Q: Why wouldn’t baseball consider hosting the World Series in a neutral city, like the NFL does for the Super Bowl? Imagine what hosting the World Series would do for city revenues. Plus it evens up the playing field and we can forget about the All-Star Game deciding home-field advantage?
— Ro, New Jersey

A: I think that concept is beginning to gain some momentum, Ro. The Game 5 debacle we just witnessed only adds to the mounting evidence as to how the game is adversely affected by playing so late at night and so deep into the fall.

The late starts aren’t going to change — that’s where the most revenue is from the networks’ perspective. And teams aren’t going to vote to shorten the regular season and give up precious game revenues.

But playing in a warm-weather location would eliminate the World Series weather problem — and consider the rotation of stadiums that could be set up: Dodger Stadium, Petco Park, AT&T Park, Chase Field, Minute Maid Park, Rangers Ballpark, etc.

But there could be a more-important impetus for change — and that is the fact that ratings and viewers continue to dwindle. I don’t believe — as some are saying — that baseball has fallen into the niche-sport category. Not when the game’s total revenues have exploded from about $1 billion annually in 1994 to over $6 billion annually now.

But making the World Series into more of an event — such as the Super Bowl as you mention, or the BCS championship game — makes sense on so many levels. This idea will gain further credibility with the success of the next World Baseball Classic next spring, which will be a bigger hit than the first one three springs ago.

People want the big event — that’s what sparks the casual-fan interest. And in baseball’s situation, that interest is world-wide, so I see this happening perhaps three to five years down the road.

Q: Besides CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira, who else do you see the Yankees going after?
— Miguel, Bronx, N.Y.

A: Isn’t that enough for you, Miguel? Those two and Manny Ramirez will top the market this winter, so while we’re at it, we should put Manny on the Yankees’ list, too.

They need Sabathia and Teixeira most, and I think they will make huge pushes to sign both — something only they could afford to do. But if they lose out on Teixeira, I think they will make a run at Ramirez — especially if they let Bobby Abreu go.

Similarly, if they don’t sign Sabathia, they will step down to the next tier of starting pitchers — A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, etc. — because they absolutely have to add a frontline starter through free agency or trade.

This is going to be a fascinating winter for the Yankees and their fans, as the club has so much money coming off its books — in fact, more than several teams’ entire payrolls — and is anticipating a huge revenue increase with the opening of Yankee Stadium II.

Other teams and free-agents are expected to be adversely affected by the current economic recession, but not the Yankees.

Q: Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds did not play this year, though Barry keeps saying he would like to play. So, are they automatically started on the countdown to eligibility for the Hall of Fame?
— Stephen Shoemaker, Tulsa, Oka.

A: Yes they are, Stephen. Of course, the clock would have to be re-started (see Henderson, Rickey) if either Barry or Roger makes a return cameo — as doubtful as that appears.

So, that sets up an historic ballot five years from now — with first-time-eligibles Clemens, Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Craig Biggio and Mike Piazza.

Under normal circumstances, those would be four or even five automatic choices, depending on your opinion of Piazza. But of course, the first three on this list will have other issues to deal with, and that hasn’t worked so well for Mark McGwire, now has it?

Q: What’s your take on long-term deals for closers? I think the Angels would be nuts to give Frankie Rodriguez a five-plus-year deal. I can’t think of any recent closers other than Trevor Hoffman or Mariano Rivera who have been good for the long term. Why would anyone think Rodriguez is in a class with them?
— Craig, Chino, Calif.

A: If K-Rod can get the five-year, $75-million deal he reportedly is seeking, more power to him. But I wouldn’t give it to him. Even though he is only 26, and is coming off a record-setting save season, that’s too big of a deal for my tastes — and apparently those of the Angels.

I’m assuming the Angels will make what they consider to be a fair-market offer — three years and perhaps up to $45 million, with perhaps a vesting option for a fourth year. And if that’s not enough, then they will go in another direction.

I don’t like any contracts of more than four years except for young star position players, but especially not for pitchers. The failures — Kevin Brown, Mike Hampton, Barry Zito, to name three — far outnumber the successes when it comes to pitchers getting five-year-plus deals. I don’t mind paying top dollar for pitchers for a couple of seasons, but it’s the length that bothers me. There’s just too much health risk involved.

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