Around the AL

Sporting News, The, June 11, 2001

TSNumbers

.278 Difference between Brian Daubach's slugging percentage (.532) and batting average (.254).

4 Stolen bases by the Mariners' Mark McLemore in a game against the Orioles.

18 Wins in May for the A's, putting the defending A.L. West champions at .500 at the end of the second month.

36 Consecutive games in which the Devil Rays' Ben Grieve reached base.

48 Combined strikeouts by Mike Mussina and Pedro Martinez in two matchups.

Coming attractions

When Brad Radke pitches, the Twins bullpen has plenty of time to do not much of anything. Radke (2.55, 13-4 career vs. the N.L.) leads the A.L. in complete games and wins and is second in innings. Look for him to stifle the Astros in the series that begins Tuesday. That would avenge a drubbing he received from them last year.... Cardinals vs. Royals, Tuesday-Thursday: The Cardinals powerful lineup will overmatch Kansas City's rolling blackout pitching. Expect St. Louis to flush the Royals on the strength of (in no particular order): Mark McGwire, Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and J.D. Drew.

Prospect watch

Carl Crawford, OF, Devil Rays

Crawford was Tampa Bay's second-round pick in the 1999 draft. To land him, though, the Devil Rays had to give Crawford a $1.2 million signing bonus to pass up a football scholarship to Nebraska and a basketball scholarship to UCLA. Last season he hit .301 at low-Class A Charleston and used his speed to leg out 11 triples and steal 55 bases. The Devil Rays bumped him up to Class AA Orlando this season where he is hitting .285 with one home run, 15 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Crawford hasn't shown much power, but that is expected to develop. In 207 at-bats, he has 40 strikeouts, so strike zone judgment is something he will have to work on. On defense, Crawford's speed gives him tremendous range and makes him a natural for center field, but he has a below-average arm.

Doghouse

Mike Lansing blames Red Sox manager Jimy Williams' lineup cards for his poor hitting this season (.234). "You're not going to hit .310 or .320 if you're not playing every day," Lansing says. is that all it would take? Never mind that Williams has gone out of his way to get Lansing in the lineup, even playing him out of position at short. Since Lansing is so good at numbers here's one for him: 1st. That's where the Sox were at the time the second baseman decided to play skipper. You'll forgive Williams if that's one position where he doesn't pencil in Lansing's name.

You can nominate an American League player for the Doghouse. Call Kevin Wheeler's show on Sporting News Radio. It airs from 2-5 a.m. (Eastern) Saturdays and 1-5 a.m. Sundays. For an affiliate near you, e-mail affiliates@sportingnews.com or listen live online at sportingnews.com.