Ask Boswell: Nats, Wizards and Orioles

Washington Post sports columnist Thomas Boswell was online Thursday, June 25, at 11 a.m. ET to take your questions about the the Nats, Wizards, Orioles, the latest sports news and his columns.

Boswell Discussion Archives

Boswell Column Archives

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Tom Boswell: Well, lots of interesting subjects this week _local, national, international! Wiz trade, Shaq trade, NBA draft, US soccer upset, U.S. Open golf, Red Sox visit Nats, Manny survives another week, Don Fehr retires...on and on. Look forward to your questions.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Boz,

I am a card-carrying Natsochist. I am willing to endure the pain now for a brighter and more competitive future for my hometown team. What I can't abide is the way that Kasten so blatantly courts fans from opposing teams making my guys feel they're the road team when hosting Boston, Philadelphia and both New York teams. A fellow poster on Nats Journal crystallized my attitude by telling those fans of the other teams to get off my lawn!

Tom Boswell: Got to admit that, while I understand why the Nats want to turn home games into road games ($$$), it makes my blood boil as somebody who's followed Washington sports since the late '50's. I roamed around in the crowd at Tuesday's Nats-Red Sox game. It was a very friendly vibe. Sawx fans weren't obnoxious with their cheering. Early in the game, Nats fans actually booed down some chants of "Lets go Red..." But when the nats fell behind, lots of Washington fans left for the subway or clammed up and the Sox fans took over the place in the last three innings. Last night's close game seemed to keep the place packed.

My view is that if an out-of-town fan wants to cheer when his/her team does something good, then that's great. Let them. But as soon as they start "rally" cheers or "Lets go" stuff, they should be drowned out by pro-Washington reaction. Maybe that day will come. But it's certainly not here yet.

Oh, talked to some Boston fans who were down last night and they loved the game, park, etc. I'll be interested to get more feed back tonight.

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Interleague Play: Is it just me, or does it seem like interleague play has been going on forever this season?

We all know why this was instituted...to get the Mets-Yankees games and the money. Other so-called rivalries, Cubs-White Sox, Angels-Dodgers, O's-Nats may have some interest, but not like the NYC spectacular.

Is this really necessary anymore? I know the answer is follow the money, but as a 40+ year baseball fan, the entire interleague play is a big yawn - I'd rather see more games with teams that matter than novelty games.

Tom Boswell: I hate to disagree so completely, especially since I was dead set against interleague play for so long. I was wrong.

There are some joke "rivalries." But there are far more than enough real ones. Not just New York, LA and Chicago, which would be a great start, but locally Nats-O's is very strong. I look fotrward to it. Since I've been looking at attendance stats recently, I've noticed how big a boost interleague play gives. Cards-Royals and cross-state games in Ohio, Texas, Florida.

The A.L is already more than 15 games over .500. (Haven't updated this a.m.) Not as awful for the N.L. as in recent years but still a big ga.

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Herndon, Va.: Why does MLB continue to schedule most Saturday games at night? Sunday games are the most attended and the first tickets to go in our season ticket group selection because you can bring your kids during the day. Its obviously not for national TV scheduling. I would think more day games would drive higher attendance.

Tom Boswell: I agree that there should bve a more even split on Saturdays. But there are some towns thqat just get huge disproportionately large crowds ONLY on Saturday night. There should be more imagination used to taylor the Sat sked to the tastes of the town. I think the Nats should add more Sat afternoon games and a FEW more weekday afternoon games, too. They seem popular here. Play hooky.

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2nd Most Profitable?: Hi Boz,

My guess is Forbes and your column today will embolden Boras to 'grab all the gusto' he can for his client Strasburg. Hope the Nats spend more on players now that we know they aren't hurting even with the worst record in baseball.

Tom Boswell: That's just the way it is. Both sides will have a case. Strasburg is a special prospect and the Nats have the money. But pitchers have an awful record in the draft, including Super Prospects like Big ben and Prior (who was wonderful but gone at 25). There's no need to get worked up about this one. Both sides are well represented __the 101st rodeo for both sides. Let 'em fight it out. I suspect it'll get worked out at a record price and I'll be at the August 18th press conference.

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$6 Beers?: Bos, I'm paying $7.50 at the "Baseline Brews" stands; where are these $6 beer of which you speak?

Tom Boswell: We did an editor/reporter "study" of Nats beer prices yesterday to get this right. Our collective view is that $6 beer exists in cans at Nats Park although the beer in a cup is $7.50. And since vendors don't give change (I don't think), it's $8. Still, there is apparently $6 beer in a can __where to get it or how big (or small) it is, I don't know. And Steinberg, among others, vouches for its existence. Boy, talk about a hot-bottom detail!

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Section 117: Thanks for writing this story. It was a good beginning in trying to explain how finances affect the team and decision making. I still am a little unclear about the debt and the effect on the team's player decisions. Do you think it would be possible to write more stories about the balance between financial costs/resources and the team's performance goals ? Do you think it could help fans understand why the Nats just don't go out and spend money like the Yankees?

washingtonpost.com: A Rooting Interest in the Bottom Line(Washington Post, June 25)

Tom Boswell: Thanks. The Lerners have always been very private about their businesses, their finances and that's probably not going to change. Still, they are an ultra-public venue now with the Nats and they are going to have to increase their accountabilty to their customers and the community or they are going to take a lot of grief __and should__ when the record is this bad and the payroll is either tiny or low. And the payroll, at this moment, for '10 will be one of the two-or-three lowest in the game.

With any baseball ownership, "trust but verify" isn't a bad rule of thumb. The Nats say that they inend to be active in free agency this winter. By drafting Strasburg, they are implying that they inend to sign him. However, if they go after Teixeira and don't get him (nobody expected them to win), then go after Strasburg and don't reach a deal, some will wonder if there was a PR element. I don't think there is. I think they thought Tex was perfect and went as hard as they could, but had no chance when the Yanks got in the game late. They should be able to sign Strasburg.

One thing is clear: the Nats are financially very sound. They were 19th in baseball in attendance last year. After tonight, they'll be No. 23 with a chance to move up 1-2-3 spots over the next month with a favorable (attendance) schedule __4 with Cubs, 3 with Mets and a 4th of July weekend. But that rank in attendance is with ticket prices in the top dozen. Also, they got a very good deal (by accidnt) from the O's and MASN. The Nats take a big cut out of concessions, perhaps close to 50%.

There is absolutely no doubt that the Nats can, over time, support a much higher payroll. Will they? I'll keep on it.

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Reston, Va.: How about the Nats signing Pedro for the rest of the season, it sounds like they are going to need pitchers as the season winds down and couldn't having a veteran on the squad help the young guys?

Tom Boswell: They've got more arms than they need. No Pedro. A waste of money. And he'd hate being on a last place team. Mock just pitched a CG shutout at AAA with 10K. Matt Chico is healthy. There are plenty of arms for September.

I've got to admit that watching the current young rotation is fun every night. When Stammen (probably) or Detwiler goes down (or to the bullpen) and olsen gets another chance to show what he's got, it will still be a nightly pleasure to the true baseball nut. If you have a quality pitching rotation __and the nats may by the middle of next year__ then you are a long, long way toward having a very interesting team.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Mets fan in DC--I go to Nats Park to see my team, root like crazy, don't insult Nats fans, and knowingly give my money to your ownership who can use it to beat my team. If Nats fans don't like my presence, buy more tix.

Tom Boswell: Agreed.

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Rockville, Md.: Are you surprised that Tiger Woods is human and had good days and bad days after his surgery? So far as I have been concerned he is right on track. I am even surprised to see so many top ten finishes. What is your opinion?

(I am looking forward to his answers to be published on July 1st.)

Tom Boswell: Tiger is right on schedule and impressive __except for his putting at the two majors this year. On very fast Masters greens and abnormally slow bumpy green at Bethpage, he really struggled. My column on Tiger from the Open brought up an issue that I haven't seen mentioned before __the tendency of great players to hit a wall in thier 30's and start barely loing, rather than barely winning majors. Nicklaus 1-for-16 from 36-to-39 was a surprise because he waas still winning on Tour, low stroke average and had a ton of near-misses in majors (four seconds and two thirds, amoing others in that 1-for-16).

I don't think Tiger has hit that wall yet. His ball-striking at memorial and the open was exceptional. A few months ago, I guessed that he'd end with 23 majors. But that may be high. He'll pass Jack's 18 and I hope he gets into the 20's. But, as you say, he's human, he's had a major injury and a long layoff. That's why everybody is fascinated and watching.

Can't wait for the AT&T next week at Congressional. You can bet that Tiger seriously wants to win it. My guess is that he will.

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Lufkin, Texas: Great article this morning. It raised a few questions for me. Is Stan Kasten being given the support and resources he needs to implement his plan for turning the Nats into a successful franchise? Or does he give the Lerner family the credibility and time they need to pursue their own plan? In your opinion, will Kasten get it done?

Tom Boswell: Fofr the first 2 1/2 years that the Lerners owned the team, I think it's obvious that they did not follow Kasten's plan. He will never say it. Bowden was always shocked at how little money he was given to work with. One main reason that Bowden remained so long was that Kasten realized that he was as good a bargain-hunter (after his years with Marge in Cincy) as he was likely to find. But the day Kasten came on board, I don't think he had an idea how hardit would be to get ownership to follow his Atlanta model. Has that changed dramaticallyin the last 6-8 months? Probably. As I have said here before, sometimes even very successful people like the Lerners have to learn things the hard way. Kasten's reputation has given the Lerners a lot of "cover." So, if you want to view him as an enabler, I think that's one valid point of view. He's a a very large guard dog who keeps fans/press from putting as much heat on the owners as there should be. OTOH, Kasten is the one proven part of the Nats organization. He's as in charge as he will ever be with the Lerners as his boss. Will that be enough for him and/or the team to be successful? I don't know. He works 24/7. My guess is that he has too much pride to leave a botched job behind him. But I doubt that, five years from now, that this will be his last stop. This is just a common-sense long-view take on it.

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Herndon, Va.: What do you think about the trade the wizards made this week and do you think that the wizards really have a good shot at being one of the elite teams in the east with the magic, cavs and celtics

Tom Boswell: I like the trade.

I think this a very weak draft, after Griffin. Even Thibet will have a hard time being The Next Matumbo because his offense is so weak. At No. 5, there was no certainty. Unless you see huge upside, I think it's always better to trade picks at this level for established players. Miller and Foye are completely known commodities __and Ernie is very good at evaluating people once they have an NBA track record. The Wiz now have six good to very good players, plus youngsters McGwire, McGhee, Young.

Still, everybody sees the same thing. The Wiz need another big man to take some load off Haywood. Desperately, I'd say. So, one more move looks like it's almost a certainty. I'd love to hear some of your guesses.

As I said here, I never liked the No. 5 pick and thought it should be traded if you got quality for it. The Wiz didn't give up anybody that they considered important to their future.

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Washington, D>C.: What do you make of Washington's trade with Minnesota? Now that Grunfield has an abundance of guards, do you think he'll package some of them for a big man? Maybe Stoudemire? Or look elsewhere?

Tom Boswell: If another trade isn't coming, then they messed up and have a jump-shooting Phoenix East. With Shaq now in the Conerence paired with Labron, as well as Dwight Howard, you just can't contend seriously with as little inside presence as the Wiz now have. And when you trade a No. 5 pick, and have a Big Three who aren't young, you are obviously saying, "We need to win now."

Abe wants to make another run, have some fun, take a shot. This trade is a good step. IF they can take the next step. I'll be fascinated to see what it is. I doubt they can get Stoudemire, but be glad ifthey did..

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Alexandria, Va.: I don't recall where I heard this - but at one time MLB considered it a stolen base to take an extra base on a hit. So, going from first to third on a single counted as a SB? Do you know if this was an official scoring practice and when did it change?

Tom Boswell: I don't know.

But I do know that more people take an extra base on singles to Adam Dunn in LF than anybody I've ever seen. He's a good judge of a fly ball, but anything that bounces seems to scare him to death and it's hard to be "quick" in fielding the ball and releasing it when you're listed at 284 pounds. He's just a huge guy and baseball is a gameof fractionsof a second. Ryan Z thinks that Dunn is such an exceptional athlete __hand-eye coordination, a HS quarterback so good that Texas is still sorry he didn't go there and play__ that he'd make a good 1st baseman. (Okay, maybe decent would be a better word.) Ryan Howard would be the comparable __brutal at first, then improving gradually. Still far from good. If there's a Nick Johnson trade by August 1, and there should be, putt Dunn at 1st and Willingham in LF. As I've pointed out, Willingham makes some fine plays when he gets to a ball, but he's as poora jdge of anything in the air as Dunn is a liability on anything that bounces. A zillion teams have been good despite a bad LF and an adequate 1st baseman _if they can hit. Dunn and Willingham can. BUT if you are going to have weak defense at the classic bad-defense positions, then you have to be strong up the middle.And the nats are not. They absolutely have to get a much better CF, a long-term SS with better range than Guzman, a second baseman with more ffense than hernandez and at least as much defense and they have to hope that Flores comes back healthy.

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Manassas, Va.: In your column today you mentioned the Nats' debt service. Since the team didn't pay for the stadium, what is this debt?

Tom Boswell: The Lerners had to pay a big price for the Expo franchise __about $400M__ and like almost all teams, paid for much of it with borrowed money. (MLB has a 60-40 ratio rule, I believe. I always have to look that up.)

MLB has this semi-scam down pat. They get a city to build a stadium. That drives up the value of the franchise that will play in that town. So, the new owner, who buys into the MLB club, has to pay a fancy price to get into the baseball game.

Baseball made a BILLION dollars on Washington if you combine the ballpark that D.C. built and the price that the lerners paid. This point is often missed and I should repewat it more often. The Lerners did NOT get a "free" ballpark in ANY sense. The new park was IN the price they paid. It was MLB got a free publicly-built park. Why did this happen? Because it was the only way that Washington could bulldoze Peter Angelos. He had a move to Washington blocked. But Major Williams found a way to construct a deal so sweet for MLB that the other 29 owner said to Peter, "Get out of our way or get run over. We're going to Washington __for a billion reasons."

All of this may end up being win-win-win, but only if, in the long view, the Nats are a normal MLB team with normal healthy fanm support that contributes to much-needed development of the whole SE waterfront. Because the U.S. economy is so bad now, we're not seeing that payback yet. Will it come? I think so.

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Rockville, Md.: A lot of great points today, the Nat's and the Skins both suffer from the same problem. Snyder allows Fedex to become a stadium that too many foreigners(think philly, dallas...fans) come to. In Philly you would shed some blood if you went there and started a Go Skins cheer. Any opinion on the report that Portis has dis'd Zorn again? I love his play but am beginning to dislike the total package, kind of like a hang-over after beer?

Tom Boswell: Good points. Clinton is tough to handle and goes over Zorn's head to Snyder, as we saw last year. Portis came right out and said it.

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Stolen bases: Alexandria must be a real old-timer. Yes, MLB once gave SBs to players for advancing an extra base on a hit, but that rule was changed in 1898!

Tom Boswell: !!

Gotta love this group.

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US vs Spain: Aren't sports incredibly fascinating? A week or so ago, everyone was bemoaning how big the gap was/is between the US MNT and the rest of the soccer playing world and throwing dirt on them. Now they find themselves playing in the final of Confed. Cup. Amazing. No one, and I mean no one gave them a chance over Spain. Maybe with a little luck we can go far in next year's World Cup. Anything is possible.

washingtonpost.com: U.S. Shocks No. 1 Spain In Confederations Cup(Washington Post, June 25)

Tom Boswell: Exactly. Never figured I'd be looking forward to watching the U.S. vs (I hope) Brazil on Sunday. If we get thumped in that one, it does nothing to detract from the upset of Spain. Sure, it's "just" a huge upset __a blood-and-guts anolomy with a semi-lucky goal and lots of escapes from Spain's attacks. But it came at a time when U.S. soccer really needed to get some credibilty back before the World Cup after bad loses to Brazil and Italy.

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Rockville, Md: What is the timeline for D.C. to lose its 3rd MLB team?

Tom Boswell: Come back and ask again in 2038. That's about when the iron-clad stadium lease runs out. The Nationals are here for a loooong time. They are financially viable even at their current nadir. Those who ask this question show that they literally know nothing.

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Shattered Bat: Gosh, Boz, Dukes shattered bat that hit the Red Sox Nick Green and then stuck in the ground was scary to witness. The day cometh when that bat impales a player and does potentially serious harm. I am assuming that it was a maple bat. Time for MLB to do something prior to reacting to the eventual impaling?

Tom Boswell: I keep trying to make this point. Dunn had a great quote that I used in a column earlier this season. He seldom uses a maple bat. He switched because he said that he didn't want a bat "with my name on it" to be the one that was sticking out of somebody's neck. He was concerned about fans, umps and pitchers. I don't think that even he thought that a shortstop could be in the line of fire to this degree.

When has baseball EVER addressed a problem until it HAD to. This is an issue for Selig. The buck stops with him. I don't care what it costs or the inconvenience or any excuse whatsoever. Maple bats should be thrown out of the sport. They aren't bats, they are spears.

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Bethesda, Md.: Boz - the Nats built a pretty nice ballpark for $650M....and the Yankees just finished one - for double. When you were there, did you see anything that suggested where that extra billion or so went?

Tom Boswell: The new Yankee Stadium is fabulous. I was surprised. I looked it. Where you are in the stands, the press box or down on the field, it FEELS just like you are still in the old park __but better__ because of the new white facade all the way around. Of course everything else has been upgraded from 35-year-old to state of the art.

I thought I'd find the park to be over-the-top, gaudy. I might even hate it. But I felt just the opposite. The exterior is fabulous __imposing, the combination of soaring cathedral and gray ominous state prison that I remember from my first trip to the Old old stadium in '68-'69.

Of course, the ridiculous home run problem must be solved. Move back the fences and remove 1,000 seats. Or plug the "holes" at the top of the park that contribution to jet stream wind conditions. But that can be done. (What's another $50-$100M?)

But, dollar for dollar, Washington got a better park than the Yankees. The new Yankee Stadium is obviously better. But, when you see Nats Park full as it has been this week, it's special. After the Greatest parks __Yanks, Red Sox, Cubs, O's, Pirates, Giants, Dodgers and probably Seattle__ the Nats are in the next bunch of 6-to-8 very fine parks. Safely in the top 15. It's the Mets who may have built a park that, despite its fine rotunda, is a bit of a disappointment __littered with too much ugly OF signage, has a ridiculous OF configuration and is still in the middle of nowhere.

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Springfield, Va.: Any news on Michael Vick? Last real big talk was Mora up in Seattle stating that Vick deserves a chance then had to add a "we're not interested" line.

Also, I'm pumped about the US win over Spain but if S. Africa some how beats Brazil...wouldn't a US/S. Africa final be a let down for the Confed. Cup? Kinda like a Utah vs. Orlando NBA Final or an all wild-card team Super Bowl.

Tom Boswell: I'm sick of hearing about Michael Vick. He has a lot to prove as a person wherever he lands, but he has a lot of prove (to me) as a QB, too.

Everybody wants U.S.-Brazil, just as you say. Even if it's 3-0 Brazil. Just hope the U.S. can make it a game.

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Nats Season Ticket Holder,Washington, D.C.: The Nats packaged the Red Sox into a "Grand Slam" forcing people to purchase 4 other games in order to purchase one of the Red Sox series. I already had 8 tickets and needed to pick up one more, but couldn't get past this requirement. My nephew went to the Red Sox website and picked up a $10 ticket with no strings attached. I'm a season ticket holder and they still were trying to get deeper into my pockets. The entire organization is geared this way. Thanks for your article today. It really addressed many of my concerns about this ownership group.

Tom Boswell: The more you dig into the way the Nats are run, the less often you find a positive surprise.

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Sec 114, Row E: Stan says that the Nats will get the attendance that they deserve. They are.

Why should we buy more tickets to see back to back 100 loss teams? From an owner that has one of the lowest payrolls. Personally, I don't care how rich/poor the Lerners are. I just want a commitment to winning.

Which I haven't seen. After committing full STH money, since day 1, I'm not sure about re-upping for 2010. Are you reading this Ted/Mark/Stan?

Tom Boswell: They've been hearing this ever since the 100th loss went into the books last year. And they should hear it. Nobody's asking for a winner right now. But a decent credible team and sufficient focus on their fan base.

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Crystal City, Va.: In light of your analysis in the column, do you think the Lerners would have OK'd the offer to Teixeira if they thought he might accept it?

Tom Boswell: They really wanted him. I have no doubt. The money was on the table __$188M. You can't fake that. If Boras says, "We'll take it," you gotta pay. If anything, the Nats gave themselves too good a shot at getting him. They should have been much more focused on "after we don't get Teixeira, here are the five things we do next."

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Sec 114, Row E: Hey, Oddsmaker Bos, what are the odds that Mike Rizzo gets the permanent GM job? What's the holdup?

Tom Boswell: Rizzo should get it, imo. Fine credible lifelong baseball man with a record of evaluating talent. More important, he is as respected and liked by other GMs as Bowden wasn't respected or liked. They'll deal with him. And I suspect Boras will, too, because Rizzo has a rep for protecting young pitchers, not rushing them.

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Fairfax, Va.: What's your take on the Wizards trade? If this was a 6'8 and under league, they would have the most talented team. But it's not, and this trade leaves them very thin in the front court. I have to believe Ernie Grunfeld isn't done making moves.

Tom Boswell: Maybe Ernie is trying to build a team where everybody is shorter than he is. It's getting close.

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Kalorama Triangle, Washington, D.C.: I sure hope Leonsis talked some sense into Mark Lerner last night.

How would Lerner/Kasten respond to this?

I'm no math major but based on games 1 and 2, tonight's attendance will be 41,524. That will equal 124,571 (or about 6 Tuesday Pirates games) fans for three days. Conservatively, each fan spends $25 per game, therefore the Lerners gross $3,114,275 not including parking and suite revenue. Bump those numbers up from being conservative and assume they get over $5 million for this series and that means they gross about 1/5th of the team's entire payroll in this one three game series.....

Also, I spoke with a Nats marketing person on Tuesday and he said they are just resigned to the fact that other teams fans will take over the stadium. Pathetic.

Tom Boswell: You mean 1/10th, not 1/5th, as you noted in another question to me.

The only thing wrong with the math is that the average ticket price is more like $40 than $25.

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Section 135: Hi Boz,

Did Acta and his coaching staff get schooled last night by the Red Sox Staff. Early in the game, Youkilis did not like a strike call and instantly you could see the bench go to work, so well orchestrated that Terry Francona got a free shot at ump face to face about balls and strikes without having to leave the dug out. It was amazing and it worked, the next inning Ortiz should have been called out on a 3rd Strike call but the next pitch he hit the HR.

Acta and his staff do not even understand what just happened to them. Why is this part of the job excluded from Manny's job description and at what cost?

Tom Boswell: Thanks. Perfect example of Manny's biggest problem. And the nats FO has talked to him about it. He just doesn't want to change. I thought the 2-2 pitch call the next inning, immediately followed by the full-count three-run homer by Ortiz, was exactly the reason that ALL big-league m,anaers should have SOME fire. The team wants to be defended, think the manager has their back. Nobody is classier than Francona, but he gave a clinic on how a sane man can keep his dignity and still give the HP ump a good chewing. He started off hot, then really got in Davidson's face __truly seemed mad, not just "wroking the ump" and trying to get to Stammen_ then backed off. You can't prove he got a"amke up" call, but I certainly think he did. And I bet the Nats think so, too.

This IS part of any manager's job description __including the sainted joe Torre, who knows how to argue and bench-jockey when it's appropriate. The Nats had a very "live" bench in '07. Less so now. If anything costs Acta his job, it will be his passivity with umpires. You can be sane and mature with your own players in private __or not. It's a choice of management styles. But you have to have a "hot" bottom in a sport that's so competitive and where half the games are decided by one-or-two runs. You just have to have some EDGE. And if you don't have natural leaders on the team __and the Nats don't__ then it flls even more to the manager. And Manny isn't providing it.

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Silver Spring, Md.: In yesterday's column "A Rooting Interest in the Bottom Line," you mention that the Nats are collecting $25 million this year in broadcast revenues from the Orioles, which presumably means MASN. Is that subsidy going to continue indefinitely?

washingtonpost.com: A Rooting Interest in the Bottom Line(Washington Post, June 24)

Tom Boswell: No, it will be reviewed and adjusted at some point. Selig will be the swing vote of the three people who make the decision. This is one reason why I'm perplexed, perhaps even a bit suspicious about the crazy-low TV numbers. Suspicious of what? Oh, I'm just generally a skeptical guy. Part of being a journalist.

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Washington, D.C.: Would you want to be the 2nd best columnist in all the world? Would that be good enough for you? Or would the rest of the media still consider you a complete failure for ONLY being the 2nd best columnist year after year?

I'm just wondering if you columnists ever considered the Phil Mickelson/Michelle Kwan scenario in their own life before they beat up on them every Monday morning after a U.S. Open or Olympics?

washingtonpost.com: Ending Played Out As It Usually Does(Washington Post, June 23)

Tom Boswell: This was certainly not a beat-up-Phil column. More a sympathetic one, I would have thought. There have been some brutal ones that I've seen. If even extenuately circumstances come into play, this is the time.

However, it is also true that Mickleson is the worst clutch putter from 3-to-6 feet that I have ever seen in a Top 20 or maybe Top 50 players in the world. He's 39. How can a great putter at every other length be so bad close? I wonder if it's technical. He has a very loose "touch" putting stroke from that range, more likea 12-foot putt. It took him forever to stop gambling all over the course. Can he tighten up his short-putting stroke, even if it looks mechnical and un-Phil? Just a thought.

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New York, New York: Tom,

Phil Mickelson finished second in five US Opens in 11 attempts. At age 39, do you think he will be able to win one of the next four or five? Ray Floyd won at 43, Payne Stewart at 42, and Hale Irwin at 45. I can't recall any other 40+ winners. How many realistic chances are left for him? Pebble Beach next year? Pinehurst in five years? Snead was devastated when Hogan beat him in 1953. He was 41 and knew the last chance had come. Was Bethpage Phil's last chance?

Tom Boswell: Yes, I think he will win an Open. However, the event itself doesn't favor him __narrow fairways for a driver who isn't consistent and high rough which damages his abilkity to use his great scrambling skills. So, the five second places are remarkable.

See you next week as The Tiger starts.

P.S.: Don Fehr: One of my favorite people in baseball. Smart, honest, tough, though not really a baseball fan. (That wasn't his job.) Just loved talking with him, arguing. Also, a very wry, sardonic bleak sense of humor. But the steroid issue was his downfall. He had Marvin Miller __who became even more fanatical after he left the job as union head__ constantly pushing him to give the owners nothing, fight them on everything, no testing ever. Don should have told Marvin to back off and show more concern for whether a scary percentage of the membership was risking its health. But Miller still have enormous influence in the early days when seroids were getting a hold on the game from '88-to-96. The agents and Miller were dead set against, Gene Orza, too. Fehr, who is certianly complicit in fighting testing, takes the fall for them all.

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