The Metrodome: I'm in the midst of spending four days in this beauty. It's actually a great place to work for the media, because of the easy route from the press box to the clubhouses. But, from the Teflon roof to the right-field baggie wall, it's a bizarre place to take in a ballgame. It's also showing its age. I will say, though, that the noise level can rival that of a Nine Inch Nails concert when the home club is on a roll. I've never been here for a playoff game, but I imagine it's a deafening and dramatic experience. Grade: D.

AT&T Park: The site of this year's All-Star Game and, most likely, the soon-to-be site of Barry Bonds' record-breaking blast is possibly the best of the "new" ballparks. I made the rounds during the Midsummer Classic, and there's really not a bad seat in the joint. The view of the San Francisco Bay from the pedestrian ramps beyond left field is breathtaking, and the view from the walkway above the right-field wall is a unique way to take in a game. Throw in some garlic fries from the concessions, and you've got a winner here. Grade: A+.

U.S. Cellular Field: This park is as loud as the Metrodome, but in a different way. The speakers here take a cue from Spinal Tap and go to "11." This was one of the first (if not the first) big league parks designed by HOK Sports, and it looks more like a test model than a lasting legacy for the architectural firm. But it has improved drastically from the time it opened in 1991, with several rows of seats lopped off the upper deck, the outfield wall redesigned and the concourse beyond center field getting jazzed up. All of this serves to take some of the sting away from being on the South Side of Chicago. Grade: C+.

All right, that's enough ballpark blabbering for one week. Let's get to your questions.

I am writing this on July 24. Currently, I'm very curious to see if Mark Shapiro does anything before the trade deadline. However, you won't be posting a mailbag until Aug. 6. Please evaluate the Indians' deadline moves. If there were no deadline moves, please evaluate my grammar, style, and diction.
-- Pat D., Warren, Ohio

Your prose is downright impeccable, Pat. No words were inexplicably placed in all caps, you did not use multiple exclamation points and, most importantly, you didn't refer to me as "Tony." Kudos to you.

I went over the possible benefits of acquiring Kenny Lofton in the last mailbag, which ran several days before the Indians dealt for him. This was a sound move by the Tribe. Ben Francisco might have a future with the club as a fourth outfielder or perhaps as an everyday guy, but he showed he needs to be getting more consistent at-bats, and the playoff race is no time for grooming. Lofton adds playoff experience, a solid left-handed bat and a little speed on the basepaths. Max Ramirez is an intriguing prospect as a hitter, but he's not much of a catcher. Losing him is no historic blow to the farm system.

After the Lofton trade, the Indians were inactive, though not for lack of effort. While the club definitely could have benefited from another arm in the bullpen to ease the burden on Joe Borowski, Rafael Betancourt and Rafael Perez, I can't fault Shapiro for hesitating to deal a wealth of young talent for a two-month rental reliever. The Red Sox drastically overpaid for Eric Gagne, and the Brewers had to give up three promising prospects for Scott Linebrink. Octavio Dotel was the only other reliever of significance dealt before the deadline. It would have taken a Franklin Gutierrez to land him, and Gutierrez has proven himself far too valuable to this club this season.

I know some fans were peeved at the Indians' inability to land a reliever. But this summer market hardly fit the Tribe's needs. Besides, no move Shapiro was going to make was going to affect the Tribe's playoff hopes nearly as much as the performance of Travis Hafner and the last two spots of the rotation. Those remain the keys to the season.

Have a question about the Indians? E-mail your query to MLB.com Indians beat reporter Anthony Castrovince for possible inclusion in a future Inbox column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content. First Name, Last Initial: Hometown: Email Address: Question:

Is Fausto Carmona eligible to be named MLB Comeback Player of the Year?
-- Evan C., Palm Bay, Fla.

Yes and no. Carmona certainly has rebounded from his 1-10 season in '06. But he wouldn't have much of a shot at winning the award, seeing as how he was never established as a winner in the big leagues to begin with. It's not like he's returned to some previous Major League form we had become accustomed to seeing. He has simply taken the rough experiences of his rookie year and learned from them.

When Cliff Lee was sent down, I read that he had to clear waivers in order to be sent down. How risky is a move like that?
-- Ryan P., Brunswick, Ohio

In my original article about Lee's demotion on July 27, I mistakenly reported that he had to clear waivers first, because he had a multiyear contract. I was given misinformation on that one. The Lee move was a straight option down to Buffalo. He did not have the right to refuse the assignment, because he has less than five years of big league service time. The original article I wrote was updated and corrected later that day.

I apologize for the confusion, but at least now you know what it's like to be as confused as I am in life.

Several fans have written in wondering if Lee will return this season. It's not out of the question, but he'll have to show prolonged ability to get ahead in the count and put Triple-A batters away before it's considered. Sending a pitcher making $2.75 million to the Minors was a tough move, but the right move.

I heard a radio host, who is a Yankees fan, say he was rooting for the Red Sox when they played the Indians, because it would give the Yankees a better shot at the Wild Card. Should any true Yankees fan admit he is rooting for the Red Sox? And shouldn't the team's goal be to win the division, not the Wild Card? All the Indians fans I know would rather see the Tribe win the division.
-- Rebecca T., Canton, Ohio

This is quite a moral and philosophical question you pose, Rebecca. As much as it must have made his own skin crawl, the radio host is apparently realistic enough to know the Yankees' best shot at the postseason is the Wild Card, not the division championship.

For the Indians, I believe it's the opposite prognosis. They have better odds of winning the division than the Wild Card. The Yankees are coming on strong, and the Mariners look legit.

The Indians still have eight games remaining against the Tigers, whose bullpen has been in disarray for much of the year, taking a toll on the starting staff. The Tribe's recent rough homestand could have made them fade like a cheap pair of jeans, but the Tigers haven't played any better. It's become clear, however, that the Central race isn't relegated to those two clubs. You can't count out the ever-pesky Twins.

I recently went to a Buffalo Bisons game and was wondering what the status is of Shin-Soo Choo? Is he still on the disabled list?
-- Pat K., Hamburg, N.Y.

Yes, "Big League" Choo has been out for a couple months with an elbow strain. If not for that injury, he probably would have spent significant time with the Tribe this season, because of David Dellucci's hamstring strain.

Choo is expected to rejoin the Bisons in the middle of this month. He went through a throwing and rehab program in Winter Haven, Fla., last month.

It is time for Indians over/under. On Oct. 1 ... 1. Ryan Garko, .300 batting average. 2. Carmona, 19 wins. 3. Grady Sizemore, 162 strikeouts. 4. Hafner, 30 homers. And finally and most importantly, 5. Jacobs Field, hosting one playoff game.
-- Robert W., Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Over on Garko, even on Carmona, over on Sizemore, under on Pronk. As for No. 5, I'm going to say under, because it will probably snow in Cleveland in October, and any home playoff games will likely have to be moved to Milwaukee.

And finally ...

Does the Tribe make the playoffs?
-- Matt R., Westchester, N.Y.

All right, fine. I skirted the issue in the last question, but enough's enough. If my life depends on it, I say this team falls just short of the postseason. I'm concerned about Hafner's surprisingly unreliable season, the lack of consistency out of two spots of the rotation (one of which is now held by an untested rookie) and the 33 road games in the season's final two months.

But hey, my life doesn't depend on it (at least, not that I know of). So I'll be just as intrigued to see how this all plays out as you are, Matt.