AMERICAN LEAGUE: INSIDE THE A.L.: REINSDORF TO CLEAN UP WHITE SOX.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

Expected to contend for the American League Central Division title, the Chicago White Sox have had a disappointing season, on the field and in the clubhouse.

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf recently called the players together and told them their ``country club'' lifestyle had come to an end. Reinsdorf criticized the players for a lack of intensity and said things would be different by spring training next year.

``He's the boss,'' White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said. ``I've heard (New York Yankees owner George) Steinbrenner say things about players. When Reinsdorf speaks, we have to make the adjustments.

``It would be different if he was an owner that had no idea about what's going on. When he backhands you, you have to step up and take it.''

Manuel has been supported all season by GM Ken Williams, but after the season anything can happen, even the dismissal of the popular Manuel.

``I wish (what Reinsdorf) said could have stayed in-house and we could have made our adjustments internally,'' Williams said. ``But we all know that our players like to talk.''

--Stretch run: The Yankees have taken care of the Boston Red Sox, building a 9 1/2-game lead in the AL East. They play the final few weeks of the season against Detroit, Baltimore, the White Sox and Tampa Bay, so manager Joe Torre called a team meeting Friday night, wanting to make sure there was no letdown as the club prepares for the playoffs.

``I'm not Knute Rockne,'' Torre told the New York Daily News. ``I didn't say specifically they had to continue to focus, but I don't think I need to with this team. They have been through this before, so they know how to approach it.''

--Dome sweet dome: Oakland and Minnesota are lined up to play each other in the first round of the playoffs, but A's manager Art Howe isn't thrilled with playing in the Metrodome, where the Twins have the best home winning percentage in the league.

``To me, it's the worst place. It's not baseball. This is a circus,'' Howe told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. ``Fans come to watch major-league baseball. To me, it's not major-league baseball. Balls are lost so frequently. They should paint the ceiling. Lazy fly balls that should be outs in dead center drop 10 feet from the center fielder, and a team loses because of that. That's not major-league baseball.''

--It's all about timing: Probably the biggest reason for Seattle's offensive slump has been its lack of hitting with runners in scoring position. Recently, the Mariners went through a 0-for-27 stretch with runners in scoring position.

``A year ago, whoever came up in a tough situation seemed to deliver, and we got it done night after night,'' second baseman Bret Boone said. ``Right now, it's like everything that can go wrong does.''