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).

Ankiel, Wagner streak to awards

This week's JR Cigars Smokin' Batter of the Week is easily Rick Ankiel. Ankiel's first 6 hits of the season were all home runs, until he was held to only a double in the second game against Sardine City. He came right back the next day though and hit his 7th home run of the season (along with his first 2 singles), then hit his first triple of the season in the second match of Sunday's doubleheader. For the week, Ankiel hit .391 with a ridiculous 1.174 slugging, 5 home runs, 15 RBIs, and 8 runs scored.

Remember last week's batter of the week, Aubrey Huff? Well he hasn't slowed down since winning the award. In fact, if not for Ankiel's historic feat, Huff could have been an early repeat winner. This week, Huff hit .519 with a 1.148 slugging, 4 home runs, 11 runs scored, 8 RBIs, and 5 doubles. Other notable batters: Marietta's Milton Bradley (.429/.529/.821, 10 R, 10 RBI), Carolina's Dustin Pedroia (.441/.486/.647, 2 HR, 6 R), Philly's Mark Teixeira (.429/.568/.786, 6 RBI, 2 HR), and New Jersey's David DeJesus (.407/.500/.704, 10 R, 2 HR).

This week, we award the ShamWow® Pitcher of the Week Award to Vancouver's Billy Wagner. Wagner saved 5 games in 5 appearances, more than doubling his league lead over the rest of the DMBL relievers. Wagner now has 7 saves on the season. In his 5 appearances, Wagner struck out 6 in 6.1 innings, and allowed only one hit. That's as automatic as you get.

Wags faced some pretty stiff competition, not just from the rest of the league, but from his own teammate. Jake Peavy was 1-0 in two starts, with a 1.50 ERA and 11 strikeouts. The unluckiest pitcher this week has to be Ted Lilly of Blue Ridge who only gave up one run in 13 innings, but only has one loss to show for it. Cliff Lee (0-1, 2.35 ERA in 15.1 innings, 15 K) had a similar fate in Arkansas. Some two-game winners this week: Felix Hernandez of Hillsborough (1.38, 14K), Hoboken's Matt Garza (1.93 ERA), Newark's Chien-Ming Wang (2.30), and New Jersey's Kevin Slowey (1.84, 16 K).

Ankiel makes 'em count

We mentioned that Rick Ankiel recently became the first DMBLer to appear as both a pitcher and a position player. Did you know that Ankiel's first hit in his DMBL career was a home run on Opening Day against D.C.? Well that's nothing... Ankiel is now hitting .400 on the season - 4 hits in 10 at bats and all 4 hits are home runs. That works out to a 1.600 slugging percentage! Well, it goes without saying that Ankiel has earned a little more playing time with this performance. He started the season on the bench and now has landed a role starting against right handers.

Mike Mussina's start against the Sugar Bears wasn't very memorable - 6.2 innings, 4 earned runs, 9 Ks - but it was his 363rd career start, moving him past Kevin Brown for 7th overall. His 9 strikeouts brought him to 1997, three shy of becoming only the 7th to 2000 for their career.

Hillsborough won their 5th straight, a 6-3 victory over D.C. yesterday, sending the Hitmen into first place - percentage points ahead of Vancouver. Aubrey Huff was 3-4 with 2 home runs and 3 RBIs to lead the Hitmen, while Felix Hernandez finally put together a good start (6 IP, 9 H, ER, BB, 5K).

Chad Billingsley stymied the slumping Endzone Animals in a 3-1 victory for Vancouver. Billingsley pitched 7.1 innings, allowing only one run on 5 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 8. Billy Wagner again notched a save, his 5th - tops in the league.

Blue Ridge not only lost the game to Amityville 4-2, but also lost catcher Chris Ianetta to injury for the better part of a month. Batting third in the game, Ianetta took the first pitch for a called strike. Ianetta protested, asking how can a pitch that bounced in the dirt be a strike, but the umpire ignored him. The next pitch came in high over Ianetta's head. Ianetta stared down the pitcher Jon Lester and made some kind of off-colored joke about the pitcher's bout with cancer. Lester then uncorked a pitch in at Ianetta's hands sending him to the ground in obvious pain. Ianetta charged the mound, punching Lester with his injured hand and then screamed in pain when he realized it was the one that the ball hit. Blue Ridge signed DMBL retread Jason Kendall to take his spot on the roster.

Amityville earns first franchise victory

Amityville won their first game by battling the Rat Pack through 13 innings. The Ant Slayers held a 2-1 lead through five and a half, but the Rats tied the game up on an Ichiro Suzuki double. The bullpens shut each other out until the top of the 13th when Emanuel Burris and Johnny Damon both hit solo home runs to give the Ant Slayers their first victory.

Sardine City avenged yesterday's loss with a 6-3 win over Team Buddah. Josh Johnson earned the win by striking out 9 in 6.1 innings, surrendering only one run on 4 hits and 2 walks. Miguel Montero was 3-3 and Raul Ibanez had 2 RBIs in the contest. Buddah starter Jamie Moyer, who was rocked for 6 runs in 5 innings was released after the game. "There can be no losing on this team" said manager Matt Nokes. One can only wonder if the entire team will be released by the end of April.

Newark pummeled the Cutters yesterday 11-4 behind Jarrod Saltalamacchia's 4-6 night. Salty only needed a home run to hit for the cycle, but fell short. Bobby Abreu was also 3-3 in the contest and Manny Ramirez had 3 RBIs.

Adam Wainwright stymied the defending champion Iron Fist 5-0 yesterday. Wainwright allowed only 2 hits and struck out 4 in a complete game shut out. The Bombers could only muster five hits themselves but made them count. Chris Ianetta and Nate McLouth each had 2 RBIs.

Forgot to mention yesterday that Arkansas Falcons outfielder Rick Ankiel made his triumphant return to the DMBL, this time as a batter. When last we saw Ankiel way back in 2001, he had looked like a promising member of the Falcons rotation. Hopefully he can stick around more than one year in his new role.