Royals Await Mark Teahen's Second Half Push

If any doubt had remained whether Royals slugger Mark Teahen would be able to make the conversion from third base to the outfield, he has certainly erased it by going 42 games without an error until Sunday's 3-1 loss to the White Sox. It was just his second on the season.

Teahen is hitting solidly in the .290 range with a handful of homers, but as his fielding becomes less and less of a concern look for him to turn it up a notch or two at the plate after the All-Star break. Teahen, 26, is just coming into his prime and has benefitted recently by hitting in front of rising rookie Alex Gordon, who is beginning to find his stroke.

Last-half acceleration is nothing new to Teahen, as he bounced back from a slow start to hit better than .300 with nearly an RBI per game after the All-Star break last year, finishing his season at .290 with 18 homers and a .540 slugging percentage. Those numbers and better should be well within his grasp.

Farm Club Bans Music After Roman Colon Brawl

The Mud Hens -- the Tigers Triple A affiliate in nearby Toledo -- has banned the playing of music in the clubhouse before, during and after games due to an incident allegedly triggered by Tigers reliever Roman Colon.

Players wishing to listen to music must wear headphones or not listen to music at all. The ruling mirrors that already adopted in the Tigers clubhouse in Detroit, and was precipitated by a vicious clubhouse brawl between Mud Hens farmhands and Colon, who has since been indicted on a count of felony assault and faces imprisonment for up to five years if convicted.

The 27-year-old Dominican had been on a rehabilitation assignment with the Mud Hens when he incurred the enmity of his teammates by repeatedly playing Carmen Miranda's rendition of "Mi Mama Quiero" at high volume on June 12.

When a scuffle broke out, veteran minor league pitcher Jason Karnuth, 31, attempted to break up the fight only to have Colon turn on him, punching him in the face and breaking Karnuth's orbit and other facial bones, according to investigators. The injuries were so severe that Karnuth required surgery and may be out until September or longer.

Colon has served a team suspension and has been transferred to the Tigers Double A affiliate in Erie, Pa., and currently awaits a criminal arraignment before an Ohio magistrate, the date of which has not been set.

The incident has put additional pressure on the Tigers, whose bullpen is short of help. Relievers Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya are out indefinitely with injuries and closer Todd Jones has been pitching poorly, despite his 18 saves.

Meanwhile, Karnuth suffers from blurry vision and is awaiting for doctors to determine the full extent of his injuries so that he can consider a civil suit to recover his medical expenses and be compensated for his suffering and potential loss of income hence forth.

Rangers Eric Gagne Likely Favors Detroit in Trade

As Eric Gagne notched his 10th save in 10 chances in the Rangers 2-1 victory over the Red Sox Sunday, Sox GM Theo Epstein also looked like a probable loser in an effort to add Gagne to his bullpen.

With a 30-day countdown to the trading deadline now under way, Gagne holds veto power over a number of potential suitors, and to the extent that he can control it would tend to steer his trade to Detroit rather than Boston because he would gain save opportunites by supplanting struggling Tigers closer Todd Jones.

Gagne owns a sparkling 1.29 ERA but has been unable to rack up saves in part because the lowly 33-47 Rangers have not presented him with enough opporunities. Jones meanwhile has 18 saves, tied for third most in the American League despite his bloated 5.50 ERA.

The Red Sox have room for Gagne, but Gagne would balk at being the set-up man for established closer Jonathan Papelbon, who can be expected to claim almost all of Boston's save opportunities for the remainder of the season.

Such opportunities are critical for Gagne, as he has an incentive-laden, $6-million renewable one-year contract that kicks in bonus money if he reaches specified saves threshholds. The saves could be worth an extra $500,000 to $1 million to the 31-year-old, 2003 Cy Young Award winner.

John Buck Begins to Hit Like Royals Had Expected

It seems now like it was another player in another life, but Royals catcher John Buck was once the prized piece in Kansas City's trade of superstar Carlos Beltran.

After two years of disappointment at the plate, Buck, now finds himself with 14 home runs, enough to rank second among American League catchers behind Cleveland's Victor Martinez. At the same time, the right-handed hitting, former seventh round pick is hitting a passable .260 against right-handed pitchers with a more than .500 slugging percentage overall.

Buck may never reach Cooperstown but it's a start.

When the Royals traded Beltran to Houston in a 2004 three-team deal (also acquiring third baseman Mark Teahen from Oakland), Buck was hitting .300 with a .507 slugging mark for Triple A New Orleans. That won the attention of former Royals manager and All Star catcher Tony Pena, who immediately dubbed Buck the team's catcher of the future.

Buck, who will celebrate his 27th birthday when he returns from the All-Star break, is finally living up to it. Look for continued improvement as Buck traditionally has shown tendencies to hit better as the season progresses.

Something of a sleeper, Buck could develop into a top-10 player at his position over the next two or three years, especially if veteran catcher Jason LaRue, who has laid claim to much of Buck's playing time, steps aside in the near future.

Demotion Cuts Braves Kelly Johnson's Production

Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson has accepted his demotion from leadoff to No. 7 in the batting order, though the move will cut into his production for the remainder of the season.

Worse, reserve middle infielder Yunel Escobar is staking a claim to Johnson's appearances vs. lefties.

Even if Johnson can eventually reclaim full-time playing status -- which remains questionable -- a statistical analysis shows that the number of Johnson's hits can be expected to fall by up to 20 percent and his home run total up to five percent due to his demotion due to his lineup demotion alone.

Johnson's decline may be anticipated not only because the move will cost him some 50 at-bats, but because he no longer will be followed in the batting order by such productive players as Edgar Renteria and Chipper Jones.

Manager Bobby Cox demoted Johnson after the promising lefty fell into a slump, most notably a 2-17 spell during the week of June 18-24. The move also enabled Cox to exploit the hot bat of outfielder Willie Harris, hitting at a better than .300 clip with a .500 slugging percentage in limited appearances.

On days when facing a left-handed batter, Johnson will be backed up by right-hitting catcher Jerrod Saltalamacchia, who for the time being has settled into a lefty-righty first base platoon with disappointing rookie first Scott Thorman, who has had difficutly keeping his average much above .200 for most of the year.

Saltalamacchia may gain more and more playing time as he improves his play at first base, but Cox is being cautious so as not to leave himself without a backup catcher late in games. Thorman is struggling against left-handed pitchers, but so far Saltalamacchia has shown proficiency against both lefties and righties.

Derrek Lee Drops Plan to Appeal Suspension July 2

Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee -- with a five-game suspension hanging over him -- has dropped plans for his appeal hearing Monday. The hearing will be moved to sometime after the All-Star break.

The July 2 date would have allowed him to begin serving the suspension immediately, missing the series with Washington and Pittsburgh, both weaker teams. Evidently, the team believes it has a shot to reduce the penalty to three games, depending on whom will be available to weigh the evidence in New York at some given point in July.

A chance remains, however, that Lee could still drop the appeal immediately, allowing him to serve the suspension immediately. Lee was issued the suspension for taking a swing at San Diego pitcher Chris Young on June 16.

Ex-Cubs Skipper Dusty Baker Waits for Opening

As nearly a dozen MLB managerial jobs hang in the balance, former Cubs manager and now broadcast analyst Dusty Baker will take advantage of a loophole in his two-year contract with ESPN to terminate his deal should any team choose him as its next skipper.

Baker had the clause woven into the pact expressly for this purpose when he signed with ESPN five months ago.

Baker is eager to return to field management as he feels his disappointing tenure in Chicago was more the result of bad circumstances than ineffective leadership. Baker was all but tarred, feathered and run out of town on a rail after his final two injury-plagued seasons in Chicago, but still has legion fans, apologists and defenders.

The 57-year-old Baker has a 1,162-1,041 career record with nine winning seasons in 14 years with the Giants and the Cubs.

Baker guided the Cubs to the National League Central Division title in 2003 and was named manager of the year three times.

Baker's resume makes him a top candidate for virtually any managerial vacancy, Cubs notwithstanding. In a game in which only some eight percent of players are black, he is a something of a rarity as an African American. Baker would be regarded as a prized icon of racial diversity by most major league GMs.

Astros Chad Qualls May Hold Key to AL Pennant

Look for Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein to compete to win the Chad Qualls sweepstakes, not because the hard-throwing Astros reliever is so desperately needed in Boston, but because he may be needed in Detroit.

Pressure continues to mount for the Tigers to find bullpen help, perhaps even replacing closer Todd Jones, who has allowed baserunners like fleas on a dog. Because the road to the pennant runs through the Motor City, it's critical not to find bullpen help but to block teams like the Tigers from acquiring it.

The more obvious it becomes that the Astros are going no place, look for Qualls to be traded for prospects or up-and-coming youngsters. Whomever loses out on Qualls will be under even greater pressure to acquire his teammate, Brad Lidge, or perhaps Rangers closer Eric Gagne.

Qualls is the cheapest of the three, and to get him the Tigers will not hesitate to flip one of several unnamed player possibilities recently acquired from St. Louis in the Mike Maroth deal. Established hitters such as Craig Monroe or Marcus Thames also are expendable in Detroit.

Craig Biggio: You've Come a Long Way, Baby

As Astros veteran Craig Biggio, 41, continues on his Hall of Fame trajectory -- now having crossed the 3,000-hit plataeu -- it seems hard to believe that it was 19 years ago when he arrived in Houston as a rookie catcher -- with his top priority to have his picture taken in uniform with staff ace Nolan Ryan.

Biggio, then 21, wanted irrefutable photographic evidence to prove to everyone he had actually been a major leaguer once he was sent back to Tucson -- in all probability never to return.

That said, it's no secret now that Biggio -- whose late season meltdown last year saw his season batting average fall to a near career low of .246 -- will morph more and more into a part-time reserve and pinch hitter. Chris Burke, 26, stands to pick up a lot of the slack if only he can get on base.

Meanwhile, Biggio is playing cagey as to when he will retire. The sooner he does, the more likely he will go to Cooperstown at the same time as career-long teammate Jeff Bagwell, 39.

Ex-Cubs Skipper Dusty Baker Waits for Opening

As nearly a dozen MLB managerial jobs hang in the balance, former Cubs manager and now broadcast analyst Dusty Baker will take advantage of a loophole in his two-year contract with ESPN to terminate his deal should any team choose him as its next skipper.

Baker had the clause woven into the pact expressly for this purpose when he signed with ESPN five months ago.

Baker is eager to return to field management as he feels his disappointing tenure in Chicago was more the result of bad circumstances than ineffective leadership. He was all but tarred, feathered and run out of town on a rail after his final two injury-plagued season with the Cubs.

Baker, 57, has a 1,162-1,041 record with nine winning seasons in 14 years with the Giants and the Cubs. Baker guided the Cubs to the National League Central Division title in 2003 and was named manager of the year three times, a resume that makes him a top candidate for virtually any managerial vacancy, Cubs notwithstanding.

In a game in which only some eight percent of players are black, he is a something of a rarity as an African American and a prized icon of racial diversity.

Justin Morneau's 'Lung Contusion' an Exaggeration

Forget most of what major news outlets have published recently about Twins first baseman Justin Morneau's chest injury. It appears its seriousness has been greatly exaggerated.

Morneau was carried off on a stretcher last Friday after a homeplate collision with Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo. But though he was spitting blood and was reported as having sustained a potentially serious lung contusion, the diagnosis now appears to have been either utterly mistaken or a result of doctors or trainers deliberately erring on the side of caution, though don't expect anyone to admit it.

Morneau has now completed yet another round of tedious medical tests and examinations at University Medical Center in Minneapolis, where he is an outpatient. Knowledgable sources in Minnesota and elsewhere are openly scoffing at the original injury analysis, noting that lung contusions as a result of homeplate collisions are extremely unlikely.

Repeated tomographical examinations of Morneau's chest injury have shown almost beyond a doubt that Morneau was not seriously harmed, with his brief bleeding episode perhaps attributable to minor trauma to the tongue, mouth, throat or post-nasal passage.

Lung contusions can be very serious, resulting in various pulmonary complications and even death in rare instances. But they usually are associated with high-speed automobile collisions, air crashes or a falls from great heights. They are most often colateral to violent fractures, and X-Rays show conclusively that Morneau has no broken bones.

Normally lung contusions would require a month or more of rest and rehabilitation. If such injuries were so common as to result from everyday homeplate contact, half the skill position players in the NFL would likely finish each football season on the disabled list.

Morneau has been protesting for days that he is well and able to return to the field. He is right. Morneau will be in uniform well before the end of the week.

Pirates Top Prospect Bryan Bullington Hammered

Former top pick Bryan Bullington of Triple A Indianapolis -- passed over for a callup to the Pirates rotation in favor of fellow prospect John Van Benschoten -- confirmed the coaching staff's doubts about him in his most recent outing as he was hammered once again -- this time for six earned runs while giving up four hits and four walks in a 2.33-inning outing against Triple A Toledo.

Though the Pirates took the 6-foot-5 Bullington with the No. 1 overall pick in 2002 -- ahead of budding Tampa Bay star B.J. Upton -- he has failed to live up to expectations following shoulder surgery nearly two years ago. It seems doubtful whether the Pirates will ever realize a decent return after investing a $4 million signing bonus on Bullington, whose time for development begins to dwindle as he approaches his 27th birthday.

When pitching at nearby Ball State more than five years ago, Bullington had a lively mid-90s fastball. But these days Bullington has all he can do just to top the high 80s. He now must depend heavily on a variety of effective but often predictable off-speed pitches.

Twins Physicians Await Return of Justin Morneau

A team of four physicians headed by Dr. John A. Steubs are awaiting first baseman Justin Morneau's return flight to Minneapolis-St Paul, where the injured slugger's progress will continue to be monitored through the week to determine when he can retake the field.

Potentially inconclusive medical tests at Memorial Hospital in Miami so far point to Morneau's lung contusion as being minor -- at least in relative terms. However, doctors will take no chances with the budding slugger, who may be vulnerable to pulmonory complications as a result of his violent homeplate collision with Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo last week.

The doctors' charge has been complicated by Morneau's stubbornly positive attitude, which perhaps could be characterized as too much of a good thing. The scrappy former hockey player would want to play even if he had an arrow through his head, so doctors must do his thinking for him.

Though various examinations indicated unmistakable symptoms of a lung contusion -- including internal bleeding -- computerized tomographical scans indicated no severe trauma. Whether the findings tell the whole story likely will become clear in three or four days.

If Morneau is healthy he can be expected to return to action by the weekend. But if his condition is serious enough to warrant a trip to the disabled list, he will likely miss the better part of month or perhaps more, according to sources familiar with the nature of his injury.

Cardinals Biding Time Calling Up OF Rick Ankiel

Former pitcher Rick Ankiel appears to have successfully bridged his conversion to outfielder, demonstrating a powerful arm while hitting in the .270-.280 range with 20 homers at Triple A Memphis. However, due to practical considerations the Cardinals are biding time calling him to St. Louis.

It appears that the Cardinals are being cautious with Ankiel because he has no remaining options, meaning that once Ankiel is called up he must be called up to stay, lest another team claim him when he is sent down again, according to an opinion ventured by ESPN baseball radio analyst Dave "Soup" Campbell.

Until such time as the team clarifies its outfield situation, Ankiel's bidding for major league time is on hold. In the worst case, Ankiel will be activated for September roster expansion, though he is more than ready for St. Louis now, as a reserve if nothing else. Much will depend on the return of injured center fielder Jim Edmunds and the performances and health of outfielders Juan Encarnacion, Ryan Ludwick and Skip Shumaker.

Encarnacion has had injury issues all season and Ludwick and Shumaker appear to have less potential than Ankiel.

Early Indications Dubious for Twins Justin Morneau

Though initial X-Rays of injured Twins first baseman Justin Morneau's lungs came back normal, a decision to keep him hospitalized in Florida over the weekend raises a red flag.

That Morneau suffered a bruised lung in a homeplate collision Friday is of little doubt, considering he was raising blood and experiencing other symptoms when he was taken to the hospital on a stretcher. The question is, how serious is the bruise?

Tissue scans point to perhaps a mild injury relatively, as these injuries go. But normal test results and normal health are not necessarily the same thing, and further examinations seem to have indicated Morneau was unready to return to the dugout.

If he continues to improve, Morneau may miss as few as three or four days. The unfortunate thing for the team is that normally a bruised lung would be expected to keep him out three or four weeks. If Morneau goes on the disabled list, experts familiar with his type of injury warn that it's likely he won't return much before August.

Expect Yovani Gallardo to Join Brewers Rotation

Given the Brewers tendencies to favor up-and-coming players over those more established, it's hard to imagine manager Ned Yost keeping both Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan in the rotation at the expense of top prospect Yovani Gallardo. One or the other has got to go.

Expect Gallardo to advance from the bullpen soon after starter Chris Capuano returns from injury, as Bush and Suppan are struggling to keep their ERAs under 5.00.

Gallardo, 21, who has compared favorably with Cincinnati's Homer Bailey and other top minor league hurlers, made an indelible impression when he struck out 188 batters in 155 innings with a 1.86 ERA in two minor league stops last year.

Gallardo (pronounced Guy-yar-doh) throws consistently in the low 90s and can top 95-96 mph when needed, and keeps batters guessing with biting curves and changeups he throws anywhere in the count.

Yost has shown little hesitancy to play such eager younger players ahead of established veterans like Jeff Jenkins, Kevin Mench and Brady Clark to name a few, nor to throw rookies into the heart of the fray, as with young third baseman Ryan Braun moving immediately into the No. 3 hole in the batting order as soon as he was brought up.

Despite Gallardo's youth,, expect more of the same as soon as an opportunity arises, which will be soon.

Expect Derrek Lee to Begin Suspension July 2

Expect the Cubs to try to schedule first baseman Derrek Lee's five-game suspension appeal as the team nears the end of next week, allowing Lee to remain in action at least through the upcoming series with Colorado and Milwaukee before serving his five-game penalty beginning July 2.

With the Rockies and Brewers contending heavily for the pennant, Lee's big bat will be essential through next Sunday. But Lee will be much more expendable beginning the following Monday when lowly Washington and Pittsburgh are on the schedule.

Lee's hearing might not be set before Thursday's travel day if not later.

Lee will attempt to convince Major League Baseball that his suspension should be reduced from five days to three, based on precedents for penalties imposed for on-field violence.

Lots of luck. The league's New York brass has not looked forgivingly on Lee's throwing of hard punches at San Diego pitcher Chris Young, even though Young was not seriously hurt. The issue can hardly be considered a small matter.

Steinbrenner to Get Slap Happy with Jason Giambi

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has reached an agreement with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to join the impending interrogation of first baseman Jason Giambi.

Under a plan outlined by Selig, Giambi will answer questions from former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell while seated under a hot lamp in a dark room at Major League Baseball's suite of offices in New York.

Utlizing the old "good-cop, bad cop" scenario, Steinbrenner will begin the inquiry with a series of tough, unrelenting questions about steroid use. From time to time "The Boss" will grab Giambi by his lapels and threaten to revoke his contract, shake him and perhaps even slap him, though leave no marks.

Mitchell will then enter, feign alarm and pull Steinbrenner away, then offer Giambi a cigarette and pour him a cup of coffee. Once Giambi calms down, Mitchell will act sympathetic, pretend to be Giambi's buddy, gain his confidence and elicit information while Giambi is off guard.

The grilling will go back and forth like that for three days or more, depending how long it takes for Giambi to -- as Selig describes it -- "crack." While Giambi sweats, Selig and Steinbrenner will watch comfortably through a two-way mirror.

If Giambi still won't spill his guts, expect the Guantanamo treatment.

Angels Hurler Joe Saunders Down to Last Option

Angels hurler Joe Saunders -- called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to temporarily replace injured Jered Weaver in the rotation -- has now used his next-to-last option, meaning that the team soon may be compelled to make him a permanent fixture.

Saunders, who has pitched well in major and minor league stops this season and last, is an improbable candidate to replace Angels ace Bartolo Colon.

Colon, who has failed to round out after coming off the injured list earlier this season, has thrown away the Yogi Berra handbook which stipulates that the game of baseball is 90-percent mental and the other half physical. Colon now says that despite the league hitting more than .300 against him that there is nothing physically wrong with him, leaving only his mental approach suspect.

How quickly will it be before the team sizes Colon for a padded room at the mental institution and gives Saunders his rightful spot in the rotation?

Curt Schilling to Miss Twelve to Sixteen Days

Red Sox hurler Curt Schilling's shoulder inflammation is serious enough that it is difficult to tell how much sinew is torn or stripped, but MRI results released by the team indicate little to challenge doctors' initial diagnosis of tendinitis.

With rest, rehabilitative exercise and an anti-inflammatory drug regimen, Schilling, with luck, will be back in twelve to sixteen days.