Q: If Alex Rodriguez does go with another team, what is the likelihood he will play shortstop? Do you think his shortstop days are behind him?
— Mark Helfer, St. Augustine, Fla.

A: Interesting question, Mark, because that has always bothered me about A-Rod’s move to New York. Not that he was going to displace Derek Jeter — no way. But I was surprised that he would alter his legacy by changing positions in the prime of his career. It is one thing to change when you’re near the end of the line, but he likely would have gone down in history as the greatest shortstop who ever played the game had he stayed at the position. And setting the all-time home run record as a shortstop would have been an astounding feat.

Without knowing all the inner workings, if I was him, I would have tried to move from Texas to Boston, and play shortstop for the Red Sox, rather than end up as a third baseman for the Yankees. Fenway Park is a far better place than Yankee Stadium for a right-handed power hitter, too.

But in this case, I have to believe that dollar signs are going to play the lead role in deciding where A-Rod plays next season, and the position he plays will be a secondary issue.

Q: I am wondering why pitchers aren’t better hitters. It would seem they should be able to see a pitch better than anyone else, with perhaps the exception of the catcher.
— Kevin Chambers, Highlands Ranch, Colo.

A: The main reason is they just don’t hit enough, Kevin. From as early as high school, a lot of pitchers do nothing else but pitch. They are specialists. And if they are drafted by an American League team, they won’t hit in the minor leagues, either.

There are several notable exceptions around the majors — Livan Hernandez, Tim Hudson, and especially Micah Owings, who may get a chance to hit higher than eighth in the Arizona lineup next season, according to what manager Bob Melvin said during the National League Championship Series.

Owings is as good a hitting pitcher as I’ve seen since Mike Hampton was with the Rockies in the pre-humidor days of Coors Field. Hampton hit .291 with seven home runs, 16 RBI and 20 runs scored in 79 at-bats in 2001, and was a genuine offensive threat.

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