MAILBAG: Sept. 5

Q: Do you think Sammy Sosa is running away with the MVP race? -- Jerry Crawford, Niles, Mich.
PWG: No, I think it's still very close, and the final pennant-race outcome may determine Barry Bonds vs. Sammy vs. Luis Gonzalez. The latter is very underrated in this regard, because he has had so little around him most of the year.

	This season Sammy Sosa became the eighth player in major-league history to have 50 multihomer games.

Q: Where do you see Jamie Moyer sitting in the AL Cy Young race? I noticed you didn't even mention him in your article about Mark Mulder and his performance this year. Just more of the same, no respect for Seattle. -- Steve DeRusha, Stanwood, Wash.
PWG: I respect your feelings, and Moyer is greatly underappreciated. I actually feel that Freddy Garcia's numbers, heart and stuff are Cy Young caliber. I also realize that the East Coast will make Roger Clemens the Cy Young, although -- and you obviously feel this way -- there are six to eight pitchers who have pitched about the same, including Mark Buehrle of the White Sox. In New York, it is a given that Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina blow the Mariners away because of the difference in starting pitching, but Garcia is a No. 1, Moyer can beat the Yankees and that leaves two or three games they have to win in the bullpen in a seven-game series, which is a possibility.

Q: Do you think John Rocker has the mental toughness to turn it around and become the dominant closer he's supposed to be in Cleveland? Or will Mark Shapiro have to trade him for a bag of marbles to John Hart's next team? Also, who other than the Indians will be in the Juan Gonzalez sweepstakes at year's end? -- Rick, Conneaut, Ohio
PWG: I don't think even the Indians know what to do with Rocker right now, but I do think he has the toughness. It's hard to believe that this is the man who at the time of the trade from the Braves in late June was leading the NL in Rolaids points. The Gonzalez chase depends on several factors. I doubt the Indians will have the wherewithal to sign him to a long-term deal. He'd like Texas, but that depends on whether or not they sign or trade Ivan Rodriguez. The Mets could be in it, but my guess is that they'll go after Moises Alou.

Q: With Jason Giambi a free agent at the end of the year, what is the chance, with the Reds needing starting pitching, they could trade either Sean Casey or Dmitri Young to Oakland for Barry Zito? -- Jim Mangin, Cincinnati, Ohio
PWG: Unless there is an ownership change and/or Billy Beane leaves for another GM job, the A's won't trade Zito, Mark Mulder or Tim Hudson.

Q: Are the Blue Jays not going after a catcher this year and in the offseason because of Double-A star Josh Phelps? Is this kid the real deal? His numbers are very impressive, but can he duplicate it at the major-league level? -- Kevin Solomon, Magnolia, Ark.
PWG: I am told that Phelps is a big-time bat who is learning to catch, and having Buck Martinez as his manager will help him immensely. The Jays have a lot of catching in their system, as Jayson Werth is coming -- and don't write off Joe Lawrence, who's played hurt all season.

Q: What's the latest on baseball's plans for contraction? Talks seem to have died down. -- A.C. Veerkamp, Sacramento, Calif.
PWG: Bud Selig would still like it. I'm told what they'd like is something like this: Jefferey Loria sells the Expos to MLB and buys Tampa Bay. John Henry either sells the Marlins to MLB and buys the Angels, or Disney sells to MLB and the Marlins move to Anaheim. Where that leaves Oakland is another story. Not that I believe there is time to pull it off.

Q: Where has CEO John Harrington been during this tumultuous season for the Red Sox? Is the current nine-game losing streak due to sabotage by the Sox players? Is it their only way to get rid of Dan Duquette? -- Christopher Kaminski, Middletown, Conn.
PWG: Harrington mysteriously has been in hiding, but he has been in hiding for four years. His bungling of the ballpark and the current unrest which runs deep throughout that organization is his fault because he is so passive. What happens in the near future depends on when they get the sale done.

Q: What is more likely to happen: The Red Sox new ownership replacing Duquette or replacing the players who do not want to play under Duquette? -- Jon Vincent, Billerica, Mass.
PWG: In the past, when good people/star players have questioned Duquette, he has run them out of town and Harrington's pit bulls have savaged those people -- like Roger Clemens and Mo Vaughn. Everyone should know now where the fault lies.

Q: Since it's now likely that Duquette will be fired, would you ever be interested in being the Red Sox GM (seriously)? -- Fred, Brookline, Mass.
PWG: Thank you, but seriously, I'm not qualified to be the general manager. But there are a lot of very qualified young candidates, and one of the qualifications has to be someone who has the energy, creativity and people skills to completely rebuild an organization on every level that has been savaged by some who understand nothing about the human condition.