Q: Who is the best player who doesn't get enough credit?
— Jake

A: 'Getting enough credit' is a relative term, Jake, especially in these days of massive and instantaneous media coverage. Somebody does something special these days, and it's all over ESPN, YouTube and every Internet outlet you can imagine.

But I have a pretty good candidate for you. As I write, he is fifth in the National League in home runs, third in RBI, tied for second in the majors with 20 road homers and second with 63 road RBI. He has hit .307 on the road, is a Gold Glove caliber defensive player, was elected to the NL All-Star team by vote of the players (who always know whose best among their peers) — yet few seem to know or appreciate just how good he is.

I'm talking about Padres' first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. A couple of factors are at work here. Mostly, it's a matter of the market he plays in. San Diego is one of game's smallest — bordered by Mexico, the Los Angeles/Orange County sprawl, the Pacific Ocean and the desert. Being in the Pacific time zone also makes it somewhat ignored by the Eastern press.

And second is the hugely pitcher-friendly nature of Petco Park. Gonzalez's road numbers are a truer reflection of the type of hitter he is. At home, working at a huge disadvantage, he is merely average. Put him in virtually any other home park, and you could be looking at a .300/40-homer/130-RBI producer.

Q: In your opinion, is there anybody on the horizon of baseball talent who could match Mickey Mantle in terms of power, speed and ability to bunt?
— Robert Gustin, Dedham, Mass.

A: There aren't now — and haven't ever been — more than a few players who could match Mickey Mantle in terms of power and speed, Robert. As you probably know, before leg injuries and abusive off-the-field behavior eroded his great talents, Mantle was a Triple Crown winner (1956 — .353-52-130) who reached double figures in stolen bases for six consecutive seasons when that part of the game wasn't at all emphasized.

Which brings me to the rest of my answer. With a couple of exceptions — Juan Pierre and Willy Taveras come to mind — bunting just isn't emphasized at all in the game these days. And certainly, sluggers aren't doing any bunting whatsoever.

So it's not that somebody couldn't do it, it's just that teams don't think that's the best way for the offenses to produce the most runs. That said, I'll throw a couple of names out there — left-handed sluggers with speed who I believe could have bunted successfully for hits if they wanted to.

Larry Walker immediately comes to mind. He truly was a five-tool player with phenomenal hand-eye coordination and great speed for a 240-pound man.

Among today's players, Grady Sizemore is a speedy slugger who bats leadoff. I'm sure he could bunt successfully if he tried — but again, we're not talking about Mantle-level talent.

Q: Is there a time limit on the new instant replay reviews?
— Phil L., San Pedro, Calif.

A: There is no hard-and-fast time limit, Phil, but MLB officials are thinking and hoping the review process should be accomplished within two minutes and 30 seconds. And that was the case in the first instance — on Alex Rodriguez's homer in Tampa — which was ruled on in two minutes and 15 seconds.

Personally, I think that is a very reasonable amount of time to get a call right — and in effect, often would be less time spent than the manager coming out and arguing, and getting tossed from the game.

I'd also like to see the use of replay expanded in phases. Next should be fair/foul calls on the foul lines — with technology akin to that used in tennis. Then further down the road would be on-the-bases calls, which television replays we see nearly instantaneously could right some wrongs.

I'll hold off on balls-and-strikes for now, but again, the technology already is in place, and we see it on our television screens. But in an overall sense, I don't like the atmosphere of questioning every call that could be created by the availability of blanket instant replay. You can't legislate all the human element out of the game.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Cuban ‘not on prowl’ for Dodgers, or any team Sosa’s skin undergoing color change Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay Damon, Matsui and Pettitte all could return Yankees’ Jeter, Teixeira win Gold Gloves Scully to broadcast in 2010, then decide future Baseball GMs pass on expanding instant replay Martin, Herzog, Murtaugh and Mauch on Hall ballot Free agents Circling the Bases: Blogging on news, rumors, buzz Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: