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Ask Anthony: September 24

BY ANTHONY RIEBER | anthony.rieber@newsday.com

September 24, 2007

There is so much going on in baseball right now, with the pennant races and the wild card and the Yankees and the Red Sox and the Mets and the Phillies ... This mailbag is about none of that. This mailbag is about the minutiae of baseball. Why? Because that's what you've e-mailed me about. And I am here to serve. Want to debate the pennant races? Go to the Mets and Yankees blogs or Ken Davidoff's baseball blog. Ask Anthony is timeless.

Like baseball itself, I have no clock.

Before I get to new questions, a reprint of one (and my smart-alecky answer) from the last mailbag:
Q: What are the chances the Mets grab David Wells for the stretch?

John T.
A: Why would you want that?
And here's John's answer to my answer:
A: Wouldn't adding Wells give us a better rotation for the playoffs? Wells is one of the best postseason pitchers in baseball. I understand he is a screwball but it would only be for a few months. Plus, the way our bullpen is getting used up, it would be an extra arm.

This is my way of saying John was right. Wells has been OK with the Dodgers and the Mets have had to start Brian Lawrence and Phil Humber in the last few weeks. John, you were right and I was wrong.

On to new business:

Q: Why does Phil Hughes always kneel at the mound before pitching?
Esther C.
A: Esther, I asked him that question for you on Sunday because I had no idea myself. Here's what he said: "It started in high school. It's just something I've done before the first inning of every start. I just say a prayer for my family and stuff."

Q: Don't you think Bowa is a great third base coach? I can think of numerous plays at the plate recently, tough calls that Bowa has made the right decision on. In my opinion, Bowa is a great asset -- a huge upgrade over windmill Willie Randolph. What do you think?
Kollen L.
A: I think Bowa is a great asset to the Yankees as a coach because he can be fiery and he needles players who need to be needled, like Robinson Cano. It's a good counterweight to Joe Torre's calmness. As a third-base coach, I agree with you in that he seems to be aware of when to be aggressive in sending runners and such. Is he a "great" third base coach? Was Willie a poor third-base coach? I'm not sure how to quantify that. I'll have to ask Davidoff if there's a VORP for third-base coaches.

Q: Can you explain the function of those 3-sided rectangles near first and third bases in all ML ballparks? They're called "coaching boxes," but I think the last time I saw a coach standing in one was around 1956.
Bill B., Medford
A: It's funny you mention that, Bill. The Yankees had a heck of a third-base coach in 1956, Frank Crosetti, The Crow. I don't know if he was better or worse than Willie Randolph or Larry Bowa and I don't know if he stayed in the coaches' box. Just so you know, I just took a look out on the field and Bowa is standing 20 feet behind the box with Alex Rodriguez up (seems like a smart plan) and Tony Pena has one foot in the box at first base.

Q: Anthony, I was wondering. With the Mets bullpen imploding nightly, what's up with Duaner Sanchez? Is he still a part of the organization? Will we see him this year?
Russell I.
A: Russell, Sanchez has not recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained in a car accident last July. He is on the 60-day disabled list and has been paid $850,000 to not pitch this season.

Q: Hi Anthony. Why are the Mets playing the Dodgers 10 times this year and the rest of the NL West 6-7 times each? Does the schedule somehow rotate on a yearly basis; if so, on which criteria?
Thanks, Ed P.
A: Hi Ed. The unbalanced schedule means teams play other division teams from six to 10 times a year. It rotates, but with all the teams and all the interleague play I don't think it ever evens out.

If I were commissioner, I would scrap the American and National leagues and just have everything based on geography. For example, the East division would be the Mets, Yanks, Red Sox, Phillies, maybe Toronto. Southern division would be the Braves, Marlins, Devil Rays, Nats, Orioles. The Pacific division would be the Angels, Dodgers, Giants, A's, Padres. Cubs and White Sox in the same division? Yes. Royals and Cardinals? Absolutely. Marlins and Devil Rays? Well, OK, no one cares about that one.

It's the one thing the NBA and NHL understand that baseball doesn't: geographical rivals should play each other a lot because those are the games that have meaning and will attract the most fans.

But I'm not the commissioner. Yet.