Royals manager Ned Yost took heat last season for sticking with shortstop Alcides Escobar -- not pinch hitting for him in key spots, etc. -- even when Escobar was batting .203 with a .237 on-base percentage. Yost believed that Escobar, a top defensive player, would get through those struggles and eventually thrive. He was right. Entering Saturday's doubleheader, Escobar led major league shortstops with a .318 batting average and was third with a .355 on-base percentage.

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The Tigers were supposed to be an offensive force but entered Saturday tied for 10th in the AL with 69 homers. Now, Detroit plans to use two hitting coaches for the rest of the season with minor league hitting instructor Toby Harrah assisting Lloyd McClendon. The Cardinals did this in 2008, with Mike Aldrete assisting Hal McRae. Tigers manager Jim Leyland got the idea from his good friend Tony La Russa.

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After going 11-9 in April, and 16-14 in May, Cleveland went 12-15 in June. The reason? Check out some of these batting averages for the month: Carlos Santana .162, Shelley Duncan .209, Casey Kotchman .229, Jack Hannahan .143.