A.L. East

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

The club is hopeful that interim manager Sam Perlozzo can inject energy into a club that lost 28 of the final 37 games in lee Mazzilli's tenure. Perlozzo is a solid baseball man and has a good relationship with the players.... 1B Rafael Palmeiro's positive steroids test clouds his future with the club past this season. Palmeiro has contemplated returning for 2006, but given the negative publicity surrounding the test results, Palmeiro might not be asked back. ... Perlozzo likely will lower expectations for LHP Steve Kline and put less pressure on the struggling reliever. Kline's contract (signed through 2006) makes him difficult to trade. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: RF Sammy Sosa's recently altered batting stance has helped him somewhat. He now can hit average fastballs; he was overmatched against them before. But he still can't catch up to good fastballs, and he continues to struggle against sliders, especially when he gets impatient at the plate.--Gary Washburn

BOSTON RED SOX

The club expects hard-throwing rookie RHP Jon Papelbon to bolster the bullpen down the stretch. He has been primarily a starter in his professional career. Making Papelbon a reliever also will keep him from throwing too many innings this season, something the organization has set as a goal.... This season has been a battle for RHP Wade Miller, who is coming off of a rotator cuff injury, but he has been able to keep the Red Sex in games. Miller usually gets better the longer he pitches; the opposing team's batting average the third time through the order is 100 points lower than its average the first time through. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Don't judge SS Edgar Renteria's offense merely by statistics. He has tremendous baseball smarts and instincts, and he constantly is adjusting to what the defense is doing. He'll bunt if the third baseman is playing too deep, and he moves runners over. Renteria needs to be observed on a regular basis to be fully appreciated.--Ian Browne

NEW YORK YANKEES

Unable to find an upgrade in center field, the team apparently will give Bernie Williams the bulk of the starts there, despite his defensive shortcomings and his .236 average in July. Tony Wamack and Bubba Crosby also will get some spot starts in center. The club returned CF Mello/Cabrora to Class AA.... SS Derek Jeter has a sore hamstring, but he hasn't gotten rest because the only other player on the team who can play shortstop is 3B Alex Rodriguez. Rey Sanchez (vertigo, cervical sprain) is on the D.L. and isn't improving.... RHP Aaron Small has pitched well as a fill-in starter and will gain a bullpen job once RHPs Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright return. Small isn't a strikeout pitcher but eats innings and has some experience. A DIFFERENT GAME: Newcomer Alan Embree believes a mechanical flaw contributed to his struggles with the Red Sex. The Yankees like Embree's potential as a lefthanded specialist because of his mid-90s fastball, biting slider and solid cutter.--Mark Feinsand

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

LHP Casey Fossum has begun using a blooper pitch nicknamed the "Fossum Flip." One recent flip came in at 46 mph. Fossum plans to use the pitch at least once a game just to keep it in hitters' heads.... LHP Mark Hendrickson says better mental preparation has fueled his recent turnaround. Hendrickson had been in danger of losing his spot in the rotation.... Travis Lee is among the best fielding first basemen in baseball. One reason is anticipation: He expects bad throws from infielders, which allows him to make tough plays around the bag. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The club has altered LHP Scott Kazmir's warmup routine to help him overcome first-inning struggles. Kazmir now sits down after throwing 10 pitches in the bullpen, as though he's sitting down after an inning, then sits again after 10 more pitches. The experiment seems to be working; Kazmir has been much sharper early.--Bill Chastain

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

LHP Gustavo Chacin twice has been named the A.L. Rookie of the Month, including for July (5-0, 2.97 ERA). His consistency is uncharacteristic for a player with such little experience.... RHP Dustin McGowan struggled in the first inning of his first two big-league starts but settled down, keeping his team in the games. He is filling in until RHP Roy Halladay or LHP Ted Lilly returns from the D.L .... DH Shea Hillenbrand's numbers have declined steadily since his hot April. He's providing little protection hitting cleanup behind CF Vernon Wells. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: RHP Brandon league has made just two appearances in the last month, as pitching coach Brad Amsberg has been working on the side with League to try to get him comfortable using a higher arm slot. He has struggled with the adjustment. League can threw in the high 90s, but Amsberg would sacrifice some of League's velocity for better location.--Spencer Fordin

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