1. TIGERS: Justin Verlander's slump
(0-2, 7.36 ERA last two starts) is alarming. Last
week (1)
2. YANKEES: Alex
Rodriguez's worst season is still pretty good. (2)
3. WHITE SOX: Former KC
reliever Mike MacDougal makes difference. (6)
4. METS: An unhealthy
Pedro and Glavine matters in October. Not now. (3)
5. TWINS: Imagine
where'd they'd be if not for 10-15 April. (4)
6. ATHLETICS: Running
away with AL West, thanks to weak schedule. (8)
7. RED SOX: Young
bullpen could be this year's downfall. (5)
8. DODGERS: All is
right in Grady Little's world. (11)
9. CARDINALS: Mark
Mulder could return as soon as next week. (7)
10. ANGELS: Must begin to
win now to catch A's. Ain't gonna happen. (9)
11. BLUE JAYS: A.J.
Burnett's pitching great now. Good timing, eh? (13)
12. DIAMONDBACKS: Season
decided this week against NL West foes. (14)
13. REDS: C Javier
Valentin thinks this is a good team. (12)
14. RANGERS: Another
mediocre year in the Metroplex. (10)
15. GIANTS: Sweep of
Padres kept alive fading playoff hopes. (24)
16. PADRES: Really can't
afford to get swept this time of year. (17)
17. PHILLIES: Ryan
Howard's power continues to amaze. (15)
18. INDIANS: C.C.
Sabathia, Cliff Lee deserve better. (23)
19. ORIOLES: Camden Yards
renamed Fourth Place Park. (25)
20. ASTROS: It's not too
late for playoff push. (16)
21. BRAVES: Danys Baez,
Bob Wickman have done their part. Not enough. (21)
22. ROCKIES: Can use this
year as a starting point, at least. (22)
23. BREWERS: Also can use
this year as starting point. (18)
24. MARLINS: Hey, so can
these guys (as long as Joe Girardi doesn't keep
getting fake fired). (19)
25. MARINERS: Remember
when Mike Hargrove was a genius? (20)
26. NATIONALS: Pencil in
Ryan Zimmerman as NL Rookie of the Year. (26)
27. CUBS: A one. A two. A
three. Take me out of the pennant race … (27)
28. DEVIL RAYS: Do
they bring up talented but troubled prospect Delmon
Young? (28)
29. PIRATES: They built
that beautiful ballpark for this mess? (29)
30. ROYALS: Emil Brown
leads team in RBIs. 'Nuff said. (30)
FANTASY CORNER
JONNY GOMES, Devil Rays: The right shoulder
ailment that has nagged Gomes most of the season
will almost certainly require surgery. The decision
about when to have it will be based on the
anticipated recovery time. Gomes' availability in
the final month of the season (when most fantasy
leagues hold their playoffs) is in question. His
anticipated replacement as Tampa Bay's primary DH
could be 1B/DH Kevin Witt, who leads the
International League in home runs and RBIs and is a
strong candidate to be that league's MVP. The Rays
expect to promote Witt as a reward for his solid
Triple-A season.
AL Extra Bases
Yankees
RF Gary Sheffield (wrist) has begun to swing
a bat underwater and has taken ground balls at first
base. He said this week he isn't thinking
short-term, but long-term, and even though he'd like
to play again this year, it isn't "necessary for
me." … Athletics owner Lewis Wolff virtually
ruled out a return of soon-to-be free agent LHP
Barry Zito, but indicated that he'd like to
bring back former White Sox slugger Frank Thomas
in 2007. … Gold Glove C Ivan Rodriguez
was called into emergency service to play 2B when
Tigers starter Placido Polanco was lost with
a separated shoulder this week at Fenway Park.
During his couple of innings on the infield, Pudge
caught a pop-up. Omar Infante will likely get
most of the playing time there in Polanco's absence.
… Royals P Zack Greinke, who missed the first
half of the season on personal leave, was 7-2 with a
4.36 ERA in 15 starts for Double-A Wichita coming
into the weekend. He remains a candidate for a
September call-up, but Royals GM Dayton Moore said Greinke won't be promoted before
Wichita's season ends in two weeks.
NL Extra Bases
Marlins
manager Joe Girardi remained mum regarding an
Aug. 6 tiff with owner Jeffrey Loria, who
reportedly decided to fire the first-year manager
during a game but decided against it after a lengthy
meeting with team officials. All Girardi would say
Friday to reporters in Miami was that he didn't know
where he would be "tomorrow," much less next season.
Girardi, who would be sought after by several teams,
is under contract through 2008. … Phillies 1B
Ryan Howard is five home runs short of Mike
Schmidt's franchise record of 48 (1980). Howard,
who hit 22 homers in 88 games last season, has a
chance to become the first player to reach the
50-homer mark in his first full major-league season.
.
