Brian Snyder / Reuters

Curt Schilling has only managed two strong starts in seven tries since returning to the rotation.

Q: With the Chicago Cubs coming off one of their most non-productive seasons, and with huge questions about their once-vaunted pitching staff, can they put money and years together to attract pitchers like A.J. Burnett and Billy Wagner?
— Dave Joel, Wayne, Pa.

A: General manager Jim Hendry faces a huge off-season, as you can make a case for the Cubs needing a second baseman, a shortstop and as many as three outfielders on top of a little help for the pitching staff. And somewhere in there has to be a leadoff hitter. That’s why I think one of their main targets will be Rafael Furcal, who may be too expensive for the Braves to re-sign.

I don’t think Nomar Garciaparra will be back (he belongs in the AL as a designated hitter) unless the Cubs can’t get Furcal. As for Burnett and/or Wagner, I suppose the Cubs could make an offer to each, but could only hope to get one. However, I don’t see either landing in Chicago. The Cubs already have Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux and (hopefully) Kerry Wood — and that’s an expensive foursome in the rotation. They also are happy with Ryan Dempster as the closer, and he wants to stay put, so I think he will be re-signed.

Q: Do you think that Yankees closer Mariano Rivera could get the MVP award?
— Daniel Perry, Attleboro, Mass.

Q: Where does Rivera end up in the Cy Young voting?
— Timothy, Bergen County, N.J.

A: I don’t think Rivera has any shot at winning the AL MVP award, but I do think he will finish in second half of the top 10. After the top two candidates — Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz — I put Rivera in a group with Travis Hafner, Mark Teixeira, Gary Sheffield, Vladimir Guerrero, Manny Ramirez, Paul Konerko, Johnny Damon and Chone Figgins as the next rung of candidates. As for the Cy Young Award, Rivera obviously has a better shot, but I see Bartolo Colon as the leading candidate. Rivera could finish as high as second, with the other top vote-getters likely to be Johan Santana, Mark Buehrle and Jon Garland. Roy Halladay and Rich Harden would have had a shot if not for injuries.

Q: What has happened to Chris Carpenter? He has been banged all over the league for the past month. If he doesn’t perform, are the Cards dead?
— Nolan Leara, Cincinnati

A: Carpenter has been roughed up in his last four starts, allowing 36 hits and 22 earned runs in 21.2 innings to raise his ERA from 2.21 to 2.83, and it could end up costing him the Cy Young Award. That has to be some cause for concern about how he will perform in the playoffs. He says there is nothing wrong physically, although there was a bit of a back issue a few starts ago. Instead, he blames the slump on a loss of focus, and that does happen at times to teams and players who have clinched their division title as early as the Cardinals did. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t revert to the form that he displayed through most of the regular season come playoff time.

Q: How do they determine the Gold Glove award? Is it one per position per league?
— Mark, Springfield, Mo.

A: Managers and coaches do the voting on players only in their league, so this is one you can’t blame on the media, Mark. Yes, it is one per position, per league, except when it comes to the outfield. There, as many as three center fielders in each league can win one, and often, that’s how it works out. I have a bit of a problem with that, and believe there should be one awarded in each league for each specific outfield position. But I realize that center field presents the most opportunity to make spectacular plays, and that the best outfielders usually are center fielders.

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Tony Gutierrez / AP

More heroics from Hamilton

Josh Hamilton fights off illness to hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning, lifting the Texas Rangers to an 8-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Angels win as Pujols HR streak up to 3 games

SEATTLE (AP) - Albert Pujols hit a home run in his third straight game and pinch hitter Alberto Callaspo came through with a grand slam in the sixth inning to give the Los Angeles Angels a 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

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