1. WHITE SOX: Jim Thome's presence more
than makes up for the absence of Big Hurt. Last week
(1)
2. METS: Remain in control of NL East
despite some injuries. (2)
3. CARDINALS: Let's fit Albert Pujols
for that MVP ring today. (4)
4. ASTROS: Roger who? (6)
5. TIGERS: Jim Leyland has this team on
fire. (10)
6. REDS: It's not all because Bronson
Arroyo. OK, yes it is. (9)
7. ROCKIES: Giants, Padres realizing
Rocks are fit to fight. (11)
8. RED SOX: Can Curt Schilling and Roger
Clemens coexist? Sox hope to find out. (3)
9. INDIANS: Not winning as often as they
should, but still dangerous. (5)
10. YANKEES: Derek Jeter sticking around
the .400 mark. (12)
11. CUBS: Greg Maddux out to be bronzed
and mounted. Now. (15)
12 ANGELS: Like rest of division, they're
just scuffling along. (14)
13. BLUE JAYS: When is A.J. Burnett back?
(13)
14. GIANTS: Hanging in there while Noah
Lowry recovers from strained oblique. (7)
15. BREWERS: Rickie Weeks not keeping up
with fellow rookie Prince Fielder. (19)
16. BRAVES: John Smoltz, Tim Hudson
starting to come around. (18)
17. RANGERS: Kevin Mench changed his
shoes, started hitting homers. Who knew? (22)
18. ATHLETICS: Where would they be without
Nick Swisher (nine HRs, 20 RBIs)? (16)
19. ORIOLES: Miguel Tejada doesn't look
disgruntled now. (8)
20. DODGERS: Danys Baez had six saves,
0.00 ERA in his first 10 appearances. (20)
21. PHILLIES: Rough sledding for ace Jon
Lieber (0-4, 7.04 ERA) (26)
22. DIAMONDBACKS: Brandon Webb looking
like an All-Star. (24)
23. TWINS: Former Marlins 2B Luis Castillo
thriving in AL.. (17)
24. PADRES: Khalil Greene needs to get it
going for defending division champs. (21)
25. DEVIL RAYS: It would be interesting to
see how they played if healthy. (23)
26. MARINERS: Sexson, Beltre (two HRs
combined) weren't worth the money. (25)
27. MARLINS: Dontrelle Willis seems
uninspired. Can you blame him? (28)
28. NATIONALS: Might finally have an owner
in place this week. Or next. Maybe. (27)
29. ROYALS: Haven't defeated a left-handed
starting pitcher in two years. (30)
30. PIRATES: Fans hoping to catch a real
game must wait until the All-Star game. (29)
FANTASY CORNER
VICTOR ZAMBRANO, Mets: Has two scheduled
appearances this week against the Braves, today and
Friday. In eight appearances lifetime against
Atlanta, Zambrano is 2-4 with a 5.01 ERA, 26 K's and
20 walks.
CHIPPER JONES, Braves: While the All-Star
third baseman has traditionally worn out Mets
pitching, he is 2-for-8 with no extra-base hits
lifetime against Zambrano.
TED LILLY, Blue Jays: History says it
should be a decent week for the Toronto
left-hander. He's scheduled to start against the
Orioles and Angles, against whom he is a combined
9-3 lifetime.
AL Extra Bases
Rangers
OF Kevin Mench hit homers in six
consecutive games and drove in 20 runs during that
span after alleviating foot pain by changing his
shoes to aize 12 1/2 from size 12. ... Royals closer
Mike MacDougal has begun to throw
as he continues to rehabilitate a strained right
shoulder. He's still several weeks from returning.
...
NL Extra Bases
Several
Marlins relievers disputed the estimate that a home
run hit by Phillies 1B Ryan Howard
at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia a week ago
traveled 496 feet. It cleared the 40-foot batter's
eye in center and struck Dick Allen's
plaque in the Wall of Fame. A sign beyond where
Howard's homer landed reads 482 feet, but Florida's
Matt Herges summed it up: "It was a
bomb." ... The Padres' struggles can be traced to
their woeful 4-11 record at Petco Park. They are
5-4 on the road.
