Baseball N.L.

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2nd West

Kim on the right course with guidance from Stottlemyre

RHP Byung-Hyun Kim has been brilliant since early June, which coincides with a lecture he received from RHP Todd Stottlemyre. On June 7, Kim allowed three runs (all earned) on five hits in 1 2/3 innings against the Dodgers. Stottlemyre was on the bench, and when Kim came out of the game, Stottlemyre pulled aside the young sidearmer. Aware of a language barrier with the South Korean pitcher, Stottlemyre kept the message simple: Keep your focus on the next pitch and the next batter no matter what already has happened. C Damian Miller is doing his part, too, by calling for pitches that send the message to Kim to trust his stuff.... RHP Bobby Witt returned to the active roster after four months of rehabilitation for a torn elbow ligament and a sore shoulder. But at the moment, the team doesn't need him in the rotation. Even though manager Bob Brenly considers Witt a starter, the team didn't plan to move RHP Miguel Batista from the rotation to the bullpen. Batista, who tends to lose steam after 3 or 4 innings in a game, is 2-4 with a 3.92 ERA as a starter and 4-2 with a 2.76 ERA in relief.

SCOUTING REPORT: RHP Albie Lopez was 5-12 with a 5.34 ERA for the Devil Rays before, Arizona acquired him. Injuries to his right groin and right thumb contributed to his struggles. Lopez throws a fastball (93-to-94 mph), a sinking fastball, a cut fastball, a curve and a changeup. Some say Lopez threw too many cut fastballs, but he got away from the curve because of the thumb injury. Opponents batted .302 against him before the trade, but last season he had the eighth-best ERA in the A.L.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: RHP Russ Springer decided to have surgery to repair a tear in his rotator cuff. This ends his season and perhaps ends this stint--his second--with the team. Springer says the team physician recommended surgery and told Springer he could be throwing by December. Springer felt a "pop" in his right shoulder during his rehabilitation assignment with Class AAA Tucson. An arthrogram revealed he has the same tear in the rotator cuff as a month ago, but Springer says he can no longer pitch through it. He says he thinks the injury dates to last August. --Ed Price