Three Up Three Down

Three Up

Atlanta Braves
After a 32-38 start put them 6 1/2 games back in the NL East on
June 23, they won 16 of 21 games and moved into a first-place tie
last weekend.

Johan Santana, LHP, Twins
The AL leader in strikeouts (145) fanned 10 or more hitters in
six of his last eight starts.

Jason Bay, LF, Pirates
He's primed to become Pittsburgh's first Rookie of the Year,
hitting .306 with 13 homers since May 7, when he returned from
shoulder surgery.

Three Down

Lee Mazzilli, manager, Orioles
Baltimore was 15-27 since June 1, and last week two unnamed
players said the first-year skipper has lost the clubhouse.

Fred McGriff, 1B/DH, Devil Rays
Only seven homers short of 500, the 40-year-old was designated
for assignment after hitting .181 this year and going homerless
in his last 43 at bats.

Pat Burrell, LF, Phillies
After batting .313 with 10 homers in the first two months of the
season, he's back to his 2003 form, hitting .221 with five homers
since June 1.