CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The White Sox play in National League stadiums for the balance of this week.  Jim Thome should get a start in Pittsburgh and in Wrigley Field at first base.  Don’t look for any more than that because Paul Konerko is the one who has to go to the bench.

Scott Podsednik owners may have to live with a batting average in the .250 to .260 area.  His low contact rate of 82% is preventing him from fully taking advantage of his speed to beat out infield ground balls.  Another problem is that when he hit .290 last year, his G/F ratio was a career high 2.08, this year it is 1.59, which is more in-line with his career marks.

Brian Anderson is back from his 5-game suspension and will continue to share time with Rob Mackowiak in centerfield.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Jason Michaels should be back from the DL by the end of this week.  His replacement, Todd Hollandsworth, is hitting .205 in 88 AB, with 23 strikeouts and just 3 walks.  Michaels should have no problem reclaiming his job.

It might be a good idea to reserve Ben Broussard for at least this week.  Manager Eric Wedge has benched him a few games for poor defense and with the Indians playing the entire week in NL stadiums, Travis Hafner or Victor Martinez should see most of the playing time there.

Jeremy Sowers allowed four runs in five innings in his major-league debut against the Reds in Jacobs Field.  Considering that he allowed two home runs in pitcher-friendly Jacobs Field, he should be reserved for his next outing this week against the Reds in homer haven Great American Ballpark.

After hitting 17 home runs last year, Ronnie Belliard only has 5 so far this year.  His home runs total grew from 2003 to 2005 as his G/F ratio went from 1.77 to 1.13.  In those years he was in the age range where power peaks.  Now at 31, he is entering the years where power begins to decline.  With his G/F ratio at 1.35, it is looking like last year was a career year.

DETROIT TIGERS

The Tigers head to Pittsburgh for a three game weekend series.  With the pitcher batting, Craig Monroe figures to be the odd man out for at least two of the games.

A month after his surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow, Mike Maroth said that he is throwing without pain.  He is on the 60 Day DL and was expected to miss 2 to 3 months.  This development could put him on track to return in a month.  The question is with Zach Miner pitching so well, does Maroth get his spot back in the starting rotation?

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Don’t get too impressed with Mark Redman’s run of winning five straight starts.  For the season his K/9 is just 3.26, he has allowed more walks than strikeouts and his ERA is 5.35.  The success will not last.

Mike Sweeney is scheduled to start a rehab assignment later this week.  Although he is eligible to come off the DL on July 2, he may not be back with the major league club until after the All-Star break. 

In five appearances covering 21.2innings at Double-A, Zach Greinke is sporting an ugly 7.48 ERA with 12 K’s and 10 BB’s.  Unless those numbers start to show some improvement, it will be awhile before he is pitching in the majors.

When the Royals acquired Joey Gathright, they figured he would play everyday and Emil Brown would move into a platoon.  Apparently, Brown had other ideas.  Since the trade he is 10 for 20 with a homer and 8 RBIs.  When the Royals find out firsthand how bad of a hitter Gathright is, Brown could be back in the line-up on a regular basis.

MINNESOTA TWINS

Jason Kubel is now hitting .291 with six homers.  Those numbers are good enough to keep him the line-up.  However, he may not stay there unless he improves on his 79% contact rate and .18 batting eye.  His minor-league record says that he is capable of making those improvements.

After six starts Boof Bonser has an impressive K/BB ratio of 2.9.  His 4.68 ERA is the product of allowing 8 home runs.  What is scary is that 6 of those homers came in very pitcher friendly stadiums in Oakland and Seattle.  It is also not a good sign that Seattle hit him hard the second time they saw him.  Tread carefully with him until he shows that he can tame the longball and handle teams the second time around.

Even though he has pitched well in his last three starts, it is advisable to stay away from Carlos Silva.  He needs to induce groundballs for success.  In those three starts he has allowed just 5 ER in 20 innings, but has let up 32 Fly balls compared to just 22 groundballs.  That is not his game and shows that he has had some luck on his side.  It won’t last.