Offerman

Quote: "We need to give him some time to work on some things. This is not a benching." -- Red Sox manager Jimy Williams on keeping Jose Offerman, who is hitting .175, out of the starting lineup for the first time It's a fact: The White Sox set a major-league record for runs in April with 181, topping the previous mark of 180 by the 1998 Rangers. Who's hot: The Blue Jays have homered in 21 of their 27 games. Who's not: The Rangers finished April with a franchise-record 15 losses. On deck: New Royals owner David Glass and his family will be officially welcomed by fans in on-field ceremonies Saturday before the game with the White Sox.

Who's hot Jose Offerman of the Twins is 14-for-34 (.412) in his past 17 games. Who's not Paul Wilson of the Reds, who is 0-4 with a 7.36 ERA since the All-Star break, failed for the ninth time to win his 10th game. Line of the day Angel Berroa, Royals SS AB R H RBI HR 5 5 5 1 0 He said it "I see we brought a few Cubs fans here. They might have felt threatened by us [in the standings]. They wanted to see us go down the tubes real fast." Jack McKeon, Marlins manager, after a game at the White Sox's park On deck Zack Greinke of the Royals, who is 4-0 with a 2.32 ERA in his past five starts, faces the Yankees today.

On January 30, 2006, ANNA MARIE SINDALL (nee Offerman), a resident of the Presbyterian Home of Maryland, beloved wife of the late William Edward Sindall, Sr., devoted mother of Nancy V. Miller and her husband James Miller, Sr., John O. Sindall and his wife Teresa Sindall and the late William E. Sindall, Jr., dear grandmother of Anthony Mariella, James Miller, Jr., Jerry Miller, John Miller, Robert Miller, Carol Berger and Wanda Mc Donald. Also survived by ten great grandchildren. Friends may call at the family owned Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home, Inc., 6500 York Road (at Overbrook)

Baseball Atlanta Braves -- Agreed to terms with P Steve Avery (3-11, 5.64 ERA), P Ben Rivera and IF Vinny Castilla on 1-year contracts.Baltimore Orioles -- Agreed to 1-year, $200,000 contract with P Dave Johnson (13-9, 4.10 ERA).Cincinnati Reds -- P Rob Dibble (8-3, 1.74, 11 SV) agreed to 1-year, $500,000 contract.Cleveland Indians -- Agreed to terms with 1B-OF Carlos Martinez (.224, 4 HRs, 24 RBI with Chicago White Sox) on minor-league contract.Los Angeles Dodgers -- Agreed to terms with P Ramon Martinez (20-6, 2.92 ERA)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- So this is a contender?With runners at first and second base and no one out in last night's third inning against the Kansas City Royals, Orioles second baseman Jeff Reboulet cleanly fields a ground ball, charges at the trailing runner, then inexplicably flips to first base to get the hitter instead. Both runners reach scoring position.In the fifth inning, B. J. Surhoff stands on second base following a leadoff double. Cal Ripken grounds sharply to third. Surhoff, usually one of the most heads-up Orioles, runs into Terry Pendleton's tag at third base before Ripken is thrown out for a bizarre double play.

At Oriole Park at Camden Yards' Day, Time, TV, StartersToday, 3:05, 13, 50, Kevin Appier (14-11, 3.62)Jimmy Key (12-11, 4.68)Thursday, 7:35, 13, 50, Jose Rosado (8-6, 3.21)Scott Kamieniecki (1-2, 11.12)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Royals updateKansas City, which finished last in the AL Central, added much-needed pop to its lineup during the winter by acquiring 1B Jeff King and SS Jay Bell from the Pirates, and DH Chili Davis from the Angels. King's arrival pushes Jose Offerman to second base, where his poor fielding becomes more of a liability.

BaseballAstros: Declined to offer contracts to P Darryl Kile and SS Craig Shipley. Agreed with Kile on 1-year contract.Angels: Declined to offer contracts to P Shawn Boskie, P Mike Harkey and P Rich Monteleone.Brewers: Agreed on minor-league contract with C Matt Nokes.Cardinals: Purchased P Rick Honeycutt from Yankees and agreed on 1-year contract. Declined to offer contracts to 3B Scott Cooper, 2B Geronimo Pena and C Scott Hemond.Expos: Claimed OF Ray McDavid off waivers from Padres.Giants: Declined to offer contract to OF Deion Sanders.

At Kauffman Stadium, Kansas CityTonight 8: 05 HTS - Kent Mercker (1-1, 9.00)vs. Chris Haney (0-3, 3.91)Tomorrow 8: 05 13, 50 - Arthur Rhodes (2-0, 0.90)vs. undecidedRadio: Both games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Royals updateKansas City may be the most ill-conceived team in the game, as the early results show. The Royals have good speed and almost no power (incredibly, they have hit only five homers, three fewer than Brady Anderson), the kind of team that must win with pitching and defense.

On the field: Rookie right-hander Rocky Coppinger was hit above the right ankle by a sharp come-backer off the bat of Jose Offerman in the fourth inning. Coppinger tried to remain in the game, but manager Davey Johnson played it safe by removing him after he fell behind the next batter 3-0.In the dugout: Johnson batted slumping catcher Chris Hoiles in the ninth spot, and Hoiles responded like a cleanup hitter. He homered in his first at-bat and singled his next time up after managing just three hits in his previous 25 at-bats.