MAILBAG: June 14

Q: I recently heard the "Baseball Tonight" guys tossing around baseball World Cup lineups. Vladimir Guerrero, Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa all in the same Dominican outfield! And what about the rotation for the United States: Clemens as a fifth starter? Is this a possibility? If so, how would it work? -- Mike Murphy, Chantilly, Va.

	Sosa

PWG -- Some form of World Cup baseball makes far more sense than the Olympics, because it could take place during spring training and lead into the season. It would be interesting to see if players born in other countries or with distinct national ties -- like Rafael Palmeiro (Cuba) or Alex Rodriguez (Dominican) -- would play for their original homelands.

Q: After the Roger Clemens-Barry Bonds incident, and the subsequent talk about the DH, I had an idea: Why not expand the DH to the National League, but make the pitcher bat in both leagues. Have a 26-man roster and a 10-man batting order. This would create jobs in the NL and soften the "loss of jobs" when MLB disbands the Expos (and hopefully the Devil Rays). Has this come up? Is it a viable option? -- Justin Martin, Augusta, Ga.
PWG -- Original, but it won't happen. Anyway, Clemens' remarks were misrepresented. He did not say he was going to hit Bonds; he was talking about how they hadn't faced one another since college and how he'd take the plastic off. The mistake was made by an intern in the Commissioner's Office for revealing they were looking into it, because they look into every warning issued by umpires.

Q: Joe Morgan has identified the intentional walk as a flaw in the game. What would you think of changing the rules to give an extra base commensurate with the number of intentional walks an individual gets in a game (i.e, first time, one base; second time, two bases; third, three bases; and anything after that, a run)? -- Eric Schafer, New Mexico
PWG -- It's a flaw in that it is what makes baseball different than other sports. But I see no need to tinker with its use. By the way ... Adam Dunn is walking at a Bonds pace.

Q: What do the Cubs do with Antonio Alfonseca and Flash Gordon when Gordon comes off the DL? Do they try to trade one or keep both? -- David, Raleigh, N.C.
PWG -- They'll spend the rest of the year making sure Gordon is healthy. He's tough to trade, and they can't trade Alfonseca and take the chance that Gordon breaks down.

Q: The Boston Red Sox middle-relief corps has been the team's weak link so far. Do you see anyone coming on the market after the All-Star break who could help the team in this department? Who would they be willing to deal for a solid middle reliever? -- Jon Dinwoodey, Boston

	Garces

PWG -- First, they're looking for a mid-cost starter. Then they hope to get Rich Garces back next week. If the starters work, then they could put Rolando Arrojo back in the pen. A few names that could be available: Graeme Lloyd, Alan Embree, Mike Fetters, any of the Brewer relievers...

Q: What's wrong with the Chicago Cubs? Do they have a chance to get back in the race this year? I'm one Cubs fan who's tired of "waiting till next year." Do you think they'll try to trade for Ivan Rodriguez or Scott Rolen? -- Randall Rhomberg, San Diego
PWG -- They have not generated consistent offense, and the bullpen losses have badly hurt them. Either one of those players would help, but I think cost is a huge factor. My guess is that they would go after Rolen first.

Q: Do you think the Oakland Athletics will reach postseason? What would have to happen? -- Liam Furey, Calif.
PWG -- The A's are on a 15-4 streak and they're within hailing distance of the Mariners (five games back). It's going to be tough to catch the Mariners, because they should get better. But if Mark Mulder and Barry Zito stay hot and Tim Hudson starts winning, watch out. Those pitchers are capable of a great half-season run.

Q: Do you think the Seattle Mariners could package Jeff Cirillo to Philly for Scott Rolen and then sign Rolen to a long-term deal? It would add pop to their lineup and possibly shore up third base for some time to come. -- Scott Strellnauer, Whitefish, Montana
PWG -- If they could do it, they should. But I don't know if they have the position players to package.

Q: If Jeff Bagwell continues to struggle, will the Houston Astros try to trade him? -- Clint, Burlington Junction, Mo.
PWG -- Bagwell's problem is a shoulder that will require surgery at the end of the season. He's doing his best, but he's not even 70 percent.

Q: My contention is that the Milwaukee Brewers do not suffer from "small-market syndrome" but rather from poor management. Hiring Jerry Royster as manager was a step in the right direction. Does there need to be a change at the top of the organization? How many years are they from playoff contention? -- Jerry Crawley, Covington, Ind.
PWG -- There have been rumors throughout the industry that GM Dean Taylor could be in some trouble, with Doug Melvin a possible replacement. The entire organization hit a wall this season, but one person isn't responsible for years of problems.

Q: With the recent ruling that the Minnesota Twins will avoid contraction at the end of the season, what effect, if any, does this have on the fate of the Montreal Expos? If the Expos do indeed get contracted or relocated, will this force a shuffling of the divisions or even cause a team to move from the NL to the AL? -- Noah Nemmers, Woodridge, Ill.
PWG -- I don't see how they can contract for next season, even if Kansas City or someone else went along with Bud Selig and volunteered to be ousted. So then what do the Expos do? Move to Washington? I don't think this has been thought out too clearly.

Q: J.C. Romero has pitched extraordinarily well as a reliever for the Twins this season, and with the injuries in the starting rotation, why not make Romero a starter? -- Matt, St. Paul, Minn.
PWG -- The Twins believe he's a reliever, and he may be the best left-handed setup man in the league. The Twins need that bullpen help, especially with their starters struggling with the third-worst ERA in the league.

Q: Do you think the Pittsburgh Pirates have any chance to win the unpredictable NL Central? And if so, who do you think they can trade in order to be a contender? -- Matt Lewis, McKeesport, Pa.
PWG -- I'm afraid that as well as they've played, it will be tough to catch the St. Louis Cardinals or Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates cannot afford to take on the kind of contracts that would solve problems in center field or at first base.

	Hinske

Q: What's your take on Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Eric Hinske? Is he the real deal? And what shot does he have of being a superstar? -- Steve Weiss, Washington, N.J.
PWG -- He's already a fine player, and he should be a 30-homer, consistent, solid player.

Q: A question about deciding the winning and losing pitchers: When Shane Spencer hit a grand slam for the New York Yankees to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks this week, he hit it off Bret Prinz, who was relieving Randy Johnson with the D-Backs leading 4-3. Johnson got the loss because he was responsible for the fourth and fifth Yankee runs (the runners on second and third before Prinz's intentional walk). But when the D-Backs got a solo HR in the top of the ninth, giving them a fifth run, why wasn't Prinz pinned with the loss, since he was the pitcher responsible for giving up the Yankees' sixth and seventh runs? -- Charles Stotts, Phoenix
PWG -- The losing pitcher is the guy who bears the responsibility for the run that put the winning team ahead for good. You could come into the game in the third and give up a run that puts your team behind 3-2. The game ends up 18-17, but your team never caught up. You lose.