In a futile attempt to revive a short-lived feature I started back at TMS long ago, I bring you the Gracies and Neifis, 2010 Edition. Basically it's a "Who's hot and Who's not" in the world of baseball over the past week. I think I made it to week nine last time I tried this before giving up. This time I'm determined to at least get to week ten before I more than likely give up.

Week Three (4/19 - 4/25)

THE GRACIES - The cream of the crop this past week

CATCHER: Kurt Suzuki (OAK) - Kurt got Saturday and Sunday off, but he came up huge earlier in the week going 6/14 in 4 games with 3 home runs and 7 RBI.  Looks like Oakland may have the next Terry Steinbach on their hands.

FIRST BASE: Kendry Morales (LAA) - Someone get a bucket of water, this Cuban kid is on fire! 13/24 this past week (.524 AVG) with 3 homers and 10 RBI.  The Angels are like some international A-Team.  You got Morales (Cuban), Matsui (Japanese), Hunter (Black), and Abreu (Venezuelan).  Then you got Brandon Wood as the nerdy white guy with no discernible skills.  Brandon gets to drive the van, sometimes.

SECOND BASE: Kelly Johnson (ARI) - After an abysmal season last year, most folks had written off Kelly Johnson.  The remaining few asked "Who the hell is Kelly Johnson?"  Well take notice now, as Kelly has been rejuvenated in the Arizona desert.  Jay Bell eat your heart out.

THIRD BASE: Mark Reynolds (ARI) - .421 AVG on the week with 3 homers and 11 RBI.  Mark even swiped a bag.  The D-Backs are always happy when Reynolds can get more hits than strikeouts in a week.

SHORTSTOP: Ryan Theriot (CHC) - What a difference a week makes.  After Monday's game in New York, Theriot's AVG had plummeted to .222 while his OBP was .271.  Not exactly "lead-off" material. One week and five straight multi-hit games later, Theriot has brought both numbers up to a robust .329 and .372 respectively.

OUTFIELD: Ryan Braun (MIL), Michael Bourn (HOU), Colby Rasmus (STL) - It's an all-NL Central outfield this week.  Braun's week was a tale of two series.  Going a ridiculous 7/11 with 2 homers, 8 RBI and 3 SB in just three games against Pittsburgh, before batting 1/11 in three against the Cubs.  Michael Bourn had only one SB in his first twelve games.  He stole seven in his last six.  Like Theriot, Rasmus had a huge slumpbusting week.  Taking his AVG from .188 heading into last Monday, to .294 after yesterday's game in San Francisco.

STARTING PITCHER: Barry Zito (SF) - Can emerging out of mediocrity be considered worthy of a possible Comeback Player award?  Zito so far this season has been outstanding.  Saturday's outing against St. Louis was further proof of that as Zito pitched eight innings of 3-hit ball and struck out 10 en route to a 2-0 win.

RELIEF PITCHER: Francisco Rodriguez (NYM) - Rodriguez struck out 7 in 4.2 innings of work and went 3/3 in save opportunites this week, bringing his total saves on the season to.....3.


THE NEIFIS - Desperately in need of a Slumpbuster

CATCHER: Bengie Molina (SF) - 3/20 week from a guy that bats in the 5 spot regularly is not good.  Meanwhile Buster Posey is hitting .353 in Fresno right now.

FIRST BASE: Chris Davis (TEX) - Davis went 1/12 in three games last week, dropping his AVG to .188 and earning himself a ticket to AAA Oklahoma City.  His replacement, Justin Smoak has yet to collect a major league hit in his first three games.

SECOND BASE: Aki Iwamura (PIT) - 2/25 week with no runs, home runs or RBI.  Classic Pirates!

THIRD BASE: Aramis Ramirez (CHC) - Two hits in his last 25 at bats.  It's just painful to watch Aramis struggle this much.  Here's to hoping he breaks out of it soon.  I'm tired of Len and Bob trying to positively spin things.  "Well, he's hitting the ball hard...."

SHORTSTOP: Yunel Escobar (ATL) - What the hell man?  I drafted you in various fantasy leagues for your good average and ability to produce runs.  1/16 this week, dropping your AVG to .188 on the season is not what I had in mind.  I'd be a little more forgiving if you stole bases, but alas you're the only shortstop in the league that doesn't.

OUTFIELD: Eugenio Velez (SF), Rick Ankiel (KC), Lastings Milledge (PIT)  - Velez's lack of hitting has to make Giants fans wishing Aaron Rowand would get back as soon as possible.  The Royals team AVG is still the best in the majors this season, no thanks to Rick Ankiel of course.  The former wild pitcher/juicer went 1/17 this week.  Lastings Milledge.  Perhaps all the prospect hype was merely in your crazy name.  Although going 2/19 with one RBI is a slugfest compared to Aki Iwamura.

STARTING PITCHER: Charlie Morton (PIT) - Two starts last week for a combined 4 innings of work, giving up 11 hits, 5 walks, 10 earned runs, while striking out only 3.  With Ross Ohlendorf still on the DL and Chris Jakubauskas getting his face annihilated by a Lance Berkman line drive on Saturday, Morton's job in the rotation is still likely secure for now.

RELIEF PITCHER: Octavio Dotel (PIT) - Granted the Pirates had zero save opportunities last week, Dotel still got in to pitch the 9th in the 20-0 bloodbath against the Brewers.  In one inning of work, Dotel surrendered 5 hits, 1 walk, 4 runs, 2 of which were earned.