MLB Studs and Duds: First Half
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by user EricByrnesTriesHard
So most teams have hit the 81 game halfway point on the season, and I'm gonna take the time to review some of MLB's best and worst performances in the first half.
Studs
- A-Rod: After a scorching start to the year hes kept it up, leading the majors in HR with 28 on a struggling Yankee team. The Rodriguez haters who talked about his "anti-clutch" home runs of the past are no more; hes hit several game winners this year.
- Ichiro: Hes hitting a sizzling .369 which is tied for best in the majors and has 23 stolen bases. His 39 RBIs and 57 Runs scored have the Mariners still in contention in the AL West.
- Magz Ordonez: Tied for the league lead in batting average with Ichiro, he also has 13 homers and 68 RBIs. An OBP of .446 is best in the AL.
- Matt Holliday: Hitting .350 with good power numbers and an all-star appearance, he's finally getting the respect he deserves.
- Prince Fielder: Twenty seven HRs is best in the NL, and he had that unlikely inside-the-parker a few weeks ago. Already passed his HR total from last year, he's really coming into his own.
- Barry Bonds: On pace for 190 walks, he still has managed 17 long balls en route to 755. He's also hitting over .300 and holds the best OBP in MLB.
- Victor Martinez: An amazing season for a Catcher, he's batting .324 with 14 HR already. Also has the Indians on 100-win pace.
- Jake Peavy and Chris Young: These hurlers have kept San Diego in the NL West race, with ERAs hovering around the 2.00 mark.
- Brad Penny: Best ERA in the majors at 2.00 even. A 10-1 record is carrying the Dodgers.
- C.C. Sabathia: Twelve win is most in MLB and also has the most innings pitched.
Duds
- Julio Lugo: Lugo is batting below the mendoza line. Enough said, really. But when he recently snapped his 33 at-bat hitless streak, he celebrated like he won the World Series.
- Stephen Drew: Hitting just .240 with 4 HR, where has the talent gone? He hit .315 in his 3 month stint in the majors last year. If he picks it up, the D'Backs are still in the race. Teammates Carlos Quentin and Chris Young haven't been much better.
- Andruw Jones: A recent HR puts him above the mendoza line at .201, but his swing is so out of wack it has become comical. Swinging for the fences on every pitch, he's been plain terrible this year.
- Pat Burrell: He's better than Jones, but only by .001 percentage points. At .202, he is killing the Phillies, and reminding us all that he was in his prime 3 years ago. It's all downhill from here.
- Jacque Jones: The Cubs have been desperate to deal Jones, the .227 hitter with 2 HR. Hitting .140 over the last 20 games.
- Anthony Reyes: Started the year a delightful 0-10 for the Cardinals. Was finally put out of his misery and sent to the minors.
- Danny Cabrera: Guy has talent, but can't hit the strike zone to save his life some days. Has an ERA over 5 and leads the majors in BBs and ERs allowed.
- Kevin Millwood: The former Cy Young winner is 5-7 with an ERA of 6.54. What gives? Apparently he just doesn't care anymore.
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