The Herald from Rock Hill, South Carolina • 27

Sunday uly 16 2006 The Herald 3D NATIONAL LEAGUE STATISTICS Knights have impressive turnaround LOCAL PLAYERS STATISTICS 456 ST 427271 440 269 394 267 394 267 415267 459265 440263 331263 379261 3M261 HR 77 91 113 131 95 106 SI 121 131 120 I2S 133 KB 77 90S 16 779 92 791 111 716 17 794 91 774 109 792 91 AS 282 SO 75 42 II 1 11 SO 31 13S AM 39 400259 312 257 402 255 SO 14 SO 31 IS 10 sa 0 so 1 so 2 SO 0 so 1 so 2 INDIVIDUAL lATTING 1 214 plata Mpummi A9 RM 2S IS 35 5 0 6 19 12 Im Darapaays 07IIMwfllilwU(WiM i 2B hr rat 4 14 0 115 M4 laathanj 34 73 14 0 9 43 31 4 15 6 0 1 4 7 Alaa MMai CMaflmpSalf Caaat PMHm MRSm) 21 HR RM 3 3 2 0 0 3 1 'fcRi lly OF WlajhrnfTiman 234 79 to to to to SO 19 FSandwrtt 301 LAD SO 2 17 SO 30 AM 166 IMskfHwidad 22 mOMM RMVW3m SSEwDwFMt sv 5 0 210 SO IS 1-1 129 39 55 250 57332 57 232 61 230 20 226 II 221 36 219 53 219 71 216 75 215 19 215 53 212 49 207 51 207 47 205 30 204 21 204 51 203 33 202 31 202 41 200 44 200 15 297 41 297 21 297 46 295 21 294 34 291 61 290 35 290 so 25 223 1-2 2-1 SO 29 Ha AH lidtSF Cupart SO 3355 Aura On Ml 14 3 nAri SO 21 1JQ2 SV IP 27 9 321 '29 10 wrai nwi mnmpffMniMn IS 2 42 17 lollWwElllMOwWy(lliilHl 5 0 172 12 3 2 lnliSlinSWHOlwiHM IRM -SV IP I HI 3 0 210 22 9 7 iraMaaWIMalteaCayfGalfGaaMPintii gratia) 4 0 140 I 4 3 liiHjRtHijtiiflliliiliiywii sv IP 109 97 113 97 105 14 99 104 99 14 109 112 110 91 99 8 75 95 101 93 111 97 74 15 94 79 IS II 97 S3 14 91 99 70 71 77 90 94 79 91 69 90 15 97 15 90 ISA 100 SO 17 00 DM 1-2 1-0 W4 1-2 hbdm SO I 1S3 TGMncNYM HmngGn GlbungSD Smoltz Ad Jennings Col Cook Col Wife Hi ERA 261 1 310 so 21 15 10 A year ago the Charlotte Knights entered the all-star break having lost twice the International League games that they had won owners of a 30-60 record The 2005 Knights won only 27 games the re- -mainder of the season to finish at 57-86 This season has been quite a reversal for first-year manager Razor team The Knights went into Monday's all-star break sporting a 16 12-game lead in the IL South Division having already won more games this year than all of last season with a 58-31 record A year ago fite Knights had only one representative pitcher Jeff Bajenaru on the THple-A All-Star team This season they had six third baseman Josh Helds shortstop Jorge Velandia designated hitter Ernie bung and pitchers Heath Phillips Charlie Haeger and Jeff Farnsworth AAA WORLD SERIES REVIVAL The Ttiple-A Warid Series is returning as a scaled-down version The Thple-A Warld Series dormant since 2000 will be revived in a one-game winner-take-all contest between the champions of the International League and the Pacific Coast League The game Showdown will take place on Sept 19 at Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City Okla Although only one game instead of a best-of-five series the contest will be televised on ESPN2 and broadcast nationally by Sporting News Radio The Hiple-A World Series first debuted in 1983 and was a round-robin event among the chanpons of the PCL IL and now-defunct American Association The Series bowed out until 1988 when the IL and AA had the Triple-A Classic which was played only three years Then came the resur- tion off the second base bag which their manager flung across the infield The proceeds were to go to a Lexington (Ky) charity and the Asheville tourists Fund The winning bid of $1700 was paid but the winner donated the base to another Udder who passed the base along to another bidder The base signed and dated by Mikulik will wind up being displayed on a wall of Hannah Flanagan's Irish Pub in Asheville The auction including donations raised a total of $5000 with the majority going to the Asheville Tburists Children's Fund ON DECK: The Charlotte Knights complete their four-game road trip to Ifewtucket (Boston Red Sax) today with a 1:05 game The Knights return home to open an eight-game homestand on Monday when Columbus (New btkhn-kees) come to town The dippers will be fallowed by ScrantonWilkes-Barre (Philadelphia Phillies) starting Friday The Knights then return to the road for nine straight days at Rochester (Minnesota TWins) Syracuse (Toronto Blue Jays) and Durham flhmpa Devil Rays) EXTRA BASES: Former major league slugger and ex-Charlotte Knight Jose Canseco is batting 308 after faur games with the Long Beach Armada (Independent Golden League) Canseco hit his first homer of the season a 462-foot shot in a 6-1 victory over Flyers on Thursday night OF Jacob Dempsey (BativiaPhiladd-phia Phillies) hit his first professional home run in a recent 4-3 loss to Williamsport Dempsey connected for a two-run blast in the fourth inning against Crosscutters right-hander Patrick Biesnehan The Riv-er Qty Rascals of the Independent Frontier League have signed former Liberty IF Michael Just However ex-Flames OF Phil Laurent was released by die Worcester Tbmadoes of the independent Can-Am League Eari Gault 329-4000 Ext 8363 egaultOheraldonlinecom MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ttl? 60 59 73 20 20 41 73 47 50 69 27 31 21 52 41 290 289 287 216 216 2K 281 291 290 279 271 278 271 277 276 276 Col Monte Sf Ohm He tokSD Bush Mi AnwkWte Fogg Col SImym IPH 470 167 421 471 145 416 474 197 429 421 994 421 425 754 422 324 547 211 626 250 592 300 575 366 663 342 551 354 589 317 654 2 20 6 23 6 21 4 22 4 16 2 13 3 16 4 25 491 521 906 437 141 MDtVWUAL PITCHING IF 15 67 139 134-126 91 120 106 109 103 126 131 130 122 129 127 90 74 SO 74 103 105 104 12 15 91 112 124 111 12 127 106 110 94 50 II 66 70 72 79 79 106 57 45 III 47 II 14 56 61 10 55 62 63 66 53 56 61 51 54 66 47 19 10 61 70 52 64 92 51 47 53 49 56 66 42 21 42 29 21 24 32 25 61 21 36 34 39 21 46 27 40 40 45 39 31 32 29 32 35 26 46 31 64 40 45 45 29 29 30 41 34 34 22 21 43 52 20 34 47 51 41 20 24 43 44 15 29 39 35 41 29 29 51 29 25 221 265 271 285 291 386 212 221 224 245 388 251 259 260 264 272 280 291 415 423 424 429 424 CK125 NYM 101 427 474 477 479 490 491 493 499 491 494 495 495 499 590 596 210 212 212 212 214 215 219 221 521 234 256 310 260 6 5 593 9 6 291 6 I 294 6 5 699 3 I 219 210 263 5 7 694 3 7 776 5 7 6 I 710 6 6 119 121 133 135 112 19 125 119 121 129 121 137 130 141 126 129 109 93 121 122 91 77 109 101 124 120 79 79 99 106 107 102 102 111 100 114 117 117 103 100 90 125 135 71 19 73 15 IS 99 116 142 103 114 109 127 117 132 72 94 110 117 102 130 92 95 0HenundezNYM91 95 CiinSf 91 90 Haul 10 122 122 141 CIn 16 90 Hou 96 17 ou 121 150 iSd 124 126 LfcbwPhi 77 16 JoSosiAd 12 99 nSd 95 116 iPN 15 110 LHemmktWHl13 143 II 109 77 93 in 76 II rFh 77 109 RusdtChC 53 64 Hensley SO IChC nAd Kin Cal CVmesAri Mbfisli Ait UdfePhi Wright 57 MafohnF rection of the THple-A Wforld Series from 1998 until 2000 in Las Wgas in a best-of-five series The Charlotte Knights IL cham- pions played in the 1999 event losing to Vancouver of the PCL three games to two The Series was dropped after 2000 because of various problems including attendance and location The IL champion will be the home team in the "Bricktown by virtue of the victory in the Hiple-A All-Star Game IMPRESSIVE SEASON: Fbr-mer Winthrop standout Todd Leathers is turning a strong season in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and is expected to be in the running for the Player of die Vfear honors Leathers a first baseman-designated hitter for the Atlantic City Surf is among the leagues leaders in several categories The right-handed hitting Leathers who played at Winthrop from 1999 through 2002 is second in the league in RBIs (43) third in hits (73) and fifth in batting average (312) Leathers is one of seven members of the New Jersey-based Surf to be selected for last ALPB All-Star Game in Bridgeport Conn UPSIDE OF MELTDOWN: Something positive came out of Asheville Tourists manager Joe tirade in the June 25 Class A South Atlantic League game at Lexington Ky Mikulik went ballistic in a spectacular argument with umpires after a call at second base went against his team when Legends runner Kbby Clements son of Roger Clements was ruled safe temper tantrum in-chided throwing second has? pouring water on home plate and fling-ing bats He was suspended for seven days and fined $1000 which went to charity The Tburists came up with a charitable deed because of explosion arranging to auc- 431 433 443 446 454 454 771 372 265 543 951 375 194 632 112 396 288 600 645 400 241 531 909 399 279 613 149 401 275 541 593 520 AMERICAN LEAGUE STATISTICS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NOTEBOOK Trade scene and Bonds the Red Sox i top topics for second half rally ovei Knights By Jim Salisbury The Philadelphia Inquirer 15 10 4 29 25 I 53 J30 47 230 27 225 75 223 61 220 29 319 Chicago DM CNN PterrynsIdCf OanMtdTO 270 330 271 294 294 am 285 335 324 321 391 329 am Ot tydyOal The Associated Press PAWTUCKET RI Ron Calloway hit a two-RBI double as part of a five-run seventh inning as the Pawtucket Red Sox rallied for a 7-4 win over the Charlotte Knights on Saturday night double off Jeff Farnsworth gave the Red Sox a 6-4 lead and extended his hitting streak to seven games The Red Sox added a run in the eighth when Adam Stem tripled and scored on Dustin double his fourth hit of the game Dustin Hermanson (0-1) took the loss after giving up two hits and two walks and being charged with four runs in two-thirds of an inning Phil Seibel (1-0) who was pn moted Saturday from Double-A Portland pitched two innings relief for the win Jermaine Van Buren pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 13 opportunities REDSOXL'KNIGHTS 4 CHARLOTTE FAWTUCKCT Duane Burleson the Associated Press Detroit's Nan Rodriguez Is congratulated after scoring from second baso on a single by Marcus Thames in the third Inning against the Kansas City Saturday in Detroit The Tigers are currently the hottest team in basebalL THE BARRY: It is no surprise that one cf the biggest off-fidd issues heading into the second half surrounds Bany Bomb He continues to be the focus of a federal probe and numerous reports have said he could be indicted this week on charges of perjury and tax evasion If Bonds can keep his focus and go on a tear the Giants could make a second-half run But you have to wonder how much Bonds has left after hitting just 249 with 12 homers and 39 RBIs in fire first half THE TRADE SCENE: Brace yourself There could be many deals this month and the Phillies with difference makers such as Bobby Abnu Tbm Gordon and Jon Lfeber tough penalties in place David Ortiz Jim Thome Albert Pujols Adam Dunn and Howard could all make a run at 60 CAFFEINE CRAVING: Major League Baseball is testing for amphetamines for the first time this season and it says the policy is working though it has declined to provide any data Many longtime baseball people have suggested drat players who used to use for an energy boost could have problems in the second half and play could suffer YOUNG GUNS: While elder statesmen Curt Schilling Tbm Glavine and Kenny Rogers continue to pitch well a number of young PHILADELPHIA Now that all of Ryan home runs have been fished out of the Allegheny and the National League's winless streak in the All-Star Game has reached 10 take a look forward at some of the story lines worth following in the second half of the season: THE TIGERS: They were on nobody's list of teams to watch coming into the season but with a brilliant pitching staff and a manager (Jim Ley land) who has instilled a refuse-to-lose attitude the Tigers have set their sights well beyond ending a string of 12 consecutive losing seasons Led by the best pitching staff in the game Detroit had the best record at the all-star break Every team that has had the best record at fire break during the wildcard era (since 1995) has gone on to make the postseason Can the surprising Tigers hang on? With that pitching staff they sure can AL PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Tigers and White Sox both American League Central dubs have foe top two records in the majors and barring a let-up both should make the playoffs That means just me postseason team could come out of the AL East which has sent the Thnkees and the Red Sax to die postseason the last three seasons The Yankees entered Saturday trailing the Red Sox by 1 12 gamesl The Yanks have flaws but they will be active in the trade market this month as they try to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 1993 The AL West is a four-team race but the Angels have the best personnel and might be the last ones standing after a difficult first half NL PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Mets who have the biggest lead of any first-place team are sitting pretty in the NL East If their pitching holds up and you know try to do something to make sure it does they will end run of 14 straight division titles 11 of which have come in the East There are good races codling in the other two NL divisions Surprising Cincinnati has already traded for bullpen help as it tries to tun down the Cardinals in the CentraL With pear other strong second-half run but offense remains a concern The Padres lead the West but the Dodgers look like the strongest team in a wide-open race tonludut 1 109 ChirioM 111 tortudat 9l 29 Own toMaUtoi mm CMARLOTTI DelosSantos 59 LonamOil) 19 Honanon 00-1) 02 ranwwocdt 11 FAWIUCUT IWn 60 5mMM1- 29 Van Blew (5 II) 19 2 3 1 0 2 1 1 0 so 2 1 0 4 0 2 to be had for die right price could pitchers have emeiged and will be of it all fun to watch the rest of the sea- be in the middle nm'sw irMd GoMjhz ibji MqL CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS STATISTICS T- 231 A -11041 Ttonaub Mm international League North DMmm FcL G9 Hochesfertferins) 53 40 570 ScnmonANI (todies) 49 43 533 312 ufUodndraa) 49 45 516 5 OnwatOnoto) 46 49 969 712 FMudotSMSori 43 47 971 912 Syoma (Mat Jop? 41 SI 946 I1 12 A number of dubs have interest in Abreu: both New York teams Boston Houston St Louis and the Angels to name a handful Pitchers DontreQe Willis and Barry Zito appear to be staying put unless some team makes a bfaw-away offer Greg Maddux could be had Jason Schmidt could be a hired gun if the Giants slip and keep an eye on John Smoltz Looking for a hitter? Miguel Tbjada Alfonso Soriano Jose Guillen Carlos Lee and Craig Wilson are al in play POWER BALL: Even with tougher penalties for steroid use in place (no big-leaguers were nabbed in the first half) hone runs are still flying out of parks at eye-popping rates No slugger has reached 60 hotnen since Bonds had 73 in 2001 That was the height of the steroid era This summer with testing and son The group is ted by Francisco Liriano (TWins) Justin Verlander (Tigers) Joel Zumaya (Tigers) Jonathan Bapeibon (Red Sax) and Scott Kazmir (Devil Rays) THE REST OF THE STORIES: Padres closer Ttevor Hoffman entered the second half of the season with 460 saves leaving him 19 shy of breaking Lee all-time record The Pirates who were 30 games under 500 heading into the second half are headed for a 14th straight losing season which would leave diem two shy of the all-time record 16 straight by the Phillies from 1933 to The Dusty Baker remains the manager most likely to be fired in the second half Will Ryan Howard with 28 homen in the first half break Mike Phillies record of 48 in a season? tooan left handed MkiamMnln 64.