Analyzing the AL Central at the one-month mark

By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

Last update: April 30, 2007 - 10:16 PM

FIVE SURPRISES

1. CLEVELAND'S BULLPEN

This was the Achilles' heel for the Indians last year, but now the leads generated by Cleveland's high-powered offense are safer. The set-up tandem of lefthander Aaron Fultz (2.45 ERA) and Rafael Betancourt (1.80) have been terrific, and new closer Joe Borowski has converted nine of 10 save opportunities, despite a 9.00 ERA.

2. MARK BUEHRLE

The White Sox didn't know what to expect after he went 3-9 with a 7.12 ERA over his final 16 starts last year. But he's reverted to his All-Star form. He pitched a no-hitter on April 18 against Texas and has since turned in two quality starts, leaving his record at 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA.

3. KANSAS CITY'S GRIT

The Royals are 3-2 against Minnesota this year, and if you look at Kansas City's 8-17 record (entering Monday), this seems like an indictment for the Twins. Look closer, and Kansas City had scored 98 runs and given up 129, a run differential of -31. Last year, the Royals ended April with a run differential of -56, which points to their general improvement.

4. CARLOS SILVA AND RAMON ORTIZ

Raise your hand if you predicted these two would combine to make 10 starts in April without allowing more than three runs in any of them. These two combined to go 22-31 with a 5.74 ERA and 69 home runs allowed last year. This year, they are a combined 5-2 with a 2.77 ERA with five home runs allowed.

5. PLACIDO POLANCO

Looking for a first-month AL Central MVP? The debate starts with Cleveland's Travis Hafner and the Twins' Joe Mauer. But don't overlook Polanco, the MVP of last year's AL Championship Series. He does so many little things well, and with several other Tigers struggling, he was batting .364.

FIVE DISAPPOINTMENTS

1. CLEVELAND'S SCHEDULE MAKER

Bad weather followed the Indians all month. Where would this first-place team be without four postponements? Whoever thought to schedule Seattle's only trip to Cleveland in early April was asking for trouble. It would have been worse had the Indians not moved that three-game series with the Angels to Milwaukee.

2. THE PIRANHAS

The little guys who make the Twins' offense go were stuck in neutral most of the month, battling nagging injuries. Leadoff man Luis Castillo (strained quad) has missed the past 10 games. Nick Punto (sore ankle, groin muscle and pinky) was batting .188 before having a good series in Detroit. And Jason Bartlett (sore groin muscle) saw his on-base percentage dip to .293 before he had two doubles and a walk in Sunday's loss.

3. GARY SHEFFIELD

When the Tigers traded for Sheffield, it was the division's biggest offseason acquisition. But Sheffield was batting .160 before heating up against the Twins this weekend, and he hit his first home run at Comerica Park on Monday, the place where so many long drives turn into long outs.

4. JIM THOME'S INJURY

Watching Thome wrench his rib cage with this latest injury, it looks as if he could miss a while, and this is devastating for the White Sox. He's batting .340 with five home runs, and entering Monday, his OBP (on-base-plus slugging percentage) of 1.233 was second only to Alex Rodriguez (1.297).

5. ALEX GORDON

The Royals third baseman was hyped as baseball's top newcomer coming into the season. He drew repeated comparisons to George Brett. But Gordon entered Monday batting .169 with two home runs. He also had 27 strikeouts in 77 at-bats, raising questions about the Royals' decision to let him skip Class AAA.

Joe Christensen • jchristensen@startribune.com