A.L. (Baseball).

Anaheim Angels

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81-54 2nd in West

HOT HITTER: Soon after getting enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting race, 2B Adam Kennedy moved among the league leaders. His average zoomed well over .300, thanks in part to hitting around .400 in August. Still, the lefthanded-hitting Kennedy is a good bet to sit against lefties because the team likes to use Benji Gil against them. Kennedy has a .268 average against lefties and believes he can do better if he gets more chances.... RF Tim Salmon has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of improvement in his left hand, which has a bone bruise. The team is trying to get by with a platoon of Orlando Palmeiro and Alex Ochoa.

TEAM MVP:: LF Garret Anderson is an ironman who hits for power and average; he gets better all the time. He's on pace to hit 60 doubles, a figure that hasn't been reached in the majors since 1936. He's a free swinger who likes to jump on fastballs. Defensively, his arm strength and accuracy have improved. He is signed through 2004 and isn't likely to leave when he becomes a free agent.

MINOR LEAGUE REPORT: SS Alfredo Amezaga is ready for the big leagues defensively, but his bat needs to come around. He is among the fastest players in the organization, and coaches are trying to get him to hit the ball on the ground more to take advantage of his speed. The hottest pitching prospect is RHP Francisco Rodriguez, a hard thrower who began the year at Class AA before being promoted to Class AAA. The team's top pick from 2001, 1B Casey Kotchman, has been slow to develop because of a wrist injury. Though he has hit for a decent average, his power has been limited.--Joe Haakenson

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