January 19

Q: Now that Mo Vaughn is out for at least six months with an arm injury, do you see the Angels going out and acquiring a replacement for him? Or will they fill his spot internally? --Mike Mach, Detroit, Mich.

Gammons: They knew about this when they signed Jose Canseco, who at this point in his career may end up being a Disney character a couple miles down the road. Right now, their plan is to look around. They didn't want to put Darin Erstatd back at first, but they may have to if they can't take on the money of a Troy O'Leary or Jeff Conine-type. There are bodies out there ... maybe they could give a Kevin Millar a shot.

Q: What is your take on the Twins' young second baseman Luis Rivas? Will he have an impact this year or is next year more likely? --Michael Mann, Auburn, Pa.

Gammons: He's quick, a good athlete. The Twins have some very good young players, but at 25, it may be time for Rivas to get his full-time shot.

Q: Are we experiencing a "Golden Age" of baseball with so many potential Hall of Famers, and because of this will it raise the bar as far as stats go to get into the Hall of Fame? Also, how does Corey Paterson look? --Don Moultrop, Burlington, Mass.

Gammons: I think the bar will be raised in terms of offensive numbers. For instance, 500 homers won't get it done; the standard now will be 600. DHs who last a long time like Harold Baines will have a hard time. It's all about individual statistics in their place in time. So, too, for pitchers. Earned run averages will be judged like they were in the 1930s. As for Patterson, he struggled a bit this winter, and he still strikes out a lot, but he's going to be a very good player. In my gut, I still believe Sammy Sosa will be traded and the Cubs will build around Patterson, Kerry Wood and an infield of Hee Seop Choi, Bobby Hill, Luis Montanez and Mark Teixeira, the Georgia Tech third baseman who the Cubs may draft in June.

Q: Which teams could potentially sign Rickey Henderson? Do you expect him to start 100 games next year? --Noah Goodman, Boston, Mass.

Gammons: There are still some teams that could be a good fit for Henderson, including the Angels. Whether or not he gets 100 games and reaches three all-time records -- most runs scored, most walks, and stolen bases (which he already holds) -- depends upon how he comes to spring training, because his bat was awfully slow last fall. And he has another milestone clearly in his sights: he's only 86 hits away from 3,000.

Q: In your preview of the Yankees, you said that their pitchers reminded the powers that be that in Scott Brosius and Derek Jeter "they have the best left side of an infield in the game." I hope you are merely quoting the Yankees pitchers and not making that assertion yourself. The Yankees may have the best left side of an infield this side of Jacobs Field, but they absolutely do not have the best left side of an infield in the game. --Bruce Winkworth Raleigh, N.C.

Gammons: I am a great admirer of the Indians' left side, but taking Brosius' range and athleticism, yes, I believe the Yankees have the best left side. But Cleveland's is great, as well.

Q: Will the Tigers improve on last year's performance if they can get off to a good start? Their pitching, which has been their Waterloo the past few years, was decent in '00; however they were unable to score runs when they needed them, and scored oodles when the game was already decided. Will they ever get it together? Could this be the year? --Tom Bacsanyi, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Gammons: The start is important, and clearing out the Juan Gonzalez problem is very important. Roger Cedeno and Mitch Meluskey add much needed on-base skills, and now they need Tony Clark and Juan Encarnacion to blossom to their potentials. I like some of the elements of their pitching, especially the bullpen, but they don't have a top guy in the rotation. Yet.

Q: When will the Devil Rays give Matt White and Bobby Seay their shot? I read that White, although he has big-league stuff, tends to lose focus on the mound. Seay is said to have such complex mechanics that he has control problems. Also, with Ben Grieve now in the fold, what do the Rays REALLY need to make a dent in the AL East? --Tracy L Werner, Largo, Fla.

Gammons: I know Chuck LaMar believes that White is ready, and they are hoping he comes into spring training and blows them away. If Seay has a great spring, he still might open in the minors, but he could become a key swingman. Both will become important if and when LaMar trades Juan Guzman and Albie Lopez in midseason. I still think the Rays need a dynamic, .400 on-base leadoff man and a shortstop. But no one is perfect, especially a four-year old team.

Q: What do you think of Kevin Foster's chances of making the Texas Rangers? He was great with the Cubs and had a good year in AAA with Boston last year? --Mark Foster, Evanston, Ill.

Gammons: Foster did throw the ball very well in Pawtucket, and considering the paucity of quality arms in the Ranger middle relief situation, he has a long shot if he comes in with a good spring.

Q: Ryan Anderson was not very impressive last year for Tacoma and was even injured for part of the year. With all of the starting pitching the Mariners have, will he make the rotation coming out of spring training? If not, is he trade bait for a third baseman...say Joe Randa? --Jeff O'Reilly, Seattle, Wash.

Gammons: I don't think they will trade Anderson or Freddy Garcia because Safeco is a pitcher's park that gives them a unique home-field advantage, and you don't want to lose any high-ceiling power pitchers because of that. I believe that by midseason, Anderson will very good. Remember, this is a young man who never faced a left-handed batter in high school.

Q: What are the Diamondbacks' long-term plans for Byung-Hyun Kim now that Matt Mantei is signed to a four-year deal? Can he be a successful starter? -- Lou, Ellicott City, Md.

Gammons: Kim's best role will still be setting up Mantei, an important role. They re-signed Armando Reynoso to be the fifth starter behind their big four, and Bobby Witt can swing. Those seventh and eighth innings are vital.

Q: How's Mark Mulder's recovery coming along? Is he set for spring training? Is a herniated disc the kind of thing that would set back his promising career? How do you see him developing? A future #1-2, or a 3-4? --Jeff Burke, Boston

Gammons: From what I'm told, Mulder is fine, and could have pitched in the ALCS had the A's beaten the Yankees. He lost a little of his arm angle last year, and thus lost the curveball that can still be outstanding. He's a great athlete, a dogged competitor; some coaches feel he's stubborn, but part of what makes him unwilling to give in is that stubbornness. And he's going to be a solid 2-3.

Q: Who was involved in the infamous "white flag trade" in 1997 between the Giants and the White Sox? I read the baseball section on ESPN.com and it seems to come up a lot. --Chester Mindali, Albany N.Y.

Gammons: The White Sox were three out in the loss column when they sent Wilson Alvarez, Roberto Hernandez and Danny Darwin to rhe Giants for Mike Caruso, Lorenzo Barcelo, Keith Foulke, Bobby Howry, Ken Vining and Brian Manning. Foulke is an All-Star closer, Barcelo could emerge this year and if Howry's arm is OK, he's very good. Caruso was a major disappointment after a promising rookie season.

Q: On Tuesday, the Blue Jays traded Chad Mottola to the Florida Marlins for a player to be named or cash. This guy was the MVP of the International League last year. Any rumors on who the player to be named later is? --Rob Suess, Port Colborne, Ontario

Gammons: This was just a move to clear roster space. Mottola was a minor-league free agent who had a good year. Maybe he'll put it together, but he will have a tough time making the Marlins over Jeff Abbott.

Q: I get the impression from my reading that more players (including some of the greats) made the Bigs at an early age (18-21) than happens today. If this is the case, why? --Carl Peterson, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Gammons: The biggest reason is the emergence of college baseball. The second reason is that kids play less baseball. 50 years ago, when baseball was the biggest sport. Now baseball is a spring afterthought in many areas after football, basketball and hockey.

Q: What is the future of Milwaukee first basemen Kevin Barker now that they have Richie Sexson? --Ken Barbour, Indiana

Gammons: He'll have to have a good spring, then see if the Brewers decide to trade Jeromy Burnitz, which would give Sexson a right field thought, or hope that Anaheim or some team needing a first baseman sees and likes him.

Q: What are the chances that the Mariners can acquire Greg Vaughn from the Devil Rays for a couple of pitchers like Joel Pineiro and Brett Tomko? --Andy Schuttinga, Ames, Iowa

Gammons: I think they could, but I don't think they would until June, when they see where they are and whether or not they failed to get a third baseman or Vernon Wells.