MAILBAG: July 18

Q: ESPN Insider has clearly stated that the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants are leading in the Scott Rolen sweepstakes. Can you foresee any deal that could make this happen for the Cubs? If so, is there any chance at signing him to a long-term deal to grow with some of Chicago's talented group of younger players (Patterson, Prior, Hill, Choi, Cruz, etc.) -- Dave, Iowa City, Iowa

	Rolen

PWG: The Cubs have stated that they will wait until the end of the season, and the Giants recently have been more focused on Junior Cruz. Cincinnati has had a standing offer that includes Brandon Larson and another prospect. The problem is that the Phillies don't understand that there likely will not be draft-pick compensastion for free agents next season, so their choice is either pay Rolen's salary the rest of the year or get two good prospects. You see, prospects are worth more in this economy. And if the Phillies don't do something like that, they get nothing -- no draft picks, nothing but air -- for Rolen. It used to be that the buyer gave prospects and took on money. Except for the Yankees and maybe the Red Sox, if you want to trade a potential free agent with big money, you have to pay the other team to give up one or two young players.

Q: Being in the Marines, we tend to hear a lot of rumors. Yet after years of hearing them, you still buy into one or two from time to time. So this leads me to the rumor mill in Boston. First and foremost, what is wrong with the Boston Red Sox? Please don't tell me they are pulling a post All-Star break slide like they always do. Tell me that somewhere out there is a savior to come and help our club overcome the Yankees and become dominant. Why not Jim Thome? Why not Mike Hampton? If you are the general manager, what do you do? -- Austin Brunot, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
PWG: Hampton is too much money, and the Indians plan to deal Chuck Finley and Ellis Burks and sign Thome. Personally, I'd like to see the Red Sox get Burks if Cleveland can pick up some of the money this year or next. I'm a huge Kevin Millar fan, but Florida may prefer to deal Derrek Lee.

Q: Would the Atlanta Braves consider going after a pitcher like Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez? If so, would the Yankees be willing to give him up? Don't the Braves need another solid starter if they really want to contend? -- Charlie Stallings, Cleveland, Miss.
PWG: They're already contending, but I can see them taking another veteran starter. There have been rumors about a Marcus Giles-Paul Byrd swap, which would be interesting.

Q: In lieu of the All-Star Game fiasco, I've got a suggestion. How about if the game goes to extra innings, every player goes to the plate with a three-ball and two-strike count? This would be exciting, quick, lower significantly the pitch count, and still maintain the integrity of the pitcher vs. batter duel. Makes more sense to me than a home-run hitting contest or some of the other silly suggestions I've heard. -- John Birtwistle, Brunswick, Maine
PWG: That's original, but I'd like to see players be able to re-enter the game and the pitching staffs increased to 12 pitchers, with the first four going seven innings.

Q: In the NBA, David Stern seems very impartial and unafraid to pull the trigger, whether it involves punishing players or owners/management. Why does Bud Selig give the image of being a lapdog for the MLB owners? Does he have any real power when it comes to someone like George Steinbrenner? -- Brian Kirchberg, Gainesville, Fla.
PWG: Selig's whole tenure is built on consensus, with little regard to owners' respect for the game. If, indeed, you worry about competitive balance and claim you have a $1 million limit on transactions, how can the Raul Mondesi deal go through? One NL West GM called on that and was dismissed. Selig needs the votes of Steinbrenner and Paul Godfrey more than the principle of competitive balance. Your perception of the way baseball is run is shared by 75 percent of all fans, but the owners don't care.

Q: What are the chances of the Oakland A's getting a good center fielder like the Indians' Milton Bradley or the Pirates' Brian Giles? -- Dan Petri, Lafayette, Calif.

	Winn

PWG: I don't think they can get either one of those two, especially Giles. But I can see them making a deal with Tampa Bay for Randy Winn, or getting a Millar or Burks for power and letting the defense ride.

Q: I noticed that the media and the fans constantly complain about all of the problems in baseball. But when the commissioner tries to solve the problems by proposing solutions that work well in other sports, the media and fans then turn on Selig for causing trouble. It's like the people want it both ways. Also, how will changing the commisioner help? -- A.J., Milwaukee, Wis.
PWG: It will do no good until there is a labor settlement, although some of the wall keeping them from a settlement stems from the fact that Selig and Don Fehr have been at it so long that it's not about the game or the product (players); it's about winning. Selig has a dreadful perception problem. He doesn't believe it, but fans and customers don't laugh at Paul Tagliabue or David Stern.

Q: I have heard rumors of the New York Mets going after Alex Rodriguez. Is there any truth to his being shopped, and if so, how about Armando Benitez, Grant Roberts, minor leaguer Jose Reyes and another pitching prospect? That would address the Rangers' bullpen needs and give them a replacement shortstop with a real future, and the Mets would obviously have a star in A-Rod. What do you think? -- John Palmisano, Brick, N.J.
PWG: About the only way it happens is with Reyes, Benitez, Pedro Astacio and two more prospects, and that isn't going to happen.

Q: What are your thoughts about the Los Angeles Dodgers looking at Rolen and/or Roberto Alomar? I don't see Alomar bringing much more to the table, but Rolen makes some sense. Adrian Beltre is young and may develop in years to come, but the Dodgers are poised to win a championship now. -- Scott, Visalia, Calif.
PWG: They never talked to the Mets about Alomar, and Rolen would add too much to their payroll for next year. If the Phillies would deal Rolen, pick up his salary and take a good prospect like Ricardo Rodriguez or Joel Hanrahan, maybe the Dodgers would do it, but unlikely.

Q: Do you think the Seattle Mariners will try to get a big bat considering they haven't been hitting that well lately? -- Jared Johnson, Washington
PWG: It's been my understanding that they've been looking for a pitcher like a Chris Carpenter, Robert Person, et al. If Edgar Martinez hits, the offense will come back. We still have a long way to go.

Q: What is wrong with the Chicago White Sox? When they get their young pitchers to pitch well, they don't hit, and when they are hitting, they can't even pitch. Also, what are the chances that Joe Crede and Joe Borchard could be on the field in September? -- Brian McCallum, Beverly Hills, Mich.

	Thomas

PWG: The ChiSox are a major mystery, which goes beyond mediocre defense and erratic pitching. They need some overhaul, and whether that involves the manager and/or Frank Thomas, time will determine. Borchard may need another year, but he's a big-time talent and fine character guy. Crede can hit, and he'll have to work on his defense.

Q: I'm a Houston Astros fan. Year after year, they have a great team with great chemistry and seem to really turn it on after the break. They have the bats with the "Killer B's." And they definitely have the talent in the field. Is it just pitching that they need or what will it take for the Astros to make a strong statement in the postseason? -- Bobby Lockett, San Antonio, Texas
PWG: It turned out the talent isn't as good as it appeared. They've had a major disappointment on the left side of the field, which extends to left field, and Craig Biggio has had an offseason. The injuries to Shane Reynolds and Dave Mlicki left them too young in the rotation. Geoff Blum has been an enlightment, but they need a leadoff-type center fielder (they had a scout in Tampa on Thursday; Winn?), and they need a left-handed pitcher.