A.L. reports

Sporting News, The, May 26, 2003

ANAHEIM ANGELS

Although lefthanded-hitting LF Garret Anderson is not a home run hitter of the 35-plus variety, the Angels continue to bat him in the cleanup spot for better lineup balance between righthanded hitting RF Tim Salmon and 3B Troy Glaus and to take advantage of Anderson's RBI prowess. He's on pace for 140-plus RBIs. Manager Mike Scioscia says Anderson is a natural No. 3 hitter but will drive in more runs in the No. 4 spot.... The key to 1B Scott Spiezio's recent surge is patience. He listened to coaches who told him not to change his approach, despite a dry spell.... How bad was RHP Aaron Sele's command when he allowed 10 runs in three innings in against the Yankees? He couldn't even throw an accurate pitchout. He tried, but the ball veered over the plate and was smacked for a hit-and-run single. Sole saw one bright spot in the start: His surgically repaired shoulder felt good.... CF Darin Erstad is out for at least another week, and the Angels miss him on offense and defense. Erie Owens and Jeff DaVanon have filled in at center, and neither plays at Erstad's level.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Brian Roberts has been playing some shortstop at Class AAA Ottawa. With SS Deivi Cruz struggling at the plate, Roberts could play at shortstop in the big leagues, as he did in 2001 when Mike Bordick was hurt.... Manager Mike Hargrove considers Willis Roberts, Kerry Ligtenberg and Rick Bauer interchangeable in the righthanded setup role. But Bauer is going through another rough stretch, and the team is looking to lighten his load. Bench coach Sam Perlozzo says Bauer appears to have lost confidence and might benefit from pitching earlier in games.... The most disturbing part of switch hitter OF Gary Matthews' struggles this season: He is batting only .180 against righthanders; last year he hit .292 against them.... RHP Pat Hentgen got his first victory in two years in a seven-inning outing, his longest of the season, last week. The situation he was in during the seventh inning--two on, one out--typically would have called for his removal, but Hargrove ignored the percentages and let Hentgen escape the jam. Hargrove says he left Hentgen in to show confidence in him.

BOSTON RED SOX

In his first start after giving up five runs to the Twins while pitching with a a tender groin, RHP Pedro Martinez was back to his dominant self. Against the Rangers, Martinez's best pitch was his fastball, but his changeup and curve were effective, too. tie showed no signs of injury in six shutout innings. He pitched well despite cool conditions (50 degrees and a 14-mph breeze).... RHP Casey Fossum held the Rangers to one run last week, and he didn't have to show them his curve very often. "I'll save those for the next time I face these guys," he said.... RHP Robert Person, activated from the D.L. last week, will work out of the bullpen late in games. With the Phillies last season, he struggled with arm problems and had shoulder and elbow surgery.... RHP Mike Timlin's ERA is an unsightly 4.13, but he hasn't pitched poorly. He twice has given up three runs, but he has held opponents scoreless in six of his last eight outings. Take away the two bad outings, and his ERA is cut by more than half. A ground-bail pitcher, his fastball reaches the 90s and has sharp downward movement.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Brian Daubach hasn't hit much in limited at-bats this year, his first with the White Sox, and there isn't a lot of room for him in the lineup. Manager Jerry Manuel says the four positions Daubach can play--first base, third base, right field and DH--are filled by the team's best hitters.... LHP Kelly Wunsch has made 15 appearances spanning 12 innings and has yet to give up an earned run. He has allowed just two hits. Wunsch had rotator-cuff surgery in June 2001 and rejoined the team last May.... Toward the end of last season, RHP Esteban Loaiza learned a new pitch, a cut fastball. When C Sandy Alomar saw it in spring training, he knew Loaiza was going to surprise some people. Alomar says Loaiza's ability to throw the cut fastball inside and outside makes his fastball that much better. Entering the week, Loaiza was 7-1 and among the league leaders in several categories.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

1B Travis Harrier (broken toe) went on the D.L. last week, and Ben Broussard was called up from Class AAA Buffalo to replace him. Hafner, considered a top rookie entering the season, was hitting just .206. Broussard played in 39 games for Cleveland last season and hit .241.... OF Karim Garcia now wishes he had gone on the D.L earlier this season. Garcia tried to play through pain while battling a wrist injury. He compensated, which made his swing and the injury worse, and he wound up on the D.L anyway. He'll rehab at Class AAA Buffalo.... Ricky Gutierrez played five innings at third base in an extended spring training game without reporting any problems in his comeback from major neck surgery. Gutierrez is eligible to come off the 60-day D.L. on May 30.... The Indians signed veteran reliever RHP Dan Miceli to a minor league contract and assigned him to Buffalo. The Rockies released him last week. The team made no promises he would pitch for the big-league club. He has a career record of 33-40 with 32 saves and a 4.82 ERA in 462 appearances.