The Hot Corner

Dodgers Manager Davey Johnson has told struggling catcher Todd Hundley that he will be used only as a pinch hitter while the team gives rookie Angel Pena a chance to win the job. Hundley's limited production at the plate (.230, seven home runs through Sunday) was concern enough, but it was his inability to throw out base stealers (only 11.7%)—not to mention whip the ball to the third baseman after a strikeout—that forced Johnson's hand....

Several Dodgers were miffed at $105 million righthander Kevin Brown, who, in an 11-1 loss to Pittsburgh on June 15, rang up the press box to argue that four of the six runs charged to him should have been deemed unearned. Brown was correct, but his teammates questioned his priorities....

Russell Branyan (.228, 23 homers, 50 RBIs for Triple A Buffalo) may be baseball's top third base prospect, but the Indians chose not to recall the 23-year-old Branyan to replace the injured Travis Fryman, who went on the DL on June 16th with muscle spasms in his lower back. "We don't think Russell is ready to play in the big leagues, much less for a contender," manager Mike Hargrove said. "It wouldn't be fair to him or us."...

Outfielder Reggie Sanders, who rejoined the Padres last Friday after a stint on the 15-day DL for a strained rib cage muscle, has a novel theory to explain his injury-plagued career: He's not fat enough. Says Sanders, who has only 5% body fat, "I've heard that people with low body fat have a harder time staying limber. I'm hurting muscles I didn't even know I had."