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Buzzmaster

  (1:01 PM)

Steve will be here shortly, everyone!

Steve Phillips

  (1:04 PM)

Some races are becoming much more clearly defined, while others are looking like they'll be going to the last game of the season. It will be an interesting final 30 games. What's on everyone's mind?

Luis, Houston TX

Steve, I know Johan wasn't great last night but still He gave the mets a chance. What do you think of his performance this season so far. Is he still one of the premier pitchers in MLB?

Steve Phillips

  (1:05 PM)

Santana has been everything the Mets could have expected in his first year. It's not easy signing a big-money, long-term deal in New York, and the first year tends to be the toughest. I think Santana has handled himself very well, and has given the Mets a chance to win every time out. He could have 18 wins every time out if it weren't for the Mets' bullpen. Of all of the Mets' problems, Santana is clearly not one of them.

eric sf

Hey Steve, who is the NL CY Young Award winner Webb or Lincecum? The numbers lean towards lincecum but webb has the edge in wins which the voters seem to like?

Steve Phillips

  (1:07 PM)

I think that race is stil too early to tell, and each pitcher's final four or five starts will ultimately determine the race. Lincecum leads in strikeouts by far, but you're right, that wins seem to play a role in the voters' decisions. If Lincecum ends up with a better ERA and 17 or 18 wins compared to Webb, Lincecum will still have a shot. It will be a very interesting vote, and it's too close to call right now.

SG (Clinton, CT)

What's your take on the Pedro Alvarez situation?

Steve Phillips

  (1:10 PM)

From what I know about the people and circumstances involved, it appears that Scott Boras wasn't happy that another player agreed to terms for more money than his player, and was using the fact that he was able to negotiate beyond the deadline to make his deal as a reason to blow up the deal. It seems odd that he didn't seem to have a problem in reachign thre agreement for the 6 million after the deadline, but only later used it as a reason for wanting more money and to renegotiate. Boras denies the fact that he's looking for at least $200,000 more to bring Alvarez' deal to bring it up to make it comparable to Buster Posey, signed by the Giants. I think it's unlikely that the deal gets overturned, because Alvarez signed a minor league contract that does not fall under the auspices of the collective bargaining agreement. That's why Boras is using the August 15th deadline, and the fact that negotiations went beyond midnight as a conflict with the collective bargaining agreement.

Steve Phillips

  (1:11 PM)

I'll be shocked if it's overturned.

PETE NY

Steve, has Carlos Delgado played his way into getting serious HOF consideration when he retires? He looked done early on this year but suddenly he's on pace to finish the year with nearly 470 HRs and should have another solid year or two in him.

Steve Phillips

  (1:13 PM)

That's an interesting question. As I often used my gut as the barometer about Hall of Fame arguments, when I hear Delgado, my gut doesn't say Hall of Fame. But my gut doesn't say it for Jeff Kent either, and he clearly should and will be a Hall of Famer. Delgado feels like a Fred McGriff-type to me, and McGriff seems unlikely to get in to Cooperstown. If Delgado plays two more years beyond this season and ends up with, say, 530 home runs, we'll have to strongly consider his candidacy. It's been an amazing transformation this season, as he has looked old and slow for a while. I expect the Mets to exercise his $12 million option for next year.

Drew (New Brunswick, NJ)

What do you think about the NL east race? Can the Mets bullpen stay out of the way enough to let the Mets try and win the race?

Steve Phillips

  (1:15 PM)

The Mets still have a chance. That race will go down to the final race of the season. The Phillies have their flaws as well, and it may come down to which team gets hot at the end. I've been saying Mets all along, but I'm not feeling comfortable about my pick.

Tim (Delaware)

What do you think the Red Sox will do with Mark Kotsay?

Steve Phillips

  (1:16 PM)

I think they'll use him as though he is J.D. Drew at the outset. The good thing about Kotsay is that he offers the versatility to play any of the three outfield positions, and can bat many place in the lineup. He's a solid defender and gives you a professional at-bat every time up. He is not an impact offensive player but will take a walk and can put a charge into one every once in a while. He was a good pickup for the Red Sox.

Ryan (Napa, CA)

Can the Dodger's salvage their confidence they had prior to going on the road? Or are they toast against Arizona this weekend (which I'm flying to go see)?

Steve Phillips

  (1:18 PM)

I called the Dodgers game on Monday against the Phillies, and they sure did not look good. They looked flat. They just couldn't seem to get the big hit to drive in runs. At times, they seemed somewhat disinterested. I think the disinterest part is more about youth and inexperience than it is about how they really feel. I've been saying the Dodgers will win, but after watching them closely over the last ten days, I'm starting to have serious doubts. The Diamondbacks have better starting pitching, and I think that will be the difference to allow Arizona to prevail.

AJ (MD)

What are the chances the O's bolster their starting pitching and add some pop with Tex and maybe another decent bat this offseason?

Steve Phillips

  (1:20 PM)

I expect them to be in the mix for Teixeira. He is a hometown kid and Peter Angelos likes that angle. The Orioles aren't going to be competitive just by adding offense--they desperately need pitching depth if they're to compete in the AL East. The Rays have proven that pitching and defense can win in this division, and it's not just about the offense. If the Orioles want to contend, they should also consider whether Sabathia makes sense to them, in place of or in addition to Teixeira.

Jon (Mad-town)

I know everything looks great for the Cubs, and they appear head and shoulders above the rest of the NL, so why do I feel a sense of impending doom?

Steve Phillips

  (1:22 PM)

I could reccomend a good therapist for you, Jon! It's the nature of being a good Cubs fan, I think. 100 years without a championship will do that to you. Who knows how it will play out, but Hendry and Piniella have put the Cubs in a position to be the favorite in the NL. They're built the right way with great depth and experience, and it's up to the players now to play and deliver. What you can do now is hope for a little bit of luck, because in the playoffs, it's as important as talent.

Guy Enfield NH

I have asked this question a couple of times but do you think the Red Sox will enter into any of these free agent sweepstakes, I hope they atleast go after CC or Sheets, more pitching can't hurt??? Thanks for your answer...

Steve Phillips

  (1:25 PM)

I think their interest in Sabathia will be to run the price up on the Yankees. If they sign Sabathia for the money he wants, it'll put them in a tough position with Beckett and Lester. It'll be tough for them to pursue Teixeira with Lowell signed to a 3-year deal and Youkilis being as important as he is at first. Sheets is an interesting guy, but his health is scary and will make his contract negotiations interesting this winter. Will someone buy into him as someone who can stay healthy for multiple years? That's the big question.

H (Philly)

ARod's up with men on 1st and 2nd and 1 out. Does he get a hit or hit into another DP?

Steve Phillips

  (1:27 PM)

His nine double plays in the month of August are the most by any player in any month this year. He certainly has not produced with RISP, although he has produced with nobody on base or a man on first. 19 of his 28 home runs have been solo shots. Only five of his home runs have come with runners in scoring position. He's in the spotlight so much, and he tries to please everybody, and oftentimes, mentally, he doesn't give himself a chance to perform. He'll get over it at some point and get hot again, but it will be too little, too late for this year.

Eric, Indiana

Steve, Can you tell us why its not a good idea to make Mr. Pujols mad?

Steve Phillips

  (1:29 PM)

As the saying goes, let sleeping dogs lie. Teams should know better than that by this point. Albert Pujols with a smile on his face is dangerous enough. When he's grimacing, it's frightening. I bet Ned Yost has a meeting at some point, or a veteran on the team will call a meeting to remind everyone to play the game and not give the other team motivation. The Brewers are playing good baseball, and need to keep it about only that.

John (Minneapolis, MN)

I have tickets to the Sox @ Twins on September 25th. Will this series decide the division title?

Steve Phillips

  (1:30 PM)

It just might decide that. It will all depend on whether the Twins can at least go .500 on this 14-game road trip. If they can come back having played .500 ball, then they have a legit chance to take it to the end. I still think the White Sox win the division, and that the Red Sox win the wild card, and we'll talk about what a great story Minnesota was. Ron Gardenhire, in any other year, would be manager of the year. Unfortunately for him, Joe Maddon has his hands all over that award.

Steve Phillips

  (1:31 PM)

The races are going to be unbelievable until the end, especially when we see the head-to-head matchups in first against second. I look forward to chatting again next week.