Q: The White Sox are off to a good start. Do you think they are legit to contend? Can they hang around first place?
— Richard Kagan, Sunnyside, N.Y.

A: I don't know if the White Sox can hang around first place deep into the season, Richard, but a couple of things are working in their favor now. First of all, they are playing well in all three phases.

As I write, they are fourth in runs scored despite the league's lowest batting average, third in ERA and tied for second in fielding percentage. Gavin Floyd and John Danks are off to unexpectedly good starts, and last year's trouble spot — the bullpen — is improved. And secondly, the Indians and Tigers — both predicted to be strong playoff contenders — are having problems this month with injuries and underachieving players. But don't expect that to last too much longer.

My longer-term questions about the Sox are Floyd, Danks and Jose Contreras, and a lineup that has no speed and relies too much on home runs for production.

If they can inject some speed — Jerry Owens? — into the lineup and become more successful at manufacturing runs, perhaps they can continue to contend in the AL Central. But it's safe to say they will end up with a much better record than last year's terrible 72-90 finish.

Q: What should we expect from Mark Mulder and Chris Carpenter when they return to the Cardinals? Could Mulder's career be on the line?
— David Loyd, Carthage, Mo.

A: That's a tough one to predict, David, but pitchers coming back from surgery almost always go through a period of adjustment and some struggles, and these two probably won't be different.

Mulder is coming off two shoulder operations, and while he has had some success in his minor-league rehabilitation, he needs to build up endurance, as well as improve the velocity on his fastball. At least for now, the Cardinals have been getting very good results from their rotation, so they shouldn't feel the need to rush Mulder back.

This is Carpenter's second significant arm injury, as he missed the entire 2003 season following surgery. He is expected to be healthy again around the All-Star break, but I wouldn't expect him to be anywhere near Cy Young-type dominance. In fact, I'm sure Tony La Russa would be very pleased with a string of solid six-inning outings from Carpenter down the stretch.

Q: Is it too early for Dodgers fans to start panicking?
— Steve Rogers, San Diego

A: Panic is too strong of a word in April, Steve. That said, the Dodgers are far from a perfect team. They have made three questionable free-agent signings over the last two winters (Juan Pierre, Jason Schmidt and Andruw Jones) that have negative short- and long-term implications.

Schmidt probably won't contribute much again this season, and the addition of Jones has created a messy outfield situation that manager Joe Torre will have to deal with until a trade or injury occurs. The four-outfielders-for-three-spots dilemma will do little to help what already was a tenuous clubhouse atmosphere, with veterans and young players conflicting.

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Meanwhile, Jones is striking out in approximately one-third of his at-bats, as a change of scene hasn't done anything to reverse a trend that has him with the lowest batting average among regulars since the start of the 2007 season.

Chad Billingsley is off to an 0-3 start, but I expect that to turn around. A couple of relievers aren't performing well, and third base could be a trouble spot all season. To me, they should be trying to package Pierre and a prospect for a third baseman — Joe Crede/Brandon Inge — even if it means eating a big portion of Pierre's contract. But that's easier said than done, I'm sure.

All that said, there are a lot of talented players in place in LA, and contending still is a possibility, and a winning record very likely in my opinion.

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