Firing manager won't solve ballclub's problems

	Chase Utley, above, and teammate Ryan Howard have combined to hit only three home runs and drive in 13 runs so far this season. Harry How/Getty Images
	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 way the Phillies are playing, is it only a matter of time before Charlie Manuel gets fired? The sum of their parts surely is better than a 3-9 record.
-- Jimmy Gouldens, Long Island, N.Y.

You're probably right, especially after Manuel challenged a radio talk show host to a fight after the loss Tuesday. Yes, the Phillies should be better than 3-9. And they will be once Chase Utley and Ryan Howard start hitting. But I thought this was a third place team because of the bullpen, and I don't see that changing. Maybe GM Pat Gillick is going to give the job to his old buddy, Jimy Williams. But whoever gets the job, I don't see the Phillies doing a complete about-face and winning the division.

Among these struggling pitchers, who is the least likely to bounce back from their rough start and have a good season: Florida's Jorge Julio, Seattle's Jeff Weaver or San Diego's Clay Hensley?
-- Andrew James, Bryn Mawr, Pa.

To be honest with you, I don't like any of them. Julio hasn't shown he has learned how to command his fastball, Weaver will have days where he looks good but I think his stuff translates better to the NL and Hensley, though he's not exactly real young, is a red flag because he falls under my concern for pitchers whose workload increases too much from one year to the next (he jumped 49 innings last year). Forced to choose, I'd guess I'd take Weaver, because he won't be this bad all year.

Jose Reyes is the best young player in the game? I'd love to see the same comparison to a guy named Grady Sizemore.
-- Mark Ondracek, Akron, Ohio

You don't have to sell me on Sizemore. He was my pick for 2007 AL MVP. He's going to hit for more power than Reyes and can win a Gold Glove in center field. I picked Reyes, though, as the most exciting player in the game, not necessarily the best. Reyes plays with such joy and runs the bases so aggressively that's he's pure fun to watch.

You say in your mailbag on April 11 that we "can't ignore [Matsuzaka's and Meche's] body of work." This is certainly true. However, the numbers you quote are misleading. I'm no Gil Meche fan, but one must account for the fact that his "body of work" was achieved against the vastly superior offenses of MLB (and in particular, the AL). You seem to be extremely high on Matsuzaka, and that's fine, but let's be honest about what he's accomplished and wait until he's pitched a significant number of innings against legitimate offenses before calling him an ace.
-- Lee, London, Ontario

You're absolutely right that Meche has faced deeper lineups, so it's not an apples-to-apples comparison. But you still have to respect what they've done in context, not ignore it totally. There have been many studies done to "translate" the numbers from Japan Pro Baseball to a Major League projection -- and Matsuzaka clearly has been the better, more refined, more durable pitcher. It's not even close. But listen, if you want to be skeptical, that's great. You can find a lot of reasons why Matsuzaka might not be as good as I think. But the hitters will tell you. Watch their swings against him. The guy has struck out 10 batters twice in his first three starts. I don't care if he dropped down from the moon. His stuff jumps out at you.

Is it possible for the Indians and Mariners to make up some or all of their snowed-out games during the All-Star Break?
-- Larry Vonckx, Chicago

Probably not, though it hasn't been ruled that several teams may lose one of their days off during the break (many teams have a four-day break). Players are resisting this. I have heard that Seattle and Cleveland have found one day in which Seattle will fly in for a doubleheader. But finding another such day has been problematic. The Indians may have to move a regularly scheduled game, say from a Monday to a Thursday, and then drop in a second doubleheader with Seattle. This is going to create a big strain on the teams' pitching staffs -- not just because of the doubleheaders but long stretches without a day off -- and could affect the pennant race.

I am a baseball umpire, but I am nowhere near the level you got to partake in during spring training. What do you think was the most important thing you learned about being an umpire from the veterans you worked with?
-- Brian, St. Louis, Mo.

Positioning. Knowing where to be goes a long way toward being close to perfect. As one umpire told me, unlike referees in other sports, umpires make calls in the manner of a fixed camera. Your head and eyes are not moving, so you get a better look at the play/pitch. But first you have to get yourself in the optimum position to get that "camera" fixed on the play/pitch. That's where anticipation and experience come in.