Don't be too quick to judge the James Shields trade a failure, just because the righthander is 2-6 for the Royals. Shields leads the American League in quality starts with 13 and has a 2.71 ERA. The problem? In seven of those 13 starts, the Royals have scored two runs or less.
• • •
The White Sox's fall to last place has been tough on their biggest booster.
"It's been hell on me," broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I've said fewer words in a 68-game period than I ever have in my career. Because it's been [horrible] baseball."
• • •
There could be another Triple Crown in Detroit, and this one isn't Miguel Cabrera's.
The Tigers lead the AL in hitting (.281), are second in pitching (3.62 ERA) and third in fielding percentage (.990). Only once since 1948 — the 2001 Mariners — has a team managed to lead its league in all three.
• • •
