Mailbag: March 26

Q: With the flood of average talent riding the benches around the league, do you think that teams should promote youth a little quicker to give them time on the bench and to see major-league pitching? For example, should the Braves release Keith Lockhart and promote Wilson Betemit so that the future of the team can begin to take shape? In the early '90s the Braves brought up everyone. At first most struggled, and with the exception of Steve Avery, they all seemed to thrive off the major-league opportunity. - Adam Lema, Sacramento, Calif.
Peter Gammons: No, because a kid like Betemit needs as much time playing every day and getting four at-bats per game as possible. Sitting rusts tools. Lockhart is invaluable, because he can sit on the bench for 5-6 days, then come off and play. The Mets have a terrific veteran bench of players who can fill those roles, like Todd Pratt, Darryl Hamilton and Matt Franco.

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Q: What chances do you give Mike Greenwell to come back and play major-league baseball? Do you see Tim Naehring becoming a GM sometime in the near future? And what is happening with Peter Garrett and Midnight Oil these days? - Eric Jacques, N. Billerica, Mass.
PWG: Greenie is likely going to be a player/coach in AA ball, although he is in great shape and can still hit. John Valentin suggested that if they adopt a softball fourth outfielder, Greenie could make it to the bigs. Naehring is one of those rare people whose intelligence, people skills and baseball acumen make him a sure thing as a GM in time. As for Midnight Oil, I heard Garrett is back into politics. Maybe he can run against Jesse Helms or Tom DeLay.

Q: What are the odds of Portland, Ore., acquiring a major-league team in the next few years? Have you heard any rumor regarding Paul Allen trying to buy a team to fill programming needs on his new northwest cable channel? - Peter Crabtree, Portland, Ore.
PWG: I have heard Allen and Portland mentioned as a possible destination for the A's, but I'm not sure the Northwest can handle two baseball franchises. Great city, though. Great state, starting with Harold Reynolds and Kevin Towers.

Q: Last year Joe Torre altered his lineup in the postseason to reflect the diminished production of Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez. Specifically, he moved O'Neill out of the three spot he's occupied for most of the past eight years down to seventh. Do you think that this will continue this April? Wouldn't the Yanks be more formidable with Derek Jeter hitting third and a high OBP guy like Jorge Posada or maybe even Alfonso Soriano in the two-hole? - Dave Ludmar, Long Beach, N.Y.
PWG: For now Torre will stick with what he has done, although O'Neill has not had a good spring. In time, if Soriano shows he can handle a two-hole, he might go there. I think Torre wants Posada in an RBI slot.

Q: When the Cleveland Indians signed Cuban defector Danys Baez before the start of the 2000 season, they inked him to a four-year deal. Given his demotion to AAA this past week (in his second season), isn't the Tribe concerned that the clock is ticking on his contract while we haven't had him pitch a single inning at the big-league level? Did the Tribe overvalue this prospect? - Michael Dlugos, Cleveland
PWG: In time, we will know. But he was touching 97 mph with a nasty slider this spring, and looks as if he could be a big-time seventh-eighth-inning guy by the end of the season. When he arrived at spring training in 2000, he was all out of kilter. He could be very good.

Q: What is your opinion on the Drew Henson trade? Will he give up football and if he does, how good can he be and when could he help the Yankees? Also, what are your opinions on Michael Coleman and Wily Mo Pena? - Jedidiah Kitchen, Brunswick, Maine
PWG: I think Henson eventually may take $20M to give up football and succeed Scott Brosius at third base. Coleman is a fifth outfielder with a lot of tools. Pena has ability, and Reds GM Jim Bowden likes to stockpile talent.

Q: With Bobby Higginson rejecting the Tigers' lastest offer, how soon do you see him becoming available? Obviously, the Mets would like to add his left-handed bat to their lineup. - Mark Kempey, Melbourne Beach, Fla.
PWG: I still believe that unless the Ilitch family changes, Higginson and Todd Jones, free agents at the end of the year, will be traded. Higginson does make sense for the Mets, as do Troy O'Leary, John Vander Wal and others.

Q: How good can Jose Ortiz be for the A's this season? Was his season last year in the PCL overrated because it is such a good league for hitters or can he be a force in the major leagues? - Bill Styborski, Providence, R.I.
PWG: Spring training is spring training, but he's slugged .800 this spring. He has great hitters' hands and could soon be a 30-homer second baseman. If Jason Giambi were to stay, which sounds less likely now, they could have four 30-homer infielders in 2002. No team has ever had more than two in a season.

Q: How is the closer spot shaping up in Atlanta? Will John Rocker? How close is Matt Anderson to taking over the closer roll in Detroit if Todd Jones falters? - Ryan Mitchell, Bowling Green, Ohio
PWG: The Braves' bullpen is superb. Rocker is fine, Lightenberg's arm and tilt on his slider are back, Mike Remlinger is very underrated, and Jason Marquis are outstanding. The pen may be their strength. As for Anderson, his makeup and delivery are always concerns.

Q: Could this be the year we see Mike Piazza spending some time at first base or is that still a year or two away? - Greg Bernard, Midland Park, N.J.
PWG: I think it's a year away, although one worries about nagging injuries and the fact that he wants to play so badly.

Q: In light of Nomar Garciaparra's wrist injury, what are the shortstop options for the Red Sox? - Brian Bourque, Manchester, N.H.
PWG: A trade for Juan Castro (Cincinnati) or Abraham Nunez (Pittsburgh) is possible. I'd offer catcher Scott Hatteberg, who could really help Atlanta, to the Braves for Mark DeRosa, who is coming fast and could be the Red Sox third baseman when Nomar gets back.

Q: I was wondering on what your thoughts are on the Yankees deciding to go with Alfonso Soriano at second base and moving Chuck Knoblauch to left field? All spring we've been hearing about how good Soriano is, but some think he's not even the best shortstop-converted second baseman they have. What kind of numbers would you expect Soriano to post if he sticks on the club? - Jason Darr, St. Louis
PWG: Brian Cashman says that when Soriano played second for a month last season, he was brilliant. D'Angelo Jimenez has had a bad spring, and Erick Almonte isn't ready.

Q: Which teams might be advantaged or disadvantaged in their quest for a playoff bid by the new scheduling that expands intra-divisional play? - Tom Martin, Middleton, Wis.
PWG: A lot depends on how divisions shake down, but I think the NL West is so well balanced that it will be nearly impossible for the wild card to come out of that division. And the NL East could be far deeper because Florida, Philadelphia and Montreal are so much better. My guess is that the NL wild card will come out of the Central, and the AL wild card out of the Central, or maybe the East if Boston overcomes all its problems.

Q: If Gerald Williams really is on the trading block, is there any possibility he will be brought back to Atlanta? I thought he did great when he was with the Braves, he would be a good fit there. - Juan A. Barroso, King City, Calif.
PWG: He was on the block, but the Devil Rays have decided Josh Hamilton needs time and is going back to the minors, so Gerald is safe for now. Gerald is one heckuva good player.

Q: Daryle Ward seems to be the real deal, yet it doesn't appear as though he will get a chance with Houston. Could you envision the Mets, in need of a left-handed outfielder, looking at him to fill their right-field need? I don't think that Jose Cruz Jr. is the answer. - Daniel Marino, Winston-Salem, N.C.
PWG: If the Mets do decide to trade Glendon Rusch -- and I don't think they will the way he's progressing -- then Ward is a more attractive deal because he is a middle-lineup hitter with power who doesn't strike out much.

Q: What do you think of Arizona's shortstop prospect Alex Cintron? Do you think he can develop into a top shortstop for the D-Backs in the future? - Brad Pulcipher, Tuscon, Ariz.
PWG: No question, and it could happen quicker than some think.

Q: Do you think Craig Biggio can return to his form of a few years ago after his knee surgery? - Allan Breed, South Berwick, Maine
PWG: Biggio is in great shape, quick and should come back with a huge year, with more speed and maybe a little less power. His presence is tremendous.

Q: With the AOL/Time Warner merger, Braves fans are now wondering who is the boss. The media guide does not list Ted Turner as the owner any more. However, when I e-mail AOL, they will not reply. Does AOL/TW own the Braves? Where will this leave the Braves? Fans on the message boards have a real concern that the Braves will fall to the wayside and become a non-contender. Just a simple question: Who owns the Braves and what is the plan for the future? - Clyde Sanders, Rome, Ga.
PWG: The parent company is in charge. When a manager goes to remove the pitcher, "Goodbye" will sound from the PA system.