The second rookie is Mike Morse, who is taking SS, a previously disputed position that was played by Rich Aurilia and Willie Bloomquist. Morse has only played in 32 games and had 102 at-bats, but in this, he has batted .343 with 35 hits.

The next changes were Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson, both of whom are adapting from the NL/AL change. Adrian has come to settle the "disputed" position of third base, which had been played by several players in 2004, including Scott Spiezio and Willie Bloomquist. Beltre closed last year with a .334 batting average in 598 at-bats playing for the Dodgers. Going into the All-Star Break this year for the M's, Beltre was batting .261 in 322 at-bats. Not quite the same path, wouldn't you say? But adjusting to a new league with new pitchers is a big change.

Richie Sexson is also taking this change hard. Sexson, in his final year with the Brewers to date, batted .272 with 45 HR. Now, with the M's, he is batting .258 with 18 HR in 298 at-bats. Once again, not quite on track, but it is a big change, and hopefully, by next year, Sexson and Beltre will both be settled to the

Next is injuries. Bucky Jacobson and Dan Wilson are both injured. Wilson is likely to retire sometime soon, and Bucky has a very ruined career, and failed to be traded. Pokey Reese and Travis Blackley were also injured. Reese was going to be a shortstop, and Blackley another pitcher. Finally, there was Rafael Soriano, who was yet another injured player. He was going to be a pitcher also. Soriano should be back before the playoffs.