AMERICAN LEAGUE: AROUND THE HORN WHITE SOX RELYING ON YOUNG ARMS.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

CHICAGO - The White Sox have four starting pitchers with at least 10 victories, but general manager Ron Schueler continues to be the target of criticism for not adding another one for the stretch run.

James Baldwin leads the staff with 14 wins, Mike Sirotka has 13, and Jim Parque and Cal Eldred each have 10.

But Eldred is currently on the disabled list and so is rookie Jon Garland. Baldwin also was hurt for a while, leaving the White Sox to rely on a group of young starters, who have struggled.

Schueler did sign veteran Ken Hill, but that was a short-lived experiment: Hill already has been released.

Through it all, the White Sox have held off the surging Indians, holding onto a 7 1/2-game lead.

``Our young pitchers have gotten us through 130 games, and we're doing fine,'' Schueler said. ``We've got the biggest (division) lead (in the American League) and these kids are getting better and better every time out.''

--Sit, Pauly, sit: One trade that Schueler did make was acquiring left-handed DH Harold Baines from the Orioles, a move which has reduced the playing time of ex-Dodger Paul Konerko.

Konerko was batting .301 with 13 homers and 66 RBI on July 31, when the trade was pulled off. But with Baines taking a lot of his at-bats, Konerko has struggled, hitting .264 with three homers and 12 RBI in August.

``It doesn't help,'' said Konerko, who must now sit about two games per week so Baines can get his at-bats.

Baines hasn't exactly thrived in his role either, batting .214 with one homer and eight RBI in 14 games since the trade.

--Indian uprising: Even if they don't catch the White Sox, Cleveland seems to be favored to win the wild card.

Having won the past five AL Central division titles with ease, August usually has been a time for the Indians to put it in cruise-control and get ready for the playoffs. This year they've had to win in August and responded by going 18-10.

``We're in a position now where every game is like a postseason game,'' catcher Sandy Alomar said. ``We haven't been in this position before. The last five years we've been in first place and had a big lead. Now we come to the ballpark every day knowing we have to win that game.''

--After further review: While watching videotape of their fight with the Red Sox, the Devil Rays noticed what they believed to be ``sucker punches'' being delivered by Red Sox first baseman Brian Daubach. That's why they threw at Daubach throughout the rest of the game. The Devil Rays sent the videotape to the league office for review.

Also, a few Devils Rays players, including Gerald Williams, reportedly waited in a stadium tunnel for Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez. Martinez hit Williams with a pitch in the first inning, setting off the hostilities.

Williams, who eventually left before Martinez came out, said he was waiting for Martinez so he could speak to him.

--If you rebuild it, he will come: If the Tigers want to re-sign outfielder Juan Gonzalez, they had better call that construction company that built Comerica Park.

During an 8-4 loss to the Mariners recently, Gonzalez had a deep fly ball caught on the warning track in left-center and Dean Palmer had a potential game-tying grand slam caught in the same area.

Left-center field at Comerica is 398 feet from home plate and center field is 420 feet away. After the game, Gonzalez cursed the ballpark and walked away from reporters.

Gonzalez has said he is ``80-percent'' sure he'll return to Detroit if the fences are moved in. Tigers owner Mike Ilitch is considering it, though it seems he hasn't consulted the Tigers pitching staff.