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Steve Phillips

  (12:01 PM)

We're down to the final four days of the season, and things still aren't decided. It appears mother nature may get involved as well, with rain up and down the East Coast. It's going to be an interesting finish to a great season. What's on everyone's mind?

Timbo (Utah)

The Mets collapse... Again? Is it gonna happen or do they sneak into the playoffs?

Steve Phillips

  (12:03 PM)

I still think they'll make it, although it's painful to watch them day-in and day-out, because of the inconsistency of their offense and their bullpen. I like that Santana is lined up to pitch on Sunday if they need him. If they don't, they will be fresh for game 1 of the playoffs. For their sake, I hope they get in, because it will be another very long, long winter in New York if they don't.

Ben (Baton Rouge, LA)

Do the Dodgers realistically have much chance at all of winning a playoff series this year?

Steve Phillips

  (12:04 PM)

I think they do. They have the best pitching in the NL, and they are in just about every game. I think that they have some depth in the bullpen, and with Manny there, they seem to be a much better club. There's no reason to think they won't win another playoff game. It's been a long, dry spell for the Dodgers.

gavin (chicago)

how worried should i be about carlos zambrano after another poor performance last night?

Steve Phillips

  (12:06 PM)

I may be in the minority, but I think you should be worried about him. He was out with a rotator cuff, then threw the no-hitter. I was shocked that they let him throw that many pitches after having missed a couple of starts. He just doesn't look like the same Carlos Zambrano that can be dominant at times. He lacks command of his fastball, which causes him to fall behind in the count and elevate his pitches, a bad combo for success. I love his competitiveness, and if I had to bet, I would expect he would bounce back and be productive, but you do have to have some concern about him.

Andy(Boston)

Who's you're AL MVP? I've got Pedroia or Youkilis.

Steve Phillips

  (12:07 PM)

I couldn't tell that you were from Boston with your selections there. But I would tend to agree that Pedroia would be the AL MVP. I think Justin Morneau has been very important for Minnesota and has had an MVP-caliber season, but I believe Pedroia should win the award. He's clearly a valuable guy and should be given the award this year.

Justin (Minnesota)

Who wins tonight Twins or Sox, which team has the most pressure tonight?

Steve Phillips

  (12:10 PM)

I think there is more pressure on the Twins. They can't fall two behind in the loss column with only three to go. They certainly have responded well and hav gotten the job done, but the pressure still lies with them, just because that half game is in the loss column.

Jeremy (Suffern, NY)

Will Jerry Manuel be the Mets manager if they dont make the playoffs?

Steve Phillips

  (12:12 PM)

I can't see how the Mets would be able to bring him back if they don't make the playoffs. He will have been part of two major end-of-season collapses. If they don't make the playoffs, the Mets will have to make some sort of leadership change, both with the managers and players, so I can't see how he could be back. That being said, I've been impressed with Manuel, with the way he's handled himself and the medial. He can be a capable major-league manager, but it shouldn't and won't be for New York next year.

Mike (Ann Arbor)

If I am the Cubs who would I rather play in a short 5 games series, the Dodgers, Mets or Phillies?

Steve Phillips

  (12:14 PM)

If I'm the Cubs, it shouldn't matter, because they have a better team than any of those three. The best matchup is against the Dodgers, because they lack any real left-handed power. The Cubs will throw three righties in a five game series, and they match up better against LA than they would against Utley, Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Howard, etc.

Lou (Deptford, NJ)

Please tell me the Phillies won't pull a Mets and not make the playoffs ... seriously, how do we lose 2 of 3 to the Braves at home?

Steve Phillips

  (12:16 PM)

I don't think they have to worry about that. It would take a major collapse for them to finish out of the wild card. They have great character and talent. Enjoy the day off today, and get ready to beat the Nationals tomorrow.

Jesse (STL)

I heard the Rays are having trouble finding someone to throw out the first pitch in the ALDS. Is this true?

Steve Phillips

  (12:19 PM)

It is true. In fact, their owner said that nothing good has happened in their history, so they can't find anyone. I would say that Wade Boggs is a candidate, and Vince Namoli (the original owner, who fought to bring baseball to Tampa). Namoli still has some ownership interest in the team, but is not held in high regard for how he ran the franchise. I would put that aside and would think he would be a worthy candidate, regardless of how he ran the organization. Otherwise, I think John Kruk would be a great option.

Rob (Boston)

If the Red Sox lose Game 1 in Anaheim, is the series over?

Steve Phillips

  (12:20 PM)

No, there's no chance of that. I like the depth of the Red Sox starting pitching. Beckett looks good, Lester may be their best pitcher, and Matsuzaka looks healthy right now. Regardless of the outcome of Game 1, you have to like their outlook for games 2 and 3.

Marc (Long Island, NY)

If the weather is really bad in the New York area, do you think there is a chance MLB will move the games to a dome somewhere else in the country?

Steve Phillips

  (12:22 PM)

I'd be surprised if they end up moving the games, but I would also be surprised if they haven't at least thought about it. There is a lot of sensitivity to moving games and not moving games, since the precedent has been set for the way they treated the Astros. A hurricane is a different circumstance than a stormfront moving in. We may end up with baseball being played Monday and/or Tuesday, but there's not much you can do about it. One reason why baseball didn't take that CHC/HOU series and push it to Monday and Tuesday was because of exactly what is happening right now. If you just start tacking games on to the end of the regular season, and bad weather hits, you could push the playoffs back a full week or more. I think MLB handled the Astros situation the best way possible, and I suspect they'll do the same here.

Eric (NYC)

So if the weather cancels Sunday's game between the Red Sox and Yanks, Mussina wont get his shot at winning 20 games. Could the rain seriously keep Moose out of the Hall of Fame?!?

Steve Phillips

  (12:24 PM)

I think the lack of a Cy Young, the lack of 20 wins, and the lack of big postseason performances all factor in to keeping Mussina out of the Hall. There were games earlier this year that he could have pitched better in, and would already be at 20 wins. I'm not looking at it as a deciding factor.

Chris (Bellevue, NE)

Do you believe that the Cubs bullpen could be the defference inthe playoffs?

Steve Phillips

  (12:25 PM)

I think it's one of their major strengths. Power arms seem to win in the postseason, and they have power arms throughout their starting rotation and in their bullpen. They can get strikeouts when they need them, and that is an important asset in postseason baseball. They are the team to beat in the NL, and their bullpen is a big reason why.

Rick from Los Angeles

How would the rest of the country enjoy a freeway series between the Angels and Dodgers? Or would it be another ratings drop like the Yanks-Mets in 01?

Steve Phillips

  (12:26 PM)

The ratings would drop more significantly than the Subway Series. The Dodgers and Angels have a smaller fanbase in comparison to the Mets and Yankees. The numbers would definitely fall. It's interesting, but I think a Red Sox-Cubs matchup is probably the most appealing, followed by a Sox-Mets rematch of 1986.

Steve Phillips

  (12:27 PM)

I think that Sox-Dodgers would also be compelling, with Manny taking on his former club. That would really be interesting.

Steve Phillips

  (12:27 PM)

The Angels, White Sox, and Rays just don't seem to grab you the way that the Red Sox do.

Guy (Chicago)

OK, this is a pretty specific request for a prediction, but if you had to pick one player who will have the best postseason this year (a sort of Playoff MVP), who would it be?

Steve Phillips

  (12:29 PM)

The guy to look out for in the playoffs this year is Dustin Pedroia. His consistency this year has been second to none, after a slow start, and he has that ability to elevate his game in big moments without trying to hard. It's a special trait for such a little guy. If the Mets make the playoffs, it will take all the pressure off of them, and they are going to be a tough team to beat, and I suspect that David Wright could have a huge postseason.

Steve Phillips

  (12:30 PM)

What a dramatic finish to the season. I'm off to Milwaukee to call the Brewers-Cubs game. Looking forward to that, and the last week of the season. Tune in to Baseball Tonight at 6 on Sunday, then for a two-hour special recapping the season at 9!