| | ESPN.com baseball writer Rob Neyer was just dying to be controversial and imaginative in his latest chat with users, but he just couldn't.
Asked to pick the National League division winners, Neyer went with the old reliables -- Astros and Braves -- but did venture out on a limb to pick the Dodgers in the NL West. He also talked about how the Mariners have turned 180 degrees and now are hurting for offense but have solid pitching and offered his advice on how to handle the return of Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood.
If you missed Neyer's Feb. 17 chat, an edited transcript follows:
|  | | Rob Neyer says the Cubs need to baby Kerry Wood. |
Dan: Do the Mariners have strong enough pitching to win the AL West and possibly move on to the
playoffs?
Rob Neyer: Yes, I think they do. Sele-Moyer-Garcia is a pretty strong top three, and the fourth and fifth
starters should be solid, too. The M's do need somebody to win 18 or 20 games. At this point, the
problem is the outfield. If they don't find a left fielder with some pop, preferably from the left side
of the plate, they're not going to score enough runs.
Jarrod: How about the Pirates this year? Do they have much of a chance in that division?
Rob Neyer:
The Pirates' time is coming, but not for at least another year, probably two or three. The veterans
are past their primes, and the kids haven't reached theirs.
Steve: Is there anything in Indians camp that you think will be particularly interesting?
Rob Neyer:
Well, they're pretty well set. I suppose the battle for center field is fairly interesting, even if none
of the combatants are particularly good. The Indians have to sort out their bullpen, too.
Eugene Freedman: Why does Ken Griffey get noted as best of the 90's and Mark McGwire wins the ESPY, but Barry Bonds was
far superior to both. What's the problem?
Rob Neyer:
What do Griffey and McGwire have in common? Right, they both hit lots of home runs and, not
coincidentally, they're both big fan favorites. Style over substance. In terms of actual
performance, Bonds was easily the best player of the 1990s, and I believe that's what history will
remember.
Baby Maddux: If you were running the Cubs, what would you do with Kerry Wood this year and what
would you expect of him production-wise?
Rob Neyer: That's a tough question for me to answer, as I'm not a doctor (although I do sometimes play one
on the Internet). But given that the Cubs are not good enough to contend in the National League
Central, why take any chances. I would baby Wood, and baby him, and baby him some more.
Maybe start in the bullpen, then strict pitch limits after he joins the rotation. And then shoot for the
21-7 season in 2001.
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NEYER'S FILE
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Neyer has been writing a daily baseball column for ESPN.com since
1996. His book "Baseball Dynasties," co-authored with Eddie Epstein,
will be published this spring by W.W. Norton.
Neyer spent his formative baseball years at the feet of author Bill James, then apprenticed for two years with STATS, Inc. before graduating to his own daily ESPN.com column. |
Jaimee: Do you think the Phillies have enough guns to compete this year?
Rob Neyer:
The Phillies are certainly interesting, but I think they're still a few players away from true
contention. Curt Schilling's going to miss time at the start of the season, and the middle of the infield
does not look good. Another team that's a year or two away, but you have to like a (future) lineup
that includes Scott Rolen, Bobby Abreu and Burrell.
Whiter: How about Roger Clemens? Any chance of returning to old form? Do you think it was the hamstring
that caused the problems with his strikezone?
Rob Neyer:
I think we've seen the last of his Cy Young form, but I do expect another good year before he
retires. Might not be this year, though.
Braves2000: What are the chances John Rocker ever pitches for the Braves again? Isn't Kerry Ligtenberg going to back
at 100 percent?
Rob Neyer:
My sources -- OK, my source -- tells me Rocker is as good as gone, assuming the Braves can
find one general manager who doesn't mind taking a little heat. You never know with Ligtenberg,
and I expect to see Kevin McGlinchy closing games in April. Given the Braves' history, I'm sure
he'll do just fine.
Moonlight: What do you think of Michael Schell's recent book on the greatest hitter of all-time, in which he
comes up with an answer of Tony Gwynn?
Rob Neyer:
Schell's a smart guy, the problem was with the title of that book, "Baseball's All-Time Best
Hitters." It should have been "Baseball's All-Time Best Hitters for Average," because that's the
only place where Gwynn comes out on top, as Schell readily acknowledges in the book.
Rob: What effect will Houston's new stadium have on what was an outstanding pitching staff last
year? Everyone has focused on how the new stadium will help the hitters.
Rob Neyer:
Good question, Rob. Unless you're tracking fly balls allowed by distance for the Houston pitchers,
it's hard to say exactly. But Scott Elarton is a fly-ball pitcher, so he might be a candidate if you're
looking for someone who might be hurt. Shane Reynolds is a ground-ball pitcher, and I think he
might be poised for a real good year.
Big Dan: With Oakland having one of the most exciting (if not youngest) teams, what's up with the
attendance? Oakland's a good sports town, isn't it?
Rob Neyer:
As I point out in my new book -- "Baseball Dynasties," in stores next month (shameless plug) --
the only time the A's have ever drawn well was in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when 1. they
were very good, and 2. the Raiders were in Los Angeles. There are some towns -- Oakland,
Baltimore when the Colts were still there, maybe Kansas City now -- that simply don't support
baseball when there's a football team to obsess about.
Elliot: Who do you see as having the inside track on winning the NL divisions, and which team would be
your pick as the wild-card team?
Rob Neyer:
In the West, Dodgers by default. And my picks in the other two divisions are boring and
unimaginative: Astros and Braves.
WalrusX: What happens if Mariano Rivera cannot agree to a contract deal with the Yankees? Will he test free
agency? Who would be willing to pay $9-plus million for a closer?
Rob Neyer:
Oh, someone will. That, I guarantee. In fact, I think the Yankees will eventually pony up most of
what Rivera's agent asks for.
JerseyJohn: In all Reds updates, I see Griffey penciled in at the three spot, Dante Bichette at clean-up, and Sean
Casey in the five hole. Considering Bichette's age and change of venue, shouldn't it be Casey third,
Griffey fourth, and Bichette fifth?
Rob Neyer:
John, I think you're forgetting that Bichette is one of those magical creatures known as a "run
producer" (he wrote, words dripping with sarcasm).
Of course Bichette shouldn't be clogging up the middle of the order. I'd bat him fifth or sixth.
Nighthawk: I just read a rumor that the Royals may be going to the National League in 2001. I know
from your site that you are an expert on them. Hear anything like this?
Rob Neyer:
Commissioner Bud recently said that in the first round of realignment, three teams will switch
leagues. Presumably, you'd have two National League teams switch, and one American League
team, giving each league 15 teams. The Royals are an obvious possibility, but nobody's going to be
forced (except maybe the Diamondbacks), and Kansas City already turned down a move to the
N.L. once.
Ericvc: You're the first person I've seen pick the Dodgers in the NL West. Do you think the
Diamondbacks over-achieved and the Dodgers under-achieved last year?
Rob Neyer:
If there's one sure thing, it's that the Diamondbacks won't win 100 games again this year. In fact
-- here's a quick preview of my column tomorrow -- I think they'll drop to 85 wins in 2000. That
might be enough, though, because the N.L. West is so weak. I pick the Dodgers only because I
think Davey Johnson might be able to whip them to 86-88 wins.
Ole: What are the Reds thinking with Deion Sanders? Is there any chance that he actually plays?
Rob Neyer:
Jim Bowden's a wonderful general manager, but this one's got me flummoxed. Deion Sanders
was not a truly good player three years ago. Has two years away from the game somehow made
him better?
Thanks for all the questions, but I have to catch a plane. I'll be chatting again next week. | |
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