CHEERS:

For White Sox righthander Jose Contreras. He was getting hammered early this season and, partly at his own suggestion, returned to Triple A Charlotte to work on his forkball.

The results have been dramatic. Since going back into the rotation, he's 4-2 with a 2.06 earned run average in six starts. And the South Siders are 18-10 since he returned.

JEERS:

For Rays lefthander David Price. This hasn't been a good season for the touted Tampa Bay prospect. Even after a strong effort against the Blue Jays yesterday, he's 3-3, 4.70. More telling, he has walked 31 in 44 innings and is averaging less than five innings per start.

But while he has described his performance as "embarrassing" and "inexcusable" he doesn't think that going back to the minors to further hone his skills is a good idea.

"I need to learn to pitch at this level, not Triple A," he asserted. "I'm going to learn here by pitching here. If I take my lumps and bruises now [it's] kind of going to be a blessing in disguise."

Even if that's true - which is hardly a given - Price seems to be missing an essential point: It's not all about him. The Rays are a contending team. Their primary goal is to win as many games as possible, not to give him on-the-job training at the big-league level.

BY THE NUMBERS:

3: Pitchers who have 10 starts in which they pitched at least six innings and allowed one run or less: San Francisco's Matt Cain, Seattle's Felix Hernandez and Houston's Wandy Rodriguez.

45: Games in the hitting streak for James McOwen, outfielder for High Desert of the Class A California League, going into last night.

109: Negative run differential for the Nationals, worst in baseball. Washington had allowed 467 runs going into play last night while scoring just 358.

UP NEXT:

Mariners lefthander Erik Bedard dropped off the trade-rumor radar when he went on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation last month. But he returned with an impressive outing Tuesday. Working under a pitch count, he threw only four innings, but struck out eight. Catcher Rob Johnson said his "stuff was electric."

So keep an eye on Bedard when he makes his next scheduled start Sunday against the Rangers. He'll be allowed to throw up to 90 pitches before coming back without restrictions after the break. If he's healthy and effective, he's another pitcher who might just be available before the July 31 deadline.

Weeklings

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Rockies reliever Alan Embree, who got a win out of the bullpen Tuesday night without throwing a pitch after entering the game in relief, on whether he could pitch Wednesday: "I'm not sure I'll be available. I'm beat."

MEA CULPA OF THE WEEK: