WILL THINGS HEAT UP IN WEST?

IN THE CENTRAL:

The Pottsylvania Creepers, bouyed by the return to health of veterans Chris Carpenter and Pedro Martinez, have finally caught the Casselton Horned Toads with an 8-2 mark in their last ten games.

IN THE EAST:

The Frostbite Flying Squirrels have won 17 of their last 23, including a nine-game winning streak, to pull into a virtual tie with long-time leader Worcester.

But what about the Western Division, long-dominated by the Yuma Firebirds? Will anyone make a move out there, and will it have an impact? As this issue of BARB went to press, we learned that:

The Yuma Firebirds have just activated 1B/DH Lance Berkman and RF Vladimir Guerrero, the two biggest bats in the heart of their lineup, but to radically different fates. Berkman (.299, 11 HR, 51 RBI in 91 games) has been moved from first to Vlad-G's traditional spot in right field (!). Guerrero, meanwhile, has been benched after hitting .260 with 9 HR, 46 RBI in 49 games. This opens up a spot for 1B Joey Votto. Nick Markakis swings from RF to CF, and twice-disabled OF Denard Span gets a chance at least at a platoon role in CF with young Adam Jones clearly ailing.

This is a big move! Yuma is clearly trying to add offense, even if it means playing a couple of people out of their spot....and humiliating another veteran. Scratch Guerrero and you'll find another irritated old hand who can hang on the pine with DH Travis Hafner on the pine

The Finches, meanwhile, have acquired 3B Brandon Inge (.202, 13 HR, 47 RBI) for the cost of RHP Kyle Drabek and two other minor-leaguers to be named. This allows them to move an aging (and talking retirement!) Chipper Jones off the hot corner (where he is clearly sub-par) and use him as a DH. Former DH (but still franchise player) David Ortiz is thus locked into a bench role, albeit at $10,000,000 a year. The Finches also anticipate geting Aki Iwamura back soon, but this means that they face some tough decisions in the near future. Where are they going to fit all these players?