Pennnant race thoughts (cont.)

With a .326 average, 17 HRs and 79 RBIs, Dustin Pedroia is an MVP candidate in Boston. Michael Tucker/Icon SMI Tom Verducci's Mailbag Submit a comment or question for Tom. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

If Dustin Pedroia did not play for the Red Sox would he be a legit MVP candidate? Maybe, but where is the Justin Morneau for MVP talk. They guy has 120 RBIs with the Mauer next on the Twins, 47 behind him. I just can't think anybody is more valuable than this guy to a playoff contender.
-- Joel Steiner, Columbus, OH

Don't kid yourself: an outstanding defensive second baseman who is having a great offensive season in a lineup riddled with injuries would be a good MVP candidate anywhere. It's not a Boston thing. And I hear a lot of support for Morneau in the MVP talk. He's got a real good shot at winning if the Twins win the Central.

Cecil Cooper for NL Manager of the Year?
-- Mark Pachankis, Vivian, La.

He's got to be in the discussion. I think his positive, calm approach has really helped that team over the long haul. The only negative I see is that I think his team gave in too much to that tough last-minute trip to Milwaukee. That may be unfair to him, especially knowing what the Astros were up against in terms of travel, sleep and family concerns, but I thought the Astros could have handled it better.

Where do the Tigers go from here? Who are the Tigers most likely to go after this off season? Who are they most likely to trade away/for and most importantly do you think the Tigers have a strong shot next year to be a contender or do they need to start rebuilding from the ground up?
-- Jeff, Hartford, CT

I think Detroit has to look at Ben Sheets, A.J. Burnett and Ryan Dempster, given that Kenny Rogers is done and Dontrelle Willis is a complete unknown at this point. I also think they better look at the shortstop position. Edgar Renteria has gone backward, and his defense has really slipped the past couple of years.

What if a team got rid of the "starter" and instead used their bullpen throughout the season? You could have your specialists as well as pitchers who are good for 3-4 innings and could be used on consecutive days. Is this too simple to work?
-- Jeffrey Hart, Lockport, NY

It sounds like a good idea on paper, and Tony La Russa actually tried it for a brief time, but in reality it doesn't work because you're dealing with human beings. Starters can't get any wins because they're out after a few innings, so they can't earn any money (which is based on innings, wins and saves, chiefly). Guys have a tough time dealing with that concept. Another danger is that you may have a guy who has great stuff that night and breezes through the first three innings, but you then take him out for a guy who maybe isn't on that night. I think at times it has some merit. Say, such as doing it every sixth game to give your starters extra rest, but I don't think you can do it all year.

Great article on the use of closers in today's game. If these guys are truly your lock down go-to pitchers in the 9th inning, why wouldn't you utilize them in the 7th inning with one out, guys on 2nd and 3rd and a one run lead? You never see a closer brought in under these circumstances. In my eyes this is a more cortical point in the game than a 3 run lead in the bottom of the ninth and no one on base.
-- Nate Clements, Canton, OH

I hope you get a major league managerial job, Nate. Really, I'm waiting for some manager to return to using their best reliever in more high leverage situations. It will happen. And it will happen with a secure, Type A personality with a bad team with nothing to lose. And it will work and others will copy it and we'll enter the next evolution of relief pitching in which teams will look for more durable closers.

How can Jose Reyes not be a part of the MVP discussion in the wide open NL? As he goes, the Mets go and his offensive numbers across the board are not just very good but upon closer inspection are great...he will bat over .300, with about 115 runs, between 50-60 steals, hit over 40 doubles with about 15 HR's and is currently leading the NL in hits and triples. Also, while young and prone to mental lapses, his defense is sound and his arm spectacular. If the Mets win their division, how could he not be the frontrunner?
-- Jeff Goeke, Jackson, NJ

Reyes is one of those guys who can be in the MVP discussion just about every year because his value as a productive shortstop is so high. I guess the difficulty here is David Wright and Carlos Delgado also have some MVP credentials. But great point about Reyes.

Do you think that Lee Smith having spent roughly the last half of his career as a one-inning specialist contributes to many of the unfavorable comparisons of his career to that of Bruce Sutter? When both were pitching in the NL, I always viewed them as comparable pitchers but that doesn't seem to be the prevailing view. I'm curious if you think his innings/appearance average from 1991 and later is a significant factor is Sutter having made the Hall but Smith being on the outside.
-- Chris Clark, Ballwin, Mo.

A: Yes, I believe his light workload in the second half of his career hurt him. How about that one year in Baltimore? Thirty-three saves in less than 39 innings? Come on. I think the other thing that hurts him is how often he bounced around from team to team. I understand you might say that's a product of choices and the modern game and all that, but if you have a Hall of Fame quality closer, don't you want to hang on to him for a little while? Eight teams in 11 years? Traded three times in five years?