MAILBAG: May 3

Q: With Jerry Reinsdorf's history and the White Sox' swift fall from contention, is it out of the question to say David Wells and perhaps Frank Thomas might not be wearing Sox jerseys in August? -- Joe Compitello, Yardley, Penn.

	If the early season slide of the White Sox persists and David Wells is shopped, Gammons says the Mets, Red Sox and Braves might be interested.

PWG: The question is whether or not Thomas' contract can be swallowed, and whether Jason Giambi is also on the market. If the Sox are worried about Wells' back and if they are out of it, they should trade him. He would be a great addition to the Mets, Red Sox, Braves and a lot of teams.

Q: When Ken Griffey Jr. returns from the DL, how can the Reds balance playing time between six deserving outfielders -- Griffey, Deion Sanders, Dmitri Young, Alex Ochoa, Ruben Rivera, Michael Tucker? -- Kevin Findlay, Ohio
PWG: As it now stands, Griffey will obviously play every day, and Ochoa and Sanders will get the most time if Deion stays healthy. We have never seen Deion play baseball when he considered it his only sport, and while he may not please the computerees because he doesn't get enough walks, what is important is: 1) how he scores runs; 2) how he alters defenses with his speed and intrepid style; and 3) how he lightens a clubhouse that was a wall of doom last season. Jim Bowden will use Tucker and Young as trade bait, and I still think that if Young continues to learn pitch selection and begin to elevate the ball, he can be a productive AL hitter (meaning DH-LF-1B). He has shown the ability to hit in situations.

Q: Barry Bonds made his first appearance at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and said he would not mind returning to Pittsburgh to retire. Is there any chance of him coming back to Pittsburgh? -- Dave Pierce, Penn.
PWG: Sure, there's a chance when he becomes a free agent, but whether or not the Bucs can afford him is another story. They have a lot of Youngs, Meares, Bells, et al making good money.

Q: Do you have an update on Nomar Garciaparra's progress from wrist surgery? -- Dan Jacobs, Cleveland, Ohio
PWG: He had the cast removed, but he must complete three to four weeks of rehab and then three to four weeks of conditioning before he begins playing baseball. I would doubt he'll regain his power until next season, but never underestimate him. His mind isn't like yours or mine.

Q: Do you think the Royals can/will actually sign Mike Sweeney and Jermaine Dye after their contracts are up? Or is it considered a foregone conclusion that unless K.C. is winning, they'll leave for their paydays? Also, what do you think of Mark Quinn's first year and a month? -- Daniel Smith, Vallejo, Calif.
PWG: If there is no change in the revenue-sharing or collective-bargaining agreement, I don't see them signing both, or even one of them. I know this season is one of parity, but the line the A's and Royals walk is very thin; of the 11 lowest payrolls, only the Reds and A's have had consecutive winning seasons, more proof of Jim Bowden's brilliance. This is what players and coaches tell me about Quinn -- he may be a Hollywood guy, but he wants to be at the plate when it counts and loves the challenge of the game on the line. He can hit, and he may be a big producer in important situations.

Q: Do you feel like Charles Nagy has a good chance of coming back as a productive part of the Tribe rotation? And what is the projected return date of Jaret Wright? -- Brian Vaughn, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
PWG: Nagy's first outing was a nine-hit, eight-run, seven-out nightmare. The Indians say his velocity was what it was when he was winning 17 games two years ago, but we all know Charles has to have location, his slider and split to win. The club says he has at least a month of rehab to build back his arm. Wright is closer. He was throwing 90-93 in extended spring training, with a far better delivery, breaking ball and change than before. Obviously, everyone wants to see if his apparent maturity can be taken to the big-league mound, or if his emotional adrenaline will unwind him.

Q: How long will it take the Diamondbacks to realize that they wasted their money on Mark Grace, since Erubiel Durazo is much better? Will either become available via trade? -- Juan A. Barroso, King City, Calif.
PWG: I appreciate what you're saying, and while Grace's defense and intensity and ability to put the ball in play are useful, this team has kept borrowing other owners' money to try to win with a team that should be housed in Sun City.

Q: With Chad Curtis off to the big start, and now Gabe Kapler coming back and starting off strong for the Rangers, what will come of Curtis? -- John Hackworth, Winston, N.C.
PWG: He will be a utility outfielder when healthy, which has been what he has done best.

Q: Justin Thompson was one of the keys to the Juan Gonzalez Detroit-Texas trade two years ago. I know he was injured then, but where is he now? -- Bob Brown, Ashaland, Ohio
PWG: He is still rehabbing.

Q: What's wrong with Vladimir Guerrero? Why isn't he putting up those power numbers like last year? -- Tom Trus, Ohio
PWG: He has had some nagging physical problems, but I think he is such a hybrid hitter, even he strains when we all know he swings at most everything -- he led the league in fewest pitches per at-bat last season -- and with no serious threats behind him pitches two feet out of the strike zone can become a problem. He will get hot, very hot, but there is so little behind him no one wants to get beaten by him.

Q: The Orioles have a surprisingly good pitching staff this year and have been winning more games than many expected despite a lack of power. Do you think that if the Orioles continue to play the way they have to this point in the season they could remain a .500 team, or will they still end up the worst team in MLB history as many predicted at the beginning of the season? -- Jason Rock, Smithsburg, Md.
PWG: They have some interesting pitchers, like Willis Roberts and Josh Towers, and Ryan Kohlmeier could be OK. How good? No one knows yet, but it's going to be hard without any young, upside positional players. The worst thing that could happen is that they stay .500 to July and they start to believe that 28- to 32-year-old newcomers are the answers.

Q: Do you have any new information on the new stadium in San Diego? -- Jared Pratt, Bonaparte, Iowa
PWG: I've been told that it will be ready sometime during the 2003 season. It is an incredible park, but what else would you expect from Larry Lucchino?

Q: With both Damon Buford and Gary Mathews Jr. hitting .102 and .160, respectively, in the early going, is there any possibility the Cubs will try to make a move to shore up center field? I know that Corey Patterson is waiting in the wings in the minors but he's hitting a little over .200 and appears to need more seasoning. McPhail has made several good moves since Ed Lynch left town; will he make another? -- Andy Noreuil, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
PWG: The Cubs have been looking to trade for someone in center, but Patterson is off to a slow start, still swings and misses a lot, and needs time in their eyes. Ice Williams would be a nice four-and-a-half month fit.

Q: How lost is Ben Grieve in Tampa Bay? I know he is an extremely slow starter, but this is bad even by his previous April standards. -- Kevin Mullowney, Englewood, Colo.
PWG: No one knows, except to presume that he will get his groove back. One thing that troubles me is that the scouting trackers in the Oakland organization felt there was a pattern the last three years in narrowing the zone of fastballs he hit and the types of pitches he could drive. We'll see. He is young, very smart and can adjust.

	Indians outfielder Marty Cordova rounds the bases after hitting a home run. Cordova is batting .442 with six homers and 19 RBI.

Q: Why is no one outside of Cleveland talking about the remarkable resurgence of Tribe outfielder Marty Cordova? It really is a rags-to-riches story. Where does this leave Jacob Cruz, as he has seen his playing time cut? Do you think leaving Steve Karsay in the bullpen this year hurt the Indians' chances of re-signing him next year? -- Josh, Cleveland
PWG: Cordova hit .291 with 40 homers his first two years, then started lifting to gain power. But he lost all his baseball ability, and this winter he lost 20 pounds of muscle and regained his baseball skills. They may deal Cruz or Cordova. Karsay was not going to sign, period.

Q: Does Tony Clark fit anyone's lineup better than he would fit the Atlanta Braves right now? Would you make any early moves if you were the Braves' GM? -- Wm. Glore, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
PWG: Even with Clark's best April in years, his back is still a question mark. The Tigers wouldn't mind trading him and giving Robert Fick a shot at first, especially with Dean Palmer having to DH. But other teams are worried about the back, too. The Mets have called. My guess is that with AOL's money crunch having put the Braves in the position of watching where each dollar goes, they may need a starter and reliever more than a long-term hitter contract when they could instead get a Fred McGriff for two months.

Q: The White Sox are really struggling now and it looks like it will be very difficult for them to get back into the race. When is it time to start pitching Kip Wells, Jon Garland and Jon Rauch? My second question is, who is or will be available for them to pick up that can hit from the left side? They need a left-handed hitting third baseman, center fielder, shortstop and catcher. One of those spots can be replaced. -- Greg Kapsimalis, Deerfield, Ill.
PWG: You mean just because their starters other than David Wells had two wins on May 2, you are upset? Garland and Kip Wells will soon get their opportunities, and Mark Buehrle -- who isn't a blazer but appears to have pitching instincts and the ability to get in on right-handed batters -- is in the rotation. Rauch had some earlier arm problems, but Matt Ginter has very good stuff as well. Joe Crede may be given a shot at third come September, and while Royce Clayton has had a poor start after a mediocre season in Texas, at 32 it is hard to believe that with decent defensive skills and a great body that he can't be at least a .260 hitter who catches the ball.