End of an era?

This could be the last year Maddux and Glavine are Braves

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With Greg Maddux pitching fewer innings this year, do you think he will perform better down the stretch than he has the last two seasons? I've often thought with their style of pitching (relying on control, not velocity), Maddux and Tom Glavine would be around for a long time. What do you think? And last, wouldn't you think the Braves would try to re-sign Maddux and Glavine so they could end their careers in Atlanta? They were a large part of the Braves' success in the '90s and don't seem to be slowing down too much.
--Karl White, Phoenix

I just don't know if Maddux has the strength and stamina to pitch deep into games late in the season. He's been bothered by many minor injuries this year and doesn't exactly adhere to the training regimen that Glavine does. If healthy, though, Maddux can throw an eight-inning, no-run, no-walk gem at any time. The Braves will try to keep both on their terms, but it probably will not happen. The early word is that agent Scott Boras might want to deliver Maddux to the Diamondbacks to get him closer to his Las Vegas home. I'll be surprised if the Braves come up with the $30 million annual payment (at least) to keep Glavine and Maddux, both 36, when they have Damian Moss and Jason Marquis establishing themselves and Kevin Millwood back on track.

If the owners and the players' union get a deal done without striking, don't you think the fans will treat them as "saviors" of our National Pastime, especially with the anniversary of Sept. 11 fast approaching?
--Earl Jackson, Hoopa, Calif.

Bud Selig deserves a parade down the streets of Milwaukee if he becomes the first management leader to secure a deal without a work stoppage. But, no, I don't think they'd be saviors. This is what they're supposed to do. It's like announcers passing out bouquets to guys who run hard down the first base line. It's only because so many guys dog it that running hard is applauded. That's what they're supposed to do. And it pains me to think, given all they're going through, that the families of the victims of 9/11 should somehow be a meaningful backdrop to the pampered millionaires who play baseball and own teams.

I am having trouble understanding the thinking behind the San Francisco Giants' strategy. They show obvious reluctance to re-sign Jeff Kent, but lock up J.T. Snow. They sign older, slower retreads like Shawon Dunston, but don't bring up any of their fine younger pitchers for more than a few weeks. It seems their plan is to try to win the wild card, and hope to get some breaks along the way. Any thoughts on what is going on here? The Giants have a wonderful new ballpark, but they spend like a pauper compared to Arizona, L.A., New York, Atlanta and St. Louis.
--Robert Cronin, Indian Wells, Calif.

The Giants have to shell out $20 million per year in mortgage payments on Pac Bell -- a privately financed stadium. Owner Peter Magowan appears to have had it with Kent's iconoclast ways. And manager Dusty Baker seems firmly preferential to veteran players -- witness his loyalty to Mark Gardner and the like. The Giants don't have the money to blow open the payroll and spend like the Dodgers and Mets. San Francisco annually builds the team to win around 90 games, and hopes that with a few breaks it can snare a playoff spot.

What's up with St. Louis? The Cards have gone from coasting in the NL Central to praying for the finish line. I thought picking up Chuck Finley was a bad idea, and giving up a "glue guy" like Placido Polanco to get Scott Rolen wasn't much better. Have the trades ruined the team's chemistry, or are the Cards just in a temporary swoon?
--Chris Lindy, Evansville, Ind.

The Cards are desperate to get Woody Williams healthy, which in and of itself tips you off as to how thin their pitching is. Jason Simontacchi hit a wall, Finley has been decent, but not a difference maker, and Andy Benes, out of near-retirement, actually pitched in with some good starts. Rolen was pressing at first, but now seems to have gotten his swing back. I thought he was a great pickup. Chemistry, in this case, is overrated. If Williams can give the staff a lift, the Cardinals will be in the postseason.

Who do you think is (or will be remembered as) the best home run hitter of the Bonds/Sosa/McGwire generation?
--Scott, Los Angeles

I'd have to say Sosa, only because at 33 he's five years younger than Bonds and shows no signs of slowing down. Then again, Barry looks as if he can keep up his power hitting for a few more years.

Everyone has an opinion about Mike Mussina's poor pitching, let's hear yours. If memory serves, both you and I picked him to win the AL Cy Young award this year.
--Eric Bukzin, Manorville, N.Y.

Right, I did pick Mussina to win the Cy because I figured he'd get better run support than last year (he has) and would be completely adjusted to New York. My only theory is that he's lost the magic in his knucklecurve. He's just lost control of the pitch and has no confidence in it.

Is John Smoltz, in your mind, a viable MVP candidate?
--Sam Sanders, New Orleans

Is he a candidate? Sure, but he's not the front-running candidate, if only because he doesn't play every day. As long as there are everyday players on contending teams making major contributions, relief pitchers should be secondary candidates.

Why no mention of Miguel Tejada as an AL MVP candidate? He has clearly meant more to the Oakland A's and their success than any other candidate who has been discussed. While the A's pitching has been great, they've had virtually no offense except for Tejada. Take Torii Hunter or Alfonso Soriano off their respective teams, and those clubs would still be in first place. Without Tejada, the A's would not even be in the hunt. If the A's make the postseason, there can be no doubt that Miguel Tejada is the AL MVP.
--Colin Higgins, Sunnyvale, Calif.

Good point. I thought Eric Chavez had a slightly better first half, but Tejada has been on fire since the All-Star break. His team probably needs to get into the postseason for him to win the award, but he's a candidate. By the way, the MVP talk seems to generate earlier and earlier every year. Why is that? People want to argue for candidates in June, July and August with the most important baseball still ahead. It's like a long horse race in which the lead changes many times. There's no need to give out the award in July or feel somebody has been slighted with 50 games left in the season.

You say that there are many candidates for the AL MVP, but I disagree. I think it is perfectly clear who should win the award ... Alex Rodriguez. It is just his misfortune to play for a team with no pitching. Why determine the MVP on the basis of who has the best teammates rather than who is actually the most valuable player, regardless of the team's record?
--Dave Williams, Seattle

A-Rod is the best player in baseball. Period. But the reason everybody puts on a big league uniform is to win. That's why I believe the award is not entirely an individual honor. (That's the Hank Aaron Award, which goes to the best hitter.) The MVP does reflect the success or failure of a team. I offer no apologies for that interpretation.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Tom Verducci covers the baseball beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Click here to send a question to his Mailbag.

 

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