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N.L. East

Sporting News, The, August 19, 2005

ATLANTA BRAVES

The team wants C Brian McCann to devote himself to a weightlifting program in the off season. He already has shown a big-league swing, and the Braves want him to fill out his 6-3, 210-pound frame. That could help him drive the ball more and keep him from wearing down .... The addition of Macay McBride gives the bullpen a second lefthander, which should ease the burden on LHP John Foster. Foster will continue to be the top lefthanded option, but he has had poor command lately.... New RHP Kyle Farnsworth gives the club the reliable setup man it was lacking. Known for his 100-mph fastball, Farnsworth also has shown a good changeup and slider. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: C Johnny Estrada is providing solid defense and throwing out more basestealers than he did last season. He has a strong arm and has been helped by a staff that does a good job of holding runners on, Last season, RHPs Jaret Wright and Russ Ortiz were easy to run on.--Mark Bowman

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FLORIDA MARLINS

1B Carlos Delgado (hand) likely will be out until mid-August. Veteran Jeff Conine is a capable defensive replacement, but Delgado's impact on the lineup is huge. He hits for power and average and keeps pressure off LF Miguel Cabrera .... LHP Ron Villone, obtained from the Mariners, is more than a situational reliever. A former starter, he can be used for multiple innings.... Look for IF Lenny Harris to be used as a pinch hitter earlier in games as the team becomes more aggressive in an effort to make up ground in the standings. Harris also is a double-switch option to come in and play third base. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Tempo is critical for high-energy LHP Dontrelle Willis. Willis gets into trouble when he speeds up his pace between pitches. He is being encouraged to take a deep breath and wait a second or two before getting into his high-kick delivery. When he speeds up his pace, Willis tends to let his arm angle dip, which leads to wildness.--Joe Frisaro

NEW YORK METS

3B David Wright's rapid development prompted manager Willie Randolph to move him from seventh to sixth to fifth in the order. If Randolph wants to experiment in September. he can put Wright in the No. 3 spot and move CF Carlo Beltran into the No. 2 spot.... The infield defense has been appreciably better with Miguel Cairo at second instead of Kazuo Matsui. Cairo has made three errors at second this season. When Matsui (knee) gets healthy, the only reason Randolph might play him extensively is to try to showcase him for an off season trade. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Beltran is a natural righthanded hitter who says he has become more comfortable batting lefthanded because he does it so often. The numbers say different; he's hitting .324 righthanded and .251 lefthanded. But ran recently has started to swing better from the left side, more often hitting pitches on the outside part of the plate to left field.--Marty Noble

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

1B Jim Thome's continued throwing difficulty has delayed his return from an elbow injury. Though he says he feels good when he hits, the team wants him at full strength before activating him and has scrapped plans for a rehab assignment.... Coaches think the reason for RHP Vicente Padilla's amazing turnaround is between his ears. They say he has stepped worrying about what might happen and simply trusts his 96-mph moving fastball.... LHP Billy Wagner wasn't traded at the deadline because the Phillies still are in the playoff race and want to retain their closer beyond this season. Wagner says he'd like an extension by the end of the month or he'll test the free-agent market in the winter. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The discomfort in C Mike Lieberthal's right knee is hurting him in all aspects of his game. The knee aches on defense when he stands to throw to second base and when he blocks the plate. On offense, he's having trouble keeping his balance on opposite-field swings.--Ken Mandel

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

In need of another player such as IF Carlos Baerga who could come off the bench and be a successful pinch hitter, the Nationals optioned OF Marion Byrd to Class AAA New Orleans and promoted OF Matt Cepicky. Byrd hit only .143 in July, with no extra-base hits. Cepicky has some pep and some success as a big-league pinch hitter.... OF Ryan Church says his swing hasn't been the same since he came off the D.L. last month for a sprained ligament in his rib cage, He feels acute pain in his right collarbone and shoulder when he bats, and he is vulnerable to inside fastballs. Church has struck out looking several times recently. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: SS Cristian Guzman has gone back to the hitting approach he had when he was with the Twins. Guzman now is trying to chop the ball on the ground and use his speed. He hit .263 in the first week of August. That helped lift his batting average from the low .180s near the end of July to .190 at the start of the week.--Bill Ladson

N.L. East

Sporting News, The, August 19, 2005

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