CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Josh Fields went deep in his first major league AB.  The 23-year-old prospect is a 3B by trade, but will play some OF in the Venezuelan Winter League.  The White Sox will decide in the off-season whether to move the arbitration eligible Joe Crede, who will also need off-season back surgery.  Fields had a very productive season in Triple-A, batting .305 with 19 home runs and 70 RBIs.  The only hole in his game is poor contact skills, which means he probably will not hit for average in the major leagues.  He may see some starts if the White Sox are eliminated from playoff contention.

After a great first-half of 30 home runs and 77 RBIs, Jim Thome has slowed down considerably in the second-half with 11 home runs and 25 RBIs.  His season of 41 home runs and 102 RBIs still looks good, but the second-half fade is something to consider for the 36-year-old Thome going into 2007.

Freddy Garcia continued his hot pitching with an 8 inning, 1 hit, shutout performance against the Tigers on Tuesday.  Over his last 16 innings he has allowed just 2 hits.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Cliff Lee took a step back this year after posting a career year in 2005.  His K/9 is now in a 3-year decline to a barely acceptable 5.8 and his G/F ratio is a career low .71.  Fly ball pitchers with low K/9’s are always living on the edge.  For next year, value Lee based on this year because he will not see his 2005 numbers again unless he raises his K/9.

22-year-old Andy Marte is beginning to show some of the skills that have made him a top prospect.  In the month of September, he has 2 home runs and 7 doubles in 58 AB.  Doubles can turn into home runs as young hitters mature.

DETROIT TIGERS

On Sunday, Placido Polanco said he was out for the year.  A day later he said that he hopes to play this weekend.  Even if he plays again this year, don’t count on him for any help.

Since joining the Tigers in a mid-season trade, Sean Casey has just 3 home runs 145 AB.  With a G/F ratio of 1.35, he is a groundball hitter, with no speed, playing a power position

The Tigers picked up veteran Matt Stairs off waivers from the Rangers.  He should see some AB at DH.  At this point in his career, power is only skill he has left and he is leaving a park that increases left-handed batting power by 37% to a neutral one.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Esteban German has been tearing it up in September with a .400 average in 50 AB.  For the season, he is now batting .340 in 238 AB and has played himself into consideration for a starting outfield spot in 2007.  With his speed, he should be trying to steal more bases.  He is 7 for 8 in steals for the season.

Since taking over as the closer, Joe Nelson is a perfect 8 for 8 in save chances.  But in 11.1 innings, he has allowed 8 ER and 7 walks.  The Royals will almost certainly look elsewhere for a closer next year.

MINNESOTA TWINS

In his last five starts, covering 28 innings, Boof Bonser has allowed 10 ER, with 29 K’s and 6 BB’s.  The key to his success is that he has allowed just 2 home runs in that period after allowing 12 in his first 53.2 innings.  The strong finish should give him a rotation spot in 2007.

Torii Hunter left Tuesday’s game in the sixth inning after fouling a pitch off of left foot.  That is the same foot that forced him on the DL with a stress fracture.  The good news is that it is only a bruise and Hunter said that he would play today.