AL Central: Slowly but surely, Royals making strides

Baseball Betting Lines

07/02/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Here's a trivia question sure to stump your buddies: name the team that currently leads the majors in team batting average.

And no, it's not the Yankees, Red Sox or Rangers. Give up? It's ok, that team would be the perennial doormat Kansas City Royals (34-45). And yes, we are in July, not April. As a team, the Royals are hitting a solid .284 and have compiled 777 hits, both of which are tops in the majors. But you wouldn't know it by looking at the win-loss column.

Kansas City entered Friday nine games behind division-leader Minnesota. Beginning Friday night in Anaheim, the Royals will embark on a nine-game road swing leading up to the All-Star break. Following this weekend's three-game set with the Angels, they'll travel to Seattle and Chicago to take on the Mariners and White Sox, respectively.

Obviously, things can change in a hurry by the time that trip is finished -- Kansas City's 16-24 road mark isn't exactly promising. Still, on a larger scale, things are starting to look up for this long dormant organization, which will host the 2012 All-Star game.

Manager Ned Yost said the key is the team's overall approach at the plate.

"They've got a plan and they go up there and try to execute their plan and they're really good with plate discipline," he said earlier this week. "If a pitcher is going to give us the opportunity to walk, they're going to take that opportunity. They do a good job of that day-in and day-out."

Left fielder Scott Podsednik feels it's as simple as the offense playing up to expectations."When they put this club together in Spring Training, offensively we felt like we had a pretty good attack and right now we're showing that," he said.

Outfielder David DeJesus has been the poster child, hitting a robust .410 in June, while ranking second in the AL in hits (41) and RBI (16) for the month. Of course, the hope in Kansas City is that the offensive attack carries over to next year and beyond. And for someone like DeJesus, who is putting up career numbers in the final year of a five-year deal, that could potentially mean a change of scenery in the coming weeks as the July 31 trade deadline heats up.

Ditto for designated hitter Jose Guillen, who is also in the final year of his contract and has been swinging a hot bat of late. But to unload Guillen, the Royals would almost certainly have to eat a large chunk of the $6.2 million remaining on his $12 million salary for this season. General manager Dayton Moore is trying to set the team up for long-term success, and any move in the next month would reflect that, despite there being three months left to play in this season.

According to the Kansas City Star, the Red Sox have expressed interest in infielder Mike Aviles and utilityman Willie Bloomquist as potential replacements for injured second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Likewise, 34-year-old Podsednik (.293) could land with a team seeking outfield help.

Reliever Kyle Farnsworth has enjoyed a rebound season (2.14 ERA, 25 K, 9 BB), though his $4.5 million price tag this year could be a dealbreaker. That's the same linchpin surrounding injured starter Gil Meche, who is on the books for a team-high $12 million in 2010 and 2011.

Those are the names you're likely to hear in various trade scenarios over the next month. And although the Royals have proven capable at the plate so far this season, Moore will try to move as many of those names as possible, in the interest of next year and beyond.

TIGERS AIMING TO BE BUYERS AT TRADE DEADLINE

It's one of those fickle conundrums for the GM of a meddling baseball team as the trade deadline nears: buyer or seller? Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski finds himself in such a predicament, with his team seemingly underachieving, at 41-36. Still, the Tigers are only one game out of first place -- although they are also the same margin away from being a third-place team.

With Detroit, there is an interesting mix of veterans and young players. Back in the offseason, veterans Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson were unloaded in a three-team deal that returned payroll flexibility, and youth. But shortly after, the front office went out and signed 36-year-old outfielder Johnny Damon, and paid him more than Granderson.

All in all, the message from Dombrowski was clear: the Tigers are expected to contend this season, and hopefully, beyond. Depending on how things go over the next few weeks, Dombrowski will either reinforce that message, or move in a different direction.

SOX' GM WILLIAMS WEIGHING OPTIONS

Chicago general manager Kenny Williams usually finds himself in the same boat as Detroit GM Dombrowski, sitting in wait-and-see mode while the White Sox toil around .500 in July. But this time around, the pieces appear to be falling in place a bit earlier than usual. The evidence is in the White Sox' recent 11-game win streak, their longest since 1961.

But for Williams, the question is always, "How can this team be better?"

The pitching has been on point. Since June 9, the team has a combined 2.61 ERA. Closer Bobby Jenks has had his shaky moments, though he has converted 17 of 18 save opportunities. The bullpen in general has been solid for most of the season, ranking fifth in the American League with a 3.85 ERA. If anything, the team could use another left-handed stick in the middle of the lineup to drive in runs.

Multiple reports have linked Washington Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn to Williams and the White Sox. The 30-year-old Dunn, who is in the final year of his two-year, $20 million deal, has been a consistent run producer throughout his career. But Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo won't part with Dunn for pennies.

"For us to move him will be very painful, and it will probably be very, very painful for the team that wants to acquire him," Rizzo told the team's website. "I mean, we are always listening. We are certainly not in a position with our history and our record this year and our record in the past that we have to turn a blind eye to any type of constructive idea or offer.

"We are certainly not shocked at Adam Dunn. He is one of the top five or 10 best offensive players in the game, a constant 40 home run guy, 100 RBIs, .400 on-base type of guy and, you know, he's 29 or 30 years old and he has been a centerpiece of our clubhouse for the last two years. He's a great guy."

YOUNG TRIBE SHOWING LIFE

Although still cemented in last place in the division, the Cleveland Indians (31-47) have stumbled onto a discovery this week: winning.

The Indians have won a season-high five straight, including the first four games of their current seven-game homestand. Next up is a weekend series with the Oakland Athletics at Progressive Field.

Most importantly, the Indians are getting some very big contributions from key players. Recently recalled first baseman Matt LaPorta has homered in three straight games. Designated hitter Travis Hafner is hitting .367 with three homers, three doubles and seven RBI over the past nine games, crediting a recent adjustment to his swing. Justin Masterson tossed 8 1/3 innings of one- run ball against Toronto on Thursday, and he has held the opposition to two runs or less in four of his last six starts. Chris Perez (2.90 ERA, 7-for-10 SV) has emerged as a viable closer option if the front office is able to move Kerry Wood (6.62 ERA, 8-for-11 SV).

On the injury front, infielder Asdrubal Cabrera is making progress from a fractured forearm suffered in a May 17 collision. He could return soon after the All-Star break. All in all, Cleveland's Fun Bunch has put its youthful energy on full display, and the result has been a few more notches in the win column.

TWINS BULLPEN PROVES TO BE MORTAL

When the Twins lost four-time All-Star closer and single-season saves leader (47) Joe Nathan for the season before it even started, naturally, the bullpen figured to be a huge question mark. But up until now, those questions have been answered rather convincingly by the Twins' relief corps.

Minnesota's bullpen entered Thursday with an American League-best 2.79 ERA. But the 'pen finally came back down to Earth Thursday night when closer Jon Rauch spoiled a ninth inning lead, and the Tampa Bay Rays won 5-4 in the 10th when Willy Aybar hit an RBI single off Matt Guerrier. For Rauch, it was hit second straight blown save, and fourth in 21 chances this season.

"Our bullpen's been very good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the Star Tribune. "Tonight we had a couple that didn't get it done, but that's the way it goes sometimes."

Translation: Gardenhire won't be making any drastic changes to the back end of the 'pen based on Rauch's recent struggles. After all, the Twins still lead the AL Central despite losses in seven of their past 10 games, and the bullpen has been a major reason for that.