Kurkjian came to ESPN when he joined the staff of ESPN The Magazine for its launch in March, 1998. In addition to writing for The Magazine, he is also a reporter for Baseball Tonight. Prior to coming to ESPN, Kurkjian served as a baseball reporter/analyst for CNNSI. He had been at Sports Illustrated covering baseball since 1989.

Kurkjian covered the Orioles (1986-89) for the Baltimore Sun and the Texas Rangers (1981-85) for the Dallas Morning News. He began his career in 1978 at the Washington Star, where he stayed three years before moving on to the Baltimore News American in 1981.

For a list of upcoming ESPN.com chat guests, visit the Community section.

Moderator: We'll be getting started momentarily ..

Tim Kurkjian: Hello everyone .. I'm ready for your questions!! Thanks for writing in ..

Eric - Springfield: How about Albert Pujols? This kid is the best young hitter I have seen in years. Only 21 with 1 year of professional baseball!

Tim Kurkjian: Pujols, you are right, is a great young hitter. He is really strong, he uses a really big bat, and the ball just flies when he hits it. Mike Macfarlane of Baseball Tonight saw Pujols all winter at Mike's batting cage in K.C. and he had no idea who he was. He just kept saying that guy has a great swing! He sure does. Entering last night's game, his 14 HR and 43 RBI were exactly as many as Mark McGwire had on the same date in '98.

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Tim(Boston): With the start Manny Ramirez is having, do you think it's possible that his production could possibly increase with Nomar's return?

Tim Kurkjian: It's hard to believe it could increase but we never underestimate Manny Ramirez. You think he would see a few more good pitches, and pitchers would be more worn out with Nomar in the lineup. So yes, Manny could be getting well more than an RBI per game when Nomar comes back. Nothing Manny does amazes me anymore.

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IchiRule (Seattle): Hey Tim, you think Ichiro will break the singles/ hits records this year? Also, hook me up some info on where the M's is gonna go get another bat!!!!!! YOU DA MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim Kurkjian: I don't think he will break the hits record, but the way he is going he is going to have well over 200 hits. He is going to be in contention for the batting title, he is going to make the All-Star team, and he is going to get some consideration for MVP. It is awfully early but he has been an amazing player so far.

As for getting a bat, they haven't been looking as hard lately for obvious reasons but to get to the playoffs and more importantly be a really productive team for the playoffs, they could use another bat. But someone like John Vander Wal for instance would cost an awful lot right now. And right now it is not worth it.

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Eric (New York): Are the Rangers seriously considering trading Pudge?

Tim Kurkjian: I don't think it is serious just yet. But he becomes a 10-5 guy in early June giving him veto power plus he is going to be asking for probably around 20 million a year in an extension. He is not going to take the hometown discount this time. Someday he might be considered the greatest catcher ever. So the Rangers have to be very careful about trading him. But he is also the only guy who can bring them the quick fix for the predicament they are in. I don't think he will be traded anytime soon. But I wouldn't be shocked by anything given their situation.

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Tim (Minneapolis): Hi Tim,

What do you think will happen when the discussion of revenue sharing comes up at the end of this year, if some of the smaller revenue teams (Twins, Phillies, etc.) make a run in the playoffs?

Tim Kurkjian: I think it will only slightly deter Bud Selig from doing what he feels so strongly about, and that's fixing the big and small market disparity. His argument clearly won't be as valid if the Twins make the playoffs but Bud has always said it's a financial issue more than a competitive issue. Either way it is a huge issue that is very far from being resolved.

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Marc (Queens): What in the world was Art Howe thinking with these nightly lineups? A power hitter like Miguel Tejada should be hitting cleanup, not Saenz. I don't get it. What is your opinion?

Tim Kurkjian: I've always been amazed how certian managers use their lineups. Deivi Cruz hit fourth one game for Detroit last year, Mike Bordick his third for the Orioles this year. Sometimes players have a mental block about hitting fourth. So managers put someone else in there so not to put extra pressure on a player. The A's situation perhaps suggests that their lineup isn't quite as great as everyone thinks. Maybe they need another bat so Tejada doesn't have to hit fourth.

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Tony, Raceland, KY: Tim -- the Reds are disintegrating without Griffey, Williamson, Boone, Harnisch, et al, injured. Are they considering any salary dump trades?

Tim Kurkjian: Probably not now. Because they are still technically in the race. But there is little chance they will be in it at the end of July and perhaps then we will see them trade a veteran player in order to get younger and cut payroll.

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Jan (Wellesley MA): Tim: Would you expect to see David Cone in the Red Sox starting rotation in September, or do you think he should just hang 'em up now?

Tim Kurkjian: Let's see how he does today for starters. I have learned never to underestimate Cone who is one of the most resoureceful and competitive people I've ever met. He was horrible last year and now he is coming off an injury so the future is obviously clouded. We will see today what he has. My guess is he will still be pitching in September.

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Adam (Palm Desert): Considering the shortage of quality third basemen in baseball, do you think the Padres should look into trading Phil Nevin as soon as he gets healthy?

Tim Kurkjian: The Padres have considered trading him for the last six or eight months. Not because they don't like him, they do, but because they have Sean Burroughs on the way and there is every indication that he is going to be a very good major league player within a few years. Nevin could really help several teams down the stretch and I'd be surprised if he wasn't traded before the July 31 deadline.

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Steve: How long or when will the Mets wait to change the atmosphere of the team, like add a Wells or a Tony Clark?

Tim Kurkjian: They have been looking for weeks to add somebody who can get the team headed in the right direction. The players they need come at a very expensive price or simply aren't available. All they can do is hope that their current players start playing better. But it is getting very late for the Mets.

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Paul (Pittsburgh): Have you heard anything more on whether Kris Benson will need season ending surgery or not?

Tim Kurkjian: No one knows for sure but it's my guess that he won't pitch in the big leagues this year and will need Tommy John surgery. Let's hope that is not the case but Benson's health is not very encouraging right now.

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A.I. (Future City): I worship you!!!!!! Tell me Tim, who is the most underrated player in the league in your mind?

Tim Kurkjian: That's a good question .. It sounds prepostourous, but I think Todd Helton is still underrated for what he does for that team. Not only is he a great hitter but he has gone from an average 1B to a terrific 1B in a short amount of time. And Buddy Bell, the Rockies manager, told me he has never met a player who understands the competitive aspect of the game better than Todd Helton. He is a great guy and a great leader on that team.

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GG (Akron): Bud Selig just named you his special assistant and you get to be commissioner for a day. You can make three moves to improve the league, what would they be

Tim Kurkjian: I'd tear up the few remaining astroturf fields, I'd either get rid of the DH or put it in the NL, whatever is the least painful, and I'd raise the mound to 15 inches to give pitchers even more of a chance in today's offensive era.

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RYAN: WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP

Tim Kurkjian: I don't even know who is still in it .. I just know these OT hockey games wipe out Baseball Tonight shows as they did last night. Having said that, as little as I know about hockey, I'm dazzled by the speed at which those guys play.

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Zac: With John McHale moving to the Devil Rays as early as next week, what is next for the Tigers?

Tim Kurkjian: The Tigers are a strange team. They have some good young players there and a beautiful ballpark but something is missing. A guy who knows the Tigers well told me last night that too many of their players are just happy to be in the big leagues and simply aren't crushed or ticked off enough when they lose. There is hope in Detroit but some moves have to be made to get to a playoff level team in the next couple years.

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Otis Hart (Montpelier, VT): Tim, what is wrong with Pat Burrell's swing? I knew he would strike out quite a bit, but only three HRs in 135 at-bats?

Tim Kurkjian: I'm not sure what is wrong. I saw this kid as a freshman in college and I"m not sure I'd ever seen a better hitter at that age. He has unbelievable power but he has struck out nearly 50 times, proving again that this is the hardest game in the world to play and it takes even remarkable talents like Burrell several years to really figure it out. Eventually he will, then watch out.

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TraberFan(Oklahoma City): Hey Tim, Love it when you come on the radio here in OKC!!! Why is it that the teams that used to have very deep farm systems like the Dodgers and Orioles have all of a sudden dried up?

Tim Kurkjian: It's a cyclical thing. Scouting directors and farm directors move on. Teams such as the Orioles have changed their philosphy to win now rather than building from within. A teams urgency to win now will deplete the farm system in order to get a quick fix for this year. It didn't used to be that way with team 20-30 years ago.

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Jason(Seattle): When is ESPN going to give you your own baseball show?

Tim Kurkjian: I'm just thrilled to be on Baseball Tonight every other week!!

Thanks to everyone for writing in. Watch Baseball Tonight at 10 p.m. ET. Our pal Tom Candiotti will be on with myself and Brian Kenny. Talk to you later!