MAILBAG: Sept. 28

Q: As this year unfolds, it appears baseball has found its best player. Sammy Sosa has done pretty much everything for the Chicago Cubs this year. He has to be one of the best outfielders of all time with the seasons he has had since 1998 -- 60 homers again is a foregone conclusion, and 150 RBI. Sosa has become a much better defender as well. With 400-plus home runs, do you think he has the chance to become the best outfielder of all time? As well as have a shot at Hank Aaron's HR record? -- Pat Morgan, New City, N.Y.
PWG -- I have great respect for how hard Sosa has worked to make himself a great player, but I doubt he'll ever be in the class of Mays, Aaron, Ruth, Cobb, Bonds. What he has done hitting 60 thrice is unprecedented, but Aaron's record will be tough to catch.

Q: What do you see in Mark McGwire's future? Will Big Mac return for another season? And do you think Barry Bonds can make a serious assault on Hank Aaron's career home run record? -- Jerry Grillo, Sautee, Ga.

Because of their starting pitching, I think the Cardinals have a very good chance to make the World Series; in fact, they might be the favorites.

PWG -- I do think McGwire will try to get healthy and keep playing, especially if the Cards make it deep into the postseason, which is a distinct possibility. Bonds' run depends on whether or not he stays healthy; if he can average 40-45 homers the next four years and still is heathy and wants to play, you never know.

Q: What do you think of Andre Dawson's chances of entering the Hall of Fame on the first ballot? Should the writers take into consideration the toll Olympic Stadium's turf took on his career before he went to Chicago? -- Jonathan Haley, Martinsville, Va.
PWG -- Dawson was a great player and better person, but my feeling is that the Montreal anonymity and the secondary stats probably put him in a class of a terrific player who doesn't quite make it. The injuries choked his career.

Q: You've written that baseball is considering folding one or two franchises. If a club is folded, what happens to the players? Would they become free agents? -- Jim, LaCrosse, Wis.
PWG -- The minor leaguers and all players whose contracts have expired would become free agents. Those on long-term contracts would have the option of choosing free agency or keeping their current deal, in which case they would go into a pool. Let's say Tampa were to fold. Greg Vaughn would choose honoring his current deal, but likely no team would take him, so MLB would have to pay him and then a team could pick him up.

Q: The Cardinals have been playing as well as anybody lately. How do you think they would match up in the playoffs? Also, Albert Pujols has been on fire the last three weeks, when the team has needed him the most. Is he an MVP candidate? -- Tom Cannon, Cory, Ind.
PWG -- Because of their starting pitching, I think the Cards have a very good chance to make the World Series; in fact they might be the favorites. Morris is a legit 1, Kile a 1-2, and Veres and Kline are better than some realize. Pujols is the MVP in most years but has to battle Sosa and Gonzalez for the runner-up spot behind Bonds.

Q: Rich Aurilia's possible statistics at the end of the year -- 100 runs, 200 hits, 40 home runs, and 100 RBI. Would you vote Aurilia NL MVP? If not, where would you put him on your list? -- Daniel, Palo Alto, Cal.

	Albert Pujols tosses his bat aside and admires his first career grand slam.

PWG -- I love the fact that you are so passionate about a guy who has been the league's best shortstop for three years and went unnoticed. MVP? Sorry, but Aurelia is a top 10, and might have won in some other years.

Q: In 1998, all I heard was that if the Yankees didn't win the World Series in spite of all their wins, they would become the biggest chokers of all time. Not once have I heard this applied to the Mariners. Why? -- Stephen Hadley, Colorado Springs, Col.
PWG -- Believe me, they have heard it. The words are used a little differently in the respective cities.

Q: With the Red Sox desperate to trade Carl Everett and with the Mets needing punch in their outfield, is there any possibility of an Everett-for-Robin Ventura trade? -- David Helfand, Northampton, Mass.
PWG -- The Mets cannot bring Everett back because of his history there.

Q: Who do you think should win the AL Cy Young? I know Roger Clemens has a great record, but Freddy Garcia is having an awesome year on a great team with all the stats to back it up. Roger is one of the best pitchers in baseball but not the best this year. -- Troy, Virginia
PWG -- Clemens is going to win, and I realize that he's got the second-highest run support and hasn't matched up with many top pitchers. I can see an argument for Garcia or Mulder, but Roger has set a personality for that team.

Q: What is going to happen to Pedro Martinez this offseason and next year? Is he going to need surgery, because if in fact he has a slight tear in his rotator cuff, won't pitching only make it worse? And if he does have the surgery will he be able to pitch at the same level? -- Mike Drootin, Boston, Mass.
PWG -- I have to admit that I worry, but I have no medical information that tells me that he won't be back. I refuse to believe there is any way Joe Kerrigan would have pitched Pedro if he believed there were long-term problems, but a tear is a tear. Pedro is a slight man with incredible arm speed, and until he comes back I will be concerned, as I am about the great Kevin Brown.

Q: I was wondering, due to all the recent terrorist attacks and everything with America, why don't the San Diego Padres wear their camouflage uniforms? They are much cooler than the normal uniforms and it would show support for the U.S. and the military. -- Joe, Toledo Ohio
PWG -- Those uniforms were a promotional thing, and the Padres have too much respect for all that has happened to our country to allow anyone to think that this is anything but serious. I'm sure they appreciate your thought, but some might think it gimmicky.

Q: Who are the prized free agents this winter? Who do you think the Braves will try to get? And with Scott Rolen looking like he is going to leave Philly, what are the Phillies' options in replacing him? -- Nick Murray, Alpharetta, Ga.
PWG -- The top free agents are Barry Bondss, Jason Giambi, Moises Alou, Juan Gonzalez, Johnny Damon, Roger Cedeno, John Smoltz, Chan Ho Park, Jason Schmidt, Jason Isringhausen, Steve Karsay and Javy Lopez. The Braves want to re-sign Smoltz and find a bopper, but the payroll is an issue. I don't think we know about Rolen, as we are a year from his free agency. Right now, I'd say gone, but if they make the playoffs, who knows.