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World of Oz Blue Jays perched atop American League East
Posted: Tuesday June 27, 2000 10:20 PM
The Yankees and Red Sox got plenty of attention heading into the season, but it's the Toronto Blue Jays who occupy first place in the AL East. They lead the league in home runs and are fourth in runs scored, but it's pitching that will keep them on top. Jays manager Jim Fregosi told me his staff would be in trouble without David Wells . It's hard for any American League pitcher to get out of Pedro Martinez 's shadow, but Wells is doing a good job. He's the only pitcher in the league to rank in the top five in wins, ERA, innings and complete games. His strikeout-to-walks ratio is a stellar 6.4-to-1, second only to Pedro Martinez and nobody else is even close. Halos hanging aroundThe Angels were expected to be one of baseball's worst teams in 2000, but the season is nearly half over and rookie Manager Mike Scioscia 's team is still in the race. Scioscia told me pitching coach Bud Black and catchers Matt Walbeck and Ben Molina have done a great job holding together a staff that has used 11 different starting pitchers. Smooth transitionAdjusting to National League pitching has been blamed for Ken Griffey 's sub-.250 batting average. It doesn't seem to be bothering the Dodgers Shawn Green very much. Green told me Gary Sheffield and Eric Karros helped with personal scouting reports that have him on pace for the best batting average of his career. No "I" in teamWhile a Sammy Sosa or Juan Gonzalez might help the Yankees score more runs, you have to remember that their second most important job will be to fit in Joe Torre 's clubhouse of veterans. You can't overestimate the role a team first atmosphere has played in the Yankees dominance.
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