Rob Neyer

  (11:57 AM)

To make for all the times over the years when I showed up a little late, today I'm starting early. Three minutes early. Just this once.

Nate (Philly)

What's up with Geovany Soto? He looks like his pre-2007 minor league numbers might have been more right than 07-08.

Rob Neyer

  (11:58 AM)

I don't know, but the difference between Soto last season and Soto this season (so far) might be the difference between making the playoffs and not making the playoffs. It's a mystery, for sure.

Mike(Chicago)

About the piniero piece, if hitters know he's going to throw a sinker, if they know he's trying to get a groundball every time, why do they still hit the groundball? Is it that hard to adjust?

Rob Neyer

  (11:59 AM)

I don't know about Pineiro specifically, but if hitters could simply adjust to a good sinker, Derek Lowe and Brandon Webb wouldn't be as successful as they are.

Roger, Grants, NM

Micah Owings is the best hitting pitcher since ________ ?

Rob Neyer

  (12:00 PM)

Don Newcombe?

Doug (New Rochelle, NY)

Hi Rob - Is Joba queiting the calls to return to the pen? The fist innings not withstanding, he is looking pretty good, huh?

Rob Neyer

  (12:03 PM)

Well, he's good enough right now. If and when Wang gets back the Yankees will have to make a decision, but at the moment Hughes is making that decision pretty easy.

Greg - DC

Buster said that Pedro is a top 20 pitcher all time. Come on. Pedro in his prime has to be top 5. Right?

Rob Neyer

  (12:04 PM)

Maybe, but that's not necessarily the question that Buster is addressing.

Hank (LA)

Isn't it obvious that Geo Soto's problem is his injured shoulder?

Rob Neyer

  (12:05 PM)

Seems like the most likely explanation. It's just a shame that he's played as much as he has, and probably cost the Cubs a win or two.

Doug (New Rochelle, NY)

Is Ortiz done? As a Yankee fan, I sure hope so.

Rob Neyer

  (12:06 PM)

I'm not convinced that he's done because he's still hitting doubles and he's still walking. But the utter lack of home-run power is disturbing.

Ryan (Canton, MI)

How dumb does Roger Clemens think we are? Does he really think his stepfather dying of a heart attack has any bearing at all on his health?

Rob Neyer

  (12:09 PM)

Clemens hasn't exactly become a mature adult in the last 25 years, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he's lying. Let's let things play out for a bit longer.

Jason (Ellicott City, MD)

Ryan Zimmerman > David Wright?

Rob Neyer

  (12:10 PM)

I'm not ready to go there yet, Jason. Let's wait another couple of months before grappling with that question.

Mike (Chicago)

If the Reds hitting keeps up the pace with their pitching do they have a legitimate shot at the playoffs?

Rob Neyer

  (12:12 PM)

I certainly wouldn't count them out, but I'm not sure where that hitting's going to come from.

Andrew (Charlotte, NC)

Do you think Franklin can successfully close for the Cards all season? My head says no, but my heart's saying yes.

Rob Neyer

  (12:13 PM)

Stranger things have happened, but I still think Jason Motte is the guy who belongs in that role.

Jeff - San Francisco

When are people going to start realizing that the Giants are for real? The pitching is very good and while the hitting is not, the object of the game is to score more runs than your opponent.

Rob Neyer

  (12:16 PM)

Gosh, they're 16th in the National League in scoring ... It's usually pretty hard to win that way.

Paddy (St. Louis, MO)

Rob, Here's a tough question for you. If Manny said he had ADHD and got a prescription for it, would you think it was legit? I think the abuse of that type of medication will be the next PED abuse. I also hope they rename "Mannywood" "Pierreville" for the next 40 plus games.

Rob Neyer

  (12:16 PM)

It's already happening, Paddy (the ADHD medication thing, I mean).

Dan (Nutley, NJ)

How does Kazmir look to you? It seems like he's battling with every hitter he faces. Why can't he consistently throw strikes, do you think?

Rob Neyer

  (12:18 PM)

His arm strength seems to be down, which often leads to nibbling and thus high pitch counts. I think the Rays need to address this, and soon.

Dave (Schenectady)

How much more rope will the Sox give Ortiz until they pull the plug on him? Then what will they do?

Rob Neyer

  (12:24 PM)

They don't really have anyone capable of filling those big shoes, and I notice that Lars Anderson is off to a rough start in Double-A so there's no help there for a long while. I think the Sox stick with Papi for another month or so, then they start looking to make a trade.

Justin (St. Louis)

Is it me or is the AL terrible? Besides maybe the Red Sox, there's not one team that stands out so far. What's the deal, yo?

Rob Neyer

  (12:25 PM)

I think there are a lot of good teams in the AL -- teams that could clean up in the NL -- but not many great ones. Maybe not any.

John (Toronto)

Why isn't more being made of the fact Manny did in fact test positive for steroids. It was just the medical records for the female fertility drug that was the nail in the coffin.

Rob Neyer

  (12:25 PM)

That story's still developing, John. But you're right: the evidence seems to leave little to the imagination.

Jonathan (New York)

This is it, right? Justin Upton has officially achieved liftoff? Does he make his All-Star debut this year?

Rob Neyer

  (12:30 PM)

He was pretty good last year, and he's been great this year. He might end up somewhere in the middle, but there's little doubt about his future.

tommy (syracuse)

is weiters an instant impact player once he goes up to the big leagues?

Rob Neyer

  (12:32 PM)

Oh, I don't know ... He's not exactly off to a fantastic start in Triple-A this spring. Once he's up he'll be good, but it might take him a season or two for greatness.

Steve (Manchester, NH)

Hey Rob, i know the Red Sox have a lot of starting pitching depth, but how long can they ignore what Clay Buchholz is doing in AAA? Masterson seems to get hit hard the 3rd time around, and would probably be better suited in long relief.

Rob Neyer

  (12:33 PM)

Well, it's only 27 innings, but yeah, he seems to be doing everything he can to force his way back to the majors. The Red Sox are blessed with many attractive options.

chris (valhalla, ny)

rob, whenever someone gets busted for using 'roids people bring up the greatness of "clean" players of yesteryear, like Aaron, mays, andre dawson, jim rice, but weren't like 70% of players during those days doing "greenies"? how are those generations of players any cleaner that today's batch?

Rob Neyer

  (12:35 PM)

Well, today's batch would use steroids *and* greenies if they could get away with it, so technically today's players probably are less clean. But just technically, and not philosophically.

Wayne (Toronto)

All the talk about kazmir struggling, Josh Beckett isn't exactly setting the mound on fire.

Rob Neyer

  (12:38 PM)

Neither is Jon Lester. Check out any May, and you're going to find good pitchers with lousy numbers. I mentioned Kazmir only because he's not throwing like he used to throw. Don't know if that's true of Beckett, too.

Chris (Dallas, TX)

Does Eric Wedge make it to Memorial Day? I see a manager whose team has underperformed their expected W-L in 5 of 6 seasons and is a train wreck in the 7th. That has to be about enough, right?

Rob Neyer

  (12:39 PM)

Yeah, one would think. I don't know what Wedge is doing wrong, if anything. At some point someone's going to take a fall, though. And I doubt if it's Grady Sizemore or Mark Shapiro.

Regular (Sweet Spot)

So...what's *your* take on banned substances and the Hall of Fame?

Rob Neyer

  (12:41 PM)

I would consider each player on a case-by-case basis, and I'm glad I have nine more years to think about it.

WES (LA)

Whats your feeling on whether Manny should address his team or not. Torre says its not a big deal and he should do it when he is ready, Frank McCourt is demanding he do it now. Those players really do look up to Manny and were probably let down a lot with learning that he cheated. It would probably help with him apoligizing to them, but to force him to do it would make it half hearted right?

Rob Neyer

  (12:42 PM)

Trust me, Wes ... few players look up to Manny Ramirez. He's just not the leadership type. And I can promise you that most (and perhaps all) of his teammates will be trying to keep a straight face while he "apologizes" for getting caught.

Rod (NJ)

Kazmir's stats show more signs for worry than Becketts or Lesters. Kazmir has a 30 to 21 K:BB ratio, whereas Beckett is 41:20 and Lester is 49:13.

Rob Neyer

  (12:43 PM)

Exactly. Thanks.

Tom-chicago

Rob,should Jenks get suspended or even fined for purposely throwing at Kinsler?Sox hitters where getting hit left and right.Should this even be under review?

Rob Neyer

  (12:45 PM)

Yes, he should be punished. It's one thing to throw a purpose pitch, but once you admit it, something has to be done.

Uncle Jerry (Brooklyn, NY)

Really enjoyed Bobby Cox thinking outside the box the other night, putting his LH closer Gonzo in to face LH Philly sluggers... in the 8th! And then brining in Soriano for the SV in the 9th. What other managers are confident enough to do that (or tinker with other old school baseball practices)? I'd say LaRussa (hitting his pitcher 8th) is one. Thoughts?

Rob Neyer

  (12:47 PM)

Are we sure that Gonzo's still the "closer"? I do hope that Cox continues to play it like this. An obvious move, perhaps, but one that far too many managers don't make.

Neal Roberts (Toronto)

Why does something to be done? It happens all the time and it's not like the player was hit. For once a player comes and tells the truth about throwing at a guy and he has to be punished for it?

Rob Neyer

  (12:47 PM)

Yes. I don't really have the time to expound here ... but, yes.

Chris (Kalamazoo, Michigan)

How do you think D Train will fare tomorrow?

Rob Neyer

  (12:51 PM)

I'm older, and softer ... so I'll just say that I'm wishing good things for him.

Rob (DC)

So you really believe that most AL teams would clean up in the NL? I think the baseball writers on here overplay the differences in the 2 leagues. I think the AL is better, but not miles better. And if you plunked say the Mets or Phillies in say the AL Central or West they would be competing for the Division. Of course you continue to believe the Phillies can't compete even in the NL East so I doubt you would agree with that statement.

Rob Neyer

  (12:54 PM)

Depends on how you define "miles," I guess. Do you think five wins is "miles"? Because I do. And I suspect that an 85-win team in the AL would win 90 in the NL. At least.

Muzzy (Leicester)

Chris Davis has 49 strikeouts in 104 at bats. What are the odds that we have a new strikeout champ this year?

Rob Neyer

  (12:54 PM)

He's something else, isn't he? Good thing he's still young, otherwise I'd be worried about his viability as a major leaguer.

Andy (VA)

Sorry to belabor the Jenks thing, but if Jenks says, and I'm paraphrasing, "I wasn't trying to hit him, I was trying to throw it behind him, how is that any different in practice from him trying & succeeding at hitting the inside corner of the plate with a strike?

Rob Neyer

  (12:56 PM)

How is that any different? Really? Seems to me there's a difference between trying to throw a strike and trying to scare a guy. But maybe that's just me...

Chris (Dallas, TX)

So...did the BBWAA card come in the mail yet? Or is it rookie hazing, like carrying the pink backpack?

Rob Neyer

  (12:57 PM)

Yes, I do have my card, which I believe means I'm really and truly a member. Hasn't quite sunk in yet, but I can tell you that it's not yet been a life-changing experience. Maybe once I figure out how to use the super-cool web site...

Christian (San Diego, CA)

Jordan Schafer has struggled to start the season, any chance he get demoted?

Rob Neyer

  (1:02 PM)

In his last 25 games he's batted .175 without a home run. I know he's a good center fielder, but I'm guessing he's on a short leash at the moment. Not that anyone should be surprised, as he wasn't all that great in Double-A last year. He probably just isn't ready for an every-day job in the majors. Not yet. Thanks for all the questions, and I'll see you next week.