Sunday Insider: Central Intelligence

Last update: July 4, 2009 - 10:37 PM

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Among Cleveland's myriad problems is the mysterious case of closer Kerry Wood. According to FanGraphs.com, he is throwing harder than last season (95.4 miles per hour, compared to 94.8), but this season, he has a 5.08 ERA, up from 3.26 last season with the Cubs. Wood's $11 million option for 2011 will automatically vest if he finishes 55 games this season, and he is at 27.

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Another curious case: Royals setup man Juan Cruz. The Twins were criticized for their refusal to pursue the Class A free agent, who would have cost them this year's first-round draft pick, which they turned into Missouri pitcher Kyle Gibson. Cruz was viewed as an eighth-inning answer for the Royals because he averaged 12.37 strikeouts per nine innings last year for Arizona. This week, he was averaging 6.55 strikeouts per nine for the Royals, despite only a small decrease in velocity (94.2 miles per hour, down from 94.3). Both relievers above are examples of National Leaguers struggling with an adjustment to the American League. The Twins might have seen that with now-departed reliever Luis Ayala, too.

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