Enemy Lines

Two advance scouts, one from each league, reflect on what they saw and heard last week:

The Diamondbacks' Mark Grace is hitting the hell out of the ball, as well as he ever has. Whatever your best pitch is, I wouldn't throw it to him too often because he'll be looking for it—and he'll hit it....

Over the last month or so lefthander Ricardo Rincon has thrown the ball well, and he's going to be key for the Indians down the stretch. He's finally throwing his big sweeping curveball again, getting lefthanded hitters off balance....

I'm disappointed in Royals outfielder Carlos Beltran. Everyone was expecting a lot more from him. He has the tools, but he doesn't seem to be applying himself the way he should. He has a lot of growing up to do....

The Pirates' Aramis Ramirez is maturing fast. He's learning to hit breaking balls and is improving defensively. He has good hands, and his range is getting better. Someday he'll be considered a first-class third baseman....

Free-agent-to-be Roger Cede�o wants a four-year, $25 million contract from the Tigers? Come on. He'll help some team in the leadoff spot, but Cede�o has had a very inconsistent career. Plus he's only an adequate outfielder, using his speed to make up for the bad jumps he gets on a lot of balls....

Scott Spiezio has given the Angels a nice little spark. I think he's the type of player who doesn't do well playing just a couple of times a week. Once he started playing every day at first, he began to hit. He has had some big home runs for them.