My road trek through Minneapolis and Detroit brought me some spoils: I returned home last Thursday for the makeup game against the Tigers with an official Eagles jersey with Terrell Owens' name on the back.

Now, I already know: T.O. ain't a person to like. I can't argue that fact. But aside from his childish whining, T.O. plays the game hard, which should endear him to people who like players who earn their pay on game days.

In a lot of ways, that's what I see in the Indians. They are a team filled with players who show up to play. That's why they are on pace to make my Spring Training prediction come true. Remember, I picked the Tribe to win 90 games. That's right -- 90 games. Check it out. This isn't revisionist history here, folks; it's in black and white.

But here's the question with 90 wins: Will that be enough wins to get the Indians, who lead the Wild Card race, into the postseason?

Well, I'll save that answer for my next Mailbag, which will be after the Oakland series. I promise. For now, I'll let you read the latest questions that I plucked from my in-box. So enjoy the latest edition of Mailbag.

Q: Hey, Justice, do you think the Indians can beat out the Yankees and the A's for the Wild Card? -- Josh S., Beachwood

A: Yes, I think the Tribe can, but will they is an altogether different question. It is one, frankly that I can't answer today. I'll be able to see the Tribe's future more clearly after the three-game series with the A's, though.

Q: Will Travis Hafner ever play a game at first base? My Cleveland friend (I'm from Lakewood, Ohio) says he has a metal glove. -- Jim F., Boston

A: I wouldn't say Pronk has a "metal glove," but it's not as soft as a baby's bottom either.

The real problem with Hafner in the field is his arm. He's limited in his throwing, and he'll have to be able to throw better to handle first base as a regular. In time, I think he'll be able to do just fine there. But if playing the field affects his hitting, I say leave Hafner at DH and find someone else (Ryan Garko, maybe) who can hit and field the position.

Q: I know this is along the line of "why won't fans support this team?" but I have to ask ... why does everyone blame manager Eric Wedge for everything, yet he gets zero credit when the team performs well? He's not the one mishandling bunts, or failing to lay them down, or dropping flyballs in the outfield. There's only so much a coach can do, right?

National baseball writers seem to appreciate the job that Wedge has done, why don't locals? -- Matt, Avon, Ohio

A: I can't dispute what you say, Matt. I do think Wedge's work as manager plays better for media outside the Cleveland area. I can't point to why. I find myself sometimes trying to second-guess the man. I think you've seen me question why the Tribe doesn't bunt more.

Yet I know that second-guessing comes with Wedge's job, which can be a thankless one no matter what team you might be talking about managing. Just ask Joe Torre, Lou Piniella or Tony La Russa.

Q: Here's one thing to digest: The same fans who have cried for Larry Dolan to spend in the offseason are the same ones who wanted him to spend on Odalis Perez, Magglio Ordonez and Troy Percival. How good would their salaries look today? -- Jesse B., Huntington, Ind.

A: You hit a homer, Jesse. I'm sure so many members of the how-cheap-is-the-Indians-ownership club would still disagree and see those men as sound investments.

Again, all of those people wanted to throw away the organization's plan to rebuild, and to listen to them, the Indians would have an organization with a fat payroll and no long-term prospects.

Ask yourself this: Would you rather be rooting for the Tribe with its young players or the Tigers with their older, costlier players?

Q: I don't think people in Cleveland are jumping ship. Remember, we didn't have any football from 1995-99, and we now also have LeBron James, which we didn't have back then. If the Indians do make the playoffs this year or next, the fans will come. -- Bernard B., Defiance, Ohio

A: Bernard, certainly those are all fair reasons for the drop in attendance, but the bottom line is this: The Good Ship Contender has arrived on schedule and Indians fans waiting for the postseason to join in are missing quite a ride.

Q: With Kevin Millwood possibly having pitched himself into a contract that the Indians cannot match, who do you think will step in to the rotation? Do you think the Tribe will spend money on a pitcher, or use the money to get someone to replace Casey Blake and/or Ben Broussard and instead have either Jeremy Guthrie, Jeremy Sowers or someone else step in to the rotation with C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Jake Westbrook and Scott Elarton?

As a side note, why is Travis Hafner often overlooked when national media talk about big hitters such as Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz in Boston, Jason Giambi in New York and Albert Pujols in St. Louis? Hafner is right there with the rest of them. -- Jay S., Findlay, Ohio

A: Hafner's overlooked because he's not been in the postseason, which is where Ramirez, Ortiz, Pujols and Giambi have been time and again in their careers. In time, Hafner will get his time in the national spotlight.

To your other question, I think the Tribe will, at the right price, try to find another veteran. The team isn't interested in pushing young arms like Sowers and Adam Miller too quickly, but Guthrie, Jason Davis, Jason Stanford, Billy Traber, Brian Tallet and maybe even Kyle Denney could get a shot at a rotation spot.

Q: Mr. Hill, you have a good point in saying that we need to continue to build from within to be successful, just like the Atlanta and Oakland organizations. As we have seen though, the success by these clubs has been only regular season success and not in terms of championships.

When does Major League Baseball finally step in and evaluate the league so that every team has a chance with the right direction, not just the ones who spend the big money? -- William G., Kipton, Ohio

A: It's not something that Major League Baseball can mandate. Changes in the allocation of revenue -- or a salary cap -- are part of the collective bargaining process in the sport, and therefore have to be negotiated with the players' union. The union will never agree to a salary cap, but in the last CBA they agreed to a luxury tax that has resulted in an unprecedented reallocation of money from big-market to small-market clubs.

The revenue-sharing plan's impact is evidenced by the low number of high-salaried players dumped at this year's trade deadline. A better plan would be ideal and certainly having a $100 million plus payroll is a huge advantage, but for the other 28 clubs the current plan provides enough support over time to compete.

Q: You recently answered a question about Ben Broussard and Jose Hernandez at first. You say that Broussard won't start with his poor bat even with his great glove.

Presumably Hernandez won't start at first base in 2006 with his own poor production, so who do you see filling that spot? A free agent? A prospect? Perhaps even Casey Blake? -- Tyler B., Lexington, Ohio

A: Blake's a possibility, certainly. But if I had to guess at this point, I'd say the Indians might try to fill this spot through free agency. Keep in mind, too, that Hernandez will be a free agent after this season anyway, and Broussard's bat had played him out of starting time.

I'm not sure if Broussard was just having a bad year or if this is his limit. The organization will have to decide that question. Frankly, I'd rather see the Tribe hold off on first base and do what it can to keep the bullpen strong. Guys like Scott Sauerbeck, Bob Howry and Bob Wickman have to come back or the Tribe will need to rebuild the 'pen again. That's always dicey.

Q: What was Mark Shapiro's experience before he became the general manager for the Indians? He has done a tremendous job building an exciting, competitive and young ballclub with a limited budget. I think Mr. Shapiro is one of the game's most promising GMs. Just look what he has done with a payroll that ranks 26th out of the 30 teams. -- Shannon F., Sarasota, Fla.

A: Shapiro, who played football at Princeton University, is the "wonder boy" of baseball. He hooked up with the Indians organization in '92 as an assistant in baseball operations, and he worked his way through the organization step after step.

He took over as GM when John Hart stepped down after the 2001 season.

Q: I got hooked on the Tribe during the '97 World Series, so my perspective is a little skewed, I'll admit. I look at this year's team, and I see a GREAT team. All of those fans who lament for the 1990s should realize that Mark Shapiro was right a couple of years ago. I have a couple of questions.

My first question is this, Justice: With longer contracts to C.C. Sabathia, Victor Martinez and "Pronk," will we see similar contracts for the other younger players like Coco Crisp, Grady Sizemore and Jhonny Peralta?

Another question is: Who has the better shot at inheriting the closer's job, Jason Davis or this Cabrera kid? -- Danny B., Lima, Ohio

A: Didn't I answer a similar question like this a short while ago? Oh well, here's my thought on that again. Crisp, Sizemore and Peralta are the next players to be rewarded for their strong play.

Shapiro and the Dolan family will commit to core players like these as they try to put a consistent winner on the field.

Q: Hi, Justice, I really enjoy reading your Mailbag. I've recently become an Indians fan. For about a year now. It's a good time to be one, I think.

Here's my question. Do you think "Pronk" is the next Jim Thome? In many ways, he reminds me of Thome. His power and hitting are two things that come to mind. Just wanted to know what you thought. -- Cap, Galion, Ohio

A: Does that mean that you see Hafner jilting Clevelanders for the extra dollars that a bigger market can offer him, Cap? If that's the case, then I wouldn't want Hafner to be anything like the next Thome. I'd prefer Hafner to just be the man he already is: witty, irreverent and productive -- and young. I don't see that as asking too much of him.

Q: I see e-mails in the Mailbag all of the time wanting answers as to when Larry Dolan will start to shell money out to acquire big-name free agents. How are these folks even that naive to think that the Indians will put $90 million-plus payroll on the field when we have an average attendance in the bottom seven in the Majors?

Even if the team on the field were to have that type of payroll, it would take a consistent winning squad like the ones in the mid-'90s to keep fan interest going to justify the money spent. Wouldn't a $90 million payroll with poor attendance numbers equal financial disaster for the Dolans and Cleveland? -- William G., Kipton, Ohio

A: I think it would, but I'm considered an insider when I talk about spending and what the team's ownership should do. I do know, as I've repeatedly said, the Dolans can't pour money into a team and not see a chance to recoup it.

They have a strategy in place, and it's a good one. I just wish Indians fans would embrace what they have in front of them and quit moaning about what isn't there.

Soon enough, they will see players like Peralta, Crisp and Sizemore develop into stars, and Martinez and Hafner already are.

Q: Thanks for the reply. I'm in hurricane-devastated metro New Orleans and finally got a phone link to check my e-mails. I've got to try to take care of some serious stuff online in these wee hours (insurance/FEMA/etc.) while I can, and answer a few e-mails I found from people who've been trying to contact me.

Say a few prayers for our community here. I've got a lot of roof damage and stuff but am high and dry and so much better off than so many suffering people here. Seeing your reply gave me a welcome diversion since I haven't heard a baseball score in 10 days (I think). We're gonna make it back. God bless! -- Ed L., Harvey, Louisiana

A: Ed, you and everybody in New Orleans have my prayers. I've said in my last e-mail that I've been taken aback by the tragedy, which has made me appreciate so much of what I have in life. I don't know how I would respond to seeing my life turned upside-down.

But Americans will make sure their brothers and sisters get through this disaster, and New Orleans will come back as a more vibrant city than what it was.