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Canseco in the Hall? Not likely Mailbag: April 6
Q: Who will sign Jose Canseco now that the Angels have released him? Also, will he make the Hall of Fame if he can hit 500 homers? -- A.J. Ciabattoni, Mt. Laurel, N.J.
PWG: Urbina will eventually be a viable alternative for a long list of teams, including the Yanks, Rangers and Cards. But the Expos want a potential star corner outfielder and/or a young stud starter, and I don't know right now if the Yankees can satisfy them.
Q: Whenever relocation is brought up, how come Puerto Rico is never
on the list? It would appear to me that baseball is definitely huge there,
they have the fan base and teams like the Expos are full of Latin players.
Is the economy unable to support a professional team? -- Ryan, Orlando, Fla.
Q: Why is it that Ichiro Suzuki can put his first name on his jersey? I didn't know that players were allowed to decide what name went on their jerseys. Why does Suzuki get special privileges? -- Jon, Santa Clara, Calif.
Q: What will the Cubs do at closer until Tom Gordon is ready? -- Lyle Larson, Birmingham, Ala.
Q: I was wondering about the first-base situation in the Texas
Rangers organization. They have Rafael Palmeiro and in the waiting are Kevin Mench
and Travis Hafner. What are your thoughts on those two individuals? Will
they get a shot with the Rangers or will they have to go to a different team
to get their shots? -- Tony Shourds, Ann Arbor, Mich. Q: Perhaps I missed the explanation some time ago, but I am dying to know why you call Lou Merloni the "governor." -- Brian Pendleton, Alexandria, Va. PWG: Because he is so popular that he could win the race, if he so chose, especially if he were the third-party candidate running against Jane Swift and Joe Kennedy. I'd vote for Lou in that case, as well. Last year, after coming back from Japan, he walked towards the on-deck circle and fans started chanting, "Lou, Lou." Carl Everett, who was at the plate, looked around because he thought they were booing him. Q: I was reading in Baseball Weekly and noticed that Ed Yarnall was playing in Japan. Wasn't he supposed to be the next great Yankee pitcher? What happened? -- Mike, Lincoln, Neb. PWG: He came into camp last year and was handed the job as the fifth starter, had back problems and never recovered; if you remember, he had one start and his line for the season was: three innings pitched, five earned runs. He did not pitch very well this spring for the Reds, was told it would be midseason before he had any chance to come up, and when the opportunity came to go to Japan, he took it. The Reds had to relinquish his rights in exchange for the $300,000 they got, so if he pitches well, he can come back to the U.S. as a free agent.
Q: Do you agree with Jimy Williams' decision to play Scott Hatteberg
at DH and sit Dante Bichette? Will the Sox end up trading Bichette or
getting rid of Williams? -- Jon Vincent, Billerica, Mass.
Q: I was wondering what your thoughts are on Todd Walker's
productivity this season with the Colorado Rockies. It seems to me that his
stats should increase at Coors Field, especially with a healthy Larry Walker
in the lineup. -- Ken Martinez, Valparaiso, Ind.
Q: Some folks were surprised at how hard Jim Bowden was marketing
Scott Williamson during the offseason, suggesting that a GM as good as
Bowden wouldn't try so hard to move such a great young pitcher unless he
knew something wasn't right. Now, two games into the season, it turns out
that Williamson will require season-ending surgery because of a torn elbow ligament.
How, if at all, should this reflect on Bowden? Does he get credit for
recognizing something wasn't right, or does he take a hit for (possibly
knowingly) peddling damaged goods? -- Don Money, Andover, Mass.
Q: Please explain Dan O'Dowd's moves since the end of spring
training. The Rockies seem to have given up a good deal (Brian Rose, Mike DeJean, Masato Yoshii and Elvis Pena) for nothing (a lame Juan Acevedo). These trades seemingly have brought no help. Is this purely an attempt to free up minor league options
(perhaps to bring up John Thomson) or is there some deal going on behind the scenes? -- Tim Hundsdorfer, Erie, Colo.
Q: Out in Southern California, we've been hearing for too long that Ben Davis is a
future star for the Padres. He hit under .250 last season and looked
horrible. What's your take on Davis? Is 2001 his year? Or will Wiki
Gonzalez take his job? Thanks. -- Joshua Jones, Palm Springs, Calif.
Q: Is it just me, or are the Padres insane for trading Matt Clement
and Eric Owens for Mark Kotsay? I think Clement for Kotsay straight up
still gives the Marlins a great deal. -- Nick Tofte, Janesville, Wis.
Q: Why hasn't Kevin Malone had to bear any public responsibility for
the Dodgers losing in recent years? Why hasn't the Dodger brass replaced
him with a more amiable, modest GM? -- Chip, Los Angeles
Q: I have heard possible trade rumors in Baltimore circling around Chuck McElroy, Delino DeShields and Jeff Conine. Are any of these rumors true? If yes, who would the Orioles possibly pursue? Thanks! -- Kevin Paul, Malden, Mass.
Q: When the White Sox need to add a fifth starter, who is first in
line? I am concerned that with Jon Garland, Jon Rauch and others coming, Kip Wells lost out on his best chance this spring. What does his future hold? -- KerryB, Lawrenceville, Ga.
Q: With the sad state of pitching in Pittsburgh, why didn't Cam
Bonifay go after someone like Masato Yoshii to fill a starting void? With the Omar Oliveras deal and the signing of Derek Bell, is Bonifay's job in jeopardy? -- Graci Cloud, Aberdeen, N.C. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |
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