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Chat Reel: Mike Berardino
Assessing MLB at the All-Star break
Posted: Tuesday July 11, 2000 04:37 PM
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Amidst trade talks, Mike Mussina plans to use his no-trade clause. AP |
CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's MLB All-Star Game chat with CNNSI.com's Mike
Berardino. Hi Mike. Thanks for joining us.
Mike Berardino: Good to be back.
From Lenny: What is your opinion of this year's All-Star Game
with little number of All-Stars?
Mike Berardino: Yes, Lenny, it is incredible to see the number of big names that will miss this year's game. I count eight future Hall of Famers, plus Manny Ramirez, who might wind up in Cooperstown himself. I'm afraid that's how this year's game will be remembered regardless of what happens on the field tonight. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't watch anyway because there will still be 60 of the best players in the world out there. Well, 59 and Joe Girardi. Sorry Joe.
From Vic: There is a lot of talk about what can be done to improve the All-Star Game. What would you do to change it, if anything?
Mike Berardino: I'm not one of those people who thinks much tinkering is in order. I know some managers have called for the rosters to be expanded to 35 or even 40 players, but I don't agree. Baseball already expanded the All-Star rosters in 1998 from 28 to 30, and I just couldn't see them going much higher. Maybe to 32, which would give the NL an average of two roster spots per team. I definitely think they should retain the mandatory representative rule - every team should have someone there. Perhaps they should have a cap on the number of players per team. Say, no more than five.
From Tank: Mike have you heard anything about the Texas Rangers trading for Mike Mussina? I've heard they've offered a package of Carlos Pena and Jeff Kinkade.
Mike Berardino: Supposedly Mussina has said he has no plans to waive his no-trade rights under any circumstances, so I'm assuming he's not going anywhere until the free-agent period.
From Tomg in Boston: David Wells is deservedly the starting pitcher in the All-Star Game. Do you think though, that if Pedro Martinez gets healthy, he can lead the BoSox into the postseason and finally break the curse?
Mike Berardino: Of course Pedro can still break the curse, but he's going to have to get healthy first. Strained oblique muscles tend to linger. Some people say it was that same injury that wrecked Steve Avery's career several years back. Obviously, unless Pedro gets hot and can put that team on his back the Red Sox aren't going anywhere. I don't think Ed Sprague is much of a difference-maker.
From David Tucker in Toronto: What do you think the Toronto Blue Jays have to do in order to increase interest in baseball? Obviously the players strike in years past has affected the mood here in Toronto. It's crazy, we have an exciting contending team, and yet we get next to nobody to our home games!
Mike Berardino: You're right, the Blue Jays deserve better support than they're getting. For them to rank 11th in AL attendance with a first-place team is a shame. Of course, the White Sox could make the same complaint. They are just ninth in attendance at 23,000 a game. You have to think both markets will perk up at the gate as we move closer to the end of the season. Those teams deserve as much.
From Adam Sawyer in Chicago: Now that Sosa has decided he is going to stay in a Cubs uniform until his contract runs out, what are the chances of the Cubs signing a big time free agent to avoid giving him leverage?
Mike Berardino: First of all, there are no guarantees with Sammy from day to day, week to week. He does have the right to change his mind, which he does frequently. It's still entirely possible that Sammy will ask to be traded this off-season, when the Cubs would have much more time to shop around for the right offer. As far as signing another free agent, I'm sure the Cubs would love to overhaul their roster, but as long as the Sammy situation is unresolved, GM Ed Lynch is pretty much in limbo.
From Yanksfan: Mike, do you think the Yankees will make a move to pick up a left fielder to take the place of Shane Spencer? I didn't see anyone in their farm systems that really jumped out at me. Do they even have anyone in the minors that can help them?
Mike Berardino: Well, the first step will be to call up Ryan Thompson, who isn't anything special, just another retread who happens to have 20 home runs so far at Triple-A Columbus. Losing Spencer will almost certainly force the Yankees to go out and add another bat. Moises Alou makes the most sense but it sounds as though he'll want a contract extension in order to waive his no-trade rights. He's making noises about wanting a raise from $5.25 million to the $10-12 million range. That's probably the only reason he's not a Yankee already.
From Jim Lapides: What players do you think had the most surprising first half, and what players do you see having a breakout second half?
Mike Berardino: I won't even try to predict which players will break out in the second half. My crystal ball has been out of service ever since I picked the Reds to win the NL pennant. As for top surprises, I would have to submit two: Expos second baseman Jose Vidro, who had to fight off Mickey Morandini just to win back his job in the spring; and Marlins' right-hander Ryan Dempster, who entered the year 8-13 for his career and winds up the youngest player in this All-Star Game. Two great stories in two small markets.
From Andyland: Any connection between Ken Griffey Jr. in Seattle and the team having no success. Then being traded to the Reds and the Reds decline from last season, while the Mariners are a first place team?
Mike Berardino: That's not fair to say the Mariners never had any success with Junior. Don't forget they made the playoffs in 1995 and 1997. And Safeco Field is considered by many to be The House That Junior Built. If the Mariners don't run down the Angels in 1995 there might not be baseball in Seattle. But the Mariners' surge this year does lend credence to those rumors that a conflict between A-Rod and Junior was bringing everybody down. The mood in Seattle is completely different, and the results are far better. Much improved pitching helps, too.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have for today. Thanks again for joining
us, Mike.
Mike Berardino: See you later.
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