasn't been seen in the Majors for a long time. Daric Barton (who isn't hitting well now) and Dan Haren were traded for Mark Mulder. That's just a few. Now though, the Cardinals have something cooking below and Jock isn't giving them up. All of the predictions are mine.

ANTHONY REYES - PREDICTED #3 STARTER

Reyes is a dominate right hander. He's had injury problems in the past, but those are gone now. He's completely healthy. He's been nothing but good in his spot starts in 2005 and 06. He'll be in the rotation in 2007 along with Adam Wainwright. He's got great stuff and he's working on a sinking fastball to go along with the groundball staff.

ADAM WAINWRIGHT - PREDICTED #4 STARTER

Wainwright is a 6'7", 205 LB guy. He's got good stuff as well as Reyes, but not as dominate. He's in the bullpen right now to work out his pitches. This is also a way Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan can look at Wainwright without going to Triple-A games. Wainy was picked up in the JD Drew trade. Remember that trade? JD Drew (now with the LA Dodgers) and Eli Marerro (now with the Colorado Rockies) to the Atlanta Braves for Wainy, Jason Marquis and Ray King (also with the Rockies). Who got the best of that deal?

BRAD THOMPSON - PREDICTED #5 STARTER

Thompson is in the bullpen right now along with Wainy. There is one exception to his predicted status: he's in his second year of relief. Thompson was a dominating Double-A starter that got bumped to Triple-A. He was great there as well and the Cardinals wanted him at the Majors as fast as possible. So, the only way was to make him a reliever. So, he could be in the bullpen for good. There's only one rpoblem with that: he's too good to be a reliever.

TYLER JOHNSON & CARMEN CALI - PREDICTED LEFT HANDED DUO

Johnson and Cali have got the best stuff I have ever seen. They can bring some heat. They're both good lefties. They're in their mid-20s, but that's ok. It just means they have more minor league experience. In fact, Johnson's so good, the Oakland Athletics took him in the Rule V draft in 2005, but gave him back because they didn't have enough room.

CHRIS DUNCAN - PREDICTED EVERYDAY RF (AFTER 2008)

Duncan is a 1B that had to be moved to the OF (for obvious reasons). He's got a great swing with very good power. He's a left handed bat that'll be batting 5th behind the dynamic duo (Pujols and Rolen). The oldest son of Dave Duncan's (his younger brother is in the Yankees system) has been a beast for years. He's entering his late 20s, but will be in left soon (then move to right when Juan Encarnacion leaves).

COLBY RASMUS - PREDICTED EVERYDAY LF

Rasmus was the Cardinals first pick in the 2005 draft. He's got a good swing and good skills. He's the future LF for the Cardinals. He's in one of the Single-A clubs right now, but just wait. By the end of 2007, he'll have earned a September call-up.

MARK WORRELL - PREDICTED CLOSER

Worrell has an odd delievery, but that doesn't bother the Cardinals. They want him to feel comfortable, but they thing that might lead to arm problems. He slings the ball to the plate, with accurate control. He's taking over Isringhausen's job in the future. He's got good stuff, and like I said, good command.

TYLER GREENE - PREDICTED EVERYDAY SS

Greene was taken in the 2005 draft along with Rasmus. Greene was the 30th overall pick (the Cardinals original pick. Rasmus was taken in a compensation pick slot). Greene's got good defense and a good stick. He's on a Single-A club along with Rasmus. He's very athletic and could move to second to make room for Brendan Ryan, but highly unlikely. It'll be the other way around.

BRENDAN RYAN - PREDICTED EVERYDAY 2B

Ryan isn't as atheltic as Greene and therefore will be moved over to second. He's got good leadoff skills, not a lot of homeruns, walks and low strikeouts. He'll be a steady person at second for the Cardinals, maybe bumping Hector Luna to the outfield (which could move Rasmus to center).

     That my friends, right there, is the future of the Cardinals. They have a good farm system finally and are using it. They've been ranked low on the list of the best systems on Baseball America's list. How low? Down by the Yankees. Yeah, that's bad. Well, thanks for reading.

You've heard of Johan Santanna, Randy Johnson and Billy Koch, right? These guys can bring the heat. Well, they're old school now fools and it's time to introduce the newest young guns, the new skool.

The King of the playground: Justin Verlander, DET

Verlander can throw some heat. You may have heard of him. He's the number 3 pitcher on the Detroit Tigers. This kid hit 99 MPH on the radar gun on May 23. Oh yeah, that was a shutout!

The bully: Fransisco Liriano, MIN

Liriano has been compared to Johan Santanna, with one exception: they got him from the Giants. Liriano can touch 100 MPH and will be amoung the best of all-time. The question is is will he be with the Twins on his way to stardom? With the Twins slashing payroll cause the suck, you never know what could happen.

Last, but certainly not least, the kid hding from the King and the bully (they pick on him because he's not in the starting rotation yet): Joel Zumaya, DET

Zumaya is in the bullpen right now, but just wait! He'll be in the rotation in 2007, maybe sometime in 2006 as well. He can bring the heat (can't find what he's topped out at yet) and is strong in the bullpen. Nate Robertson signed a one year deal in March, and they might not want to resign him with Zumaya in the wings.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals lost a lot this offseason, and really didn't replace them with power guys. Matt Morris walked and was replaced by the twosome of Sidney Ponson and Anthony Reyes. Reggie Sanders walked and was replaced by Larry Bigbie. Mark Grudzielanek walked and was replaced by a Aaron Miles/Hector Luna/Devi Cruz/Junior Spivey combonation. Larry Walker retired and was replaced by Jaun Encarnacion. The replacements aren't as good as their predacessors, byt they work. The Cardinals still have a big offense and minor league system that is getting deeper in talent. They'll be ok this year, it's the 2007 season that panic could strike.

Houston Astros

The Astros added some huge punch to their offense by signing Preston Wilson, but this means that Chris Burke is yet again denied a starting job. Will Tavarez will most likely switch over to left field, Lance Berkman going to 1B and Wilson in CF. This means...yes, Jeff Bagwell is done. He'll be benched if the Astros can't get his insurance claim. They look good, but not good enough for Central title.

Milwaukee Brewers

THE BREWERS!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!! How good are they?????? Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy and the newcomers. They look good this year. They have a tough division and won't get the title. However, the Wild Card is open. Maybe there? Wait till Saturday to find out....

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs look good. They have a lot of issues though. Aramis Ramirez is coming off an injury, Derek Lee came off a season of where he could have had a fluke year or he could the the real deal offense. They have a declining Jacque Jones in right, and Juan Pierre's numbers are declining. They have Ronny Cedeno at short, and problems at 2B. They're bullpen is chalk full of injury prone pitchers, along with the rotation. They place fourth in the Central cause of all the question marks they have.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates look great. Great young talent at the big league level. However, with Jim Tracy new to the clubhouse, the Pirates will have to wait until 2007 to make a serious run at the title. They will end up over .500 this year. In fact, when they do, it'll be the first time in a long time that 5 out of the 6 teams in the Central finished .500 or better.

Cincinnati Reds

Not much to say about the Reds. A new regime in the front office, "new" manager in the clubhouse, and some new talent. They need to deepen the minors to help replace some declining talent. They don't have enough to get anywhere close to .500. They have no closer, their starting rotation sucks hardcore...they just need to make a plan and execute it correctly.

Hope you all enjoyed old school day!