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Chicago White Sox: It's a fairly well-known fact that when Frank Thomas plays first base instead of DHs, he is a better hitter. (Actually, it's true of all players as a group.) Thomas himself is beginning to understand that now, writes John Mullin of the Chicago Tribune. So here's the question: does the offensive extra lift the White Sox get from being in the filed offset whatever damage he does with his notoriously bad fielding? Mullin discusses Thomas's surprising lack of popularity with fans and his place in baseball history which, as recently as five years ago, appeared to be a very substantial one.

Minnesota Twins: Super catching prospect Joe Mauer is being promoted from Class A to Double A, La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting. Double A catcher Rob Bowen will move from Double A New Britain to Triple A Rochester. Meanwhile, current Twins catcher A.J. Pierzynski hit two home runs last night to make it a pretty positive day for Minnesota backstoppers. Neal reports that Cristian Guzman's triple in last night's game puts him fourth all-time on the Twins career list. After a year off, Guzman is back on the triple train. He's second in the league to Nomar Garciaparra and is on pace to hit 20 for the second time in his career (which would have been three if not for his 2001 injury).

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