On the bright side, right-hander Armando Galarraga continues to exceed expectations, and right-hander Eddie Bonine is similar, a savvy strike thrower who keeps his team in games. Third baseman Carlos Guillen is playing better defensively, left fielder Marcus Thames has hit 15 home runs in 148 at-bats and center fielder Curtis Granderson had a monster June, batting .364-.406-.556.

A's Harden: The great humiliator

A's general manager Billy Beane says Dwight Gooden and Rich Harden are the two most dominant pitchers he has seen, putting them ahead of even Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson.

"I'm not saying they're better — that's not my point — but when you see Rich and Doc at the right time, hitters look defeated," Beane says. "When Clemens was dominant, when Randy Johnson was dominant, they would blow people away. But guys would still take swings up there like they thought they were going to get 'em.

"You see them take swings off Rich, and it's like, 'If I make an out on the first pitch, OK, I'm fine, I know when I'm overmatched.' On that given day, he can humble guys. It's like, 'I've got no shot to get this guy. I've got to get lucky.'"

Is Beane simply pumping up Harden's trade value? Perhaps, but it's doubtful that any team will meet Beane's price, considering Harden's injury history and the A's status as a contender. The A's, whose run differential is the third-best in the AL, will continue assuming the risk with Harden if no team makes them a knockout offer; Harden is earning a mere $4.5 million this season, and the club holds a $7 million option on him for 2009.

The evolution of 'Wash'

As the Astros are discovering with Cecil Cooper, new managers often are overwhelmed in their first and even second seasons on the job. The Rangers, however, are being rewarded for their patience with second-year manager Ron Washington, whose team has gone 36-25 since its 7-16 start.

A scout who saw the Rangers recently says of Washington: "He's calmer. He's slowing the game down." A Rangers official agrees, saying that Washington is more comfortable and at ease. The team's poor play earlier in the season put Washington's job in jeopardy, but there is none of that talk now.

The Rangers will be a team to watch at the deadline, acting as both a possible buyer for bullpen help and seller of veteran talent. Right-hander Vicente Padilla, the subject of inquiries from the Mets, Yankees and Brewers, among other clubs, is perhaps their most intriguing commodity. The Rangers, however, only would move Padilla if they received quality young pitching in return.

Padilla, who turns 31 on Sept. 27, is on pace to produce 14-plus wins and 200-plus innings for the fourth time. His contract — $11 million this season and $12 million next season with a $12 million option for 2010 — isn't terribly excessive for that type of performance. And his makeup, an issue in previous stops, has not been a problem in Texas.

Around the horn

It's still early, but the Reds surely are surprised that no team is showing interest in Dunn, who boasts an .889 OPS and is just short of being on pace for his fifth straight 40-homer season. The problem is, none of the AL contenders has an obvious need at DH and most NL teams consider Dunn a defensive liability. Still, power hitters are difficult to find, particularly now that baseball is testing for performance-enhancing drugs . . .

How serious are the Mariners about revamping their club? Let's see what they do with third baseman Adrian Beltre. The A's like Beltre, and the Dodgers would be another potential fit. Beltre, 29, offers defense and power, but his career OBP is only .326. He is signed for $12 million this season and $12 million next season, and his limited no-trade clause enables him to block deals to eight clubs. It is not known which teams are on that list . . .

Virtually every contender is looking for a left-handed reliever; the Yankees have been without one almost all season. Rockies closer Brian Fuentes tops the list of lefties who may be available, followed by the Pirates' Damaso Marte. The Royals' Ron Mahay already is drawing significant interest, and the Orioles could get value for George Sherrill if they were willing to move him. Sherrill, though, might have peaked; he has blown two straight saves . . .

The prevailing wisdom is that the Cubs' farm system isn't deep enough for them to land a pitcher such as Sabathia, but rating prospects often is tricky. Not long ago, center fielder Felix Pie and left-hander Rich Hill were two of the Cubs' top youngsters. Neither has become the player the club envisioned, while catcher Geovany Soto, shortstop Ryan Theriot and reliever Carlos Marmol — a converted catcher/outfielder — have greatly exceeded expectations . . .

Among other things, the Mets need bench help. Too many of their reserves — Damion Easley, Marlon Anderson, Fernando Tatis and now Andy Phillips — are similar types. Older. Lacking speed. Mostly sub-par defensively. Trot Nixon was another example before going on the disabled list with a strained left groin . . .

Just as the Red Sox, without Ortiz, are a better defensive club when Ramirez is the DH, the White Sox are improved defensively with Nick Swisher taking over for the injured Paul Konerko at first and Brian Anderson and DeWayne Wise alternating in center. But the White Sox's preference is for Konerko to return healthy and productive. Ditto, of course, for the Red Sox and Ortiz.