| | ESPN.com baseball contributor Sean McAdam joined ESPN.com on Tuesday for a chat. He talked about the MVP races, whether there is any team in the AL besides the Yankees that can make it to the World Series and how important home-field advantage can be in the postseason.
Paul: What do you think of the Cards chances of snagging gold gloves? Vina and Matheny should be locks. Does Edmonds have a chance at one of the three outfield gloves?
Sean McAdam: Edmonds has a shot. But Griffey will win one Gold Glove and so will Andruw Jones. Figure that Edmonds is one of several others with a chance at the third.
Stu Cole: Dante Bichette: good pickup or bad to this point?
Sean McAdam: For the short term, Stu, good. Bichette has given the Sox a hitter in the fifth spot in the lineup, and provided Garciaparra and Everett with better pitches to hit. But next year, his contract could become a problem.
Arsenio Santiago: Is Barry Bonds the MVP in the National League? If so, why?
Sean McAdam: I think the MVP race could go down to the final weekend, Arsenio. Piazza's candidacy has slipped the last few weeks. The biggest problem for Bonds could be that he might split votes with teammate Jeff Kent. He'll almost definitely finish in the top three, though.
Wild card man: Think the Tribe can hold on?
Sean McAdam: As long as they don't get swept by the Red Sox -- unlikely -- and the A's don't sweep Seattle, I think they can. The Indians seem to be playing some of their best baseball of the season at exactly the right time, but this stretch of doubleheaders -- three in six days -- will put a strain on their pitching staff.
Tim: With Andy Ashby, Steve Tracshel, and even Curt Schilling not really performing all that well do you think the White Sox made a good decision standing pat as far as pitching and relying on its farm system?
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McADAM'S FILE |
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McAdam covers the Boston Red Sox for the Providence Journal-Bulletin as a beat
writer and writes a weekly major-league notebook for ESPN.com. He has been
an ESPN.com contributor for several years.
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Sean McAdam: That's probably best answered after the playoffs, Tim. Without the benefit of hindsight, we can say that it was a gamble, particularly with Baldwin something of a question mark. But Ron Schueller didn't think it was worth sacrificing some top prospects for the short-term; I'm inclined to agree with him.
Josh: Do you think that the Red Sox will try to trade or release Ramon Martinez in the offseason to try and get a more reliable No. 2 starter?
Sean McAdam: The Sox hold an option at $8 million for next year on Ramon Martinez. Given the way he's pitched, it's doubtful they'll pick that up. They may try to negotiate a new deal with a lower base salary, plus incentives. GM Dan Duquette has been telling people that he'd like to make a run at Mike Mussina, who would be a perfect No. 2 guy. But whether they can meet his asking price is another question.
PhatPhil: Are the Yanks just resting Bernie Williams and Paul O'Neil or are they more injured than the Yanks are letting on?
Sean McAdam: Both Williams and O'Neill are slowed by injuries -- Williams with a rib cage problem and O'Neill with a sore hip. Both are being rested so they can be at full strength for the playoffs.
Matt Fisher: We always hear about managers with no job security ... what manager has the most job security currently in baseball?
Sean McAdam: I think that would be Joe Torre in New York -- and whoever thought we'd be saying a manager for George Steinbrenner would have the most security in the game -- and Bobby Cox in Atlanta. Both are proven winners who can manage as long as they wish to manage. Right behind them would be Tony La Russa in St. Louis.
Mariner Moose: Do you think the M's have what it takes to hold on to the AL West and go deep into the postseason?
Sean McAdam: I think the M's will hold on and win the West. They have better balance than the A's, more experience, better defense and a better bullpen. I think the Mariners will make it to the LCS, but I'm not sure they can beat the Yanks, if the two teams meet.
Doug V: The Cardinals are the hottest team in baseball recently, but
every critic I see calls them the weakest team in the NL
going into the playoffs. Why?
Sean McAdam: Two reasons, Doug -- McGwire not being healthy and his availability limited and a bullpen that doesn't match up with the three other NL teams. But the Cards have veteran starting pitching and good defense. They won't be easy to knock off, in my opinion.
chicali: Who do you think should win the AL MVP and why?
Sean McAdam: This figures to be one of the closest ballots in years. I think anyone of five players could win it -- Frank Thomas, Carlos Delgado, Pedro Martinez, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi. It may depend on who gets to the playoffs and who doesn't. I have a vote and I haven't made up my mind yet.
Randy Maxwell: The Cards, Braves and Giants are virtually tied for the NL's best record. How important is getting home-field advantage?
Sean McAdam: I think home field means less in baseball's postseason than it does in other sports, but ... the Giants have the best home record in the game, and that could mean something if they were to have home field all the way through. Plus, any team playing the Giants would have to travel more, which could be a factor.
Tino Leffe: What's the word on Mike Hampton staying with or leaving the Mets?
Sean McAdam: Hampton would apparently like to pitch a bit closer to home (Fla.) and there's been speculation that he would like to sign with the Braves, which would make a great staff even better. Can the Braves afford him, with their commitment to Chipper? That's the real issue. I've even heard that the Astros may make a run at him.
Freddy: Will Kevin Kennedy be the next Dodgers skipper?
Sean McAdam: I wouldn't rule it out, Freddy. Kennedy finished second to Davey Johnson in the interviewing process and Malone likes him. He's already working for FOX as a TV analyst, and he's made no secret of his desire to manage L.A.
Will: It is no secret that A-Rod will test the free agent market at the end of the year. Will he make the jump to the NL like Griffey did?
Sean McAdam: Two teams in the NL would make sense for A-Rod -- the Mets and Dodgers. In the AL, the White Sox and, of course, the Mariners should be in the bidding. I think there's a decent shot he'll stay in Seattle, but all along, my dark horse choice has been the White Sox.
Raz: Will Derek Lowe be back in the Red Sox' rotation next year?
Granted, he has been solid this year in the pen, but after Pedro, the rotation is very weak.
Sean McAdam: A lot will depend on what the Sox do in the offseason, Raz. If they can somehow land a No. 2 starter as a free agent, then Lowe can stay in the bullpen. Also, the emergence of Arrojo and Ohka gives the Sox' rotation a better foundation for next year. If I had to guess, I'd say Lowe will stay where he is.
Andrew: If and when will the DH disappear?
Sean McAdam: Good question, Andrew. There's enough support from enough owners to get rid of it tomorrow, but the union will fight this issue all down the line. It could become a point to be negotiated in the next round of collecting bargaining. There would have to be some tradeoff from the owners -- like expanding the rosters to 26 or 27 for the union to give in, and even then, I'm not sure they'd agree.
Melissa: Any news on John Valentin's progress?
Sean McAdam: He's doing rehab and slowly getting the strength back in his knee. But I don't think we'll really have any definitive idea until spring training.
David G: Can you give me your feeling as to which GM's are on the bubble with the coming offseason approching?
Sean McAdam: Terry Ryan is said to be in trouble in Minnesota. Gord Ash looks like he's safe in Toronto with the new ownership. Chuck LaMar could go in Tampa. Cam Bonifay is in some danger in Pittsburgh.
Jake: Will we have baseball in 2002?
Sean McAdam: Your guess is as good as mine, Jake. The track record isn't good -- every time the collective bargaining agreement has been up since 1972, there's been a work stoppage of some kind, either lockout or strike.
That said, there's some new people in positions of power that may take a more level-headed approach this time (Paul Beeston, Sandy Alderson), and they've been working to repair the relationship with the union.
Everyone knows that another lockout or strike could cripple the game for good. But that hasn't stopped them before.
Chief: What is the possibility of Segui staying in Cleveland (especially if Manny goes)? Who do you pick for the World Series at this point?
Sean McAdam: Segui would like to stay. I think the feeling is that Manny will probably leave, meaning the Tribe needs as much offense as they can get. Segui has really moved around a lot in his career, and he'd probably like to finish up in one place. My guess -- he will stay in Celveland.
Jason: Can the Red Sox take four games from Cleveland and tie this thing up?
Sean McAdam: Let's put it this way, Jason -- if they don't take at least four, they're probably finished. I give them a shot, since Cleveland won't have Colon or Finley and the Sox have had good success against Cleveland the last two years.
Eric Pape: Who's your pick to win it all?
Sean McAdam: This is just a hunch, Eric, but I have a feeling it might be the Giants. They have a deep rotation, a dominant closer and two guys -- Bonds and Kent -- having MVP-type seasons.
K-Dawg: What's the latest word on realignment in the major leagues?
Sean McAdam: On hold -- once again. They don't want this in bits and pieces, and Bud Selig is trying to marshall enough support to enact a more thorough realignment. Good luck, with that, since teams often place their own self-interest above the game's.
CubbieBlue: What is the possibility that the Cubs bite the bullet and go after a third baseman, Todd Hundley to play 1st/catch and a couple of starters and make this team a contender?
Sean McAdam: The Cubs haven't shown much of a willingness to spend with the big boys in the past. Reportedly, they were poised to make a run at Chipper if he had filed on the open market.
They do like Hundley and would like to get him. The Cubs may be forced into being more aggressive because of the improvement shown by the White Sox.
Joel: Any idea who the Pirates will consider to replace Gene Lamont?
Sean McAdam: The name that keeps popping up is Ken Macha, Oakland's bench coach, who is from the Pittsburgh area. Another possibility, should he be fired by the Phillies, is Terry Francona.
Brian: Is Mike Mussina done in Baltimore, or will he finish out his career in Baltimore like he said he wanted too?
Sean McAdam: I'd say it's not a good sign that Mussina has turned down their proposals. I think he's now more open to leaving. Word is, he'd like to stay in the Northeast, and that the Phils, Mets, Yanks and Red Sox would all appeal to him. Mussina may have had enough of the whole mess in Baltimore.
Dave NC: What do you think about the job Tony Muser and his band of pitching coaches have done in KC? It seems as if Muser has taken these guys as far as he can. Now it seems like it's time to bring a more experienced manager, as well as a top-notch pitching coach (like a Vern Ruhle, Dave Wallace) in. Muser did great growing the kids up, but there is a limit to every man's teachings.
Sean McAdam: I like the job Muser has done. I like his intensity and his teaching ability. I'd also like to see what he could do with more talent. The Royals, obviously, have plenty of offense. They just need to develop some pitching. If Rosado bounces back and some of the young kids show improvement, the Royals might not be far away.
Ed: Do you give the White Sox any chance of making it to World Series?
Sean McAdam: A chance, yes. They're going to finish with the best record in the AL and will take on all challengers. But I'm not sure their infield defense is good enough to win in the postseason and I question whether their rotation is experienced enough yet. They may have a better shot next year or the year after, since they're still young.
jim44: Do you think the Mets will win the next two in Atlanta or are they going to have to settle for the wild card again this year?
Sean McAdam: I would say that four games is a lot to make up with 12 days left in the season.
Andrew: How much longer will the Athletics stay in Oakland if their attendance doesn't improve, and where would they go?
Sean McAdam: It has to be disappointing for the A's to be drawing small crowds in the middle of a wild-card race. They've looked at the San Jose area and Las Vegas. It's a decision that has to be made in the next year or two -- it might be that the Bay Area can't adequately support two teams, now that teams have to draw two million to be competitive.
Derek: Who do you think is more to blame for the Red Sox' mediocre season, Jimy Williams, Dan Duquette or the players?
Sean McAdam: Certainly, there's plenty of blame to go around. Jimy should have used Trot Nixon and Rico Brogna more. Duquette didn't get that bat they needed until late August (Bichette). But I think the players have to take most of the responsibility -- O'Leary, Offerman and Ramon Martinez have all been big disappointments.
Big Joe Gun: Hey Sean,
What do you think about the Twins in about five years if they keep the current nucleus of players that they currently have?
Sean McAdam: I think the Twins have put together a very impressive starting staff with Radke, Milton, Redman and Matt Kinney. The key is to keep them when Milton and others qualify for arbitration. The Twins ownership picture is still a mess and there's nothing in sight on a new ballpark that would give them the revenue they need to be competitive.
Metfanatic: Which team has the best shot at beating the Yankees?
Sean McAdam: In the American League, I think Seattle has the best shot. In the NL, any team which gets to the World Series would have a shot. The Yankees are still good, but they've come back to the pack a bit and aren't as deep as in past years.
Jose: I have heard the Marlins have the brightest future in the game. What's your opinion on this young crew?
Sean McAdam: The Marlins, indeed, have a bright future. They've stockpiled a slew of young arms and they could be competitive as early as 2002. But ... their future is clouded by their stadium situation. Owner John Henry says he can't continue to play at Pro Player Stadium. Otherwise, the Marlins could be right back where they were after winning the World Series in 1997.
Sean McAdam: That's all for today, folks. Thanks to all who submitted questions. Apologies to those I didn't get to.
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