MAILBAG: May 11

Q: What's the deal with Big Mac? All the people in Cardinal land keep hearing that he'll be back by at least the second half of the season. Can you fill us in on the inside scoop with Mark McGwire? Do the Cards have a shot at winning the Central without Big Mac in the lineup? -- Kevin Flynn, Belleville, Ill.

	When will Mark McGwire be swinging the bat again for St. Louis? No one knows for sure.

PWG: No one knows when he'll be back, much less McGwire himself. They keep talking about late June or early July as a goal, but can he move or put pressure on the knee or run the bases? If it looks as if Mac can't play, they'll look for a right-handed bat. The Cards inquired about Kevin Millar, but the Marlins wouldn't deal him.

Q: Do you think the Twins will make any moves if they are still in contention by the trading deadline? Who in their system can they use to get what they need? -- Jon Steinmetz, Fresno, Calif.
PWG: The David Ortiz injury increases the chances that if they're in it come July 1, they will do something. They can trade a young pitcher like Mark Redman or a left-handed reliever to get some power, which I think they are still going to need. But, as Lou Piniella says, "It's one thing to say you need a hitter, another thing to find a good one."

Q: If the A's are out of playoff contention at the break, how realistic is it that Jason Giambi could end up in a Red Sox uniform? Will Dan Duquette go hard after him in light of the $30 million payroll paring after this season? What do the Sox have to give up that anyone would be interested in? -- Tony DiClemente, Melrose, Mass.
PWG: I think Boston's chances of getting Giambi are better at the end of the season, as they are very weak in Trenton and Pawtucket. But if the Yawkey Trust is still funding John Harrington's dreams of winning a World Series and Giambi is there come November, don't discount it. Giambi's and Nomar Garciaparra's parents are friends, and Jason knows Fenway is a great left-handed hitters' park.

Q: With Antonio Osuna and Jim Parque now hurting for the White Sox, should we expect them to be traded soon by Kenny Williams? -- Brian Harvey, Toronto
PWG: There were a lot of rumors Wednesday that Ken would deal David Wells. He likely will see if Jon Garland, Kip Wells, Mark Buehrle, et al will start to get major-league hitters out. But to trade David Wells this early would be gate suicide in a season when the Sox have had no luck.

Q: With all the attention the Braves and Mets are getting, not much has been said about the Cardinals' mediocre, on-again, off-again play. Does having Mark McGwire out of the lineup really hurt that much? Will they improve with him back? And what's going on with Dustin Hermanson and Andy Benes? Will they get their form back? There are so many questions surrounding them -- are they in a real position to challenge for the pennant? -- Kyle, St. Louis, Mo.
PWG: McGwire makes any lineup far better, not just because of the power, but because of presence and plate discipline. Hermanson is starting to pitch better, Benes is a question, and they have to replace Rick Ankiel and decide where they are going with the bullpen. If Dave Veres is not a pure closer, La Russa has three or four guys who can finish.

Q: Do you think the Mariners will have a chance at trading for Phil Nevin, or will they be stuck with getting Vinny Castilla? Also, what do you think they will do with their left-field problem? -- Scott Gray, Selah, Wash.
PWG: Unless the Padres have a change of heart or the M's offer half their system, they will hold onto Nevin; Sean Burroughs will move into third sometime next year and Nevin eventually is supposed to move to left field. Nevin is on a cheap contract, and has really had a solid season, and they don't want to be ignored, even if the park is a couple of years away. The M's looked at Castilla in March and declined, but for free, they might take a look. Lou Piniella is getting edgy for a bat or two.

Q: Everyone keeps referring to Jason Bere's out pitch as the "fosh." What exactly is it? -- Michael, Northbrook, Ill.
PWG: It's simply a straight change that tails down and away like an offspeed screwball.

Q: I've been a loyal Royals fan for a while. When does Tony Muser have to take some of the blame for the downfall of the Royals' teams of late? Every other manager gets blamed when things don't go well; how come Tony's off the hook? -- Thomas Lervik Jr., Lawrence, Kan.
PWG: Tony Muser is a big part of that team's development. But as one of the players pointed out to me, when there are no veterans around to discipline and teach as a peer, then the only voices the young players hear are those of the manager and coaches. Muser is an old-school, tough guy, and the question that Allard Baird must address is whether or not the problem continually is the dreadful pitching or if some players have stopped listening. My guess is that two-and-a-half years of having hard work undermined by a dreadful bullpen is the biggest problem, but when players sense managerial blood in the water, many times they allow the blame to be passed on.

Q: With the pitching problems the Rangers are having, are they looking at moving Ken Caminiti, Andres Galarraga and Randy Velarde to get immediate help? -- Paul, Mary Esther, Fla.
PWG: Nice thought, but not possible. They are veterans near the end, and wouldn't bring pitching. If the Rangers believe they can still win, they have to consider dealing Ruben Mateo, Gabe Kapler, Carlos Pena and/or Kevin Mench to get pitching. Doug Melvin would have moved Mateo in a multi-player deal for Javier Vazquez, but the Expos won't deal him.

Q: When will teams start talking about two really solid vets that Tampa Bay has: Gerald Williams and Greg Vaughn? -- Tribefan27, Valparaiso, Ind.
PWG: Soon, I think. There are some teams, like the Mariners, who badly need a power hitter, and while Vaughn is a strikeout guy and might have a few difficulties in Seattle's left field, he is protection for Edgar Martinez. Tampa Bay might have to eat some of the salary. Williams is not an ideal leadoff man, but he is a very good defensive center fielder who hits for some power and brings energy to the everyday lineup, a complementary player who plays a skill position.

Q: Who do you see the Red Sox moving on their roster in the next few weeks to make room for John Valentin and Hipolito Pichardo? Craig Grebeck seems like a logical choice for Valentin, but the pitching side of the house seems like a more difficult decision. -- Keith Powell, Jacksonville, Fla.
PWG: The Red Sox pulled one of their phantom tendinitis tricks to DL Grebeck and will figure out what to do with him when his 15 days are up. Maybe a phantom minor-league rehab. As for the pitching thing, they could deal a reliever like Rich Garces for a shortstop (to Atlanta for Mark DeRosa?) or fake an injury. Pichardo, incidentally, threw very well Sunday in Pawtucket.

Q: When Travis Fryman of Cleveland returns, what do you think will happen with Russell Branyan? The outfield is already stacked, with Ellis Burks, Kenny Lofton, Juan Gonzalez, Jacob Cruz, Jolbert Cabrera and Wil Cordero. It will be hard for Charlie Manuel to give everyone playing time. -- Scott, Port Orchard, Wash.
PWG: The plan was for Branyan to get time at DH or fill in for Burks, but Marty Cordova has changed that. My guess is that Cordero or Cruz will eventually be traded.

Q: Do you believe the Blue Jays will trade Jose Cruz this year and promote Vernon Wells? If so, what is the trade value of Cruz? -- Red Peterson, Toronto, Ontario
PWG: Yes, although I'm told they'd rather move Raul Mondesi's contract and use the money on a premium starter. Cruz's value is curious. He's a good player, but thus far not a great player, and whether or not he'd bring a No. 2 starter is questionable.

Q: With Josh Beckett dominating in A ball, are there any rumblings that he might get a chance to pitch for the Marlins this year? Realistically, when would you expect a promotion to AA? Thanks. -- Niko Martin, Kathmandu, Nepal (originally from Canada)
PWG: The Marlins' major-league concern is getting Ryan Dempster, Brad Penny, A.J. Burnett and Jason Grilli established as a rotation. Beckett is off to a great start, has stuff you'll enjoy seeing and has a very mature mound presence, but whether or not they want to use the major-league service time is another issue entirely. In the past, teams have often rushed their prospects, but it may make more sense to hold them in the minors longer, if the parent team isn't a contender. Any extra time a small-market team has with a player in his production years of his late 20s may be important. Why rush him in there at 20, develop him on the major-league level with a losing team, then have him playing for a big-market team at 26?

Q: Will Buck Showalter ever manage again? What is holding up Joe Torre's extension? George can't seriously be thinking about not bringing him back, right? -- Richard Phillips, New York
PWG: Steinbrenner likes to unnerve everyone. Joe Torre will manage the Yankees as long as he wants, but Buck will get another job. There have been rumors circulating about the Rangers, but those are premature.