Chat with Rob Neyer

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Welcome to The Show! On Tuesday, ESPN.com MLB Insider Rob Neyer will drop by to take your baseball-related questions.

Neyer's book, "Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Legends," can be ordered now!

Send in your questions now and join Rob in The Show on Tuesday at noon ET!

Neyer Archive: Chats | Columns

Ron, NYC


Doesnt Joe Torre have enough money in the bank that he doesnt need to write tell-all books?

Rob Neyer
  (12:17 PM)


As someone with six books to his name, I can bashfully report that most authors aren't in it for the money.

Rich, West Point, NY


Rob, does Joe Torre's book and the fallout from it have any long term effects with his standing in the organization? Will it change the symbol they put on his cap in the Hall of Fame?

Rob Neyer
  (12:17 PM)


Well, that's up to the Hall of Fame. And like most things, this too shall pass.

Mike (MN)


What kind of numbers do you see Ryan Ludwick putting up this year after his breakout season? Do you think it was all fluke?

Rob Neyer
  (12:19 PM)


All fluke? Nah. I don't think he'll ever have another season quite as good, but he'll be good enough to play every day for at least a few more years.

Floyd (Los Angeles, CA)


What happened last week? Your posts were few and far between, and your chat disappeared into thin air.

Rob Neyer
  (12:20 PM)


I was saying goodbye (probably) to my grandfather. But thanks for noticing my absence.

Jim (Acton, MA)


According to Rumor Central... the Dodgers and Manny Ramirez may be ending talks... assuming it's true, where would he go?

Rob Neyer
  (12:20 PM)


I don't believe that talks will ever end, really, until the Dodgers have found another hitter or Manny's signed with someone else.

Brian (Little Rock)


Do the Royals really think Teahen is the solution at 2nd base?

Rob Neyer
  (12:23 PM)


Can't hurt to find out, I guess. But spring training seems like a strange place to learn a radically different position. I think what they're really doing is setting up Teahen as a super-utility player, since he's not a good enough hitter to play one of the corner spots full time.

matt (cleveland)


Hey Rob, From time to time I become obsessed with hall of fame hitters and I try to read and research and find everything out I can about him. This month's choice is Paul Waner....wondered if you cared to say a few words about him. Fantastic hitter, no?

Rob Neyer
  (12:24 PM)


Sure. And for a lot more about Big Poison, you should check out my last book.

Anthony (Cambridge)


Do you think the Red Sox need more pop in there line-up with an aging Ortiz and no Manny?

Rob Neyer
  (12:27 PM)


I think their lineup's fine. Ortiz will stage a mini-comeback and Lowrie's going to be the talk of the American League.

Steve Maryland


Jeff Kent is a Hall of Famer? Really? Do people really believe that?

Rob Neyer
  (12:28 PM)


I certainly do.

Jon (LA)


Cardinals or Steelers? Admit it, you care. . .

Rob Neyer
  (12:28 PM)


I care a little, only because the Cardinals winning would be a great story.

Dov (NY, NY)


Do you think Rocco Baldelli will take away from Jacoby Ellsbury's playing time in Boston (especially against lefties) or will the Sox just stick with Jacoby the way they stuck with Pedroia a few seasons ago when he was struggling.

Rob Neyer
  (12:29 PM)


I think when J.D. Drew is one of your outfielders you're going to need four of them.

Bryan-MA


Lowrie? Is that sarcasm?

Rob Neyer
  (12:31 PM)


Nope. He had a pretty good season despite playing with a wrist injury. Now he's healthy. I say he's one of the five best shortstops in the league now.

Muzzy (Leicester)


You noted that Pettitte gives up a lot more hits than a pitcher with his strikeout rate should. That is true of almost all Yankee pitchers and has been true for most of the decade. Is it possible for them to sort out their defensive difficulties given their current roster? Do you think they're even aware of the problem?

Rob Neyer
  (12:33 PM)


I'm sure that *someone* is aware of the problem, but you know they're stuck with a lousy shortstop for at least these next two seasons.

Ryan (Astoria, NY)


What's the deal with Ben Sheets? There's gotta be something in those medical records that are scaring teams off - can't believe a guy with that potential hasn't even had an offer yet

Rob Neyer
  (12:35 PM)


Do we know he hasn't had an offer yet? I'm sure every team would be happy to offer Sheets $1 million to pitch in 2009. The problem, I suspect, is that no team has made an offer that Sheets' agent considered reasonable. These things do have a way of working themselves out.

Drew (Bettendorf, IA)


how far do you think the Yankees will get with the aqusitions that they have made?

Rob Neyer
  (12:39 PM)


They'll get to October. What happens after that is up to the most powerful force of them all.

Alex (Washington, DC)


If you're the Yankees, which outfielder do they want to move - Nady or Swisher - which is easiest to move? And what are you getting for the one that moves?

Rob Neyer
  (12:40 PM)


I think it's two if the team is in the National League, three in the American.

Bryan (Montclair, NJ)


Are the Mets really going to start the season with Church, Tatis, and Murphy as corner outfielders?

Rob Neyer
  (12:43 PM)


Apparently so. And I don't think it's the end of the world. Church is fine when healthy, and those other two could make for a decent platoon. No team is perfect.

Roddy (San Fran)


Pettite signs for $5M when previously offerred $10M; looks like the same for Varitek. Has the baseball landscape really changed that dramatically in 2 months, or did both of these guys just make really bad decisions.

Rob Neyer
  (12:47 PM)


The landscape has changed, plus both teams had/have a great deal of leverage because both players obviously wanted/want to stay where they are.

Paul (Denver)


Is there any word on Fukudome's improvement, or lack thereof during the offseason?

Rob Neyer
  (12:49 PM)


How exactly would he improve during the offseason? That's not a snarky rhetorical question; I really don't know.

Tim (KC)


Question raised by your blog: Do you remember when you stopped being a *fan* of the Royals?

Rob Neyer
  (12:54 PM)


I don't think there was a single moment, Tim. Just a continuing series of insults to my intelligence over these last 20 years. But I can tell you the last time I really felt like a *fan*: the Saturday night before the All-Star break in 2003, when Jose Lima was rocking and it seemed like the Royals might really win a pennant.

Don (NY, NY)


Is San Diego really a small market (8th biggest city in America) or is it just a bad market?

Rob Neyer
  (12:57 PM)


You can't look at just city size, Don. San Diego's a huge and populous city, but that's just a function of lines. You have to look at the entire metropolitan area, and by that measure S.D. ranks 17th, between Minneapolis-St. Paul and St. Louis.

Aaron (England)


Can you describe the process that you use to project wins and losses for every team? Which sources do you use? What proprietary tools do you use? When do you do it (and is it too early)?

Rob Neyer
  (12:59 PM)


Yes, it's too early. And I'm a little hesitant to give away *all* my secrets. But I'll tell you that I use everything I can find, and to this point it's been working pretty well.

Pete (Philly)


What do you think of Ryan Howard's $18 million request? The raise he is asking for is higher than the total of the highest award for a player with his amount of service (Morneau, I believe)

Rob Neyer
  (1:01 PM)


He has to ask for what he thinks he can get. But he's not worth that much, really. If the Phillies do get stuck, though, it'll probably be the last time.

Derek (Minneapolis)


Do you agree with the sentiment that Carlos Gomez should start the year in AAA to sharpen his approach at the plate? The Twins do have Young-Span-Cuddyer in the outfield, and Carlos could always come up if there is an injury.

Rob Neyer
  (1:03 PM)


I don't think it's the worst idea in the world, but the Twins probably do need four outfielders who can play a little. Plus, maybe the best place for Gomez to learn is in the majors. Tough one.

Heath (hereafter)


Rob, who's going to win best picture this year? You've got a pretty good record with your predictions.

Rob Neyer
  (1:06 PM)


Apparently Slumdog Millionaire is an unstoppable force. Not a bad choice, though not the best.

Chet (LA)


What kind of year do you expect 22 year old Chris Davis to have?

Rob Neyer
  (1:08 PM)


He'll be 23 in March, and I expect him to hit 35 homers with a ton of ribs.

Jamie (DC)


Have you put up your movie post yet?

Rob Neyer
  (1:09 PM)


Nope. Though I finally saw The Wrestler last week, so now I'm ready...

Brian (Brooklyn)


The Rays are 5-1 to win the AL East. There is pretty decent value there, right?

Rob Neyer
  (1:11 PM)


Oh, I don't know. You have to figure them for third place, right? I mean, a really strong third place. But still third.

Ryan (Philly)


What do you think Kendry Morales' ceiling is for this year at 1st base for the Angels?

Rob Neyer
  (1:13 PM)


His OBP concerns me, but I think he's good enough to play every day, or almost good enough anyway.

Tyler (Calgary)


Okay Mr. Movie, give us your picks. Favorite contemporary actor? Best contemporary actor (if they aren't the same)?

Rob Neyer
  (1:14 PM)


I'm not really a fan of actors; there are lots of guys who can be fantastic in the right role. But boy, I sure have liked Casey Affleck in his last two movies.

Rich (Detroit, MI)


Hi Rob. I've heard catchers described as better/worse at handling a pitching staff. Is there any way to measure this? Or is it just based on observation?

Rob Neyer
  (1:15 PM)


It's incredibly difficult to measure. Most of what you hear is based not on observation, but on reputation.

Eric (Hoboken, NJ)


Made a bet with my friend on Ortiz's slugging percentage next year - set the line at .540, he took the under. Who wins?

Rob Neyer
  (1:18 PM)


You do. Reports of Papi's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Grapeweasel, NJ


'They'll get to October. What happens after that is up to the most powerful force of them all.' Mariano Rivera?

Rob Neyer
  (1:20 PM)


Fate.

Kruthy


Whats the upside for Asdrubal Cabrera and do you think the Indians would be wise to move him to SS?

Rob Neyer
  (1:23 PM)


He'll be a good player, but he probably does need to move to shortstop eventually, maybe when Peralta starts to get particularly expensive. Thanks for all the questions, and until next time remember what Newton said: "My powers are ordinary. Only my application brings me success."

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