ESPN

Jay (NYC)

Rob - Thanks for taking this. You advocate selecting the MVP outside of the context of his team's performance. Can you explain why every other asset in the world (stock, homes, currency) is valued within a given context but the contribution of a baseball player should not be?

Rob Neyer

  (12:02 PM)

I have no idea what you're telling me, Jay.

Andy (Tampa)

Did Chris Carpenter become the front runner for the NL Cy Young yesterday?

Rob Neyer

  (12:03 PM)

He might already have been the front-runner. But, yeah probably. As long as he doesn't finish more than two wins behind his teammate, he's probably going to win.

Brooke (Oregon)

Giants or Rockies? Why?

Rob Neyer

  (12:05 PM)

The Rockies because they've got the better team, though the Giants have a slight edge in home games remaining. Should be fun, especially when they play each other.

Matt (Denver)

You tweeted about this, but obviously couldn't elaborate: is there any good reason why Seth Smith hasn't played more this year? He is 7th in baseball in OPS (for those over 300 PA), and has even hit lefties (in a small sample). How should they play this down the stretch? I say go with CarGo, Smith, and Hawpe until Fowler returns and then take defensive pariah Hawpe out and put CarGo in right and Fowler back in CF with Smith in LF.

Rob Neyer

  (12:08 PM)

Well, Smith probably should have played more this season. But you know, a lot of people -- or me, anyway -- figured a couple of months ago that Smith should have been playing instead of CarGo ... but CarGo's been great! So what do I know? I think the Rockies have four functional (or better) outfielders and that's a good thing.

Andrew (Rochester)

Beatles Rock Band or JoePo's Machine?

Rob Neyer

  (12:08 PM)

Why do I have to choose one? I've already read THE MACHINE and it's a hoot, more on that next week when the book's released.

Shawn (DC)

Any chance Verlander has a shot at the Cy, or does Greinke have it wrapped up (barring a stunning collapse). Thanks!

Rob Neyer

  (12:09 PM)

Verlander absolutely has a chance, as does Sabathia. I'm still not sure the voters will go for Greinke if he finishes with 15 or 16 wins. And as great as he's been, Verlander's really not that far behind, qualitatively.

Ian (MPLS)

What the heck has happened to Morneau. For most of the season he was arguably a top 3 player in the league and now ... ouch.

Rob Neyer

  (12:12 PM)

You don't think he's simply found his true level? His numbers right now are practically identical to last year's.

Ron (NYC)

Rob, the ESPN fan polling shows Rickey Henderson ahead of Barry Bonds as the greatest Left Fielder in the ESPN era. Are people nuts??? Rickey is maybe a top 20 player all time, Barry, with PED is top 2; without - top 10. Would love to hear your take, since you and Klaw seem to be the only 2 sane people left ... thanks!

Rob Neyer

  (12:13 PM)

What do you want me to say, Ron ... Sometimes the crowd isn't all so wise.

Harry (Babylon, NY)

State of the Mets - Stark, Gammons, where does Neyer fall?

Rob Neyer

  (12:14 PM)

If they can get their core healthy next season, they'll be competitive. But as things stand now, they're not going to be nearly as good as a team in New York should be.

john (brooklyn)

How many more years will Mariano Rivera pitch?

Rob Neyer

  (12:17 PM)

He's got a great job, he's great at it, and there's no obvious candidate for his replacement. I'm going to believe he can pitch brilliantly until he doesn't, and I have no idea if that means he'll pitch until he's 42 or 47.

Joe (Boston, MA)

Your opinion, worst manager in MLB. Dusty Baker is the common choice, but I found Jerry Manuel this offseason to be saying some particularly odd things about statistics. Also ran the serviceable Ryan Church out of town so the Mets can enjoy a couple years of Frenchie's .290 OBP'ing ways.

Rob Neyer

  (12:18 PM)

Lots of candidates for that title, Joe. Have you been following the brilliant career of Trey Hillman?

Jim D. (Tampa)

Why doesn't David Ortiz try bunting once a game when they play that huge shift on him? It would raise his average and eventually make teams stop doing it which would have balls hit hard to right find some holes. Seems like a no brainer!

Rob Neyer

  (12:19 PM)

Ah, the age-old question ... Yes, I believe that lefty sluggers should do more to beat the shift. But they never have and probably never will.

Carl (Detroit, MI)

Rob, if you are Dave Dombrowski is there any way you let Magglio Ordonez option vest? $18 million is way too much for Ordonez in 2010. The team is 6.5 games up in the division and playing Magglio every 3 days will still keep him fresh for the playoffs.

Rob Neyer

  (12:21 PM)

No, I don't. But that ship sailed about a month ago. The Tigers really don't have a choice now, because if they sat him as you're suggesting, he would file a grievance and he would win. Not to mention that you don't want to enter October with one of your every-day players in a really, really bad mood.

TJ (NYC)

Carlos Pena bunts to beat the shift from time to time.

Rob Neyer

  (12:21 PM)

Thanks, TJ.

Brad (NM)

Is your boy Grady still a keeper in fantasy leagues?

Rob Neyer

  (12:22 PM)

You'd have to ask Will Carroll or somebody. I do believe the Hall of Fame talent's still in there, but I have no idea what the recovery process will be like after the surgeries.

Fred (NYC)

Tell Rob in NYC that the "Nation" also thinks that Nolan Ryan was a better pitcher than Greg Maddux. Every state in the country voted that way except for GA. So GA got it right but probably for the wrong reason (Homerism.)

Rob Neyer

  (12:23 PM)

Tell him yourself! ;-)

Nick (Columbia)

Were you implying that Wainwright could edge Carp for the Cy Young, or that Wainwright could prevent Carp from beating Lincecum?

Rob Neyer

  (12:24 PM)

Both.

Russ (Cape Porpoise, ME)

Hi Rob - the new Wilco has never clicked for me, the way all the others sooner or later did. You?

Rob Neyer

  (12:25 PM)

It clicked for me. It's been a few weeks, but for a while I was listening to it every day. That said -- and I'm sure you know this -- Wilco must be seen live, to be truly appreciated.

Matt (Bridgewater NJ)

how about Mariano Rivera for AL Cy Young???

Rob Neyer

  (12:25 PM)

Sorry, Matt. When he pitches more than 75 innings *and* there's no starter having a great year, get back to me.

Jeff (Chicago)

Keith Law mentioned he has a NL Cy Young vote this year and isn't going to comment on the race since there are such few votes. Do you have your first vote in any category this year?

Rob Neyer

  (12:27 PM)

Nope. I'm not one of the chosen few. Maybe next year if I'm super-lucky. I'm not sure I understand Keith's reasoning, though I might if I were in his position.

Daniel (San Francisco)

Doesn't the discrepancy in innings pitched give Lincecum a significant edge in the Cy race?

Rob Neyer

  (12:27 PM)

I think that it should. I don't believe that it will, necessarily. Voters like shiny objects, and Carpenter's record and ERA are both shinier than the Freak's.

Nick (Columbia)

What potential World Series matchup is best for baseball, in terms of generating the most hype and receiving the highest ratings?

Rob Neyer

  (12:29 PM)

Obvious answer is Red Sox or Yankees vs. Dodgers, right? There are a lot of Cardinals fans in the Midwest, though ... I'd have to study up on this.

Matt (Los Angeles)

How many wins does Zack Greinke need to convince Cy Young voters that he deserves the award?

Rob Neyer

  (12:30 PM)

Absolute minimum is probably 16, and that might not be enough if Verlander or Sabathia wins 20.

Scott (Indy)

I think Keith Law was saying they were asked not to comment on how they voted or were thinking about voting until after the results for the Cy Young were released. He is abiding to that request.

Rob Neyer

  (12:32 PM)

It's probably a solid policy, because you don't want the voters log-rolling ... but of course the log-rolling happens anyway, by guys who aren't voting. Anyway, if I have a ballot someday and they tell me to shut up about it, I will.

Daniel (San Francisco)

How much will the severe home/away (OPS: 1.022/.846) split in Teixeira's numbers hurt his MVP case (assuming Mauer should get it anyway)?

Rob Neyer

  (12:33 PM)

With the exception of various Rockies, a severe home/away split has never in the history of baseball hurt anyone's MVP chances. The voters just don't dig that deep, or if they do they don't care. And they won't this year, either.

James (Plevins, KS)

Law's reasoning was that they ask you not to announce your vote until after the official announcement. Since there are so few voters an enterprising reporter could beat mlb to the punch by tracking down only a couple dozen reporters.

Rob Neyer

  (12:35 PM)

Oh, of course. And you wouldn't even have to track down the "reporters". You'd just have to find the columns or blogs in which they revealed their choices. It'd be tough, though, keeping a secret like that! We're not in the business of keeping secrets.

Jay (Hartford)

You said in a recent column that no team should be unaware when they are giving away runs and wins. Enter the Dodgers - how much longer can they play James Loney?

Rob Neyer

  (12:38 PM)

It's a fair question, Jay. And I'm surprised to see that he wasn't much better last year. Unless the guy plays first base like Keith Hernandez, he's probably just not good enough to be a regular.

zach (boston)

hey it seems if the Yankees even make the playoffs in the past 10 years they get bounced in the Division series, Det vs. NY in 09, who wins and why?

Rob Neyer

  (12:43 PM)

The Yankees will be heavily favored if they they play the Tigers, and should be. They're better at second base, better at shortstop, better at third base, better at catcher, better at two of three outfield positions, better in the bullpen, better at No. 3 starter ... Is that enough?

Warren (Dalton, GA)

According to BP's third order wins the Dodgers are 11 games better than any NL team and second only to the Yankees overall. Any significance now or just a result from their first half run?

Rob Neyer

  (12:44 PM)

Hey, it's mostly the same guys, right? Sure, I think it's significant. Though it's worth considering that the Cardinals are a lot more talented now than they were in April and May.

todd (philly)

Rob - in Bull Durham, during the scene where they go over their cliche's in speaking to the media - the movie flashes to the newspaper and states "Hard Hittin Whiten" - is this a reference to Mark Whiten and does he deserve some royalties from the movie?

Rob Neyer

  (12:45 PM)

Yes, that was Whiten, who must have been featured in the edition of Baseball America at hand when dressing the set. But no, I don't think he can expect a check anytime soon.

Tom (St. Louis)

In the Sweetspot you mentioned Beckett and Lester as one of the best top rotations for playoff teams. Does Beckett's 4.81 ERA in the 2nd half enter into that equation?

Rob Neyer

  (12:50 PM)

A little bit. If I had actually come up with a real list, I probably would have knocked them down one peg because of Beckett's recent struggles. I do think he'll be fine in October, though; this is probably just a blip.

Charlie (Miami, FL)

After 2010, Jeter plays for ____ at _____ (SS, DH, LF, 3B)?

Rob Neyer

  (12:51 PM)

Because everyone's raving about his defense, I think he'll still be playing shortstop for the Yankees in 2011, after which he'll transition into some sort of super-sub role.

mike (san jose)

a lot of giants fans upset about not using posey in a blow out game. why then, is he even on the roster ?

Rob Neyer

  (12:52 PM)

I think everyone watching the Giants is wondering why Posey can't get into the lineup of a team that so desperately struggles to score. May we assume that Bochy doesn't trust kids in tight spots?

Andy (Chicago, IL)

How high will Feldman be in Cy Young voting? He has got to be the most underappreciated pitcher in baseball.

Rob Neyer

  (12:53 PM)

You're right about him being underappreciated, but he won't finish in the top five, and shouldn't.

Tyler (Berlin Ct)

rob-what do you think is the future of Jason Varitek with the red sox? Do you think he backs up Martinez next season and eases his way on as a coach in the sox organization? Or does he test the free agent market and land somewhere else?

Rob Neyer

  (12:54 PM)

Hey, the coaching thing will always be there if he wants it. Right now, he's still playing well enough to play regularly, so I won't be surprised if he signs a deal with another team.

Dave (NJ)

Joe Pos summed up the Bochy/Posey situation perfectly in a recent post. Managers would rather just lose conventionally than even RISK losing unconventionally.

Rob Neyer

  (12:57 PM)

Of course they would, because you don't get fired for losing conventionally. Not for a while, anyway.

TJ (NY)

So have you found a new team to root for? I suggest Bal, great history, fallen on hard times and this way you can root against the Yanks and Redsox.

Rob Neyer

  (12:58 PM)

I'll never root for another team like I used to root for the Royals. But I imagine I'll simply follow the closest team, which today is the Mariners and might someday be the Giants or the Athletics. There's something to be said for proximity when the passion fades away.

Paul (Denver)

Wilco live is unbelievable, especially at the famous Red Rocks Amplitheatre in Morrison, CO. With that said, Sky Blue Sky blows away their recent album.

Rob Neyer

  (1:00 PM)

They're pretty unbelievable at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, too. And you're right about S/B/S.

Steve (Hopkinton, Ma)

How about an award for Relief pitchers...maybe a 'Mo' that is voted on like the Cy rather than just a statistical award...

Rob Neyer

  (1:01 PM)

Given that the voters give a reliever the Cy Young about as often as they give a pitcher the MVP, I think a BBWAA award for the top relievers might actually be a pretty good idea. I'll talk to my brothers about it!

Doug (NYC)

About your blog about how the Pirates swidled the Yanks in the Tabata deal, should the fact the Tabata had some real issues during his last couple years in the organization, including insubordination, have been considered. You didn't mention it at all but kept on repeating how talented he is.

Rob Neyer

  (1:02 PM)

I should have mentioned it, and there's something to be said for the possibility that if not for the change of scenery, the issues would have continued. On the other hand, there's something to be said for patience with young players, too.

Rob Neyer

  (1:03 PM)

Thanks for all the grand questions, and until next time don't forget: "When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."