By Gary Brooks
SportsLine Baseball Editor

Fernandez displays rare switch-hitting consistency

That 36-year-old Tony Fernandez is leading the American League in hitting at .389 is astounding. That he has done it as a consistent switch hitter is a rarity.

Fernandez is one of just six switch-hitters -- out of 58 on active rosters Wednesday -- who hit better than .300 from both sides of the plate.

The Toronto infielder has been sizzlin' all season, hitting .404 (46 for 114) left-handed and .361 (22 for 61) right-handed.

Jose Offerman is one of just six switch-hitters batting better than .300 from both sides of the plate. (AP)

Of the 58 switch-hitters, about 13 percent of all batters, only 12 were hitting .300 overall. For the most part, it's tough for a switch-hitter to hit for a high average because most are better from one side of the plate than the other.

Combined, the switch hitters have hit .273 batting left-handed and .243 right-handed.

The small group over .300 from each side:

• Tony Fernandez, Toronto, .404 LH, .361 RH
  
• Bernie Williams, N.Y. Yankees, .321 LH, .364 RH
  
• Jose Offerman, Boston, .333 LH, .317 RH
  
• Roberto Alomar, Cleveland, .319 RH, .333 LH
  
• Omar Vizquel, Cleveland, .327 LH, .308 RH
  
• Stan Javier, San Francisco, .304 LH, .311 RH
  

More often, the averages vary more than just a bit. There are a handful of regulars who may want to follow J.T. Snow's lead and chuck the switch-hitting, sticking to the side that has the best results.

Here's a look at some quality big leaguers whose averages are more than 100 points worse from one side compared to the other:

• Carl Everett, Houston, .429 RH, .262 LH
  
• Neifi Perez, Colorado, .333 LH, .193 RH
  
• Todd Hundley, Los Angeles, .248 LH, .111 RH
  
• Jose Vizcaino, Los Angeles, .303 LH, .154 RH
  
• Chili Davis, N.Y. Yankees, .351 LH, .244 RH
  
• David Segui, Seattle, .290 LH, .167 RH
  
• Mark McLemore, Texas, .367 LH, .161 RH
  
• Jose Vidro, Montreal, .346 LH, .210 RH
  
• Roger Cedeno, N.Y. Mets, .345 LH, .176 RH
  

As you can see, even more rare than a consistent switch-hitter is one who hits better from the right side than the left. With the majority of pitchers being right-handed it's no surprise that averages are higher from the left side because batters get more swings from there developing a better swing and eye.

Switch-hitting wasn't extremely popular until Mickey Mantle came along in 1951 and started hitting tape-measure home runs from each side of the plate. Then came Pete Rose, Eddie Murray and a flood of light-hitting Latin players looking for any advantage they could find.

Not many power hitters swing from both sides. Atlanta's Chipper Jones, Tony Clark in Detroit, Hundley and 1996 NL MVP Ken Caminiti are about it for the 30-plus homer potential.

HOUSTON SECOND BASEMAN CRAIG BIGGIO doesn't have much of an idea about switch-hitting but he is right on when it comes to discussing interleague play, which begins its third go-round Friday.

"Perhaps it would be better if we spread it around a bit so we didn't play the Central every year -- maybe we could play the East one year and the West another year so it would be more exciting," Biggio said.

Exactly. When the interleague play was OK'd the idea was to give fans in National League East cities a chance to see Ken Griffey Jr. and fans in AL West cities a chance to watch the Braves pitching.

But for the third straight season the AL East will play the NL East and so on.

It's time to shake interleague play up. The Yankees-Mets, Cubs-White Sox and Dodgers-Angels series may be intriguing but how many Yankees fans are excited to see the Expos and Marlins for a third straight season?

Of course, alternative plans are never easy to settle on, but the current mix is getting a bit stale.

Sizzlin' ... the countdown

The Pittsburgh Pirates' move back above .500 has come partially because of the pitching of closer Mike Williams. Williams has given up earned runs in just two of his past 22 appearances and has 11 saves with a 1.69 ERA. In Atlanta, John Rocker was outstanding in May saving nine of 10 opportunities, giving up just one run in 15 innings. The Texas Rangers' hot streak has come with good bullpen work, including a current 16-appearance streak in which Tim Crabtree has not given up a run. That's a club record.

Boston went 20-8 in May, its best month in 13 years. No need to look past the stars to document why. Pedro Martinez was selected the AL pitcher of the month and Nomar Garciaparra was the league player of the month. Martinez went 6-0 with a 1.84 ERA, 69 strikeouts and only nine walks. Garciaparra returned from nagging injuries to hit .355 (39-110), with 10 home runs, 33 RBI and 26 runs.

Ivan Rodriguez, maybe the most valuable Ranger, took a 20-game hitting streak into Wednesday. Seattle's Alex Rodriguez started the season 0-for-6 before landing on the DL with torn knee cartilage. Since he returned, Seattle is 10-7 and his average is at .370. Cubs outfielder Henry Rodriguez has driven in 21 runs in his past 18 games. That stretch has included eight home runs, two that won games in the ninth inning.

A few weeks ago it appeared that all any team would have to do to win the AL West would be finish a few games above .500. With the Texas Rangers having won eight in a row to get to 31-20, they may not have to play any better than .500 the rest of the season to wrap up the division title.

Not only is Tony Fernandez among the best fielding infielders ever, but, late in his career, he's developed into one of the most consistent switch-hitter in the majors.

Fizzlin' ... the countdown

The New York Mets had their chance to make a move on Atlanta while the Braves had John Smoltz on the disabled list and Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine were pitching like mediocre journeyman. The Mets couldn't gain any ground though and have lost five in a row, falling five games back, while the Braves have been strengthened by the return of Smoltz.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Dante Bichette is in a 1-for-27 slump that has earned him a couple days off.

Last year, David Wells pitched a perfect game at Yankee Stadium on Beanie Baby Day and went on to have the best year of his career. This season, in Toronto, Wells has had far from perfect control. He's walked 27 batters, compared to 29 all of last season, and is 5-5.

The Anaheim Angels have had numerous problems, mostly injury related, but another thing that has them 6 1/2 games behind Texas is the lack of offense they've received from first baseman/outfielder Darin Erstad. The Angels need Erstad to setup their offense from the leadoff spot and he hasn't had a good run of success yet. After an 0-for-4 Tuesday, Erstad is in a 5-for-35 skid that has his batting average down to .228.

It's time to shuffle interleague play.