Huff sets eyes on MVP prize

Yes, we're still recovering from a nice long holiday weekend, but we'll fulfill our solemn duty to name our award winners anyway.

The JR Cigars Smokin' Batter of the Week can go to no other than Aubrey Huff, our first half MVP frontrunner. Sure we'd like to give the award to someone else and spread the love, but when Huff puts up numbers like he does, what can you do? Huff hit .434 with a .500 OBP and .962 slugging (all tops for the two week period). He hit 8 homers, scored 15 runs, and drove in 12.

His competition consisted of Arkansas' David Wright (.390/.463/.780, 6 HR, 18 R, 13 RBI), Hoboken's Adam Dunn (.355/.487/1.097, 7 homers, 9 R, 10 RBI), and Philadelphia's Mark Teixeira (.347/.407/.673, 4 HR, 12 RBI). We have to give a hearty pat on the back ot D.C.'s Casey Kotchman who has admirably filled in for Todd Helton, who is currently on the DL. Kotchman hit .360/.373/.560 this week.

Our Part-time Powerhouse has to be Arkansas' Rick Ankiel who hit 7 home runs in 28 at bats. Ankiel hit .500/.588/1.286, scored 13 runs, and drove in 14 runners. Not bad for a platoon guy!

The pitching side wasn't so cut and dried though, but for the second straight time, we're voting a Sardine City Straphanger to the prize. This time it's lefty Cole Hamels who takes the My Cat Hates You Pitcher of the Week Award. Hamels first start was a 1-0, 1-hit blanking of Amityville. Hamels fell just one out shy of a complete game shutout. But karma is a nasty thing and Hamels ended up on the losing end of another 1-0 duel with Brandon Webb and Philadelphia. Hamels only allowed 3 hits in the complete game loss. In his third start, at least Hamels got some run support - 8 runs in fact! - and got the W in an 8-3 win over Las Vegas. For the two weeks, Hamels was 2-1, with a 1.52 ERA, 0.51 WHIP and 20 strikeouts in 23.2 innings.

Josh Beckett provided the main competition (1-0, 1.52, 0.93 WHIP, 23 K), but there were others: Blue Ridge's Gavin Floyd (2-1, 1.99, 1.01), and Jake Peavy of Vancouver (2-0, 1.48, 1.03).