Kubel hot in the desert Diamondbacks outfielder Jason Kubel entered Saturday leading the National League with 27 RBI for June, the highest monthly total of his career. The former Twin's numbers figured to improve at hitter-friendly Chase Field in Phoenix. Using the stat OPS+, which adjusts for league and park averages, Kubel was at 132, well shy of Twins left fielder Josh Willingham's 149.

Passing up on Brown Baseball America ranked Rochester Century pitcher Mitch Brown as the 44th-best prospect heading into last month's draft, but Cleveland got him at No. 79, eventually signing him for $800,000 -- above the $639,700 suggested bonus for that pick. The Twins passed on Brown with picks No. 2, 32, 42, 63 and 72. It seemed like a signability issue, but as much as the Twins liked Brown, they insist they had their No. 72 choice, Rice pitcher J.T. Chargois, higher on their board.

Don't get too comfortable in the box The new book "Major League Encounters," by longtime baseball writer Larry LaRue, includes a fun story about Willie Mays. The Say Hey Kid says he never feared facing fellow Hall of Famer Bob Gibson until they had dinner one time. Mays asked Gibson why he was wearing glasses, and Gibson said he couldn't see a thing without them. The next day, Mays had to face Gibson, and sure enough, the hard-throwing righthander was glaring at him from the mound, sans glasses.