Saul (New York, NY): What is up with the Marlins getting fined? it's not like they went out and interviewed 7 or 8 guys and none of them were minorities. they had ONE guy they wanted and they got him. should have marched in a few minority "candidates" when they already knew who was getting the job? i'd find that insulting if i were those "candidates."

Without any credible threat
You won't break the "good old boy" net.
You'll only get hired
If you're previously fired;
I'm fine with the fine, not upset.

Joe (Brick, NJ): Good morning Mr. Bard. Do you think that Jose Contreras' start tonight means Jeff Weaver gets sent to the bullpen if he has a good outing? Also, in all your years as a ballplayer, did you ever see an instance where the owner of the ballclub had a major say in who was on the field?

I don't think they should make Jeff Weaver
Go back to the role of reliever.
Just beating the Cats
And their soft, fluffy bats
Won't make me a Jose believer.

Jeff Moody (Annapolis, Maryland): Score Bard, do the Dodgers have enough offense in their lineup to play in October. They are winning a lot of games with outstanding defense and pitching, but are at the bottom of the league in scoring. How far do you think they can make it playing this old school style ball?

Their lineup sure feels incomplete.
Despite that, I think they'll compete.
But if they could trade
For at least one upgrade
They might be the West team to beat.

Jeffrey; Richmond,VA: Score Bard: It is an honor to chat with you. I grew up imitating your batting style and saw the Reds EVERY game they came to Houston. I am bothered by this Red Sox trade w/ the D Backs. Isn't someone who has been spotty as a starter and a proven problem closing against the Yankees exactly not the way for the Sox to go? It seems over the winter they had far better offers for Hillenbrand. Is this the best they could do?

I'm sure that you just meant to flatter;
Don't copy this terrible batter.
Kim's Yankee losses
Were just two bad tosses
Don't freak out--they don't really matter.

David, CT: A lot of people have criticized Michael Lewis' book moneyball. As a former superstar player (who drew more than his fair share of walks), how do you feel about the points brought up by Lewis about Billy Beane's A's, and about the statistical side of baseball in general?

This kindness is going too far!
I'm nothing resembling a star.
Now, as for Beane
It remains to be seen
If statistics are all that there are.

Chris Rochester NY: I think walking the bases full to force a out at any base in the ninth or extra innings fails about 95% of the time and is the stupidest move made by managers what is your opinion

Whatever you do in that spot
Is going to fail quite a lot.
How a manager acts
Should be based on the facts;
Opinions should matter not.

Steven ( Bronx,NY ): Hey Score Bard, I'm a huge Yankee fan. With all the attention being given to Don Zimmer's remarks about George Steinbrenner, Do you think it can hurt the way the Yankees play on the field.

I really enjoyed it when Zimm
Chose to go out on a limb
After hearing the Boss
Blaming Joe for a loss.
The effect, though, I think will be slim.

Randy, Ottawa, ON Canada: What type of pitcher did you find the hardest to hit, 1 - a guy who pitched both sides of the plate (moved the ball inside and out, with a cutter/slider), or 2 - a pitcher who changes a batters sightline (sinkers/12-6 curve) or 3 - a guy who relied on changing speeds (change up/splitter)?

I think for a batter like me
It's hard to hit 1, 2, or 3.
But if I must decide
I'd say pitch me inside:
I'm instantly ready to flee.

JB (Danville, CA): Score Bard - Did you enjoy Diana Krall last night? I thought she sounded great! The A's offense is scuffling, Dye comes back this weekend and Tejada is starting to hit a little. If you're Billy Beane where do you look to add some pop? I'd love to see them go after a corner outfielder or even a move for Roberto Alomar (the Mets have to be looking to dump salary). Thoughts?

The A's aren't in much a position
To make a big payroll addition.
They'll take Long out of action
And thus add by subtraction.
Yes, Krall is a gifted musician.

Craig, Alpharetta, GA: Why do you think so few baseball fans score the baseball games they attend? When you look at photographs from the '30s, you have whole rows of people scoring. Once, while scoring a Braves game, I was asked if I was running a betting pool! Its a shame, you learn so much about the game when you score it.

To calculate cosine and sine
With slide rules was once very fine.
But why should I work
Like a '30s court clerk
When everything now is online?

Ricky C in Sacramento: Hi Score Bard As a Bay Area fan, I love your work with John Miller on Sunday Nights. My question pertains to the "home field advantage" of Coors Field. The Rockies recently dismantled the Giants, and just yesterday finished sweeping the hottest team in baseball--Dodgers. So, is the Coors' field advantage (pitcher's breaking balls don't break as much et.al.) that effective still, or are the Rockies for real? Also how do you rate the Giants new pitchers Kurt Ainsworth and rookie Jesse Foppert? Thanks, Score Bard!

The Rockies effect gets repealed
As soon as they leave from Coors Field.
And so in the end,
Coors is not much their friend.
Those Giants? They keep my eyes peeled.

Utek (LA): Hey Score Bard, Frank Robinson has done an amazing job with the 'Spos this year (reminds me of the job Gil Hodges did with the Amazin' Mets in 1969). What can he do to keep his team focused on its grueling road trip, with its San Juan to Seattle plane flights?

The Expos could not be that cruel.
Robinson isn't a fool.
It just isn't right
To take flight after flight
With nothing to eat but some gruel.

Ernie D. Edmonds WA: Do you think John Miller will make it to the hall of fame as a broadcaster? I think he's fantastic but he is working for a TV network now and not a team anymore. That could have an effect on perceptions. Would it be a positive or negative effect? p.s. I met you on the field at Jack Murphy Stadium in '89 while I was a security guard. Thanks for treating me well and not big timing me. That year is when I started to love baseball and is proof that if someone watches baseball regularily they can be converted to a fan of the sport.

Yeah, someday Jon might join the Shrine.
But back in the year '89
I really could swear
I was not even there
Are you sure that the meeting was mine?

Matt, Santa Rosa,CA: Hey Score Bard,Why is Bonds strikeout total up so high this early in the season?

Look at the numbers; it's not.
I think that you might have been caught
Making a guess.
His K rate is less
Than the years when he's been really hot.

Carl (Chicago): Good morning. I was just wondering whether or not you thought Greg Maddux could go into the HOF as a Cub? He had many great years here before going to Alanta. Thanks

As I once said about this: who cares
What hat on a plaque someone wears?
Still, he'll go to his grave
As an Atlanta Brave
Not linked with his old Bad News Bears.

Richard, Birmingham, AL: Hi Score Bard. I read a column of yours earlier this week. In it you said that batting average is the most overrated stat in baseball. Do you think Chipper Jones is an overrated player. His batting average has been consistently good. But, his power numbers have dropped over the last few years.

From the view of my fantasy team,
His value is losing some steam
Since he stopped playing third,
But I think it's absurd
To say that he's lost all his gleam.

Rockville, MD: With Melvin Mora, Jorge Julio, and Jay Gibbons leading the way for the future, how close do you think the Orioles are to contending?

How close to the championship smiles?
As close as your state of denials.
The popping of cork
Takes place in New York:
It's one hundred seventy miles.

Mike (Anderson, California): Good morning Mr Bard. I have noticed that some ML ballparks have this new electronic device motoring balls and strikes. The umpires are very uneasy about it. Do you think this should be continued? Case in point the Boston game last night. Second to the last pitch would have been called a strike anywhere. I just don't think machines or computers belong in the game. You might as well replace the umps and while you are at it the players too!!

We might as well go have some fun
Since this slippery slope has begun
Let fans watch them play
In a virtual way
Til somebody finds us "The One".

Bruce, Bronx, NY: What's going on with Giambi? Last year, I understand it had to do with getting comfortable as a Yankee, but a batting average of .219 at the end of May?

What papers you reading there, Bruce?
Haven't you heard his excuse?
His eyes are infected.
His hitting's connected:
Without eyes he cannot produce.

Mike, Kansas City, Mo: Should the Royals try and pick up another hitter in an attempt to catch the Twins? Or is it time to trade Beltran and focus on next season?

I don't think the Twins will be caught.
But you might as well try. Hey, why not?
For KC, what matters
Is getting young batters
Without giving up a whole lot.

Greg louisville, ky: Hey Score Bard, I'm a big red's fan, I'm hoping for big things this season, but starting pitching is killing us. Do you see any hope in the near future wheather it be in a trade or something in the farm system?

I don't think you'll see Cincy's farmers
Providing the Reds with great armers.
What kind of aid
Could they get in a trade?
The decently priced John Halamers.

Paul (Washington, DC): Hey Score Bard, now that the Red Sox have sacrificed a solid player in Hillenbrand for pitching help, where would they be better off putting Kim, in the bullpen, or in the rotation?

According to ESPN,
Kim will be starting again.
He'll take his turns
Until Pedro returns,
And then he'll be back in the pen.

Edward (Metairie, La): Good Morning Mr Bard. I was just wondering can Ken Griffey Jr. revive his career like Mark McGwire did after a long stretch of injuries.

You may see his output revert,
If Ken can avoid getting hurt...
If not, that big "If"
Means his game is a stiff,
And we'll sprinkle our flowers in the dirt.

The End. (Compare to: Joe Morgan's answers)