Talk Baseball with Peter Gammons!
Welcome to The Show! On Thursday, ESPN baseball columnist and chief MLB correspondent, Peter Gammons, will drop by to talk baseball and give you the scoop on what's happening behind the scenes. Send your questions now and join Peter in The Show on Thursday at noon ET!
SportsNation Buzzmaster: Hang on for Peter Gammons!
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I'm happy to be back and chatting! It's been fun so far this season!
Marty (Syracuse NY): Peter - What is up with Jason Giambi, do you think he is being selfish and when will the Yankees finally realize he is a bum and release him or buy him out? He is taking a roster spot and Ruben and Bernie are much better at this point.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: It's a serious problem. One that is distracting Steinbrenner. He does not seem to think he needs to go to the minors and that he can work out his swing in the cage. He will get his chance this weekend to play three games before Ruben Sierra comes back. Then, there will be a confrontation. There can be no buyout. The Yankees owe him the money. There is no other way to look at it. If the Yanks want to pay 75 percent more money that anyone else, they should be accoutnable and will be. Steinbrenner is afraid to release him for fear he will go to another team at the minimum and start to hit.
Henry (NYC): Are we witnessing the beginning of the end of Curt Schilling? He sure seems a lot older than Clemens and Johnson even though he's younger. Thank you.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: He didn't seem older last October when he won the World Series. We'll see come July when he is back off the disabled list and has had a month to build up his arm.
Brian (Fairfax, VA): Peter, How can you possibly say Derek Jeter is a top five player right now? He's barely top five at his position.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: That's your opinion. I judge players by their performance, defense, base running, accountability and how they make teammates better. Under that criteria, I could only think of one player at his position in his league and that is Miguel Tejada.
Martin (Houston, TX): Jeff Bagwell is near the end. Sure lock HOF'er or not? His career stats other than HRs look a LOT like Jim Rice.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: Yes, he is a lock. As Rob Tracy of Elias pointed out to me, Bagwell is one of 17 players ever with 1,500 runs, 1,500 RBI and a .900 OPS. He is a lock.
Lucas (Columbia, MD): Peter, great column on Tejada! I'm surprised there has been no hype about the upcoming 4 game set between the O's and White Sox. The two biggest surprise teams with the 2 best records. Where's the love?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I'm very excited about this series. The Orioles key pitchers - Ponson, Cabrera and Bedard - appear to be getting better. The White Sox thus far have had the best starting pitching in the league.
Brian (VA): Peter, What do you make of the O's recent roster moves? Single A player straight to the majors?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: It's a gamble. But they really don't have any alternatives right now. They tried to work something out for Mike Restovich but Pittsburgh got him. My guess is that they will try to make a deal in the next week or so.
Drew, AL: Could you comment on the Braves' bullpen, particularly Kolb. They can't continue long under the current situation. Do you see them making any changes there?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: No. Kolb has had a couple bad outings but he has been better than the majority of closers in the game. Did you notice Dotel in Boston?
Barry Bonds (San Fran, CA): What am I doing? I just keep digging myself deeper and deeper. Do you think any of my problems are going to stick? IRS? Balco? My freakin knee hurts...
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I just don't know when Bonds will be healthy. The Giants don't know. His legal problems right now are matters on which I can only speculate. That wouldn't be fair.
Jonathan (Shea Stadium): Hi Peter, huge fan. Anyway, what do my beloved Metropolitans do with Victor Zambrano? He pitched ok yesterday but that second inning was brutal (typical Zambrano). Does he get sent down when Ishii comes back next week? I think he still has options.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: That might be the best course because he needs to concentrate on throwing strikes then go back to worrying about his stuff. Of course, this has been said for four years. He may never have a delivery to throw strikes.
Mike (Columbus): What's the deal with the Indians, particularly Boone? He is flat out awful right now and it doesn't seem possible that everyone on that team had a career year last season. Is it?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: No. Actually Belliard and Hafner are hitting. I think you will see Sizemore and Peralta get better. Boone and Victor Martinez have been mysteries. There is some middle ground between 2004 and 2005.
Scott (philly): Will Ed Wade be fired by the end of the month? Please say yes!!!!!!!!!!
SportsNation Peter Gammons: It is possible But I don't think so. David Montgomery likes to move cautiously. But I will tell you this, it is amazing that playing in that band box that they are last in the NL in slugging percentage.
ian (richmond, va): do you think that any blowback from the steroid era will help the hof chances for players like andre dawson and jim rice, who put up their numbers before anabolic inflation?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I think it is a short window for the next couple years. Once Ripken and Gwynn go up, I think it may be hard to build enough enthusiasm for Rice and Dawson.
Brian (Boston): What are the chances of Florida keeping their "Big 3" (Beckett, Burnett, Willis) together ? Will they get broken up like Oakland's staff did this past winter?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: Part of the issue involves where they play - new stadium or Las Vegas? Burnett is gone. So my guess is that they will try to do long term contracts with Willis and Beckett.
Aaron (Arlington, VA): Is there any reason to believe MLB when they say that they hope to have the Nationals sold by the Allstar break? Even if I have to buy new stuff I hope the new owners come in and rename them the Dukes (after DC's most famous native son - Ellington).
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I'm told that the television deal made with Peter Angelos and MLB has created such a mess that the sale likely won't happen for months.
Brent (KC, MO): Any word on the new manager in Kansas City? Will they go with home town boy Frank White or go after someone more hardnosed like Larry Bowa.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I have not talked yet to Allard Baird. I have heard Bud Black's name but doubt the Angels would allow him to go in the middle of the year. What they need is the equivalent of a minor league coordinator overseeing the instructional league. There are few people better at that than the current interim manager Bob Schaefer.
Jim (LA): Last year you hinted that some of the Angels' bullpen were on steroids. I thought that was very unfair. Any further comments on that?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: If that is the way you interpreted whatever it was I said, then I apologize. I didn't intend it to mean any specific team. I have no proof of any staff being victims of drug testing.
Bronson Arroyo (Boston): Peter, any chance you are going to buy my CD when it hits the stand?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I've heard the unmixed version and it is very good.
Scott (Richmond, VA): Can the Cubs make a run at the Cards in the NL Central, or should I pin my hopes on the wild card?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I would pin your hopes on the wild card. It is still going to be awhile before the Cubs can have their pitching straightened out. If Wood doesn't get healthy and they don't find a closer, they will have trouble making the postseason.
Benjamin(San Francisco, CA): Are you seriously telling me that the only people to be busted for steroids are minor leaguers and bottom rung major leaguers? Something smells fishy.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I don't know. I do consider Juan Rincon a front line player. None of us know whether or not the chemical geniuses have masking agents ahead of the tests.
Chris (DC): Any thoughts on who should replace Selig?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: My suggestion would be Sandy Alderson. But I'm afraid that some owners would be against it because he tells people what they don't want to hear sometimes.
David (NYC): What do you see as the reason for Keith Foulke's shaky outings? In fact what is up with all the 'pens in the league?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I would be worried about Foulke in the short term because it is mid-May and his stuff is still short. What bothers me is that he has not struck out a right handed batter this season. As for the industry-wide problem with closers, I think that it may be cyclical.
Brian (Boston): Do you think that the league will overturn using the All Star Game to decide home field advantage in the World Series?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: Unfortunately, no.
Joe (Philly): Any chance Pearl Jam plays in Fenway next year? And will you be at the Stones show this year?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I hope Pearl Jam plays there next summer. I know they would enjoy it. I will be at the Stones show. Just as I was at Manning Bowl in Lynn in 1966 when the Standels opened with Dirty Water.
ash (oaktown): any chance Huston street starts closing games over dotel? he's the long term answer anyways for the a's.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I think that will happen around the all-star break when Dotel is traded.
Joe (Milwaukee): World Cup, who do you have in the finals, and who's pitching for each country? Rocket-Pedro?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I think the U.S. championship starter will be Roy Halladay.
Bob (Pgh): Do you miss bullpen carts?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: No! The funniest line I ever heard about bullpen cars was by Baltimore's Mike Flanagan about Yankee Stadium: ''This is the only park where when you get in the bullpen car, they lock the doors.''
Franco (Hoboken): Mr. Gammons any chance the Mets can get someone for that pen? and what do they do with Glavine? He is killing us!
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I think they could move Glavine ina salary swap at the end of the year because his contract may be down to $8 million. I think Omar Minaya will come up with a couple of pitchers before the trading deadline.
Jose(Miami): Peter, do the Marlins have best starting pitching? Will they make the playoffs?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: Their front three right now is the best. I think the Cardinals have the deepest rotation and right now the White Sox are the best overall.
Dave (Providence): Do you think the Dodgers will hold up for the season or will SD and ARZ make a run at them?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: The Dodgers should get better with Gagne coming back and Penny solidly in the rotation. The Dodgers also have money to spend and a deep farm system to help them make trades.
Thank you very much for all the great questions. Notice HRs and runs per game are edging back to the 2002 level! We'll do this again in two weeks. I look forward to it.
Welcome to The Show! On Thursday, ESPN baseball columnist and chief MLB correspondent, Peter Gammons, will drop by to talk baseball and give you the scoop on what's happening behind the scenes. Send your questions now and join Peter in The Show on Thursday at noon ET!
SportsNation Buzzmaster: Hang on for Peter Gammons!
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I'm happy to be back and chatting! It's been fun so far this season!
Marty (Syracuse NY): Peter - What is up with Jason Giambi, do you think he is being selfish and when will the Yankees finally realize he is a bum and release him or buy him out? He is taking a roster spot and Ruben and Bernie are much better at this point.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: It's a serious problem. One that is distracting Steinbrenner. He does not seem to think he needs to go to the minors and that he can work out his swing in the cage. He will get his chance this weekend to play three games before Ruben Sierra comes back. Then, there will be a confrontation. There can be no buyout. The Yankees owe him the money. There is no other way to look at it. If the Yanks want to pay 75 percent more money that anyone else, they should be accoutnable and will be. Steinbrenner is afraid to release him for fear he will go to another team at the minimum and start to hit.
Henry (NYC): Are we witnessing the beginning of the end of Curt Schilling? He sure seems a lot older than Clemens and Johnson even though he's younger. Thank you.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: He didn't seem older last October when he won the World Series. We'll see come July when he is back off the disabled list and has had a month to build up his arm.
Brian (Fairfax, VA): Peter, How can you possibly say Derek Jeter is a top five player right now? He's barely top five at his position.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: That's your opinion. I judge players by their performance, defense, base running, accountability and how they make teammates better. Under that criteria, I could only think of one player at his position in his league and that is Miguel Tejada.
Martin (Houston, TX): Jeff Bagwell is near the end. Sure lock HOF'er or not? His career stats other than HRs look a LOT like Jim Rice.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: Yes, he is a lock. As Rob Tracy of Elias pointed out to me, Bagwell is one of 17 players ever with 1,500 runs, 1,500 RBI and a .900 OPS. He is a lock.
Lucas (Columbia, MD): Peter, great column on Tejada! I'm surprised there has been no hype about the upcoming 4 game set between the O's and White Sox. The two biggest surprise teams with the 2 best records. Where's the love?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I'm very excited about this series. The Orioles key pitchers - Ponson, Cabrera and Bedard - appear to be getting better. The White Sox thus far have had the best starting pitching in the league.
Brian (VA): Peter, What do you make of the O's recent roster moves? Single A player straight to the majors?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: It's a gamble. But they really don't have any alternatives right now. They tried to work something out for Mike Restovich but Pittsburgh got him. My guess is that they will try to make a deal in the next week or so.
Drew, AL: Could you comment on the Braves' bullpen, particularly Kolb. They can't continue long under the current situation. Do you see them making any changes there?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: No. Kolb has had a couple bad outings but he has been better than the majority of closers in the game. Did you notice Dotel in Boston?
Barry Bonds (San Fran, CA): What am I doing? I just keep digging myself deeper and deeper. Do you think any of my problems are going to stick? IRS? Balco? My freakin knee hurts...
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I just don't know when Bonds will be healthy. The Giants don't know. His legal problems right now are matters on which I can only speculate. That wouldn't be fair.
Jonathan (Shea Stadium): Hi Peter, huge fan. Anyway, what do my beloved Metropolitans do with Victor Zambrano? He pitched ok yesterday but that second inning was brutal (typical Zambrano). Does he get sent down when Ishii comes back next week? I think he still has options.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: That might be the best course because he needs to concentrate on throwing strikes then go back to worrying about his stuff. Of course, this has been said for four years. He may never have a delivery to throw strikes.
Mike (Columbus): What's the deal with the Indians, particularly Boone? He is flat out awful right now and it doesn't seem possible that everyone on that team had a career year last season. Is it?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: No. Actually Belliard and Hafner are hitting. I think you will see Sizemore and Peralta get better. Boone and Victor Martinez have been mysteries. There is some middle ground between 2004 and 2005.
Scott (philly): Will Ed Wade be fired by the end of the month? Please say yes!!!!!!!!!!
SportsNation Peter Gammons: It is possible But I don't think so. David Montgomery likes to move cautiously. But I will tell you this, it is amazing that playing in that band box that they are last in the NL in slugging percentage.
ian (richmond, va): do you think that any blowback from the steroid era will help the hof chances for players like andre dawson and jim rice, who put up their numbers before anabolic inflation?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I think it is a short window for the next couple years. Once Ripken and Gwynn go up, I think it may be hard to build enough enthusiasm for Rice and Dawson.
Brian (Boston): What are the chances of Florida keeping their "Big 3" (Beckett, Burnett, Willis) together ? Will they get broken up like Oakland's staff did this past winter?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: Part of the issue involves where they play - new stadium or Las Vegas? Burnett is gone. So my guess is that they will try to do long term contracts with Willis and Beckett.
Aaron (Arlington, VA): Is there any reason to believe MLB when they say that they hope to have the Nationals sold by the Allstar break? Even if I have to buy new stuff I hope the new owners come in and rename them the Dukes (after DC's most famous native son - Ellington).
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I'm told that the television deal made with Peter Angelos and MLB has created such a mess that the sale likely won't happen for months.
Brent (KC, MO): Any word on the new manager in Kansas City? Will they go with home town boy Frank White or go after someone more hardnosed like Larry Bowa.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I have not talked yet to Allard Baird. I have heard Bud Black's name but doubt the Angels would allow him to go in the middle of the year. What they need is the equivalent of a minor league coordinator overseeing the instructional league. There are few people better at that than the current interim manager Bob Schaefer.
Jim (LA): Last year you hinted that some of the Angels' bullpen were on steroids. I thought that was very unfair. Any further comments on that?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: If that is the way you interpreted whatever it was I said, then I apologize. I didn't intend it to mean any specific team. I have no proof of any staff being victims of drug testing.
Bronson Arroyo (Boston): Peter, any chance you are going to buy my CD when it hits the stand?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I've heard the unmixed version and it is very good.
Scott (Richmond, VA): Can the Cubs make a run at the Cards in the NL Central, or should I pin my hopes on the wild card?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I would pin your hopes on the wild card. It is still going to be awhile before the Cubs can have their pitching straightened out. If Wood doesn't get healthy and they don't find a closer, they will have trouble making the postseason.
Benjamin(San Francisco, CA): Are you seriously telling me that the only people to be busted for steroids are minor leaguers and bottom rung major leaguers? Something smells fishy.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I don't know. I do consider Juan Rincon a front line player. None of us know whether or not the chemical geniuses have masking agents ahead of the tests.
Chris (DC): Any thoughts on who should replace Selig?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: My suggestion would be Sandy Alderson. But I'm afraid that some owners would be against it because he tells people what they don't want to hear sometimes.
David (NYC): What do you see as the reason for Keith Foulke's shaky outings? In fact what is up with all the 'pens in the league?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I would be worried about Foulke in the short term because it is mid-May and his stuff is still short. What bothers me is that he has not struck out a right handed batter this season. As for the industry-wide problem with closers, I think that it may be cyclical.
Brian (Boston): Do you think that the league will overturn using the All Star Game to decide home field advantage in the World Series?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: Unfortunately, no.
Joe (Philly): Any chance Pearl Jam plays in Fenway next year? And will you be at the Stones show this year?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I hope Pearl Jam plays there next summer. I know they would enjoy it. I will be at the Stones show. Just as I was at Manning Bowl in Lynn in 1966 when the Standels opened with Dirty Water.
ash (oaktown): any chance Huston street starts closing games over dotel? he's the long term answer anyways for the a's.
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I think that will happen around the all-star break when Dotel is traded.
Joe (Milwaukee): World Cup, who do you have in the finals, and who's pitching for each country? Rocket-Pedro?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I think the U.S. championship starter will be Roy Halladay.
Bob (Pgh): Do you miss bullpen carts?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: No! The funniest line I ever heard about bullpen cars was by Baltimore's Mike Flanagan about Yankee Stadium: ''This is the only park where when you get in the bullpen car, they lock the doors.''
Franco (Hoboken): Mr. Gammons any chance the Mets can get someone for that pen? and what do they do with Glavine? He is killing us!
SportsNation Peter Gammons: I think they could move Glavine ina salary swap at the end of the year because his contract may be down to $8 million. I think Omar Minaya will come up with a couple of pitchers before the trading deadline.
Jose(Miami): Peter, do the Marlins have best starting pitching? Will they make the playoffs?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: Their front three right now is the best. I think the Cardinals have the deepest rotation and right now the White Sox are the best overall.
Dave (Providence): Do you think the Dodgers will hold up for the season or will SD and ARZ make a run at them?
SportsNation Peter Gammons: The Dodgers should get better with Gagne coming back and Penny solidly in the rotation. The Dodgers also have money to spend and a deep farm system to help them make trades.
Thank you very much for all the great questions. Notice HRs and runs per game are edging back to the 2002 level! We'll do this again in two weeks. I look forward to it.
