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A.L. Central

Sporting News, The, July 22, 2005

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

FIRST HALF SURPRISE: RHP Dustin Hermanson was added in the offseason as a setup man to upgrade the bullpen's depth but quickly became one of the top closers in the A.L. Hermanson, 32, no longer is a power pitcher. Instead, he attacks hitters within the strike zone, letting the movement on his pitches do the job and relying on the defense to make plays. His success should continue because the club has limited his usage to save or game-deciding situations.

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SECOND HALF SLEEPER: RHP Shingo Takatsu lost his closet's job because he had trouble finding the strike zone consistently. The sidearmer was moved to less stressful situations to regain his confidence and his command, and the move paid off. Takatsu has been stretched out and now can throw as many as two innings per appearance. His versatility should be a plus for the bullpen. But the key for Takatsu will be to continue locating his fastball welt, which will set up his slower repertoire.--Scott Merkin

CLEVELAND INDIANS

FIRST HALF SURPRISE: RHP Bob Wickman has reemerged as a top-tier closer, converting 20 of 23 save chances. The reason for his revival: He's healthy. Wickman, who had elbow surgery in 2002, needed time to regain his arm strength. Though he doesn't overpower hitters, Wickman's determination and coolness have allowed him to hold up under late-game pressure. Barring overuse or another injury, Wickman should remain the linchpin in the Indians' bullpen.

SECOND HALF SLEEPER: 3B Aaron Boone, who sat out 2004, has struggled to find his swing, which explains an average that has hovered around .200 all season. But few players work as hard as Boone, and his swing has shown signs of regaining its pop. He has put in extra sessions in the batting cage, and he has benefited from an organization that has been patient as it awaits his return to form. Boone should come around; he traditionally plays well in the second half.--Justice B. Hill

DETROIT TIGERS

FIRST HALF SURPRISE: Brandon Inge has transformed himself from a light-hitting catcher to a disciplined, leadoff-hitting third baseman in less than two years. Inge has developed a simplified approach that helps him work pitchers and hit fastballs for average and power. Though he chased more pitches than usual in June, his basic approach seems to immunize him against slumps. Defensively, Inge has made plenty of errors, but his range allows him to cover everywhere from the line to SS Carlos Guillen's territory in the hole.

SECOND HALF SLEEPER: LHP Nate Robertson pitched very welt in the first half, but he had a losing record because of a lack of run support. Robertson has a lower strikeout rate than he did last season, and he has become more of a ground-ball pitcher because of a slurve that has consistent movement. He also has lowered his walk rate, and with Detroit's lineup finally healthy, he should be able to get the support he needs for a strong second half.--Jason Beck

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

FIRST HALF SURPRISE: When RF Emil Brown reported to camp, he was an unknown ticketed for Class AAA. But his knack for good pitch selection translated into power and production. A sluggish start threatened the Emil Experiment, but Brown got hot in May and raised his average more than 100 points by midseason. Brown seems more than a first half flash--he's a No. 4 or 5 hitter who adds punch to a popgun lineup.

SECOND HALF

SLEEPER: Shortly after the All-Star break, LHP Brian Anderson is expected to mold back into the rotation. He has been absent since going on the D.L. May 8 with an elbow injury. Anderson's workouts have been positive, and his stuff has manager Buddy Bell feeling optimistic. Rookie LHP J.P. Howell would benefit from more time in the minors, and the return of RHP Denny Bautista (shoulder) has been delayed, so there's ample room for Anderson to have an impact.--Dick Kaegel

MINNESOTA TWINS

FIRST HALF SURPRISE: Many expected 1B Justin Morneau to be a bigger factor in the middle of the lineup than he has been. After a hot start, Morneau hit .226 in May and June combined. He often has been dropped from fourth to seventh in the order. Morneau has had some bad at-bats of late and has not been waiting for good pitches to hit, lie believes he's trying too hard to hit home runs and is not letting his swing happen naturally.

SECOND HALF

SLEEPER: If he stays healthy, 2B Nick Punto will give the club a needed spark. He's a high-energy player who can work deep into counts, bunt his way on and take an extra base. The Twins missed those things when Punto was out a month with a hamstring injury. He has helped solidify the infield defense and has formed a slick double-play combo with SS Juan Castro. They spend extra time during infield drills working on flips and relays.--Mark Sheldon

A.L. Central

Sporting News, The, July 22, 2005

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