Four.
Serve a search warrant on the batter’s box, scour the box scores, heck, Google yourself into carpal tunnel if necessary.
But the fundamental explanation as to why the American League Central represents baseball’s best is four. That’s how many teams in the division could win the World Series or finish fourth, um, in the division.
Where the National League has the Comedy Central, the AL has a mixed-martial arts smackdown. The Tigers, Indians, Twins and White Sox are capable of bathing in champagne this October. Yes, the NL West is terrific this season, bulked up by Arizona’s threat to the Dodgers and Padres. But while it’s beefy, the AL Central is a meat-grinder of excellence.
The division could feature the MVP again (see Magglio Ordoñez and Justin Morneau) and Cy Young Award winner (don’t sleep on Minnesota’s Johan Santana just yet). It has arguably baseball’s best manager in Jim Leyland (his 1999 season with the Rockies is in Webster’s for “aberration”). Its loudest and most entertaining in Ozzie Guillen. And just in case this reality show needed a villain, A.J. Pierzynski plays the reoccurring role of “Survivor” contestant Jonny Fairplay.
The Indians entered Saturday 15 games over .500, but were still close enough to smell the Tigers’ breath.
“Our division is a real challenge,” said Cleveland’s Mark Shapiro, a worthy recipient of a contract extension as the architect of the Indians’ reconstruction. “The depth and the balance of the rosters is remarkable.”
While teams such as the Cardinals and Yankees age in dog years, the Central Four feature a chilling blend of youth and experience. The Tigers’ Justin Verlander is a future Cy Young winner, while Placido Polanco is among the game’s most underrated hitters in white-knuckle moments. The Twins begin with Santana, a modern-day Sandy Koufax, and end with Morneau’s muscle, Torii Hunter’s flair and Joe Mauer’s swing of beauty.
“I knew he was special the first time he came to spring training,” said former teammate LaTroy Hawkins. “I had him autograph his Sports Illustrated cover.”
The White Sox won the World Series in 2005. They haven’t hit a lick and have still managed to hang around .500.
“As good as the division is, it’s probably not as strong as last year because there’s no Francisco Liriano in Minnesota (arm injury), or (reliever) Joel Zumaya for Detroit,” said ESPN analyst Steve Phillips. “It seems like you look around the American League and there aren’t many easy games. And especially in (the Central).”
That the Indians are perched atop the standings is predictable and nonsensical. This team can hit. Grady Sizemore has a bright future and plays like he belongs on a black-and-white TV – all hustle, all the time. And Travis Hafner is a beast. What’s surprising is this team is catching the ball again – welcome back from the abyss, Jhonny Peralta – and pitching well. No one more than Fausto Carmona.
Carmona imploded during a brief trial as Cleveland’s closer last season. This year, he’s 6-1 with a 2.89 ERA as a starter, anchoring a stout rotation.
“He’s always been good except for that one week. He was dominant in the minors and as a middle reliever last year,” Shapiro said. “He’s a tough kid who used last year’s failure to get better.”
He had no choice. In this division, you either get good or you get gone.
Rocky road
Had the Rockies not gone on their seven-game tear, they would need a telescope to see the division leaders. The Padres, on cue, went bonkers in May. Their team ERA was 2.23, helped by Jake Peavy, the favorite for the Cy Young. The Dodgers and Diamondbacks are also playing well. Here’s the problem for the Rockies, one that can’t be overlooked:
Those top three teams don’t have to hit to win. So that means they can beat you two ways: with good pitching and little hitting. If the Rockies don’t slug – four runs is the key, remember – they don’t have success.
House of Cards
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa didn’t take comfort when I told him at least no one in the NL Central appeared capable of running away and hiding. “It doesn’t matter what other teams do, if we don’t start playing better. We aren’t even close to .500,” La Russa said.
The Cardinals desperately miss ace Chris Carpenter. Talk to hitters around the league and they’ll tell you he’s the most uncomfortable 0-for-4 in the business.
“Nothing against anyone else in the league or on our staff, but every time Carp pitches we feel like we are going to win. You can’t replace that,” catcher Gary Bennett said.
Footnotes
A scout’s take on the abysmal Houston Astros, who limp into Coors Field this week in a practical must-win series for the Rockies: “They aren’t a good offensive team right now. They would be better with (Mark) Loretta at second and (Mike) Lamb at third.” … Brian Lawrence is pitching well in Triple-A New Orleans for the Mets, compiling a 1.38 ERA in two starts. “Things look good in New York right now, but I keep hoping I will get a chance somewhere,” he said. … The Phillies would be in the front of the line if the Rockies try to trade closer Brian Fuentes this season or this winter. Manager Charlie Manuel asked me on multiple occasions last winter if Fuentes would be available. … Armando Benitez became Lee Majors last week, playing the role of Fall Guy for all that ails the Giants. The problem wasn’t just that Benitez was an erratic closer. It was that he irritated his teammates beyond repair. … Count Triple-A starter Ubaldo Jimenez as one of this season’s early disappointments. GM Dan O’Dowd conceded recently that he expected Jimenez to “to be in position to help us by now.” Jimenez has been plagued by inconsistent fastball command. … Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima is the front-runner for AL rookie of the year. Meanwhile, starter Kei Igawa was a bust for the Yankees.
EYE ON … MAGGLIO ORDOÑEZ, OF, TIGERS
Background: Signed from Venezuela, rose to stardom with the Chicago White Sox. Won two Silver Sluggers and made multiple all-star appearances. Parted ways in ugly divorce with Sox, signing as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers for $75 million. Ordoñez showed up in Key Biscayne, Fla., at the GM meetings in 2004 to prove his knee was healthy. After a rugged start with Tigers and former manager Alan Trammell, Ordoñez fell into line with new manager Jim Leyland and became a star on Detroit’s newest production line.
What’s up: No one can blame Alex Rodriguez for looking over his shoulder – both for paparazzi and American League MVP candidates. Though terrific, A-Rod isn’t having the season enjoyed by Ordoñez. Ordoñez entered Saturday with 50 RBIs, tied for best in baseball. His average ranked in the top 10. He and Vladimir Guerrero have been poster boys for clutch performances this season.
What’s next: There’s suspicion among Tigers fans that Ordoñez will suddenly become colder than an Otter*Pop. He was blazing last season, then hit just eight home runs after the all-star break. There won’t be a cooling-off period this year for two reasons: Ordoñez’s legs are healthy. That’s the foundation of his swing – a year ago, the grind wore him down. There won’t be a repeat. More important, he has Gary Sheffield in the lineup to protect him.
Renck’s take: Sheffield can be a headache, but he’s an invaluable resource for Ordoñez. Sheffield wears out pitchers with long at-bats, giving Ordoñez a wonderful cheat sheet on how he will be attacked before stepping into the box. Ordoñez isn’t going to win the batting title. But he will return to the All-Star Game and finish with 30 home runs and 120 RBIs. Suddenly that $75 million contract, when compared to Jason Giambi’s $120 million deal, looks like a bargain.
AT ISSUE: A-ROD’S RBI-CAUSING YELL FELL SHORT OF CLASSY
What: On Wednesday night, the same day his personal life – for God knows what reason – became back-page news, Alex Rodriguez waded back into controversy. Rodriguez ran from first base toward third base on a high popup. He shouted “Hah” – his version – or “Mine!” – Toronto’s version – causing Howie Clark to pull up and let the ball drop for a critical RBI single. The Blue Jays blasted A-Rod’s play as “bush league,” and all but guaranteed he will get hit with a pitch when the two teams meet again.
Background: Baseball has more unwritten rules than dating. Complicating matters, some things are considered more offensive than others. For instance, most people think it’s OK for a middle infielder to fake like he’s getting a throw to force a runner charging from first base to slide. Is that worse than A-Rod’s yelling? Talked to a former major- leaguer who has been in baseball more than 40 years and he laughed at A-Rod’s claim that the practice is common. He said it’s just “not right.” Yet, Rockies reliever LaTroy Hawkins said of the gripes: “The guy should have been a big-leaguer and caught the ball. What (Rodriguez) said was nowhere close to ‘I’ve got it!”‘
Renck’s take: It’s remarkable how every time Rodriguez attempts a “hard-nosed or baseball-smart” play he ends up getting barbecued, whether it was his attempt to knock off a Red Sox player’s glove in the playoffs or his hard slide into second baseman Dustin Pedroia recently. About this verbal assault? A-Rod is better than that. This move smacks of Bill Romanowski or Rick Mahorn, athletes who resorted to cheap tricks to compensate for a lack of talent. In 11 years of covering baseball, I have never seen another player pull this move. Even more troubling, Seattle Mariners infielder Jose Lopez said A-Rod does it all the time, calling his act stupid. While it’s true major-league baseball is viewed as a win-at-all-costs game, it shouldn’t come at the expense of class.
THE RISE AND FALL: BOSTON THE TOP HIT OF AL
THREE UP
1. Red Sox: Kevin Youkilis, a multihit machine, a right-handed Wade Boggs.
2. Diamondbacks: Young hitters, fueled by Mark Reynolds, gaining traction.
3. Mets: NL’s best even without Pedro, Shawn Green and Jose Valentin.
THREE DOWN
1. Astros: Houston, you have a real problem. No Clemens and no offense (again).
2. Rangers: Appear hopeless, leading to speculation Mark Teixeira will be traded.
3. Brewers: Opponents spent past two weeks clobbering Cinderfellas over the head with glass slipper.
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
