December 22

Question: I want to know what Pat Gillick is going to do to improve the Mariners now that Alex Rodriguez is gone. I do not like what he has done so far and I do not like the idea of getting Bret Boone as he cannot hit and had too many errors last year. It seems like he has let all the good hitters get away. We have good pitching and yet it seems no one is interested in trading for them. What gives? -- Delores, Seattle, WA.

Gammons: They've worked on deals for Johnny Damon and Phil Nevin, with little luck. They feel they have some things they can do, for they declined on Mike Bordick, stating they need more offense in the middle. They can have Troy O'Leary for a prospect, and could eventually take Matt Lawton or someone like that. Don't underestimate Gillick, Roger Jongewaard, et al.

Q: Writers really seem to beat up Coors Field, but given the altitude and lack of humidity in Denver, there doesn't seem to be anything that can be done. I think we've got a great park, but I wonder if you think there is anything that can be done to legitimize baseball in Denver? -- Tim Hundsdorfer, Boulder, Colo.

Gammons: If they get pitchers who have hard sinkers and good change-ups -- Mike Hampton, for instance -- and get three outfielders who can run the alleys, they can win. Look, it's always going to be distorted, but if Dan O'Dowd and Buddy Bell turn it into a home-field advantage and they win, it's legitimate. It's also legitimate because it's a great park.

Q: What's your take on the Phillies' situation? It seemed as if they were headed in the right direction a couple of years ago, with some fine young players in Scott Rolen, Doug Glanville, Desi Relaford and others. However, these players are not making many waves in the NL. Now they've opened up their wallets to obtain Jose Mesa in an effort to bolster a poor pitching staff. What sort of moves can they make to help themselves out on the mound, and do you see their offense improving this year? -- Tony Lee, Boston

Gammons: They will be a better offensive team -- Burrell is a star, and I still hold hope that Travis Lee can get interested in the game -- and they will play better defense. I worry that they're starting pitching is just OK, although I like Randy Wolf and believe Omar Daal can come back. But other than Rheal Cormier I wonder how much their new relievers are going to help. Can they be worse? No. But at $8 million in Mesa, Cormier and Bottalico, I wonder how much better they are.

Q: Is there any truth to the rumor that the Dodgers are trying to work a trade for Johnny Damon? Do they have a legit shot at him? -- Greg Levine, North Hollywood, CA

Gammons: They've worked at it, with pitching, but their relievers are average at best. What the Dodgers then do with all the White and Goodwin money, only Murdoch knows. The Royals need pitching and either a young catcher or shortstop. If someone can make a deal for Ben Davis from San Diego -- which the Mets have worked on -- they could piece something together.

Q: What's up with the A's rumored attempts to deal Ben Grieve. After the Williamson deal fell through, who else is a possibility? Also, which rookies are likely to have a major impact this season. --Sebastian Gladney, San Francisco

Gammons: They worked on a deal involving Grieve for Armas and LF Brad Wilkerson with Montreal, and were outbid on Hideo Nomo. So for now they will keep Olivares and wait and see what happens. I doubt the A's will rush too many rookies in quickly this year other than Luis Ortiz, a power-hitting offensive second baseman; they traded Randy Velarde to make room for him. In time, reliever Bert Snow could make a contribution.

Q: As usual, everyone is talking about the big-market teams during the free-agency period. Are there any small-market teams on the verge of challenging the usual suspects? I'm a lifelong Pittsburgh Pirates fan, so I suppose I'm just looking for a morsel of hope. -- Jason G., Washington, D.C.

Gammons: As you know, the A's were the second-best team in the AL last season, but their window is narrow; Jason Giambi and Jason Isringhausen are free agents at the end of next season. Watch Florida. Charles Johnson gives them three nice veteran leaders, with Clifford Floyd and Mike Lowell. They have all kinds of good young pitchers, Johnson will help, and a solid pen. If Derek Lee goes from 70 RBI to 100 -- and he can -- as well as Preston Wilson cutting his 187 Ks by 25 percent and Mark Kotsay upping his production to the 20/90 level, they can be good soon.

Q: As I write, the Rangers are in negotiation with David Cone. He cannot be the answer. Seems unlikely that Hicks would sign A-Rod unless pitching was on the way via farm system, trade or free agency. Any hope this year or will we take our shot next year? -- Patrick Cloutier, McKinney, Texas

Gammons: In time, Doug Melvin will get a reliever (Roberto Hernandez?) and two starters. He feels that because of the fears of a freeze next November that losing clubs will dump in May and June instead of July and August.

Q: Are there any baseball prospects whose father played the game that are going to be impact players in the next five years? -- Jim S., Cleveland

Gammons: Sean Burroughs could be a star for the Padres. He is mature, a terrific person, has a great swing and gets better even though he has been rushed to AA at 19. I'll be doing a rookies' section in early January.

Q: What is the situation with the Expos these days? Will they have a TV/radio deal in place this season? Will they be relocating anytime soon? -- Brad Cramer, Abilene, Kan.

Gammons: It's not likely that they will have a new or better media deal, and Bud Selig won't let them move. What MLB would like is for contraction of at least two, maybe four teams, and the future of the Expos and Twins is bleak, at best. Oakland, Tampa Bay and Florida ... to be determined.

Q: Why did the Orioles sign David Segui to a four-year contract? Is the team plan based on rebuilding or trying to put the best mediocre team on the field? I thought Chris Richards, Jeff Conine and Jay Gibbons were going to be sharing first base. Also, why did they give up Jayson Werth, the catcher who was the reason why we could not sign All-Star Charles Johnson to a five-year deal worth $7 million/year. Seems that Johnson for five is a bit better than Segui for four. Are they sending Delino DeShields somewhere? -- J. Bearr, Westminster, Md.

Gammons: Because they are a mess. Mike Bordick did not have another offer, and they gave him $9.5 million. He's good, but Pat Hentgen had nothing else, either. Now they're just firing money around at the players left that no one else is signing. Johnson? They could have had Bill Mueller and prospects from the Giants last summer instead of the White Sox leftovers, but Syd Thrift forgot to call back Brian Sabean. Everyone in baseball howled at the Werth deal, but they want to trade off the talent that Pat Gillick brought into the organization. Orioles fans like you are great, and it's a shame Bill DeWitt didn't get the team instead of the Angelos Family.

Q: Who will be the Yankees' fifth starter? Are there prospects left within the organization who will get a crack at that spot? -- Brad Polhill, Poughquag, N.Y.

Gammons: Randy Keisler is an early pick, or Ramiro Mendoza. I liked Keisler's makeup.

Q: Will the A's continue to stand pat in terms of acquiring another starter, and rely on the continuing improvement of Jason Giambi and the development of Grieve/Tejada/Chavez, or is there a trade in the offing? -- Bill Johnson, Chesapeake, Va.

Gammons: There's nothing in the offing right now, and unless they can get a front-line starting pitcher, why trade for the sake of trade? Jaha should be back. Mulder will be fine. Maybe Olivares can have a good first half and Billy Beane makes his usual July trade or two.

Q: Why didn't the Mets re-sign Bobby Jones instead of Steve Trachsel? Won't Jones give just as many if not more wins? And are the Mets serious in the Jay Payton (and whomever) for Johnny Damon trade rumors? -- Eddie Cordero, New York, N.Y.

Gammons: They thought Trachsel could give them more innings and he was there to be signed. They're looking at David Wells (which doesn't look to happen before the New Year, for Rusch, Payton or Brian Cole and Rick White), Astacio, Damon and Lawton, as well as O'Leary.

Q: What else is Houston going to do? With Jeff Bagwell re-signed and the Ausmus deal, what else is going to happen? Most of the questions are in the pitching staff. Elarton, Reynolds, Lima, Miller and McKnight is the rotation as of now -- but could that change? The OF is now settled, and what are the answers at SS and 3B? -- Aaron Henderson, Florence, Ala.

Gammons: Adam Everett will eventually be the shortstop, although they've signed Jose Vizcaino to do the job until Everett is ready (Lugo can fill in). Chris Truby will get the shot at 3B.

Q: I have grown up as a Red Sox fan (for as long as I can remember). Unfortunately, I have lived in Yankee territory since I was 8 years old. One of my friends (who is a Yankee fan) and I were talking about Roger Clemens and we both stated that neither of us want Roger to go into the Hall of Fame representing our respective teams. I still feel somewhat betrayed by Roger leaving Boston, eventually ending up in New York and he still feels as though Roger IS part of the Red Sox. I was wondering what you think Clemens will decide. Maybe we'll both get lucky and he'll pick the Blue Jays since he did win two Cy Young awards there. -- Peter Maxfield, Bethel, Conn.

Gammons: It's my understanding that part of Clemens' new deal is to go to Cooperstown in a Yankee cap. But he can leave after two years and market his 300th win, so it's not out of the realm of possibility that some day, with new ownership, Clemens will be back as a New Englander. Debbie loves New England.

Q: Where is Juan Gonzalez going to end up? I heard Kevin Kennedy guarantee that he will be playing right field again for the Rangers. However, Doug Melvin downplays that as a not-to-realistic possibility. What's your take on Juan? -- Gary Barber, Fort Worth, Texas

Gammons: Melvin says no, but Scott Boras might sell Hicks. Otherwise, Cleveland, if he'll take a one-year deal, or Baltimore.

Q: What do you hear about the current state of Kerry Wood's comeback? Who will be the Cubs' fifth starter, assuming that the first four shape up this way -- Wood, Lieber, Bere, Tapani? What will be the platoon at 1B this year -- some Stairs, Hundley and Zaleta? How good could Zaleta be? How good can Choi be and when is the earliest we could see him? -- Aaron, Madison, Wis.

Gammons: Bet on Wood coming back big, and they'll figure out the fifth starter in time. Hundley in time will go back to catching in 2002, when Choi and his power is ready. He's crude, but has huge power.

Q: I think Lou Whitaker deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame his first time out. I feel that he won't because he was a quiet player. Do you feel that he deserves this based on his stats compared with that of other Hall of Fame second basemen? What would be the reason if he does not? -- Tom, Toledo, Ohio

Gammons: I'm not quite a Whitaker voter, but he is close when you judge him against other second baseman. Excellent range, DP, arm, power. I wish he'd played a little more against lefties, but don't hold me to this. I may change my mind.

You are the best. What do you expect this year from some of the Red Sox youngsters? Ohka? Crawford? Diaz? Pena? Stenson? I read that they moved Stenson back to the OF. Why? He's obviously a corner OF which is crowded already. And what about former PawSox Coleman and Sadler. -- Chris, Worcester, Mass.

Gammons: They expect that Ohka can win 12 games, and that Crawford could be a No. 4-5 if he grows up. Jesus Pena has thrown very well in the Dominican, and right now Dan Duquette thinks he could be their lefty out of the pen. Stenson needs to rework his swing and approach with Rick Down, and has made some strides in Mexico. They love Diaz, and he could platoon with Daubach by August. I still think Sadler and Coleman will contribute, especially Sadler.

Q: I think every real fan wants to know your opinion on this question: If you had a choice, who would be your ultimate rock 'n' roll band? I personally would go with Pete Thomas from the Attractions on drums, Kelly Looney from the Dukes on bass, Ron Wood on guitar, Roy Bittain on piano and John Fogerty singing. Plus, throw in Labamba and the Hubcaps in at horns. -- Tom McConville, Cranford, N.J.

Gammons: I would have Jeff Beck on guitar, Steve Cropper rhythm, Bruce Hornsby on piano, Lowell George singing, John Entwhistle on bass.