ESPN MLB

American League
Boston Red Sox: Kevin Youklis has been a walking machine in the minor leagues, but, at 25, he is getting a bit long in the tooth to be hanging around the minors. Finally called up this week to replace the slightly-injured Bill Mueller, Youklis responded with four hits in eight at bats, including his first major league homer. Jeff Horrigan of the Boston Herald reports his teammates must be assuming he is headed back to the minors soon because they hazed him in the traditional way -- forcing him to wear women's clothing for a team flight. Not just any women's clothing either, but a Hooter's waitress outfit complete with white hot pants. Manager Terry Francona states it is not a guarantee that he will be shipped back to Pawtucket.

Detroit Tigers: If you had told people at the end of last year that the Tigers would lose Dmitri Young -- their only decent performer in 2003 -- and still be flirting with .500 on May 17, 2004, they would have laughed in your face. Then the Tigers added four starting position players from the outside and three of them are carrying the team in Young's absence. Ivan Rodriguez, Rondell White and Carlos Guillen have all done nice work so far while the fourth, Fernando Vina, has continued his decline. It is a couple of holdovers that have the Tigers worried, writes Lynn Henning of the Detroit News. He reports the club is not pleased with what is transpiring at the corners of their infield. At third, Eric Munson showed some promise as a rookie last year but is being benched more and more as his slow start turns into a slow season. Over at first, Carlos Pena continues to confound expectations with an OPS under .700. Henning writes that the Tigers might be considering installing Young in a position like first or third when he returns -- his defense be damned.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider