A.L. reports

Sporting News, The, May 31, 2004

TEXAS RANGERS The quality of the catching depth will be tested because rookie Gerald Laird is out with a left thumb ligament injury. Rod Barajas takes over as the starter and has proved to be an adequate replacement offensively and defensively. The question is: Will Barajas hold up physically in the Texas heat with a heavier load? ... OF Brian Jordan, who missed most of spring training with a sore left knee, said recently his first 50 at-bats would, in effect, represent his spring training. Jordan has passed that mark, and the Rangers are hopeful the rust is coming off his hitting. If Jordan and 1B Mark Teixeira get hot, 3B Hank Blalock and 2B Alfonso Soriano will get better pitches.... Manager Buck Showalter continues to show confidence in RHP Carlos Almanzar in key setup situations. Almanzar credits the success he has had early this season to using his pitches properly. Almanzar, who spent last year at Class AAA, is more focused on location and changing speeds and less concerned with blowing hitters away with his fastball. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Veteran LHP Kenny Rogers prides himself on doing the little things that help produce successful results for himself and the team. By fielding his position in expert lash ion and keeping runners under control with his superior pickoff move, Rogers shows there is more to pitching than delivering the ball to the catcher.--Robert Falkoff

THE ROAD AHEAD

The team has met several challenges, and June has more: a series against A-Rod and Co. at Yankee Stadium and four against N.L. Central dubs.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS RHP Justin Miller has been effective since joining the rotation, averaging six innings per start in his first five outings. He has allowed an average of more than one hit per inning in only one of his starts. Miller had shoulder surgery last May and has recovered much more quickly than expected.... Miller's progress lends hope to one of Toronto's best prospects. RHP Dustin McGowan was lost for the season after undergoing elbow surgery, a procedure that also could sideline him all of 2005. McGowan had pitched with a tear in his elbow after he was drafted in 2000.... C Greg Myers will be out most of June with an ankle sprain. He's about two weeks away from participating in baseball drills. Gregg Zaun, who has been filling in, hit .455 in his first 11 games this season. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: RF Reed Johnson credits a timing mechanism with getting his season back on track. Toronto's erstwhile leadoff man has been concentrating on getting his front foot down early, a trigger that sets the rest of his swing in motion. He said it's something he has concentrated on through his career, but he forgot about it in spring training and the first month of the season. Johnson is a well-rounded batter, able to spray line drives to all fields and drop down bunts. When he's doing well, he adds a small-ball element to Toronto's power-based offense.--Spencer Fordin

THE ROAD AHEAD

Trips west offer some hope for the young Jays: San Francisco and Seattle are struggling at home. But the Padres are tougher than usual.