So it's now time for my first (of hopefully many) installments of "Studs and Duds" where we take a look around professional sports and other areas to give a shout out or a jeer to, our favorite studs and duds. Are you a stud or a dud? Let's find out...
STUDS:
Fry is a stud.
Raul Ibanez, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
When the Phillies signed Ibanez, they assumed he's fill the void left by the departed Pat Burrell. And since Ibanez is usually a lock for around 25 homeruns and 100 RBIs, the thinking was he'd be a perfect fit in the friendly confines of Citizen Bank Park. But how could they envision this? By June 16th, Ibanez is hitting .322 with 22 (twenty two!) homers and 59 RBIs. A stud if ever there was one. Well done, Raul!
Victor Martinez, C, Cleveland Indians
Martinez suffered through a horrendous injury-plagued season last year, wherein he only hit two homeruns. This year, however, he's turned himself completely around, raking for an impressive .341 average, 11 homers and 49 RBIs. The Indians have disappointed, but it's not this guys fault. Stud.
AdrianGonzalez, 1B, San Diego Padres
The Padres have had their share of ups and downs this year, but A-Gone has been the rock at the center of their lineup, leading the National League in homeruns with 22, while hitting a solid .277. Only 43 RBIs point to a lack of baserunners getting on in front of this stud hitter.
Artie Lang (STUD) & Joe Buck (DUD)
Joe Buck has a late night tv show. I was not aware of this until he had Artie Lang guest star on it. Lang proceeded to rip Buck apart in front of a live studio audience. It was hilarious. After Buck ill-advisedly decried Langs girth, Lang proceeded to deliver knock-out punch after knock-out punch about Bucks show and personality. TMZ.com has a hilarious segment from the after-show, but I think Michael Irvin described it best: "It's refreshing to see some white-on-white crime."
Artie Lang. Awesome.
Joe Mauer, C, Minnesota Twins
JoeMauerhasquietly put up some incredible numbers since returning early on in the season from injuries. The Twins back stop has been nearly unstoppable, hitting 13 homeruns and knocking in 40 runs. But what's really earned him stud honors is his .415 batting average as of June 16th. If he's still hitting over .400 after the all-star break, we'll be starting the Ted Williams-watch post haste. Well done Joe.
Zack Grienke, SP, Kansas City Royals
Royals wonderboy Zack Grienke is finally living up to his vast potential, coming out of the gate firing 95 mph heaters with pinpoint accuracy. Grienke has jumped out to an 8-2 mark, with a 1.82 earned run average, striking out 97 batters in 94 innings. He's the early Cy Young favorite and an absolute stud.
JonathanBroxton,Closer, Los Angeles Dodgers
I envy Joe Torre. For a number of reasons. But it's got to be great going from Mo Rivera on the Yankees to Jon Broxton on the Dodgers. Father Joe hasn't had to worry about a closer since 1996. And it's no different in 2009 with Broxy ripping off a 6-0 mark, a 1.41 ERA, 16 saves and a perfectly ridiculous 0.69 WHiP (walks-hits-innings pitched ratio.)
Mark Sanchez, QB, New York Jets
Really, this shout out should go to the Jets organization as a whole, for not only having the temerity to trade up in the draft to get the guy they wanted, but also to make sure they signed him early - way early. Sanchez will be in camp and ready to go with no lingering contract issues. That is how you do it, Oakland. Not to mention that the kid parlayed a paltry 10 starts at USC into 28 million guaranteed. Mark Sanchez = stud.
A little something for the ladies. He's got $28 million guaranteed.
Derek Jeter, SS, New York Yankees
The Yankee captain had gotten a bit of a bad rap in the off-season, saying he was getting on in years and is on the decline. Well, Jeter, with the same quiet dignity he's done everything in his career with, said nothing and let his bat do the talking. Jeter is hitting .310 with 9 homers, 30 RBIs and 13 stolen bases (only being caught once.) The Cap is back. Plus, he just got engaged to Minka Kelly. Stud.
Pittsburgh Penguins and Evgeni Malkin
Malkin had 36 points in the post-season, the most since Wayne Gretzky had 40 for the Kings in 1993. He led the Penguins in an impressive and improbable run through the NHL playoff gauntlet, capped with a grueling seven game slugfest with defending champ Detroit. The Pens and Malkin came out on top and hopefully renewed some fan interest in hockey. Well done boys.
JJ Abrams, Leonard Nimoy and the new Star Trek
You're dead, Jim.
Now, I'm not much of a trekker or trekkie or whatever it is you call 'em. But I will say this: JJ Abrams vision of reinventing the Star Trek series with an entirely new cast was sheer genius. It was like the old Star Trek, except it had an infusion of pure awesomeness. If you haven't seen it yet, go out and see it. It's by far the best movie of the summer. And crafty Leonard Nimoy found a way to indellibly attach himself to it for the long haul, while leaving Fatner in his dust - well done Leonard. Studs abound.
Nelson Cruz, RF, Texas Rangers
In the wake of Josh Hamilton's injury problems and Chris Davis's massive strike out numbers, you'd think the Texas Rangers offensive would suffer. But then, you've never met Nelson Cruz. Expected to platoon with the likes of Marlon Byrd and Andruw Jones, Cruz has exploded this season with a .278 average, 17 homers, 43 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. You go Nelson. Stud.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, New York Yankees
Big Tex is certainly proving he was well worth the money the Yanks invested in him. With pitching stars CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett underperforming, A-Rod being hurt and Girardi being stupid, the Yanks could certainly be struggling. But Tex has seen to it that they aren't, with gold glove caliber defense not seen in NY since the days of Mattingly and Hernandez, and with a big bat that's blasting baseballs to the tune of a .284 average, a AL leading 20 homers and 54 RBIs. Well done Big Tex.
The 2009 Lakers, Kobe and Phil Jackson
Clearly LeBron was missed in the finals, as Dwight Howard and his Orlando Magic were not even close to up to the task of taking on a determined Mamba and his crew. The 09 Lakers dismantled the Magic in five games - a five game sweep some people are calling it - and that's as accurate a description as anything. Kobe was merciless as ever in winning the MVP along with his 4th title - and first Shaqless title. And Phil Jackson notched his stunning 10th overall title. A bunch of studs if ever there was. Nicely done. But enough with the crotch grabbin' Kobe. We all know it's there.
That's right. We bad. We bad.
BACON
Bacon is just awesome.
Honorable Mentions - STUDS:
Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis: .324 22 HR 57 RBI 9 SB
Jason Bay, OF, Boston: .286 17 HR 61 RBI 5 SB
Justin Upton, OF, Arizona: .306 12 HR 37 RBI 9 SB
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Washington: .311 12 HR 42 RBI
Ben Zobrist, 2B, Tampa Bay: .309 13 HR 38 RBI 8 SB
Juan Pierre, OF, Los Angeles: .343 21 RBI 16 SB
Roy Halladay, SP, Toronto: 10-1, 2.53 ERA
Matt Cain, SP, San Francisco: 9-1, 2.39 ERA
Frankie Rodriguez, RP, New York: 16 saves, 0.57 ERA
Heath Bell, RP, San Diego, 18 saves, only 1 blown save, 1.32 ERA
Justin Verlander, Det (7-2), Jason Marquis, Col (8-4), Kevin Slowey, Min (9-2)
Tune in tomorrow when we take a look at this year's DUDS from around sports and beyond!
But for now, in closing, our final stud of the day:
Hugh Hefner
The eighty three (83) year old Playboy tycoon recently revealed in an interview that two of his three current blond lovers, 19 year old identical twins Karissa and Kristina Shannon are so identical that he cannot tell the two apart, although he admits that one does have a 'special mole' that the other one does not.
