Inside The A.L. Central

Sporting News, The, July 17, 2000

Who's HOT

Detroit closer Todd Jones has 24 saves in 25 opportunities and converted saves in four consecutive games from June 30 to July 3. Bolstered by a new slider and changeup that give him four effective pitches, he could break the club's single-season record of 38 saves.

Who's NOT

Minnesota's Mike Lincoln has an 11.25 ERA in five appearances, including two starts. In 12 innings, he has allowed 23 hits (including six homers) and six walks. Another recent call-up, Jason Ryan, has a 14.04 ERA in four games and has allowed runs in each.

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

When Chicago heads to Boston July 21-23, the series will feature the White Sox and their major league best offense (528 runs through last Saturday) against a Red Sox staff that has allowed the fewest runs in baseball (389). Boston wants revenge after being swept by Chicago June 30-July 2.

Keep an eye on

Royals RHP Blake Stein. K.C. has baseball's worst team ERA (5.87), but Stein's return from a forearm injury suffered in spring training may help the depleted staff. Working against Stein: He has won only two of 11 starts since joining the Royals last July.

High and inside

Pittsburgh C Jason Kendall has been the focus of trade talk in Chicago, but White Sox G.M. Ron Schueler says he will stick with catchers Brook Fordyce (.223) and Mark Johnson (.222)

TSN's Wired World

Cleveland RF Manny Ramirez could be the next player traded if the Indians--11 1/2 games out of first--decide to clean shop. He will be a free agent and wants $15 million to $18 million a year. For more on the Indians, visit:

sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/indians

PROSPECT WATCH

Twins OF Bobby Kielty, 23, hurt his back in his final year at Mississippi but opened eyes that WATCH summer when he was named the MVP of the Cape Cod League--an elite amateur summer league--leading the league in batting (.384) and RBIs (45). Kielty, a switch hitter, is at Class AA New Britain, leading the team in homers (10) and RBIs (53).

Chicago

55-31: 1st

Balanced, young team can start preparing for playoffs

SECOND-HALF STRATEGY: With such a commanding lead over the A.L. Central, the team has to guard against complacency. That shouldn't be a problem because this is one of the youngest teams in baseball on which hard work and teamwork have come naturally. The team will need to continue to get solid starting pitching from RHPs James Baldwin and Cal Eldred, and LHPs Mike Sirotka and Jim Parque. The four starters combined to go 37-16 over the first 85 games and almost always gave the team a chance to win. As for the offense, the tremendous balance needs to continue. DH Frank Thomas and RF Magglio Ordonez anchor the middle of the order and the duo has combined to hit 45 homers and drive in 147 runs. But 2B Ray Durham, SS Jose Valentin, LF Carlos Lee and 1B Paul Konerko all have good shots at 100 RBIs for the season and that's why the offense has been so dangerous. There obviously are some defensive holes, which means the team will have to pick up its concentration level in the stretch run.

MOVIES TO MAKE: Trades can disrupt a team's chemistry, but in the case of the Sox, a few moves could help them rise even higher. If RHP Jon Garland, 20, isn't ready to perform in the majors as a fifth starter, the team will have to go out and get a proven starter like RHP Andy Ashby or RHP Kevin Tapani. The team could use some help at catcher, since Brook Fordyce and Mark Johnson have struggled at the plate. A lefthanded bat off the bench is also needed. The Cubs' Mark Grace would be perfect in that role, but a player like the Pirates' John Vander Wal makes more sense.

FEARLESS FORECAST: With such a dominating lead, the team will stumble at times but still easily finish in first place for the first time since 1993. For the first time in his career, Thomas will hit 50 home runs. He's in much better shape this season, as his numbers indicate. And Baldwin will win 20 games for the first time in his career. Over the last two seasons Baldwin is a combined 18-7 after the All-Star break.--Scot Gregor

MIDSEASON GRADES

OFFENSE A

Best team has best balance. Big production everywhere but at No. 6 hole and No. 9.

PITCHING A

Staff has second-lowest ERA in A.L. through Saturday. Starters have stepped up; bullpen solid.

DEFENSE C

Overall, has steadily improved. Durham and Valentin a dynamic double-play combo.

WHITE SOX

                AVG    G    AB    R     H   HR   RBI

Graffanino     .348   30    66   15    23    0     7
Thomas         .333   85   309   65   103   25    74
Ordonez        .330   80   303   59   100   20    73
Perry          .306   53   170   32    52    6    23
Konerko        .299   78   294   46    88   12    55
Lee            .295   80   305   55    90   15    59
Durham(#)      .282   84   348   69    98   13    48
Valentin(#)    .269   77   320   58    86   13    46
Abbott         .265   45   117   14    31    2    16
Norton(#)      .259   54   162   17    42    5    21
Singleton( )   .259   81   301   52    78    6    36
Fordyce        .233   27    86   11    20    3    17
Johnson( )     .222   49   144   16    32    3    17

                OBP     SLG   SB   K    BB     E

Graffanino      .397   .439    2   10    5     1
Thomas          .441   .638    0   55   63     1
Ordonez         .406   .614    9   36   45     4
Perry           .373   .482    2   34   14     5
Konerko         .366   .497    0   41   26     6
Lee             .339   .518    5   49   19     1
Durham(#)       .349   .489   10   64   34    10
Valentin(#)     .330   .491    9   62   28    20
Abbott          .338   .393    1   23   12     0
Norton(#)       .330   .389    1   36   18     7
Singleton( )    .309   .399    7   54   21     3
Fordyce         .272   .395    0   18    3     0
Johnson( )      .309   .333    2   27   17     3

GRAND SLAMS  Thomas, Valentin (1)

               EPA     W-L    G     IP      H      R   ER

(*)Wunsch( )   2.31    3-2    45    35.0    28    11    9
Simas          2.86    1-1    38    44.0    38    14   14
Foulke         3.23    1-0    39    53.0    45    21   19
Howry          3.29    1-1    36    38.1    27    14   14
Sirotka( )     3.73    8-6    17   103.2   108    56   43
Parque( )      3.81    8-2    18   101.2   118    53   43
Pena( )        4.12    2-1    16    19.2    17     9    9
Baldwin        4.28   11-4    17   111.1   109    55   53
Eldred         4.55   10-2    17    99.0    90    53   50
(*)Bairne      5.56    1-0    15    22.2    24    16   14
Lowe           5.80    3-1    37    35.2    48    27   23
(*)Garland    15.75    0-1     2     4.0     8     7    7

                    HR    K   BB   SV     Avg

(*)Wunsch( )         1   32   13    0    .214
Simas                7   31   14    0    .242
Foulke               8   54   14   16    .228
Howry                3   37   17    4    .199
Sirotka( )          12   66   32    0    .272
Parque( )           12   63   34    0    .286
Pena( )              2   16   13    1    .233
Baldwin             21   72   36    0    .257
Eldred               9   84   51    0    .242
(*)Bairne            3   16   10    0    .282
Lowe                 5   33   23    0    .320
(*)Garland           1    3    2    0    .400