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Going, going, Gonzalez?
Should Tigers GM Randy Smith decide to cut his losses and deal Juan Gonzalez while he can still get something for him, don't discount the Red Sox as likely suitors. Gonzalez and Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez share the same personal trainer, Nao Precinal, and the two superstars have grown close in recent years. And while it's uncertain whether the Red Sox would be willing to give Gonzalez a new deal in the $140 million range, they could rent him for the playoff drive with a package of, say, outfielder Trot Nixon and right-hander Brian Rose. Or they could part with a package of prospects like speedy outfielder Michael Coleman, infielder Donnie Sadler, Korean lefty Sang Lee or Japanese righty Tomo Ohka. That's not much less than the Tigers gave up in the first place to pry Gonzalez from the Rangers last winter. Nah-nah, nah-nah-nah!In these homer-happy days, it's dangerous for pitchers to celebrate their mound conquests with emotional outbursts. Marlins center fielder Preston Wilson recently took a spinning, fist-pumping tour of the bases after crushing a fastball from Mets closer Armando Benitez. Wilson admits Benitez was just the first target on a "hit list" that includes Expos closer Ugueth Urbina, Dodgers starter Carlos Perez and, of course, Astros starter Jose Lima. Wilson's teammate, Cliff Floyd, gave the list a thumbs-up. Especially the Lima part. Said Floyd: "And if Lima says anything, I'll send over the tape that shows him doing that Electric Slide after he struck me out last year." Talkin' the balkWhen John Rocker dropped the ball this week and lost a game on a walk-off balk, the Braves were stunned. Strange play, sure. But balks of any kind are a rarity for the Braves. Their pitchers have been called for just 11 balks since the start of the 1997 season, and Rocker's balk was the Braves' first since Odalis Perez was called last June 19. Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine haven't balked since 1994. Houston, you have lots of problemsEnron Field isn't the only reason the Astros have been a middle-of-the-pack team so far. They rank 14th in ERA, but they're also 12th in fielding percentage and 15th in batting average, better than only the Brewers in the National League. One front-office official told me: "Even if Moises Alou gets healthy, they're going to need another bat if they're going to compete. And with Ken Caminiti at third, you never know if he's going to break down day-to-day. They're basically not getting anything out of three positions: catcher, shortstop and whichever outfield spot Roger Cedeno's playing. Add in the pitcher's spot, and that's four outs each time around. It's hard to win like that." Mike Berardino covers baseball for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.
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