A.L. reports

Scouts' views

You can still get Juan Gonzalez out with breaking balls. He won't go fishing on the first pitch. He might not go fishing on 0-1. You need him to lunge at something, need to nibble away with something with a little spin to it. He's not going to hit that pitch. But people are coming to him now. That's a loaded lineup.... The numbers don't tell everything. Red Sox LHP Alan Embree always has had a good walk-to-strikeout ratio, but that doesn't account for the times when he's behind in the count and gives in. He doesn't walk the guy. But maybe the guy puts the ball In play and does something.... The bottom of the White Sox's order doesn't hit. They don't even make good outs. Third baseman Joe Crede can be good, but he's just so anxious right now. And they've got center field problems. Aaron Rowand didn't hit. Willie Harris adds speed. But for the most part, they don't manufacture runs.... Teams are pounding Ichiro Suzuki up and in with fastballs, and it's working OK. The Yankees used that strategy as well as anyone last week, but he still had five hits in three games. Mike Mussina held him hitless, but nobody's hitting Mussina these days.... Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock is showing plus bat control, especially for such a young player. He holds back nicely on off-speed pitches, especially early in the count. Like most hitters, he struggles with breaking pitches when he's behind.... Toronto's Vernon Wells continues to improve in all parts of his game. He is working counts better and seems more sure of himself in center field.... Red Sox righthander Ramiro Mendoza is dropping his elbow and opening up too quickly in his delivery--signs that often point to elbow problems.... White Sox lefty Damaso Marte is having success out of the bullpen, but he's likely to get in trouble when he goes through a lineup. He throws across his body so much that hitters can see his delivery in a flat plane. He's OK as long as hitters don't get used to seeing him.

A.L. LEADERS

Batting average with runners
in scoring position

 1. Matthew LeCroy, Twins          .476
 2. Mike Sweeney, Royals           .474
 3. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox         .457
 4. Mike Cameron, Mariners         .444
 5. Carlos Delgado, Jays           .441
 6. Desi Relaford, Royals          .438
 7. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners        .435
 8. Marlon Anderson, Rays          .429
 9. Rocco Baldelli, Rays           .415
10. Scott Hatteberg, A's           .414

Batting average allowed

 1. R. Hernandez, Royals           .188
 2. Esteban Loaiza, White Sox      .194
 3. Barry Zito, A's                .196
 4. Mike Mussina, Yankees          .199
 5. Pedro Martinez, Red Sox        .203
 6. Kyle Lohse, Twins              .207
 7. Jason Johnson, Orioles         .209
 8. Tim Hudson, A's                .216
 9. Roger Clemens, Yankees         .225
10. Mark Mulder, A's               .226

Source: STATS Inc.

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