Low & Outside: AL Notes

Most Phillies fans continue to regard Bobby Abreu as a mutt, the last guy to show up and the first guy to leave, the symbol of everything wrong with an underachieving team in the early years of this century.

So it may surprise you (you know who you are) to learn that Abreu's RBI double in Atlanta on Sunday was the 534th of his career and tied the Angels' rightfielder with Lou Gehrig at No. 32 on the all-time doubles list.

(Tris Speaker has the career record with 792, followed by Pete Rose at 736.)

Hey, it surprised me, too.

Toronto's sensational Jose Bautista, whose 18 home runs through Sunday project to 63 for a full season, has drawn walks in 40 percent of his plate appearances with runners in scoring position.

That respect from opposing pitchers is generated despite a .207 batting average with runners in scoring position, compared to .364 with the bases empty and a truely insane .538 with a runner on first. (Stats courtesy of SI.com).

One of the doctors who assisted in a procedure last year on New York Yankees starter Bartolo Colon says that 10 other pitchers have expressed interest in undergoing the treatment

Leonel Liriano said Sunday in a Dominican TV interview that 10 pitchers between the ages of 21 to 37 have contacted him. He did not disclose identities.

Liriano is the medical director for United States-based Regenocyte in the Dominican Republic. The company specializes in the use of stem cells for regenerative therapy.

The Cleveland Indians took over the No. 1 spot in ESPN.com's weekly MLB Power Rankings.

The offensively challenged Phillies dropped one spot to No. 2, while the Boston Red Sox (who won eight of nine through Sunday) jumped 13 spots to No. 3. The Tampa Bay Rays fell one spot to No. 4, while the St. Louis Cardinals moved up three spots to No. 5.

The Phillies face the Cards in St. Louis June 21-23 then host the Red Sox June 28-30.

Red Sox pitchers Bobby Jenks and John Lackey are closer to returning to the team as they recover from biceps and arm strains, respectively, the team said. . . . Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore (bruised right kneecap) did agility drills and took batting practice without any problems, and is on schedule to come off the 15-day disabled list later this week.