The American League Central race experienced a tipping point last week. Minnesota went 2-7 during a stretch in which the White Sox won eight in a row, widening the gap between the first-place Sox and the Twins in the division from four games to 10 1/2.
That was the furthest out of the lead the Twins had fallen since the end of 2000, when they finished 26 games behind the 95-victory White Sox. Minnesota players hardly were surprised when they started hearing boos from their usually faithful fans at the end of a 3-6 homestand.
“I think if we had the option, we’d probably boo ourselves right now too,” Twins pitcher Joe Mays said.
When the Twins were rolling to AL Central titles the last three seasons, they allowed 159 fewer runs than the White Sox. They entered the weekend having given up 292 runs, 19 more than the Sox.
Without the usual advantage in pitching and fielding, the Twins are left to rely on a rebuilt lineup, which has seen first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, third baseman Corey Koskie and shortstop Cristian Guzman subtracted since this time a year ago. That’s an unlikely route to success, as the Sox are in the process of outscoring Minnesota for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons.
It’s hard to see how the Twins are going to make up such a gap. They can’t pitch much better, as they entered the weekend third in the AL in staff ERA (a tick behind the second-place Sox). Their improvement almost has to come at the plate.
Minnesota entered the weekend ninth in the league in runs scored, with holes at second base (Nick Punto and Luis Rivas), shortstop (Juan Castro and Jason Bartlett), third base (Michael Cuddyer) and left field (Shannon Stewart).
Yes, Stewart, the same guy who rescued the 2003 Twins after his acquisition in a July trade, has become a liability. He entered the weekend with a .338 on-base percentage, which was 30 points below his career average, and no longer is a base-stealing threat.
There’s clamoring for general manager Terry Ryan to make some moves, but as usual he has little money to spend.
“I have looked at it, and I’m trying to figure out how to help the cause,” said Ryan, one of the best GMs around.
With a four-man outfield of Stewart, Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones (4-for-35 slump entering the weekend) and Lew Ford and designated hitter Matthew LeCroy producing, it’s going to be even trickier for Ryan to upgrade at midseason. He needs help in the infield, where impact trades are rare.
Winning the wild card is a distinct possibility, but it won’t be easy to hold off the eventual runner-up from the East, where Baltimore, Boston and New York are factors.
On the block
Look for Toronto to be among the first decent teams to concede. A stream of scouts visited the ballpark during the Blue Jays’ last homestand, including several with the rank to suggest they are doing more than kicking tires.
The Jays are believed to be offering closer Miguel Batista, who could start elsewhere, and left-hander Ted Lilly, whose stuff has been better than his record (5-7, 6.08). The White Sox’s Bill Scherrer was among those watching Lilly’s start last Monday against Baltimore.
While talking trades, there’s a lot of interest in Ronny Cedeno, the Cubs’ Triple-A shortstop. He has killed the ball since returning from a 10-game cameo in the big leagues, raising his average to .374 in 49 games entering the weekend. Cubs GM Jim Hendry might have to give him up if he’s going to get Preston Wilson from Colorado.
On the verge
The Tigers aren’t going to surrender until they see how they play with Magglio Ordonez in the lineup. It’s possible he will return for next weekend’s home series against the Yankees.
Ordonez, who has had only 10 at-bats since July 21 because of knee and hernia surgeries, is expected to need only a short rehab assignment because he is such a quality hitter.
“It’s not like a guy needs to take batting practice for three months and then go play in the instructional league,” Giants manager Felipe Alou said of natural hitters. “With natural hitters, it is their reaction to pitches that makes them good. If their legs will hold them, they will hit. It is their natural reaction to a pitch that makes those guys good.”
The Tigers also could get a second-half lift from Illinois-Chicago’s Curtis Granderson, who is hitting .291 with eight homers and 40 RBIs (albeit with 82 strikeouts) at Triple-A Toledo. He’s a Willie Wilson-type center fielder who could supplant Nook Logan, who is hitting a soft .291 with only a .324 on-base percentage.
Only way to go is up
Cincinnati GM Dan O’Brien Jr. hasn’t distinguished himself with his off-season moves. The Reds collapsed early because of a pitching staff with a 5.62 ERA, including awful performances by Eric Milton (7.82), Paul Wilson (7.77), Ramon Ortiz (6.51) and Ben Webber (8.03).
O’Brien signed Milton (three years, $25.5 million), Ortiz and Webber and gave Wilson a two-year, $8.2 million extension even though he had partial tears in his rotator cuff and labrum, which the team reportedly knew.
“As an organization, we have to assume responsibility,” said O’Brien, who fired manager Dave Miley and longtime pitching coach Don Gullett on Tuesday. “It’s a group effort and we have a contribution to make to the overall [failure or success]. Not everything has fallen into place perfectly.”
Jerry Narron, an ultra-solid baseball man who had a 134-192 record overseeing a Texas team featuring Alex Rodriguez and a pitching staff fit for the College World Series, inherits the mess. He’s an excellent choice, despite that ugly record.
“I consider myself a baseball guy,” said Narron, whose mentor was the late Johnny Oates. “I love the game and have a passion and I want my players to love it and play it with passion and get after it every day. If they do that the winning will take care of itself.”
Narron said the Reds shot themselves in the foot by not playing well together.
“A lot of basic fundamental things,” he said. “The other clubs make the plays and we just miss them. I can’t remember seeing a team go 2 1/2 months without making little plays to win. . . . It is now a character test for some veteran guys and it will show how much pride they have in themselves.”
Whispers
The Yankees are 4-12 this season against Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Milwaukee. . . . Because he’s still unhappy about the front office leaking reports last winter that he was threatening to retire if he didn’t get a contract extension, this could be Kenny Rogers’ last year in Texas. He’s headed to the All-Star Game and could be the best pitcher to be made available at the trade deadline, but only if the Rangers have fallen out of the picture. . . . With Randy Wolf gone until at least the middle of 2006, the Phillies will have trouble holding their position for the playoffs. They have gotten a recent lift from rookie Robinson Tejada, who was 8-14 with a 5.15 ERA at Double-A Reading last year. . . . Entering the weekend, the Brewers were 22-11 when Carlos Lee drove in a run and 11-28 when he didn’t.
The last word
“The [NL] West found out this division is for real. There are some good teams in this division. I think a lot of people are starting to see that. This division deserves a little credit from top to bottom. Some good things are happening in this division–some good players, some good teams.”–Tigers manager Alan Trammell on the AL Central’s 40-21 edge over the NL West entering the weekend series between Arizona and Detroit.
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