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A.L. west

Sporting News, The, Sept 30, 2005

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

The team hopes that by shutting down LHP Jarred Washburn for a while, the tendinitis in his left forearm will subside. Washburn spent time on the disabled list in August because of the injury. He says he can continue to pitch, but the injury forces him to take longer warming up and hurts his control.... RHP Ervin Santana might be hitting the rookie wall. Santana has struggled during his past few starts. He still has velocity on his fastball, but he has had trouble keeping it down, and his breaking pitches have been flat. ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE: The Angels will take a close look at 1B Kendry Morales this fall to see how he measures up against the other top prospects in the fall league. Morales struggled at Class AA initially before catching fire later. If Morales is dominant, he will be a strong candidate for a big-league job when spring training opens. The Angels have struggled to fill the designated hitter slot this season, and Morales, a righthanded batter, would be a good fit.--Mike Scarr

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OAKLAND ATHLETICS

LHP Joe Kennedy, acquired in a July trade with the Rockies, was used in relief before he took over for RHP Rich Harden (strained back muscle) in the rotation. Kennedy is expected to be in the 2006 rotation, either at the expense of RHP Kirk Saarloos, who has pitched better than Kennedy, or LHP Barry Zito, whose $8.5 million salary for 2006 might tempt G.M. Billy Beane to move him.... RF Nick Swisher's late-season struggles aren't the result of his hitting the rookie wall. Swisher says he has been pressing since dedicating the rest of his season to his grandmother, who died in August. ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE: OF Andre Ethier, a 2003 second-round pick, could turn a big showing in the Arizona Fail League into a big-league roster spot in 2006. Ethier, a lefthanded hitter, batted .319 with 18 homers and 80 RBIs for Class AA Midland on his way to Texas League MVP honors, and there could be a spot open in the Oakland outfield if the A's decline their $4 million option on Jay Payton.--Mychael Urban

SEATTLE MARINERS

The performances of RHPs Joel Pineiro and Felix Hernandez since the first week of August offer hope they'll provide a productive 1-2 punch next season. Pineiro has rediscovered his low-90s fastball, which was missing the first half of the season, and consistently has made quality starts. Hernandez continues to dazzle hitters with a fastball that has been clocked as high as 98 mph and a Iow-80s changeup.... The team might want to consider re-signing LHP Jamie Mayer, 42, for next season. He is 9-0 in 16 starts at Safeco Field. ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE: A productive fall in Arizona could catapult C Jeff Clement to the majors one year sooner than expected. The game plan was for Clement, the team's first-round draft choice this year, to start the 2006 season at Class AA San Antonio. But if the touted power prospect makes as much progress in Arizona as he did in his first two months of Class A ball, his big-league career could begin early next season.--Jim Street

TEXAS RANGERS

RHP R.A. Dickey's decision to throw the knuckleball full time this season might help him in his bid for a rotation spot in 2006. A knuckleballer would be a nice complement to the team's other starters, most of whom throw harder and attack hitters in a more conventional fashion. Dickey's competitiveness also gives him an edge; the club admires his determination. Dickey will throw the knuckler to big-league hitters this month and continue to refine the pitch in the offseason. ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE: IF Drew Meyer has struggled because of injuries and inconsistency since being drafted by the Rangers in the first round (10th overall) in 2002. He has lost ground to fellow infield prospects Joaquin Arias and Ian Kinsler. A strong season in Arizona, in which he makes consistent contact at the plate and makes plays in the field on a regular basis, could put Meyer in a better position in the organization's second base/shortstop competition heading into spring training.--Robert Falkoff

A.L. west

Sporting News, The, Sept 30, 2005

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