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A.L. Central

Sporting News, The, August 19, 2005

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The club added a 12th pitcher last week. recalling RHP Jon Adkins from the minors. With the starters not going as deep into games lately, Adkins can serve as an extra middle-relief option and prevent two other relievers, LHP Neal Cotts and RHP Lois Vizcaino, from being overworked.... RHP Brandon McCarthy has returned to throwing more over the top, and the results at Class AAA Charlotte have been good. A lower arm slot made McCarthy's pitches flatten out. Because of his 6-5 height, using more of an overhand release works to McCarthy's advantage. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Vizcaino's struggles early this season originally were attributed to a career-high 60-pitch effort in the third game of the season when the White Sox had run out of relievers in extra innings. But a lack of work was the main reason. Now that he has been throwing almost daily, he has better life on his fastball and is more confident when he challenges hitters.--Scott Merkin

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CLEVELAND INDIANS

C Victor Martinez's revival is a key reason for the Indians' offensive surge. Martinez hit only .236 in the first half of the season but batted .400 in his first 23 second half games after he started exercising patience and using the entire field more effectively. ... Manager Eric Wedge changed his lineup after DH Travis Hafner returned from injury. SS Jhonny Peralta is hitting third. Hafner fourth and switch-hitting Martinez fifth. Wedge likes the righthanded-hitting Peralta batting behind CF Grady Sizemore and OF Coco Crisp and ahead of the lefthanded-hitting Hafner. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: RHP Bob Wickman's blazing fastball is long gone, which means the closers sinker and slider--which are thrown at varying speeds--are now his bread and butter. That means he must hit his spots or he will get hit--witness his blown save last week when he gave up two ninth-inning home runs to the Yankees. Given his greatly reduced margin for error, Wickman has been exceptional this season.--Jim Molony

DETROIT TIGERS

RHP Sean Douglass followed his worst start of the season with his best, allowing one run in eight innings against the Mariners last week. Douglass' success since joining the rotation has been surprising to some, but he pitched with great consistency in spring training. Douglass' low-90s fastball has a deceptive motion, and he consistently hits the corners of the plate. Barring a late collapse, he has the inside track on a rotation spot next season.... SS Carlos Guillen is driving the ball better, and his swing suggests he is gaining strength in his surgically repaired right knee. His range in the field doesn't seem to be affected by the knee. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: CF Nook Logan is the team's only threat to steal, but manager Alan Trammell likes to put men in motion when Guillen is batting. Guillen has good bat control, and he gets runners into scoring position. That sets up DH Chris Shelton and RF Magglio Ordonez.--Jason Beck

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

G.M. Allard Baird must make the acquisition of a top-grade starter a priority before next season. RHP Zack Greinke, forecast as the No. 1 starter, has been an inconsistent puzzle. RHPs D.J. Carrasco and Kyle Snyder still are unproven, and RHP Jose Lima might be headed elsewhere.... RHP Leo Nunez, optioned to Class AA last week, has some work to do. Hit hard lately, he wasn't relying enough on his fastball, and a lack of focus hurt his control. But he remains a potential closer with a bright future, SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: 38 Mark Teahen, a .... lefthanded batter, has been an opposite-field hitter since he was a kid; if he pulled the ball in backyard games with his brothers, it would land on the roof and roll into a gutter. But Teahen is gradually learning to turn on pitches and drive the bail more. The Royals believe pulling the ball will give Teahen more power and run production.--Dick Kaegel

MINNESOTA TWINS

The lineup has lacked power and speed all season; manager Ron Gardenhire is trying to remedy the speed problem by making SS Jason Bartlett and 2B Nick Punto the regular double-play combination. Both players can make things happen on the bases. Neither is a home run threat; each began the week with two homers.... RHP Joe Mays believes he has gained command of his curveball after not having it for most of the season. Mays discovered a new release point for the pitch while working in the bullpen between starts. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: A change in hand position at the plate seems to be working well for 38 Michael Cuddyer, a righthanded batter. He had three home runs last week and has looked more confident at the plate lately. Cuddyer has brought his hands closer to his body and higher, near his face. The new position keeps his hands from extending too far behind his back shoulder before his swing.--Mark Sheldon

A.L. Central

Sporting News, The, August 19, 2005

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