As always, if you have a question, use the link below to submit it -- and please be sure to include your first name, last initial and hometown. If you send a regular e-mail, rather than using the form, be certain to use the word "mailbag" in the subject header -- otherwise your mail may be directed to the spam folder or possibly be ignored in an unbecoming manner. Also, please understand that literally hundreds of e-mails arrive every week, so they can't all be used in the mailbag or receive personal responses.

Do you think Juan Gonzalez has a good shot at being a starter again? I know he has a lot of healthy, young competition. What do you think the odds are?
-- Jeremy H., House Springs, Mo.

Gonzalez's chances of making the team are a lot better than his chances of being a starter. He's been impressive in the early going, and his bat definitely intrigues the team. But Rick Ankiel and Chris Duncan both appear pretty well set as everyday or near-everyday players, and Ryan Ludwick also looks like he's going to play a lot.

My read is that if Gonzalez makes the team, it will be as a part-time player.

What is the theory behind bringing Colby Rasmus up in the middle of the year? Why not let him start the season rather than shuffle outfielders around later? If Ankiel has a tremendous first half, won't that set Rasmus back as far as getting called up?
-- James P., Sikeston, Mo.

A couple of things go into it. First, Rasmus has had an adjustment period at every level, so it's reasonable to think that the best thing for him might not be skipping a level.

There's also a business aspect, much as everyone is loath to consider it. If Rasmus comes up after Opening Day, you push back his free agency by a year. If he comes up after about midseason, you also push back arbitration. These are significant factors.

I'm not sure what you mean by the last part. Regardless of how Ankiel fares, if Rasmus goes to Memphis and rakes, he'll be up at midseason. There's not really a connection, so far as I can tell. It's not as though when Rasmus comes up, Ankiel will lose his spot.

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Still, there's one thing to remember -- he hasn't been sent out yet. The door has been left open for Rasmus, and if he has a spectacular spring, he could certainly make the club and be the Opening Day center fielder.

I was wondering what you think of our role model Jaime Garcia?
-- Alejandro C., Reynosa, Mexico

I got a couple of questions about Garcia this week, both from Mexico, and by fortuitous coincidence, I also saw Garcia pitch on Sunday. He's got a couple of nice pitches -- a very impressive curveball and a quality sinker. He also throws a changeup.

The conventional wisdom on Garcia seems to be that he's already pretty good, but he may not get a whole lot better. Most analysts I've read and talk to feel that Garcia's upside is limited, but that he will be a quality Major League starter, perhaps mid-rotation caliber.

I've lost track of John Rodriguez. Whatever happened to him?
-- Robert A., Blackwell, Okla.

It's time to bring back the "Whatever happened to ..." segment of the mailbag, since it always was popular.

John Rodriguez was let go by the Cardinals this winter, and he latched on with the Rays as a Minor League free agent. A friend and colleague of mine was recently in Rays camp and said Rodriguez looks good, but with a deep outfield, Rodriguez's chances this spring may be slim.