Thank you for reading the E-mailbag.  Please send all your questions to mlbreports@gmail.com and please include your first name and City/Country.

We will be compiling a list of your questions from our e-mailbag and posting the responses on Wednesdays.

Wednesday May 25, 2011

Q:  Is Jose Bautista’s start for real?  Do you think he can keep it up?  From Brian,Toronto

MLB reports:  Hello Brian.  Great choice of topics as Bautista has been the talk of baseball in 2011.  Considering his body of work, every day that goes by you have to believe that the Jays slugger is for real.  After a great September in 2009, Bautista hit 54 long balls in 2010 and is already up to 19 in 2011.  It is mind boggling considering that Bautista has missed several games this season already for personal reasons and neck issues.  We prepared a profile on Jose Bautista at the Reports, which you can view here.  Jose Bautista appears to be a late bloomer that has discovered his stroke and is here to stay.  He is now the face of the Toronto Blue Jays and a home run force for several seasons to come.

Q:  What is your favorite major league ball park and why?  FromAngela,Vermont

MLB reports:  Although I have not been to every MLB stadium, I have definitely seen my fair share. J If I had to select a favorite, it would likely be PNC Park in Pittsburgh.  The view of the water, the layout of the stadium and the overall baseball feel is one that is without comparison.  I have enjoyed every seat that I have seen in Pittsburgh and would highly recommend seeing the park if you can.  A close second is Comerica Park in Detroit.  Comerica is a combination of my love of the Tigers team with a beautiful stadium and rich history.  That stadium really has it all.  But for overall look and feel, PNC wins out. 

Q:  If you could watch baseball in any country, which would you pick and why?  I am thinking Japan?  From Larry, San Francisco

MLB reports:  You are correct Larry, Japan goes to the top of the list.  Clearly you have been paying attention to my tweets!  The enthusiasm and energy from a Japan baseball game, as I have seen on television, literally has no comparison in any other country.  I cannot wait until the day when I am in Japan and watch a game live at a local stadium.  From the food, cheering fans, uniforms, style of play…Japan has it all.  I also have Cuba very high on my list.  From what I watched in the World Baseball Classic, Cubans take their baseball very seriously and my gut feel is that diehard fans would love watching live baseball in Cuba.  Hopefully it works out for me one day, we shall see!

Q:  I have been a Cubs fan for 30 years.  I think that I’m done suffering and looking to change teams.  Are my cubbies ever going to win?  From Bruce, Windy City

MLB reports:  Bruce…Bruce…Bruce.  Stand by your team!  I cannot blame you for being discouraged.  But if the Red Sox and White Sox can win the World Series, so can the Cubs.  If your team goes all the way and you are off the bandwagon, I think you will feel very sorry.  Part of a sports fan, especially baseball, is that you will have to suffer for many years sometimes.  In your case as a Cubs fan, for a lifetime potentially.  But team loyalty is key and stick with your Cubs.  They are on the right track in slowly rebuilding the farm system and should be a contender hopefully in the near future.

Q:  Will Mariano Rivera ever stop being good?  I wish he had signed with the Red Sox when FA.  He throws one pitch and is over 40, what’s up with that?  From Gene,Boston

MLB reports:  The mystery of Rivera and the famous cutter will live in baseball legendary for years to come.  How he does it few of us know, but somehow he was able to master one amazing pitch and has used it to build a hall of fame career.  You can dream, but Rivera was never going to leave the Yankees.  He came up a Yankee and will retire as a Yankee.  The Red Sox did make a play for him in his last free agency year, but he indicated all along that he was staying in New York.  But despite his magical career numbers which grow with his strong 2011 season, the time is drawing near for the Sandman.  I can see Rivera having 1-2 years at most left in the tank.  But once age and injuries finally catch up, we will know when he is done.  Mariano Rivera is probably the greatest reliever of our generation, if not of all time.  It has been a pleasure to watch him and we wish him the best as he writes the final chapters of his storybook career.

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