THE BOTTOM HALF
Franchise career earned-run average leaders since 1950 (minimum 500 innings pitched; * currently with team):
AMERICAN LEAGUE
*--* Angels Andy Messersmith 2.78 Baltimore Stu Miller 2.37 Boston Pedro Martinez 2.52 Chicago Hoyt Wilhelm 1.92 Cleveland Gaylord Perry 2.71 Detroit John Hiller 2.83 Kansas City Dan Quisenberry 2.55 Minnesota Dean Chance 2.67 New York Goose Gossage 2.14 Oakland Dennis Eckersley 2.74 Seattle Randy Johnson 3.42 Tampa Bay none qualify Texas Gaylord Perry 3.26 Toronto Tom Henke 2.48
*--*
NATIONAL LEAGUE
*--* Dodgers Ron Perranoski 2.56 Arizona Randy Johnson 2.65 Atlanta Greg Maddux 2.63 Chicago Lee Smith 2.92 Cincinnati John Franco 2.49 Colorado Armando Reynoso 4.65 Florida Dontrelle Willis* 3.44 Houston Joe Sambito 2.42 Milwaukee Dan Plesac 3.21 New York Tom Seaver 2.57 Philadelphia Jim Bunning 2.93 Pittsburgh Kent Tekulve 2.68 St. Louis John Tudor 2.52 San Diego Trevor Hoffman* 2.73 San Francisco Bill Swift 2.70 Washington Tim Burke 2.61
*--*
Source: baseballreference.com
**
Minor League Report
CHIN-LUNG HU, SS
Jacksonville; double A
Hu, a member of the Southern League All-Star team and a participant in the All-Star Futures game, was named best defensive shortstop in the Southern League by Baseball America last week. In 101 games, Hu has a .981 fielding percentage, with nine errors in 463 chances. He has 289 assists and has been involved in turning 65 double plays. Hu is also decent with the bat, ranking fifth in the league in hits (107) and fourth in runs (60) to go with a .259 batting average.
TONY ABREU, 2B
Jacksonville; double A
Abreu also was named to the Southern League All-Star team and was named best defensive second baseman in the Southern League by Baseball America. Abreu leads the team in games played while maintaining a .969 fielding percentage, being charged with 16 errors in 483 chances. He has turned 77 double plays. Abreu currently ranks sixth in the league with a .294 batting average, tied for second with 118 hits and ranks fifth in runs with 57.
**
IT’S A FACT
* Then: On Sept. 29, 1999, Jim Edmonds hits his 121st and final home run for the Angels. He is traded in the off-season for Kent Bottenfield and Adam Kennedy.
* Now: On Thursday, Jim Edmonds homers for the St. Louis Cardinals, the 228th home run he has hit in seven seasons with St. Louis.
**
ONE UP, ONE DOWN
FIRST BASE
* Up: David Ortiz, Boston -- The greatest clutch hitter of all time?
* Down: Chris Shelton, Detroit -- Be sure to say “hi” to Doug Ault at the next “Had a big April, then nothing” meeting.
SECOND BASE
* Up: Luis Castillo, Minnesota -- Providing steady play for surging Twins.
* Down: Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee -- Probably injured carrying around that iron glove all season.
THIRD BASE
* Up: Scott Spiezio, St. Louis -- Will always have a spot in the hearts of Angels fans.
* Down: Ramon Martinez, Dodgers -- Acquiring Betemit, Lugo means less playing time for him.
SHORTSTOP
* Up: Jose Reyes, New York Mets -- Are Wright and Reyes better than A-Rod and Jeter?
* Down: Bobby Crosby, Oakland -- Has spent the season hurt or slumping.
OUTFIELD
* Up: Mark DeRosa, Texas -- Five homers, 19 RBIs in eight days is an “up” in anyone’s book.
* Down: Lastings Milledge, New York Mets -- Average has tumbled below .230.
CATCHER
* Up: Javy Lopez, Boston -- Suddenly is thrust into the middle of a playoff race.
* Down: Jason Varitek, Boston -- It’s no coincidence Red Sox slump coincided with his going on DL.
PITCHER
* Up: Anthony Reyes, St. Louis -- Helping Cardinals overcome loss of Mark Mulder.
* Down: Francisco Liriano, Minnesota -- Injury could cost him rookie-of-the-year support.
Compiled by Houston Mitchell
More to Read
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.