Gracies and Neifis: Week 6

Well at least the Cubs avoided being swept yesterday, not to mention it was nice to see another outstanding performance from Ted Lilly not go to waste.

I had fun at Thursday's game, although the outcome sucked pretty bad. I'll have a full recap of my day along with some crappy photos I took later this week.

Week Six (5/7 - 5/13)

THE GRACIES - The cream of the crop this past week

Dan Johnson (Oak - 1B) - Just to forewarn you, this week's edition of G&N appears to be full of guys that will leave you scratching you head. At the top of that list is Oakland first baseman Dan Johnson. Johnson went 12-22 this week with 3 homers. Dan is currently riding a 13-game hitting streak.

Jack Cust (Oak - OF) - Jack had bounced around between 4 teams in 6 years before landing in Oakland this year. Since being brought in as the replacement DH for the injured Mike Piazza, Cust has been on a tear that includes hitting 5 home runs in his last 4 ballgames.

Gary Matthews Jr. (LAA - OF) - Little Sarge is working hard at silencing the critics. This past week, Matthews hit 4 home runs and 11 RBI.

Mike Lowell (Bos - 3B) - Here's a guy who's seen a nice little resurgence so far this season. Lowell hit .421 this week with 3 homers and 9 RBI

Ken Griffey Jr. (Cin - OF) - Griffey continues to knock the cover off the ball, hitting 3 more home runs this week. Unfortunately his monster output hasn't equated into a lot of wins for Cincy as of late.

Brad Penny (LAD - SP) - Once again, Penny is pitching lights out early in the season. In two starts this week against Florida and Cincinatti, Brad gave up just one run on 9 hits and 1 walk over the course of 13 1/3 innings. Penny struck out 18 as well.

Kelvim Escobar (LAA - SP) - Escobar pitched a gem on Thursday against the Indians, striking out 9 en route to a complete game shutout.

Jason Marquis (ChC - SP) - Like countless other Cub fans, I've recanted any and all horrible things I've said about Marquis. Jason continues to look nothing like the guy we saw in St. Louis. On Wednesday he threw a 3-hit complete game shutout against the Pirates. There was a third CGSHO this week thrown by Jose Contreras as well.


THE NEIFIS - Desperately in need of a Slumpbuster

Rocco Baldelli (TB - OF) - After a fairly productive April, the Woonsocket Rocket has drastically flown off course. Rocco was a dismal 1 for 24 this week and is 3 for 49 (.061 AVG) so far in the month of May.

Delmon Young (TB - OF) - The right side of Tampa Bay's outfield isn't doing much better. Young went 2 for 23 on the week and has shown very little pop on offense. Perhaps someone should fling a bat his way to get him fired up.

Ivan Rodriguez (Det - C) - Apparently Pudge has forgotten how to hit. Rodriguez is only batting .238 right now and has struck out 24 times and walked just once. This past week he managed only 1 hit in 15 at bats.

Morgan Ensberg (Hou - 3B) - There really never seems to be an in between for Morgan. Either he's completely destroying the ball, or he's slumping something fierce. Currently, the latter would be the case as Ensberg was 1 for 18 this week.

Jacque Jones (ChC - OF) - Dammit Jock! A 2 for 20 week isn't going to help the team or your trade value!

Denny Bautista (Col - RP) - I'm not sure you can have a worse week as a reliever. Before being sent down to AAA, Denny made three appearances this past week and amassed 13 hits, 11 earned runs and one loss, in get this, 1.0 inning pitched!

Victor Zambrano (Tor - SP) - Unlike Roy Halladay, Zambrano hitting the DL is probably a good thing. Before he was placed on there, Victor managed to get shellacked by the Red Sox, giving up 8 ER on 4 homers in just 2 2/3 innings. Poor Toronto. I don't think there's been a team where the wheels have come off faster this season. Then again, if they honestly expected a decent output from Victor, then they apparently never spoke to any Mets fans.

Livan Hernandez (Ari - SP) - The guy can still eat up innings, but that's about all you can say for him any more. At what point is it revealed that he's actually 42 years old instead of 32?