In March, we cornered our first player, an NL pitcher: "Got 20 minutes to answer 20 questions every fan wants answered?" The three-time All-Star, like the 99 MLB players after him, was happy to take the challenge. And when the grilling ended, he had one for us: "Got any more?"

Should Barry Bonds be enshrined in Cooperstown? Are the Yankees destined to repeat as champs? What would the clubhouse reaction be to news of a gay player? MLB stars reveal all below, exclusively for ESPN Insiders.


1. Question: Who is MLB's best player?

No surprise here: Players overwhelmingly anointed Albert Pujols (58 percent). "How could you say anybody but him?" asks a fellow NL 100 RBI guy. Well, 21 percent said Joe Mauer. No one else broke five percent.

In the "Most Overrated" category, Joba Chamberlain rules, as the Yanks reliever edged teammate Alex Rodriguez 17 percent to 9 percent. "I'm not sure what Chamberlain has done to have people still saying he's going to be great," says one AL reliever.

Best player:
1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals: 58%
2. Joe Mauer, Twins: 21%
T3. Chase Utley, Phillies; Derek Jeter, Yankees; Alex Rodriguez, Yankees: 4% each
T6. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins; Roy Halladay, Phillies: 3%
8. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners: 2%
9. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: 1%

Most overrated:

1. Joba Chamberlain, Yankees: 17%
2. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees: 9%
3. Nick Swisher, Yankees: 8%
T5. David Wright, Mets; Derek Jeter, Yankees; Manny Ramirez, Dodgers: 5% each
T8. Nine players tied with 4% each

NOTE: 15 percent said, "Nobody's overrated in the big leagues."



2. Question: Which city has the best baseball groupies?

One in six players refused to dignify this with a response, including one perennial AL MVP candidate. "No idea and no comment," he says. "That's a crazy question. No way anyone will answer that."

His less reticent brethren name one city (21 percent) with two teams Baseball Annie Heaven. "It doesn't matter if you're playing the Cubs or the White Sox," dishes one NL pitcher who has been a foe of both. "It's all good in Chicago."

Worst groupies? If you must know, Oakland sneaks by Cleveland 14 percent to 11 percent.

Best groupies

1. Chicago: 21%
2. San Diego: 9%
3. Phoenix: 8%
T4. New York, Boston: 6% each
T6. Anaheim, Atlanta, Colorado, Los Angeles: 5% each
T10. Toronto, Tampa Bay, Miami: 4% each
T13. Kansas City, Houston, Philadelphia: 3% each
T16. Nine cities tied with 1% each

Worst groupies

1. Oakland: 14%
2. Cleveland: 11%
3. Detroit: 10%
4. Milwaukee: 9%
T5. Pittsburgh, Kansas City: 7% each
T7. Washington, Cincinnati: 6% each
T9. Tampa Bay, Texas, San Francisco: 5% each
T12. Texas, Baltimore, Toronto: 3% each
T15. Six cities tied with 1% each


3. Question: How many games should teams play?

A majority (57 percent) like the schedule as is: 162 games. "It works. Why change it?" one NL player says.

Every vote for change, though, was a vote for a shorter season. The average suggestion was 152 games, although 10 percent of downsizers lobbied for 120 or fewer. "I say 100," says one AL outfielder eager for a few more off-days. "You'd get a lot more out of us."

Full results

1. 162 games: 57%
2. 150: 10%
T3. 100, 140: 8% each
3. 130: 5%
4. 120: 4%
T6. 145, 154: 3%
8. 110: 2%

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4. Question: Who will win the World Series?

The usual suspects hog the conversation. Philadelphia Phillies? Check. St. Louis Cardinals? Check. But in the end, a strong plurality (38 percent) saw more cheers in the Bronx. "I hate to say it," says one 10-year vet, "but the Yankees are unbeatable."

Full results

1. New York Yankees: 38%
2. Philadelphia Phillies: 19%
T3. Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox: 9% each
5. St. Louis Cardinals: 7%
6. Own team (players who refused to pick any team but their own): 4%
7. Six teams tied with 2% each
8. Two teams tied with 1%


5. Question: Which pitcher has the nastiest stuff?

Another convincing if chalky result: Roy Halladay (40 percent). But Tim Lincecum (21 percent) is gaining. "Halladay is good," says an AL starter. "Lincecum is filthy." Also receiving votes: Mariano Rivera. "When you can throw one pitch and have the career he's had, that's nasty stuff," says a fellow AL reliever.

Full results

1. Roy Halladay, Phillies: 40%
2. Tim Lincecum, Giants: 21%
3. Felix Hernandez, Mariners: 11%
4. Justin Verlander, Tigers: 4%
T5. Mariano Rivera, Yankees; Chris Carpenter, Cardinals; Josh Johnson, Marlins; A.J. Burnett, Yankees; Josh Beckett, Red Sox; Cliff Lee, Mariners: 2% each
T11. 12 players tied with 1% each


6. Question: On a typical 25-man roster, how many players do you think are taking PEDs?

Fourteen players declined to answer. But if the remaining 86 are right, Bud Selig has some work left to do. The poll put the average at 1.2 guys per dugout -- which would mean about 5 percent of MLBers are still doing something. "I'd say not a single player is taking steroids," says one AL starter. "But there are guys who use HGH, because there's no blood test."

Full results

Players per roster, followed by percentage of respondents

0 -- 37%
.5 -- 3%
1 -- 19%
1.5 -- 8%
2 -- 8%
2.5 -- 6%
3 -- 2%
4 -- 1%
5 -- 1%
6 -- 2%
No comment: 13%


7. Question: What is the best franchise?

The St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox all earned a smattering of respect, but the majority -- 52 percent, to be exact -- put the New York Yankees at the top of the pile. (Boston finished a distant second, with 16 percent.) "You gotta go with the obvious; that's a lot of championships," says an AL All-Star.

When it comes to the worst franchise, players don't contradict the facts: The Pittsburgh Pirates (23 percent), owners of the longest streak of consecutive losing seasons in American pro sports, are first in worst.

Best franchise

1. New York Yankees: 52%
2. Boston Red Sox: 16%
3. St. Louis Cardinals: 7%
T4. Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels: 5% each
T6. Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins: 3% each
T8. Nine tied with 1% each

Worst franchise:

1. Pittsburgh Pirates: 23%
2. Kansas City Royals: 18%
3. Washington Nationals: 16%
4. Florida Marlins: 6%
5. Oakland Athletics: 2%
T6. Six teams tied with 1% each

Note: 29% of players declined to answer

 

 

8. Question: In your opinion, what percentage of married players cheat on their wives?

A 2007 MSNBC poll found 28 percent of married men are unfaithful. MLB Confidential detected a bit more waywardness (36 percent). Some put the figure much higher still; two say 70 percent. Others, though, take the under. "I say 25 percent -- I bet it's actually lower than the societal level," says one AL infielder. "A 24-hour news cycle, camera phones, reporters hanging in hotel bars -- you're constantly monitored. Plus, if you get divorced, you lose half of everything.

Full results

Answer, followed by percentage of respondents

1. 50 percent: 9% (nine players answered 50%)
2. 25 percent: 8%
3. 60 percent: 6%
4. 20 percent: 5%
T5. 0 percent, 40 percent: 4% each
T7. 15 percent, 30percent: 3% each
T9. 5 percent, 55 percent, 70 percent, 80 percent: 2% each
T13. Eight answers tied with 1% each

Note: 42% of players declined to comment


9. Question: Should Barry Bonds be in the Hall of Fame?

Two out of three players (67 percent) felt Bonds deserves enshrinement. "He's the greatest hitter ever," says one veteran infielder. More than a few, though, cut the clear and the cream poster boy no slack. "No way," says an AL slugger. "He juiced out of his mind."

Full results:

Yes, Bonds belongs in the HOF: 67%
No, Bonds should not be in the HOF: 29%
Don't know: 2%
No comment: 2%



10. Question: If you could end your career with only one of these, which would you choose: a World Series ring or a Cy Young/MVP Award?

Players had no trouble putting team first (87 percent). "That's what we play for," says a former AL champ. In fact, only one player would prefer a Cy Young. "To be the best pitcher in baseball for that one year -- that would be unbelievable," the AL starter says.

But 12 others have different goals altogether: a Gold Glove, an All-Star nod, 3,000 hits. For four, a long, healthy career will do just fine.

Full results

1. World Series title: 87%
2. Long MLB career: 4%
T3. Make the All-Star team; win a Gold Glove; win MVP of the World Series: 2% each
T6. Cy Young; Triple Crown; Get 3,000 hits: 1% each


11. Question: Do language barriers affect play on the field?

The vast majority (91 percent) either said language is no issue or that they get by fine with hand signals or very basic foreign-language skills. Only nine percent reported serious issues. "I had a Japanese catcher once, and it was tough," says an NL reliever. And this, from an All-Star: "As a catcher, I've had to communicate with guys who speak Japanese and Spanish, and I can never say everything I want to say. I have to use gestures, and it's just not the same.

Full results

Yes: 9%
No: 91%


12. Question: What's the most overrated statistic in baseball?

This one got 23 different responses, including "the one that says Derek Jeter is the worst defensive shortstop in baseball" and "any new one." The biggest loser: batting average (16 percent, just ahead of ERA, 13 percent). "Who cares if you get a bunch of singles and end up hitting .320?" says an AL outfielder who didn't approach .320 in 2009.

Most underrated stat was on-base percentage (14 percent), beating runs and WHIP (10 percent each). Says the singles-hitter hater: "OBP shows the true impact of a hitter."

Most overrated

1. Batting average: 16%
2. ERA: 13%
3. Saves: 12%
4. Pitcher's win-loss record: 11%
T5. Holds, on-base percentage: 6% each
7. Home runs: 4%
T8. Four stats tied with 3% each
T12. Six stats tied with 2% each
T18. Eight stats tied with 1%

Most underrated

1. On-base percentage: 14%
T2. Runs; WHIP: 10% each
T4. ERA; batting average with runners in scoring position: 4% each
T6. 12 stats tied with 3% each
T18. Eight stats tied with 2% each
T26. Six stats tied with 1% each



13. Question: Grade Bud Selig, A through F, on the job he's done as commish.

For the most part, players like Selig's performance; his average grade was B-minus. One player gave him an F, but 14 handed out A's. Steroids were mentioned in almost every response, but so was increased revenue -- which has gone from $1.2 billion in 1992, Selig's first year as MLB's central figure, to $6.6 billion last season. "Seems like he fell apart and made some panic moves during the steroids mess," says one AL pitcher, "but the game seems more popular than ever, and I don't hear many guys complaining about salaries."

Full results

Grade given to Selig, followed by percentage of respondents assigning that grade

A: 14%
A-: 2%
B+: 13%
B: 30%
B-: 7%
C+: 1%
C: 24%
C-: 3%
D: 3%
F: 1%
No comment: 2%

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14.
Question: Have you ever felt like someone is talking to you about baseball because they want to use the information to bet on games?

Most survey takers (88 percent) say they haven't been approached for gambling intel. But four declined to answer, and eight others admitted they have fielded inquiries. "I'm totally paranoid," says one AL pitcher. "I get asked a lot about how so-and-so teammate is injured. It feels like people are trying to get any info they can."

Full results

Yes: 8%
No: 88%
No comment: 4%


15. Question: Simple question: DH or no DH?

All these years later, there is still no consensus. The nays barely trumped the yeas -- 55 percent to 45 percent. In favor of the designated hitter, one veteran NL slugger who has played in both leagues says: "Even though the purists say no DH, the reality is, fans come for offense." An AL starting pitcher counters: "No DH -- I want to hit, dammit."

And this is interesting: Three full-time DHs sat for our survey. Each of them voted to eliminate his job.

Full results

Keep DH: 45%
Get rid of DH: 55%


16. Question: Who is the best manager?

He's been Manager of the Year four times, won more than 2,400 games and been ejected 154 times. Your winner: Bobby Cox. "He seems like a cool old dude," says one NL East rival. "I'd love my manager to be so fiery."

But there's a fine line between fiery and obnoxious. The last manager anyone would choose to play for came down to a Chi-Town showdown: Ozzie Guillen over Lou Piniella, 30 percent to 29 percent. About Guillen, one AL catcher sums it up best: "I don't want my manager on TV all the time."

Best Manager

1. Bobby Cox, Braves: 23%
2. Mike Scioscia, Angels: 16%
T3. Joe Torre, Dodgers; Tony LaRussa, Cardinals: 11% each
5. Terry Francona, Red Sox: 7%
6. Joe Girardi, Yankees: 6%
7. Joe Maddon, Rays: 4%
T8. Four managers tied with 3% each
T12. Two managers tied with 2% each
T14. Two managers tied 1% each

Last manager you'd play for

1. Ozzie Guillen: 30%
2. Lou Pinella: 29%
3. Tony LaRussa: 7%
4. Dusty Baker: 5%
T5. Five managers tied with 3%
T10. Seven managers tied with 2%

Note: 5% said they either didn't know or didn't want to comment


17. Question: Fill in the blank: I spend at least ___ minutes a game staring at women in the crowd.

Answers ranged from zero to 90, but the average gawking time was 18 minutes, or roughly 10 percent of each game. How is that even possible? One All-Star AL slugger explains: "Our games are three hours long, but you play on 10 seconds of every minute. What are you supposed to do for the other 50?"

Full results

Time spent, followed by percentage of respondents

1. 5 minutes per game: 16%
2. 0 minutes per game: 14%
3. 1 minute per game: 10%
T4. 20 minutes; 30 minutes: 7% each
T6. 2 minutes; 10 minutes; 60 minutes; 90 minutes; no comment: 5% each
T11. 7.5 minutes; 15 minutes: 3% each
T13. 15 different time totals: 1% each


18. Question: Do you own a gun?

This year, MLB officially prohibited firearms in the clubhouse and on road trips. Take that, the 44 percent of you players who are owners (seven percent have handguns, 21 percent have sport guns and 16 percent have both). "I own 30 guns, actually -- some are for hutning, some are for protection," says an NL All-Star. "Remember, guns don't kill people, people kill people." So we've heard.

Full results

No: 56%
Yes: 44%


19. Question: On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being none, 10 being apocalyptic), what would the clubhouse reaction be if you found out you had a gay teammate?

The average was a right-down-the-middle 5.1, but the individual responses were not. Some were cool with it. "there'd be a few outliers who would have a strong reaction, maybe a few homophobes," one AL pitcher says. "But overall, not a big deal -- I'd say a 2 or a 3." An AL outfielder agrees. "I wonder how much it would really change anything. There's already a lot of funny stuff that goes on with some of my teammates in the clubhouse that makes you wonder.

Others, though, weren't nearly so accepting. "Nobody would want to take a shower," says a guy who has played in both leagues.

Full results

Scale number, followed by percentage of respondents

1: 7%
2: 6%
2.5: 2%
3: 8%
3.5: 1%
4: 6%
4.5: 1%
5: 19%
5.5: 2%
6: 2%
6.5: 2%
7: 7%
7.5: 1%
8: 7%
8.5: 2%
9: 1%
10: 8%

Note: 18% of players declined to comment


20. Question: Who's the last guy you'd want to run into during a bench-clearing brawl?

Carlos Zambrano (14 percent of 82 respondents) earned runner-up honors, and that was before he was sent against his wishes to the bullpen. "He's enormous and freakishly strong," says one NL slugger. In third position, Prince Fielder (10 percent) got this comment from an NL pitcher: "He looks like a teddy bear, but he can snap on you." Both, though, fall well short of the baddest badass (23 percent), Kyle Farnsworth.

Full results

1. Kyle Farnsworth, Royals: 23%
2. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs: 14%
3. Prince Fielder, Brewers: 10%
4. Elijah Dukes, formerly of the Nationals: 7%
5. Miguel Olivo, Rockies: 6%
T6. CC Sabathia, Yankees; Chris Young, Padres: 4% each
T8. Six players tied with 3% each
T14. 14 players tied with 1% each