AMERICAN LEAGUE AROUND THE HORN: GONZALEZ SEES DOLLAR SIGNS,BUT NO PITCHES.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - There is big money in big offensive numbers. So one can imagine how Juan Gonzalez feels.

Of all the ballparks built for home runs, Detroit's Comerica Park has gained a reputation as a pitcher's park. The Tigers pitchers might like the idea, but Gonzalez is in his free-agent year. If his numbers take a hit, so will his leverage in contract negotiations.

But not to worry, Tigers fans. Gonzalez is a team player, right?

Guess again.

Word around the league is that Gonzalez is so concerned with numbers, pitchers are pitching him differently to take advantage of his selfishness.

Angels pitcher Scott Schoeneweis made that clear after he pitched against the Tigers last week. Gonzalez came to the plate in the sixth inning with two on and two out. With the Tigers trailing by two, Gonzalez represented the go-ahead run.

Of course, any smart pitcher would be careful with Gonzalez, but Schoeneweis' comments implied that Gonzalez doesn't believe taking a walk will help his contract run.

``They're telling us he wants RBI,'' Schoeneweis said. ``He might swing at pitches out of the zone, so just keep it out of the zone.''

Schoeneweis kept it out of the zone, Gonzalez swung and flied out. Gonzalez, who wore out his welcome with the Rangers before being traded, is hitting .245 with three homers and six RBI.

--Are you listening, Piazza? While with the Dodgers, catcher Mike Piazza insisted he wouldn't switch positions to prolong his career. Once a catcher, always a catcher.

But now the best catcher in baseball is saying he will move from behind the plate in the not-to-distant future.

Ivan Rodriguez has won eight Gold Gloves and he's only 28, but he could make a move at age 31 or 32.

``I'm not going to play catcher my whole career,'' said Rodriguez, the AL MVP last year. ``I'm going to play another position. I'm going to start working a little bit at other positions, take some ground balls, do some things. We'll see.''

If he stayed at catcher, he could conceivably end his career in 10 years or so regarded as the best catcher ever. But he's afraid the grind of the position would hurt his offensive numbers.

``I'm sure I could put up more numbers if I played another position,'' he said. ``Right now, I'm very happy being behind the plate, but later, we'll see what happens.''

Where would he play? Third? First? Actually, he sees himself more as a second baseman, a la Craig Biggio, who made the switch from catcher to second.

``He's a good athlete, he has good hands and a good arm,'' Rangers coach Bucky Dent said. ``It would be a matter of him learning to play over there. Biggio did it. I think (Rodriguez) could, too.''

--Indians have competition: In recent years, the AL Central has been pretty much a joke. The Indians were a lock to win the division, and the only playoff hopes any other team in the division had would be as the wild card.

The White Sox, though, are off to a fast start and seem to believe they'll compete with Cleveland all season.

At 17-7, Chicago not only leads the Indians (13-7) by two games in the standings, they have the best record in the American League. The team is young, but refuse to call this season a rebuilding year.

``We're not necessarily playing for development, but to win,'' White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said. ``We're close. I feel that.''

One thing is almost certain about the AL Central. Someone named Manuel will be the division-winning manager. Cleveland's manager is Charlie Manuel (no relation).

--Short hops: The Angels' Troy Glaus has a chance to win the first Gold Glove by a third baseman in franchise history. His primary competition will be the Yankees' Scott Brosius. . . . No juiced baseball? Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick has seven homers and 29 RBI in 23 games, a pace for 49 homers and 204 RBI. . . . Do the Mariners miss Ken Griffey Jr.? The new Safeco Field has something to do with it, but the M's are averaging 35,954 fans per game this season, nearly 10,000 more than they averaged at this time last season. Also, they're in first place.