| | If you think the Chicago Cubs are incorrectly using ace Kerry Wood, you are not alone, says ESPN.com baseball columnist Rob Neyer.
Neyer told a full chat audience that what the Cubs are doing to Wood is inconceivable. He also had harsh words for the work of Detroit Tigers GM Randy Smith.
"Smith couldn't run a Baskin &
Robbins in the Sahara."
If you missed Neyer's May 10 chat, check out this edited transcript and read which players Neyer thinks may be headed to New York and Boston.
|  | | Are the Cubs using Kerry Wood too much? Rob Neyer thinks so. |
Schmidt'sMustache: Bobby Abreu. When are people going to realize he is one of the top five outfielders in the
game? When are you going to write your long-promised column on him?
Rob Neyer: Well, I think I did write that long-promised column, but it might have been in February or
March before you were paying attention. I get questions like these quite often, about Abreu and
others, and I guess I'm starting to wonder why we care so much. Isn't it enough that we know
how good they are?
GMO: You are often critical of managers who fail to pay attention to pitch counts. What do you think
about the number of pitches Kerry Wood has thrown in his first two starts back (seems like a
lot)?
Rob Neyer:
My gut feeling is that the Cubs' handling of Wood has been unconscionable. They're quite
unlikely to reach the postseason this year, so why take any chances at all? I would have limited
him to 90 or 100 pitches for a spell, perhaps all season. Then again, I'm not a doctor ...
Thomas: Is Rickey Henderson done, or just dogging it to get out of Noo Yawk? Do you think he'll get
picked up and play long enough (through 2001) to get the walks and runs records, maybe 3000
hits?
Rob Neyer:
A little of both, I suspect. He's certainly not a .205 (or whatever) hitter, but on the other hand
he's not as good as he showed last year. Not at 41. I do think Henderson could help a team,
assuming it's a limited role and he's motivated. But those two things might not go together.
Peter Huisking: What are your thoughts on Jorge Posada now that he is the everyday catcher and Joe Girardi is a
Cub? He is having the breakout year that we have been waiting for the last two seasons?
Rob Neyer:
I don't remember exactly why, but before this season I rated Posada as the No. 2 catcher in the
American League, and to this point he's only made me look smart. Will he hit .350 all year? Of
course not. But he's a real talent, and the Yankees were smart to (finally) let Girardi go.
Traveler: Do you think Carlos Guillen will ever hit major league pitching? He tears it up in Peoria, but has
started slow the last two seasons. What kind of numbers can we expect with a full, healthy
season?
Rob Neyer:
The fuss over Carlos Guillen has never made any sense to me. He's a good defensive infielder
and you could carry his bat at shortstop. But he's never been a good hitter, and the odds are
that he'll never be a good hitter.
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NEYER'S FILE
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ESPN.com's Rob Neyer writes a daily baseball column from March through October. His book "Baseball Dynasties," co-authored with Eddie Epstein, has just been published, and can be ordered from Amazon.com. |
LoveYourColumn: Do you think James Baldwin is for real, or is he this year's Jose Lima?
Rob Neyer:
You got me. The guy looked like Cy Young last night at Fenway, and of course he's now 6-0
on the season. Then again, he's 28 years old and entered this season with a 5.10 ERA. If
anyone has anything intelligent to add to this discussion, I'm listening.
JR: Jeff Bagwell. Any truth to the rumors that Bagwell could be headed back to Boston?
Rob Neyer:
I don't think "rumors" is the right word here. I think the speculation that Bagwell might end up
in Boston makes sense, given all the relevant factors of which we have knowledge. Bagwell's
from New England, the Sox need a power-hitting first baseman, they can afford him, etc. But
it's still early in the game.
JDog: A lot has been said about Randy Johnson lately. SI wrote an article calling him better than ever.
What do you think? Is he a Hall of Fame pitcher?
Rob Neyer:
Better than ever? It's early in the season for that. I mean, the guy just won a Cy Young. But
barring a complete collapse, Johnson's a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Izzy: Will Jeremy Giambi stick with the big club this time around?
Rob Neyer:
It's a simple equation. Giambi will go as far as his bat takes him. I happen to think he'll be a
productive major leaguer, and so does Billy Beane. But if Jeremy goes through a three- or
four-week slump and the A's are losing, it's back to Sacramento with him.
Tennessee Fats: Since both of us attended KU, are handsome devils, and die-hard Royals fans, I wonder what
you think the new Glass regime will bring to the Royals and Kansas City?
Rob Neyer:
(And don't forget, we're both fat!)
Impossible to say, or even guess. Will Glass sink a bunch of his millions into the payroll? Right
now the Royals are No. 28 among 30 major league teams, and that's not gonna get it done. If
you force me to guess, I would say he will indeed spend some money. But it'll take more than
money, it'll take good or great management, and given Glass' apparent willingness to hand key
jobs to family, I'm not particularly encouraged. The Royals might turn into a poor man's Orioles.
Danny Lee: How come you stopped updating us on Ryan Andersen as soon as he started getting rocked?
Rob Neyer:
He hasn't been getting rocked, really. He had one mediocre start, another great start, and a
lousy one. Now he's been out for a few days with strep throat. Anyway, Peter Gammons has
taken up the Ryan Anderson Watch, so I thought I'd get to other things.
The piazza dude: If you're Steve Phillips, and your outfield is currently Derek Bell plus the four headed
Melvin Mora/Jay Payton/Jon Nunnally/Benny Agbayani Beast, what do you do?
Rob Neyer:
Hide in a closet. But no, seriously folks ...
The way Bell's been playing, of course he's going to be in the lineup nearly every day. And I think
you work in the other four guys depending on who's pitching for the other team, and also on
who's pitching for the Mets. All four can do some things well, and other things not so well. This
is where Bobby Valentine can really show his stuff.
Banacek: Something you've never explained: Why the move from Seattle to Boston?
Rob Neyer:
Ah, a personal question. I love personal questions, gives me a chance to discuss something
other than dreary old baseball. I moved to Boston to watch baseball games, and lots of 'em.
And believe it or not, I've conned a publisher into paying me to write a book about the
experience.
Jason Langley: I never get my questions answered, but here is another shot. A lot was made of the Braves'
pitching needs when John Smoltz went down. But to me it has been the bats that have been the
problem. Is there a chance the Braves will go out and try and get a big bat for the middle of
their lineup come June?
Rob Neyer:
I wouldn't put anything past Schuerholz, but I really think the Braves' offense will come around.
Nobody's been outstanding, at least relative to past performance, and you have to think that
Reggie Sanders and Brian Jordan will get better.
SmithmustGO!: Is there a GM in the majors who is worse then Randy Smith?
Rob Neyer:
I prefer not to speak ill of a fellow human being ... but Randy Smith couldn't run a Baskin &
Robbins in the Sahara. I think he is indeed the worst GM in the game, though Chuck LaMar
and a few others could probably provide some decent competition.
D-Man: When you go to games, do you like to sit in the bleachers with the boozers or behind
home plate with the cell phonies?
Rob Neyer:
Actually, I like to sit in the press box with the boozing cell phonies ... I'm joking, of course.
Beer is not allowed in the press box, and I can honestly say I've never seen a baseball writer
using a cell phone. Say what you want about them (us), but they're generally pretty genuine
people.
I like to sit anywhere, as long as I don't need binoculars to see what's going on.
LikeLinus: What are the chances the A's will trade Matt Stairs for prospects? He has a lot of ties to the
community that might make it bad for PR if he were traded, but they seem to have plenty of
bats to fill the void. Is there a possibility Piatt could fill the hole at RF?
Rob Neyer:
Chances are good. The "model" the A's are using demands that they continue to develop hitters,
and trade just about anybody who's going to make a bunch of money. As for PR, the club
doesn't draw any, so what difference could it make. I'll be somewhat surprised if Stairs is
still around in August, especially if Jeremy Giambi keeps hitting. Couldn't the Yankees use a guy
like this?
Sherman24: What is your favorite Yogiism?
Rob Neyer:
Hmmm ... There's only one that I use in my everyday life, goes something like, "Nobody ever
goes there any more. It's too crowded."
Big Hurt: Do you believe that the one-inning save is going to continue to be more scarce, or will teams shy
away from using the success McKeon had last year with his bullpen?
Rob Neyer:
Jimy Williams is asking for innings from Derek Lowe, who has probably been the most valuable
reliever in baseball. But while we're seeing a bit of movement in this direction, it's too early to
eulogize the one-inning closer. If Lowe breaks down this year, it might kill the trend toward
longer outings.
92mil yankees: What do you think of the economic disparity in baseball today? Have you read Bob Costas'
book? If so, what do you think about it?
Rob Neyer:
Of course I'm against it, as anyone who's not a fan from New York, Los Angeles, Boston
or Chicago should be. I have not read Costas' new book, but I will do so (Thursday) and have a
book report in my column on Friday.
Jon Sheehan: Simple question: the Yankees or Red Sox in the AL East?
Rob Neyer:
I'm sticking with the Yankees, my original pick. Yes, they've been somewhat lucky in the close
games, but that luck has given them a head start in the standings that might make things tough
for the Sox (and Jays).
Jason: Where do you think Tony Gwynn ranks among the all-time great baseball hitters? I feel he's
been the most under-appreciated player in the league over the last 12 years. What's your
opinion?
Rob Neyer:
Wait a second, did you say under-appreciated? Gwynn has perhaps been the most
fawned-over baseball player of the last 20 years! And frankly, his performance doesn't warrant
it. Yes, he's a deserving Hall of Famer. But he's not half the ballplayer Barry Bonds has been.
NoMoreWindbags: Why can't members of today's media, yourself included, just illustrate the game? Almost all
of the national media figures today are tiresome self-promoters who are obsessed with
impressing upon everyone that they know more than everyone else and have insights that others
cannot envision. I am increasingly sickened by the arrogance that you all are developing,
because common fans think that journalists are geniuses just because they work for ESPN,
FOX, or NBC. Please note that I am aiming this dart primarily at you.
Rob Neyer:
Thanks for the advice, I'll work on it. I really, really will.
And thanks to everyone else for all the questions. We're at 1,300 and counting, so I hope you
can understand why I might not have gotten to yours in particular. See you here next week. | |
ALSO SEE
Rob Neyer chat archive
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