Detroit Tigers Links: Nick Castellanos getting comfortable in left field & Jose Valverde works out in Lakeland

Detroit Tigers prospect Nick Castellanos says he gets more comfortable in left field every day
MLive, Chris Iott
On a related note, Andy Dirks has gotten off to a slow start, but a .214 BABIP hasn't helped.

Former -- possibly future -- Tigers closer Jose Valverde works out in Lakeland today
Detroit Free Press, Dick Scanlon
If Valverde is truly hitting 95+ mph on the radar gun again, this is very good news.

Tigers showing patience at plate -- best in MLB, in fact
The Detroit News, Tom Gage
But you already knew that, right?

Torii Hunter Defying the BABIP Odds for Detroit Tigers
Motor City Bengals, Matt Snyder

"He’s already pounded out 14 hits – the team lead – including six multi-hit days in seven games. His BABIP is .500. That number is sure to regress, but we don’t know where."

Around the AL Central:

Sweepin' It Up
Royals Review, Clark Fosler

"Hell, even me starting this game recap early could not phase the 2013 Royals. Win, sweep, first place."

Nationals 5, White Sox 2: Gavin gonna Gavin!
South Side Sox
Apparently this game was slightly delayed because the umpires were stuck in traffic. Knowing D.C., I'm surprised they're not still stuck on the Beltway.

Paul Konerko redefines challenges, expectations
ESPN SweetSpot Blog, Christina Kahrl

"Except that Konerko apparently had very different ideas of what he was capable of doing as he headed toward his mid-30s, and in the past three years, he provided an example not only of the limits of what sabermetrics can reasonably assert about player performance, but showed that much of what a player can do lies in his own hands."

Kevin Correia: A Pleasant Surprise
Twinkie Town, Alex Kienholz

"For some reason Correia has been nothing short of fantastic in 2013. He has a 3.14 ERA, to go along with a FIP of 3.03."

Elsewhere in Baseball:

The Branch Rickey Miracle
Baseball Nation, Steven Goldman

"Jackie Robinson deservedly is credited as a pioneering hero, but the man who put him in the position to do so risked a great deal as well."

Scott Sizemore diagnosed with re-torn ACL in left knee
HardballTalk, Drew Silva
Man, dude can't catch a break.