The White Sox have lost seven of eight games since Scott Podsednik was sidelined with a groin injury. Damian Strohmeyer/SI
	MAILBAG Tom Verducci will answer select questions from SI.com users in his Baseball Mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

The White Sox and Cardinals have had tremendous seasons, but they have struggled lately because of injuries to regulars such as Scott Podsednik and Scott Rolen. Should these clubs try to add a bat or two before the postseason rosters are set at the end of August?
-- Dave Clark, Cincinnati

The Cardinals are fine, especially if Larry Walker, Yadier Molina and Reggie Sanders can get back to form by October. The White Sox are a little more problematic even with Podsednik. They are not a very good offensive team and not nearly as resourceful as their reputation. They actually rely a lot more on home runs than people think and are near the bottom of the league in hits. I don't expect a big-time bat to get through waivers, so they have to play the hand they have and rely on their pitching to carry them.

Why are we not hearing more about the solid play of Ken Griffey Jr. this season? The guy outplayed Barry Bonds all throughout the 1990s, rendered A-Rod the second-best player on his own team when they were with Seatle and was a poster boy for everything that was right about baseball. Yet, after being mired by injury for four straight years, he slips off your radar screens. This year, he is putting up All-Star numbers again, but their is still no love for him and what he has been through. What's your problem, what do you guys have against him?
-- Ehab Zayed, Montreal

The only reason you're not hearing more about Griffey is that his team hasn't played a meaningful game all season. Give the guy credit. He's hitting like an impact player again. But this game is all about winning. You can't expect guys to really mean it when they say, "All I care about is winning'' and then wonder why they don't get more individual attention when the team is one of the few non-contenders in all of baseball.

Can you explain the reasoning behind the Cubs calling Corey Patterson back up from the minors? Between Jerry Hairston Jr. and Matt Murton, I would think they could hold their own. Murton was batting .339. I know he has no pop, but isn't getting on base more important? Patterson is still swinging at low sliders and other breaking pitches in the dirt. I don't see any change in his long swing and bad discipline at the plate (not to mention the bases). Dusty Baker should bench that guy.
-- Mike Tyra, Fort Carson, Colo.

As you know, Hairston was on the DL with an elbow injury and has since returned. Murton does look like an interesting player who can contribute. But I have to agree with you on Patterson. He still has a long way to go. A few weeks in the minors aren't going to fix him. I also believe that a player does not learn plate discipline, at least to any real great extent. I don't see Patterson ever being a hitter who belongs at the top of a lineup. Sammy Sosa is the one exception as far as learing to take walks, much of which came about because developed such ferocious power that pitchers stayed away from him.