On ESPN's Baseball Tonight Sunday, Harold Reynolds used video footage to highlight that Adrian Beltre is using a more closed stance at the plate this year compared to last year, and this is enabling him to have more plate coverage. Previously, Beltre stood at the plate with his front leg wide, his front foot pointed more toward the mound. He would then close up as the pitch came, but would remain off-balance throughout the swing, particularly on outside pitches.

John Kruk credited George Hendrick for the coaching. I don't know whether Kruk thinks, correctly or incorrectly, that Beltre's stance was changed by Hendrick late last year when Hendrick was interim batting coach, or whether Kruk momentarily forgot that Tim Wallach is now the Dodger batting coach. Either way, I do think the notion that a batting coach can't make a difference, as so many people that I respect seem to believe, remains dubious.

I noticed a few bad swings by Beltre during the Montreal series, but never enough to form a pattern. With Beltre posting a good overall weekend in the No. 3 slot, you have to wonder where will he land when erstwhile No. 3 outfielder Milton Bradley returns to the lineup.

Dodger manager Jim Tracy may well be willing to coronate the emerging Beltre as the team's best hitter and keep him at No. 3, but only if he's willing to drop Bradley or Shawn Green to No. 5. This shouldn't be a problem on paper, but here's hoping those two are mature enough to handle it.

Tracy could also consider placing Green, whose biggest strength with his shoulder problems is his .394 on-base percentage, at No. 3 and Beltre at No. 4.

Beltre is fifth in the NL in EQA (.348), according to Baseball Prospectus.

Update: His stats since August 1, 2003: 317 plate appearances, 90 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, 23 home runs, 15 walks + HBP, .298 batting average, .331 on-base percentage, .576 on-base percentage, .907 OPS.