Aug. 1, 2002
Some news and notes from around the Majors now that the trading deadline has passed:
• The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to be the hottest team in the NL West. The Dodgers, now at 62-40 have opened up a comfortable eight-game lead over San Diego and 10-game cushion over San Francisco. Arizona and Colorado have been dreadful this season, both with 39-63 records — painful to even type those numbers.
• Cincinnati and Houston are neck and neck in the NL Central. Both are 60-42. Montreal and Florida have the same records atop the NL East, with Atlanta looming at 58-44.
• Boston, the 2000 World Champions, have been the class of the American League, winning a league best 66 games against 36 losses. Toronto, which won the Series a year ago, sits at 60 wins. The White Sox have been playing well in the Central with 61 wins. Seattle has 61 "W's" in the AL West.
• Toronto's
Barry Bonds continues to bash balls all over the place. He's up to 45 homers heading into the back stretch of the season and could challenge for the single-season record.
Alex Rodriguez of Los Angeles leads the NL with 32 bombs. A-Rod also has 84 RBIs already.
• Youngster
Josh Hamilton, 21, has been the shining star that many expected him to be. The LA outfielder has a .327 average, second-best on the Dodgers' outfit behind catcher
Paul Lo Duca (.334).
• Here's a story line to follow. If Boston and LA managed to stay hot and make it to the World Series, there could be a brother vs. brother pitching match-up in the 2002 Fall Classic.
Pedro Martinez leads the Red Sox with a 16-2 record, while older brother
Ramon Martinez (13 wins) is one of the ace's on LA's staff. Pedro got his start with the Dodgers in the early 1990s, while Ramon has been in LA his entire career.
• Speaking of the Dodgers' pitching staff, it will be interesting to see what they choose to do with Ramon Martinez and
Hipolito Pichardo, last year's Cy Young Award winner obtained from Cincy in a trade for
Mike Piazza.
Both Martinez and Pichardo are set to be free agents after this season. Since both have been on top of their games this season, they are sure to command big money. Will the Dodgers try to keep both around or will they part ways with one or both of them, since the two are in their 30s? The acquisition of young sidearm specialist
BK Kim, who aims to be a full-time starter one day, could factor into that decision if he continues to show promise...