Buster Olney

  (12:59 PM)

Hi, folks, hope all is well. Can't believe that in seven days, 22 teams will be headed home, and in two weeks, just 100 players or so will be left standing. Should be great stuff down the stretch... Let's get it started.

Tanner (St. Paul, MN)

Buster, How does one become an official voter for such ballots as MVP?

Buster Olney

  (1:01 PM)

Tanner: Two beat writers from each city in each league is given the MVP votes.

Jake (VA Beach)

Since Bedard may now miss time in 2009 as well, does that make the trade with the Orioles one of the worst in recent years?

Buster Olney

  (1:03 PM)

Jake: I don't know how you can evaluate it anything other than a complete and utter disaster for the Mariners. Adam Jones will probably play 10-15 years in the majors, barring a significant injury, and George Sherrill was an All-Star and has trade value, and Tillman is one of the best young pitchers in baseball -- and all things being equal, Bedard would be a slam-dunk for a non-tender if doctors were to determine that he needs nine months of recovery. It really turned out so badly for the Mariners.

James(New York, NY)

Recent rumors suggest the mets wont opt to go after K-Rod, but when one sees stats like the one showing the mets would be more than 6 games up on the phillies if games ended after the 8th, how can they afford not to go after him.

Buster Olney

  (1:04 PM)

James: I think there's very little chance K-Rod gets a serious play from the Mets. They have other issues to worry about, most notably replacing Pedro Martinez and Oliver Perez in their rotation.

Tim (California)

Hey buster, do you think Tim Lincecum has a legitimate chance for the Cy Young or is the 22 wins of Brandon Webb too much. Isn't ERA, strikeouts, and win percentage enough for the voters?

Buster Olney

  (1:05 PM)

Tim: I think that if the voting were to be held today, Lincecum would have a slight advantage. That's just a guess on my part. If Lincecum were to lose tonight and Webb were to win No. 23, then I think Webb would have an advantage, in spite of the ERA and strkeout totals. History shows us that voters do place a high value on victory totals.

Steve Phillips, Bristol

Even I predicted MLB records than you did!

Buster Olney

  (1:07 PM)

Steve: It wasn't hard to do. I had a strong year last season, but this year... nothing less than a disaster for predictions. (I did have the Cubs making it to the WS, and that looks solid, but at this point, I think I can safely say that the Indians will not win the WS, as I predicted).

Jason, Newark De

Buster, who do you think will be in the lead to land CC next year.

Buster Olney

  (1:08 PM)

Jason: The Dodgers, if they stepped up and made a nine-figured offer. If not, the Angels.

joe

Who do you think the NL MVP will be. Hope your thought isn't Howard

Buster Olney

  (1:08 PM)

Joe: As of today, I'd vote for Pujols.

John (College Park)

Ryan Howard's BA & SO numbers are less than admirable, but I don't see how with 46 HR & 141 RBI's Ryan Howard wouldn't be up for MVP. Especially if the Phillies take the NL East, what kind of shot to you think Ryan has for MVP?

Buster Olney

  (1:09 PM)

John: He'll finish in the Top 5, for sure, but I don't think he'll beat Pujols.

John (Dallas)

Buster, do you think the Dodgers will go after both CC and Manny?

Buster Olney

  (1:11 PM)

John: Nope. I think there's almost no chance that the Dodgers re-sign Manny, unless he's willing to take something far less than the four-year, $100 million that has been reported as his desire. I really don't think that the Dodgers, with their recent failures in the FA market, will be nearly as aggressive as we've grown accustomed to.

Jeff (PA)

Buster, do the Phils have a shot at making the World Series this year?

Buster Olney

  (1:12 PM)

Jeff: No question. I'd still pick the Cubs, but the Phillies have the kind of bullpen and lineup depth to win in October.

Robert (Vancouver)

Buster, love your work. Am I the only one who sees and uncanny resemblence between CC Sabathia and David Wells? Big, shall we say, robust lefties, great control, great hooks, ability to throw many innings while perfectly repeating their delivery? Only difference I see is the attitude... and the gout.

Buster Olney

  (1:16 PM)

Robert: Thanks for the kind words. As someone who covered Boomer for a couple of years, in Baltimore and New York, I agree with you about the physical similarities -- great athletes (in spite of how their bodies look), excellent deliveries, seemingly can throw and throw and throw until they fall over. But I promise you that as far as personality is concerned, they are very different -- CC is a great guy and I found Wells to be likeable in a high-school-buddy kind of way, but while CC is widely respected by teammates, Boomer had a tendency to drive teammates a little nuts at times. I might take Wells over almost anybody else in a big game in the time I have covered baseball, though (along with Smoltz, Beckett, El Duque, a few others).

Brian Cashman (New York):

What should I spend my 80 million dollars on in the not so distant off-season?

Buster Olney

  (1:16 PM)

Brian: Is that how much the Phillies have to spend this off-season/

Doug (NY)

Is the reason you don't see the Yanks as a front-runner for CC that they won't pony up the years he'll be seeking?

Buster Olney

  (1:18 PM)

Doug: No, I think that the Yankees will hand CC a blank check, and in the end, if he has the chance to get an offer close to $100 million to go back to California, he'll take that over whatever the Yankees are dangling. There's no doubt in my mind that the Yankees will make him the largest offer; I just don't necessarily believe he'll take the highest offer he gets.

paul Burbank

Who lands Mark Teixeira? who can afford scott boras demands?

Buster Olney

  (1:18 PM)

Paul: If Cashman stays with the Yankees, Teixeira lands in Baltimore. If Cashman leaves, then Teixeira lands with the Yankees.

Doug (NY)

Buster, you know you have to follow up...you really see Cashman leaving the Yanks?

Buster Olney

  (1:19 PM)

Doug: I'd guess (and it's nothing more than a guess) that it's 60-40 that he leaves. Full disclosure: Three years ago, I thought the same thing.

James (Brooklyn, NY)

When I go to the last game at Shea on Sunday, will I be watching a relevant game or will the Mets have already ripped my heart out (AGAIN) by then?

Buster Olney

  (1:22 PM)

James: You don't want to hear my answer. I really think the schedule is going to hurt the Mets this week. The Brewers get to play the Pirates, who have lost 11 of their last 16, and then the Cubs over the weekend, and while Lou Piniella has every intention of competing to the finish line, the reality is that by Friday or Saturday, a lot of his decisions will be shaped (and rightly so, by the way) by preparation for the post-season. He's not going to pitch Kerry Wood on Saturday and Sunday against the Brewers, for example. He won't pitch Carlos Marmol in extended outings. He won't overtax his starters. If one of his position players is playing 85 percent, he'll get him out of there. That works against the Mets, who have to play the team nobody wants to play, the Marlins. But hey, who the heck knows...

Abe (Irvine, CA)

Do you really think Teixeira would leave the Angels? He has a great team, looks like he loves SoCal and Arte Moreno is the type of owner to pony up the big bucks.

Buster Olney

  (1:23 PM)

Abe: I don't think the Angels will spend on Teixeira, unless he goes absolutely Reggie-'77 nuts at the plate in the post-season. The Angels' focus is on pitching, and will continue to be on pitching.

Josh (Chicago)

Buster... how can Lou not start Z or Harden in Game one... i would start Dempster definitely at home in game two, but not game one... wouldn't it be dumb is the cubs lose 3-2 and Harden and Z only each pitch once... need to set your team up for best case right?

Buster Olney

  (1:25 PM)

Josh: I suspect -- but don't know for sure -- that he might be a little worried about a breakdown from Z or Harden early in the game. If that happens in a Game 1, it can set up bad things the rest of the way through the playoffs. The way he set this up makes complete sense to me, given the health questions and inconsistency of Harden and Zambrano, respectively.

Rob (Brighton, MA)

Better question: How does Cashman stay as healthy looking as he does working in that environment? Seriously, the guy doesn't show the weight of the years there. Cosmo should be hounding him for stress relief advice.

Buster Olney

  (1:26 PM)

Rob: He handles the stress well, but other GMs think he's nuts in staying there as long as he has. For years, he had an issue grinding teeth at night; it got so bad that he'd wake his wife.

Paddy (St. Louis, MO)

Buster, Do the Dodgers rip my guts out this week, or do they pull it out? Any chance Furcal can come back and bat lead off and get Martin out of there? He's really regressed at the plate.

Buster Olney

  (1:27 PM)

Paddy: I think the Dodgers will make the playoffs. Martin really has regressed in the second half -- which isn't a surprise. Joe Torre does a lot of things well, but getting regular rest for his catchers is not one of them, and we've seen the resulting erosion.

Otto (CA)

With the ill-advised signing off Mike Lowell, do you agree with me that the Red Sox are in danger of getting old if they bring back Tek?

Buster Olney

  (1:28 PM)

Otto: I think the Red Sox are going to make Varitek a respectable two-year offer, with maybe a vesting option, and if he says no, they'll wish him well and find another catcher. I don't think they'll go crazy to re-sign him.

Trevor, KC

Buster, you stunk at picks for 2 straight years http://vegaswatch.net/2008/09/evaluating-april-mlb-predictions-2008.html http://vegaswatch.net/2007/09/evaluating-april-mlb-predictions.html

Cheese, San Mateo

Buster love your work. You have repeatedly said that you think CC will sign with the Yankees. But it now seems as though he may have more options that previously thought of. Do you think he still signs with the Yankees? I think he comes to the West Coast.

Buster Olney

  (1:30 PM)

Cheese: No, I didn't say that I thought the Yankees wouldn't sign CC. What I've been saying since last spring is that I think the Yankees will throw a blank checkbook at him. And we'll see if CC walks away from an extra $40 million or so. My guess is that he will.

Matt (DC)

Why is Brandon Webb even in the discussion for the CY?? Lincecum has CLEARLY had the better year!!! The only thing Webb has been better stats wise is wins, which is clearly an irrelevant stat. Please give me some insight on why the media even gets to vote on this? Shouldn't it be the managers or the players themselves??

Buster Olney

  (1:32 PM)

Matt -- it's conceivable that Webb will finish the year with six more victories, no small margin, whle having propped up a contender the whole year. That will weigh very heavily in the minds of voters; history tells us this.

Adrian (ca)

Buster, a couple of years ago you called Chad Billingsley a bust. Are you ready to take that back?

Buster Olney

  (1:33 PM)

Adrian: When did I ever say he was a bust? He's far too young to be a bust. Earlier this year, there were concerns about his arm.

Trent, Seattle

No response to your poor performance at picking winners?

Buster Olney

  (1:33 PM)

Trent: read the transcript.

Kevin (Lake Zurich, IL)

Robert, What's your take on the White Sox/Twins series and who will win the division?

Buster Olney

  (1:36 PM)

Kevin: On paper, you'd give the edge to the White Sox, but really, in series like this, momentum can play a major factor. If Baker goes out tonight and throws well and the Twins win, then maybe there is some carry-over, and the White Sox will start to worry about ramifications. The Twins' young starters have not been faring well, though, and scouts who see them lately find their stuff to be flattening out.

Kyle (Arizona)

The Lincecum argument is great, but lack of wins is why Webb lost the ROY in 2003 to Willis and Randy Johnson lost the Cy Young vote to Roger Clemens in 2004. CY should be Webb...

Buster Olney

  (1:36 PM)

Kyle: Bingo. Whether you think wins should be a small factor or a big factor, the reality is that for a lot of voters, it is a major factor.

Robert, Arlington

In your opinion why the lack of national recognition for the Angels. Quietest 100 win season ever, about to clinch home field to go along with the best road record in the bigs, about to enter the playoffs healthy for the first time in years, and yet all the AL talk seems to center around the Rays and Red Sox entering the playoffs. Do people out there really still not believe in the quality of this team?

Buster Olney

  (1:37 PM)

Robert: They clinched so early -- and we knew by July 15 or so that they would win the division -- that there really hasn't been any drama. Don't worry, everybody will be locking in on the Angels soon enough.

Ben Sheets (Milwaukee, WI)

With all this talk about CC. Where will I be pitching next year?

Buster Olney

  (1:39 PM)

Ben: That all depends on what your doctors say to team doctors this winter. The health of your elbow will dictate how much attention you get on the free agent market. Agents who don't represent you were a little stunned that you were as open as you were last week about how you've been dealing with soreness.

Drayton McClain (Houston)

Ben Sheets....you will be an Astro. Berkman Says so.

Buster Olney

  (1:39 PM)

Drayton: That's actually a pretty good call.

Earl Weaver

Momentum is the next day's starting pitcher, and unlike you, I can analyze me some baseball. Please don't ever use that term again.

Buster Olney

  (1:42 PM)

Earl: OK, then apparently you weren't watching that Red Sox-Yankees series in 2004, or the Mets at the end of last season, or the Brewers this month. Not everybody has Palmer, Flanagan and Boddicker, Earl.

AJ Burnett (Canada, EH)

Where will I be pitching next year?

Buster Olney

  (1:42 PM)

AJ: My guess today? The Yankees.

Dan (Philadelphia)

Comeback Player of the Year? Even with his second half struggles I assume that Josh Hamilton is still the favorite in the AL. What about Brad Lidge in the NL? I know his final numbers weren?t terrible last year but many people were convinced he was done as a closer. There is no question that he has far surpassed everyone?s expectations for this year after his struggles the past few seasons.

Buster Olney

  (1:42 PM)

Dan: I'd pick Lidge.

Gus - NY

Why do you think that the Yankees only sign Texeira if Cashman is gone? Thanks

Buster Olney

  (1:43 PM)

Gus: If he stays, they will go player development route and work to retain draft picks. If he leaves, they're much more likely to spend nutty dollars.

Brian (Philly)

Do you really think the Phillies would go with Cashman over two in house guys in Amaro and Arbuckle, who have essentially been the face of the team this year even though Gillick is still technically here? I mean, most fans want someone other than Amaro, does the front office know that?

Buster Olney

  (1:43 PM)

Brian: In short -- yes.

Matt (Syracuse)

The Mets will spend a lot of time looking at Derek Lowe, right?

Buster Olney

  (1:45 PM)

Matt: I would. In fact, to me, he has a chance to be the most sought-after free agent, in terms of how many teams join the chase. Everybody wants Sabathia but in reality, only two or three probably can seriously consider him. But Derek Lowe's age will naturally knock down his asking price into a range where 8-10 teams might get involved. Great athlete, great sinker, great stuff, and he really seems to have matured in his time in L.A.

chris(smithtown,ny)

Who will be the biggest names on the trading block in the offseason in your opinion ?

Buster Olney

  (1:46 PM)

Chris: Fielder and Ryan Howard.

bill (tulsa)

Buster, please don't make me beg. Will you answer a question about where Manny will play next year?

Buster Olney

  (1:48 PM)

Bill: I would not be shocked if Manny were still unsigned on Jan. 10, waiting for the big payoff he apparently thinks he deserves. And in conversations with team execs, I'm having a hard time coming up with a lot of folks frothing to pay him what he wants, at his age. He's had a great year, for sure, but I think the willingness of teams to invest a long-term deal in Manny is going to be greatly hurt by how he drove his way out of Boston through passive aggression.

Buster Olney

  (1:49 PM)

So, in short, Bill, I don't know -- it depends on who still has needs on Jan. 10.

Jake (ATL)

He's got a ring, an MVP, and a batting title. Never struck out 100 times, 100 RBI eight straight years, 400 HRs, likely to finish with 1500 RBI and runs. Is Chipper Jones a Hall of Famer?

Buster Olney

  (1:49 PM)

Jake: Yes, he doesn't have to play another game; he's a first-ballot HOFer.

Juan (Charleston, SC)

Mets will win the World Series. You can tell you friends Jayson and Grandpa that the Mets still rule.

Buster Olney

  (1:50 PM)

Juan: Given my prediction record this year, I shouldn't question anyone's picks. But I will -- do you think they can win the WS? With that bullpen? We'll see.

Matt (Milwaukee, WI)

What could the Brewers expect back for Fielder this winter? I keep hearing Cain for Fielder. Any other thoughts?

Buster Olney

  (1:51 PM)

Matt: Cain for Howard or Fielder in some kind of deal makes a whole lot of sense for all sides. It'll be an interesting winter for Matt Cain, I suspect.

Ed (Philly)

Buster, Please tell me more about Howard on the trading block! I would love for the Phillies to unload him for a few young pitching prospects. I've been in arguments with many friends because I think he should be traded for young pitchers.

Buster Olney

  (1:53 PM)

Ed: Nobody with the Phillies has told me that. But execs with other teams think that will be the first move made by the incoming GM -- to assess Howard's trade value, given how he's climbing up the arbitration ladder, and given the fact that talks about a multi-year deal haven't worked out.

Dan ( Boston)

BUSTER!!! Your nuts if you think Manny is going to be unsigned Jan 10. He didnt kill anyone, and leaving Boston upset is nothing new. I say the Yanks, Mets and I got the Rays as my sleeper. Dont be fooled by execs fake righteousness

Buster Olney

  (1:55 PM)

Dan: OK. We'll chat again in the off-season. I very well could be wrong again, but I'm not hearing a lot of We've-Got-To-Have-That-Guy talk. I am hearing a lot of That-Guy-Is-Only-Trying-Now-Because-He's-On-A-Salary-Drive-and-I-wouldn't-touch-him-on-a-multi-year-deal.

Jarrett (CA)

Hey Buster how good is Matt Cain in your mind? Do you see him as a future ace or just a very good #2 or #3 pitcher?

Buster Olney

  (1:57 PM)

Jarrett -- Folks with other teams love him, love the way he pitches, loves his competitiveness. They do worry that he's going to be worn down by the fact that he's always pitching in low-scoring, high-pressure games. In short, yes, he's viewed as a potential No. 1.

Greg (atlanta)

Johnny peskys number retired! how you feeling about this?

Buster Olney

  (1:57 PM)

Greg: I got an autograph from him when I was 10, at Fenway. What a nice man he is.

Garrett (CT)

Cano for Kemp?

Buster Olney

  (1:58 PM)

Garrett: Pretty fair deal.

Buster Olney

  (1:58 PM)

hondo (los angeles)

Buster, the hot name around L.A. for a while was Kershaw.......does he just need more time or is he less than expected?

Buster Olney

  (1:58 PM)

Hondo: I defer to scouts, who say he just needs more time. Folks in the game love his attitude.

Josh (Tampa)

What a week for your people. Ranked for the first time in 24 years and Price makes his first big league start.

Buster Olney

  (2:00 PM)

Josh: I was a sophomore at Vanderbilt the last time we were ranked. Plus, more good news for Vanderbilt, with Pedro Alvarez apparently close to agreeing to terms. With that, folks, my time is up. Thanks for all the great questions -- have a great time watching games over the next six days.