Mailbag: April 2

Q: How do you feel Pat Meares will do at second base for the Pirates this season? Pittsburgh put a lot of money into him for being their shortstop. Do you think it was a good decision to bring Jack Wilson up to play shortstop? Also, what will they do with Warren Morris? - Anthony, Pittsburgh
Peter Gammons: I feel badly for Morris, because he's a great kid who had a terrific rookie year, a poor sophomore season and now is gone. I wonder about his range, as well, but while everyone loves Wilson's enthusiasm and defense, and let's face it, the Pirate defense was a big reason for some of their pitchers' struggles -- especially Jimmy Anderson -- one cannot wonder if Morris wouldn't have gotten another chance were he making Meares money.

Q: What has happened to relief pitcher Stan Belinda? - Michael Woods, Philipsburg, Pa.
PWG: He battled back from MS, but he no longer had his old command.

Q: From what I can tell the White Sox have a wealth of young outfield talent (Julio Ramirez, Jeff Leifer, McKay Christensen, Aaron Rowand and Joe Borchard) with the Sox having such a good outfield now (offensively at least) do you think any of these guys can earn a spot by out-producing Carlos Lee, or playing centerfield, because they all appear to be corner players except Christensen or are these guys just good trade material? - Jim Bailey, Milwaukee
PWG: Do not even think about trading Lee, because he's going to mash, especially mediocre pitching. Ramirez and Christensen are legit centerfielders, and Borchard is a bigtime physical talent. Leifer and Rowand are corner players, in fact Leifer was signed as a third baseman.

	Carlos Delgado, along with Todd Helton and Jeff Bagwell, are team leaders at first base.

Q: If you were going to start a baseball team which first baseman would you take and why from the following: Jeff Bagwell, Carlos Delgado, Todd Helton. Thanks. - Michael Mann, Auburn, Pa.
PWG: Age would dictate Helton, but the other two have more power. Great question, because you're talking about three team leaders, which is a rare thing these days.

Q: Why have the Angels decided to wait on their promising young pitcher Jarrod Washburn before signing him to a long-term deal? Is it due to his history of injuries? It just seems to me that they've wasted money on irrelevant signings instead of wrapping up a potential #1 or #2 pitcher for the future. - Chad Gibson, Siren, Wis.
PWG: Washburn's physical problems have been an ongoing concern. If he can go out and throw 170-200 innings, he might get a longterm deal, although with some of the other Disney financial problems, I would think after Salmon, most longterm deals would be put off because they may want to sell the team.

Q: What do you think of Adam Eaton? Do you think he will develop
into an effective major league pitcher? - Adam, Loveland, Ohio
PWG: I love his curveball and his presence. If the Pads can get enough players behind him, he can be a 14-18 game winner.

Q: How are the pitchers and how is the play of the Japanese league different from the Major League? How will Ichiru have to adjust? - Cory Secrist, Sandy, Utah
PWG: The pitching is very good, but different. I've never been there, so I'll defer to Chris Donnels, who spent four yeares playing there: "There are some hard throwers, but where they get you -- especially the Americans -- is by one nasty breaking ball after another. They never give in, throwing breaking balls 3-1, 3-2. You don't get pitched inside as much, however." That is the concern about Suzuki from those who have faced him: he can do 3.7 down the line and is on the run as he hits the ball, so he could get 40+ infield hits. But he's never shown he can handle the fastball in, and he's never been knocked down.

Q: What were the D-Backs thinking when they sent down Erubiel Durazo? Do you think he'll be back on the major league club soon or will he spend most of the year in the minors? - Jonathan G., Washington, D.C.
PWG: They want to get him at-bats, and after signing Mark Grace, they had a first baseman and Durazo can only play that position. Love those hitters with short arms.

Q: I was just wondering about the Oriole prospect Josh Stephens. He was taken by Baltimore at a very early age from Australia, and I was wondering if he has any chance to make any impact on the world of baseball? I have heard he has one nasty curveball, and just looking at his strikeout/walk ratio last year, he must have some talent. Will he have any chance to prove himself with Baltimore? And if so, when do you think he could show up in the majors? - Harry Beinstein, Baltimore
PWG: To be honest, I have lost track of him. His 4-4, 2.97 numbers at Hagerstown were good, so he may be progressing, and it often takes a long time to make all the adjustments. That doesn't tell you a lot, does it?

Q: What do you think about the Red Sox sending Carl Everett packing? What about Trot in center? I think the overall atmosphere around and attitude of the team would improve if they got rid of this cancer. Doesn't team chemistry count for something? - Tom Wind, Little Falls, N.Y.
PWG: I have mixed feelings on this. Carl is abrasive and sometimes shows disrespect for things I deem important. But there's something in me that says that Jimy Williams is forcing the issue, as if he wants to make this a him-or-me situation. John Harrington, who acts as owner, was quoted in the Providence Journal (one of the best sports pages in the country with two world class baseball writers), was quoted as having little interest in extending Williams past this year, and I think something will happen. You may not like Carl, but isn't there a way to deal with him?

Q: What are your thoughts on the type of season youngster Ryan Glynn will have with the Rangers. So far this spring he has been superb with a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings pitched. Will he be the rising star they want and hope he will be and win 13-17 or will he fall and lose 13-17? - Matt Graham, Centerville, Utah
PWG: It may be early to ask Glynn to win 15 games, He doesn't have great stuff, but he battles on every pitch and could be a nice 4-5 starter. What they have to do is get someone to replace Darren Oliver, not to mention get a closer.

Q: Mr. Gammons, I have lived and played baseball from childhood until I was 24yo. I now live my baseball life vicariously through my cousin, John McDonald who plays SS for the Indians organization. I know he is in an unfortunate position backing up Vizquel and Alomar, but also know that he is well respected for his defensive play. I don't want to see John "fall through the cracks." As we both know, MLB is a rigorous business. Can you project John's future? - Scott K, Preston, Conn.
PWG: The Indians get more calls on John than any other player, but look at it from their perspective: unless they get a top pitcher for him, why trade him? If something happens to Vizquel, they have one of the six best defensive shortstops in the league. Be patient, he cannot miss. He and Rafael Furcal are the happiest people in the game just to be in uniform, and don't think that doesn't rub off on their teammates.

Q: What do you think about some of the pitchers coming back from injury plagued 2000 seasons? Specifically, Freddy Garcia, Billy Wagner, Ugueth Urbina, Matt Mantei? Also, how do you see Richie Sexton doing for the Brewers? - Steve Song, New York
PWG: Garcia proved it in the playoffs, Wagner looked great this spring, Urbina got better and better (although some worry about the violent delivery's longterm effect on his shoulder) and Mantei had a good spring. As for Sexson, I don't know how Bud -- I mean Miller -- Park will play, but Sexson is a 40 home run guy in time if the high strike zone doesn't limit him.

Q: Mac Suzuki had a pretty decent year last year. The Royals didn't get any great pitchers in the off-season, Jose Rosado is still out, so why is Suzuki fighting for the fifth spot in the rotation? - Mac Wubben, Atlanta PWG: Suzuki had a tremendous spring, throwing better than any KC starter. They are ecstatic about him.

Q: I have a question about John Smoltz. I read in ESPN.com that his elbow surgery was successful and his current problem is tendinitis. Do you have any inside info on his condition and when he maybe ready for the season? Also who is projected to start the season in his place if he in fact does go on the DL? - Timothy Lanning, Yokosuka, Japan
PWG: The Braves think he rushed it too fast, too soon, and John knows he has to slow down to keep himself ready for October. It's not that easy no matter how hard he works. Ask Kerry Wood.

Q: If the Blue Jays were to trade Jose Cruz Jr. what team would they most likely trade him to and for whom, and how long would the team wait to make the deal? - Justin Danylak, Brandon, Fla.
PWG: Considering their starting staff -- and if you think Loiaza is a no.1 and that Chris Michalak is a major league starter, great -- they'd have traded Cruz if they could get a good starter. They tried this spring, and could not.

Q: Is there any truth that Manny Ramirez is regretting leaving Cleveland as reported in N.Y. and Cleveland papers? - Doug, Chicago
PWG: The scout that signed Ramirez said he was confused and unhappy, so did some of the Indians who said he talked to clubhouse guys, and then this week Manny called Mike Hargrove for advice. We shall see. If I were spending $55 a seat on Red Sox tickets, I'd be more worried about what may be chronic hamstring problems.

Q: Texas has had surprisingly effective pitching this spring. Can it last through the regular season? And what is Texas going to do about a closer? Tim Crabtree as a closer doesn't cut it. - Paul Voss, Edmund, Okla.
PWG: They plan to look at Jeff Brantley, who may throw 84 but whose heart is gigantic. In time, they have to deal, but right now everyone wants Ruben Mateo, and he has all the makings of a STAR.