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A.L. East

Sporting News, The, Sept 2, 2005

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

SS Miguel Tejada's production is down from last season, and interim manager Sam Perlozzo says Tejada is assuming too much responsibility for the team's struggles and has been pressing. Tejada had a club-record 30 RBIs in April but only 39 over the next three months. Perlozzo would like to give Tejada some rest, but that's not going to happen with Tejada's consecutive games streak approaching 1,000.... RHP Jason Grimsley's return from elbow surgery is a nice story, but it's evident he is not the pitcher he used to be. He allowed runs in nine of his first 14 appearances and gave up five home runs, an alarming number for a sinkerball pitcher. KEY CALL-UP: 1B Walter Young could be the heir apparent to Rafael Palmeiro. Young hits for power and average and is solid defensively. He could spell Palmeiro down the stretch and perhaps pinch hit against righthanders.--Gary Washburn

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BOSTON RED SOX

The fate of the club this season could rest on how well RHP Keith Foulke's surgically repaired left knee holds up. The Red Sox are moving RHP Curt Schilling out of the closer role so he can regain his form as a starter, where the Red Sox need his power arm at the top of the rotation for October. But for the plan to work, Foulke, who is getting closer to returning, needs to be strong enough to stabilize the bullpen. In the interim, RHP Mike Timlin's duties will expand, and at times he'll be asked to pitch multiple innings to close games. KEY CALL-UP: RHP Craig Hansen, 21, was pitching for St. John's in the spring, but he might be ready to make the quick jump to the majors. The Sox weren't able to find any relievers on the trade front, but Hansen, despite his youth, could solve a lot of problems. He has overpowering stuff and appears to have the makeup to survive the pressures of a pennant race.--Ian Browne

NEW YORK YANKEES

Not only does RHP Jaret Wright's return from the D.L. give the Yankees another veteran starter for the playoff chase, but it allows RHP Aaron Small to move to the bullpen. Small, who was a nice surprise as a fill-in starter, will serve as a long reliever, something the team hasn't really had all season.... Right-handed setup men Tom Gordon and Tanyon Sturtze each have pitched in a lot of games and have looked worn out recently, so the team might have to lean on other relievers such as LHP Alan Embree and RHPs Felix Rodriguez and Scott Proctor to lighten the load. KEY CALL-UP: The Yankees likely will bring up some reinforcements, such as IF Andy Phillips, OFs Mike Vento and Kevin Thompson, C Wil Nieves, LHP Wayne Franklin and RHP Jason Anderson. But the return of RHP Chien-Ming Wang (shoulder) from the D.L. would make a bigger impact than any other call-up, giving New York another tested arm down the stretch.--Mark Feinsand

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

RHP Danys Baez has blown only one save since the All-Star break, a fact he attributes to being more comfortable in the closer role. RHP Joe Borowski has taken over the setup role, which has freed Baez from having to pitch more than the ninth inning. Baez often was brought in to get the final four or five outs instead of just the final three.... 2B Nick Green and C Pete LaForest have been working with hitting coach Lee Ella to flatten their swings; LaForest needed to work on striking out less, and Green was popping out too much.... Entering the week, the starters had no complete games. Manager Lou Piniella attributes the oddity to his staff's youth. It's tough for a young pitcher to conserve enough pitches to get through the ninth. KEY CALL-UP: Can B.J. Upton play shortstop at the major league level? Though Upton's athleticism allows him to make spectacular plays, he has struggled with consistency. Upton's progress could dictate SS Julio Lugo's future with the organization.--Bill Chastain

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

The team has told LHP Ted Lilly it doesn't want him to risk further damage by returning quickly from biceps tendinitis, and he'll likely be sent to the minors for a rehab stint. Meanwhile, RHP Roy Halladay, out six weeks with a broken left tibia, has backed off his aggressive rehab schedule after missing three targeted return dates. The main concerns are whether his leg can take the strain of his weight coming down on it 100 times per game and whether he can move well enough to field his position.... IF Aaron Hill has struggled to get in the lineup since 3B Corey Koskie's return. The Jays have played Hill at shortstop and used him as a DH recently, and he has spent some pregame time taking grounders at second, where he could wind up in 2006. KEY CALL-UP: The Jays plan to make C Guillermo Quiroz a September call-up for the second straight season, and he should get significant playing time. The team has gotten little offense from the backup catcher spot, filled by Ken Huckaby most of the season.--Spencer Fordin

A.L. East

Sporting News, The, Sept 2, 2005

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