Thoughts on the pennant races

Luis Ayala is at the back of a very shaky Mets rotation right now. AP

What is the biggest reason for the Mets continued slide? How would you fix their bullpen? Should they be trying radical solutions, like making Pedro the closer?
-- Ray Sarola, New York, N.Y.

The bullpen is the biggest reason for their shaky play. But at this point in the season, you have to play with the personnel you have on board. I would advocate playing matchup with the relievers all the way through the ninth inning, rather than trusting one guy to be THE closer. I mean, since when do you use Luis Ayala the same way the Yankees use Mariano Rivera?

How are the Nationals playing spoiler to the Mets once again? Are the Nats just a bad matchup for the Mets? Why are spoilers often so effective at this time of year?
-- Ben Field, Pompano Beach, FL

In general, I hate this time of year because of expanded rosters. It changes the way the game is played. Makes no sense. There's no reason why the Nats should be a bad matchup for anybody. They're a bad team. But in general, teams out of the race get focused when they play teams in the race. Now, that shouldn't be enough for the Nats to beat up on the Mets.

What are your thoughts on the Brewers firing Ned Yost? Is this a panic move? How can they use it to their advantage and avoid a total collapse?
-- Eli G., East Greenwich, R.I.

Panic is way too strong of a word. It was an aggressive move designed to shock this team out of a two-week doldrum that looked too much like the collapse of the year before. The Brewers pushed all their chips to the middle of the table on this season, especially with the CC Sabathia deal. They haven't been in the playoffs in 26 years, their fans have come out three million strong, the team is likely to be very different without Sabathia and Ben Sheets next year, and ownership could not sit there and just hope things were going to change, especially when the team looked dead in Philadelphia. I see the logic. But I have two issues with it: 1) for maximum shock value, which is what they were looking for, they should have done it on the day of a game, not an off day; and 2) Dale Sveum seemed totally ill prepared to make a difference, basically giving some "I don't knows" about what he might do with the club. He's got to come stronger than that to make an impact.

Should the Rays and Red Sox be more concerned about winning the AL East or getting their team ready for October (setting their rotation, getting players healthy, etc.), even if it means losing the division?
-- Louis M., Chicago

It's not entirely an either/or proposition. You do the best you can to win each game because that's what a consistent approach is all about. Setting the rotation is not rocket science, so that doesn't mean a big compromise. The only place you might see some concession is not extending your starting pitcher as much.

Sadly, that stadium, where all the great Giants, Yankees, and boxers played is not being torn down at the end of the season. It was torn down around 1974. The Babe, Gerhig, Tittle, Gifford never played in the current Yankee Stadium either, if you really think about it. We have all said goodbye to Yankee Stadium a long time ago, whether we realized it or not.
-- Crister Larson, Ardsley, N.Y.

I agree that The House That Ruth Built is nothing like what it used to be. But it was easier to maintain the myth of one stadium as long as it stood on the same footprint and had the same exterior.

Well, yeah, but you're not still driving that 1973 Plymouth Satellite are you?

-- Will, Milwaukee, WI

No, but my point wasn't that we're supposed to keep driving beaters. It's the personal connection that gives something an intrinsic value.

Could you please expand on/explain your statement "...Nationals Ballpark, that generic mistake in Washington." Thank you.
-- David, Potomac, Md.

Just a personal call on that ballpark. It's nice enough and I'm sure there are many people who love it. Great. But my impression is it has no redeeming features, no architectural interest, no connection to the surrrounding neighborhood. It's neither retro nor forward-moving. Kind of like the next Shea Stadium. I can forgive US Cellular for what it is because Camden Yards had yet to redefine the ballpark experience. But I just don't know how, given all the new ballpark construction that has defined what works and what doesn't, that you wind up with something so uninspiring. It's kind of like the Nationals themselves, who can't decide whether their logo is script or block letters, whether their main color is red or blue, and what they want to be as a team. They have some serious branding and identity issues, and the ballpark is part of that.

I know the Nationals are horrendous, but they have some young guys that are really stepping up in that organization. With position players like Guzman, Dukes and Lastings playing towards their potential, and pitchers like Steven Shell coming out of no where, they have a good foundation for future success. Shell is the best reliever in the NL that no one is talking about. Last I checked, he's cruising with a 1.80 ERA and sitting down the big hitters on a regular basis. How about something about the best players no one talks about?
-- Matt, Tulsa, OK

Way to stick up for the Nats. They need your support. As for unsung players, here's a partial list: Nick Markakis of Baltimore, Kelly Shoppach of the Indians, Andre Either of the Dodgers, Jayson Werth of the Phillies, Ryan Doumit of the Pirates, Mike Aviles of the Royals, Scott Downs of the Blue Jays, and Cory Wade and Hong-Chi Kuo of the Dodgers. I'm sure I left some guys out, but that's a quick look at some guys quietly having good seasons.