It was another impressive week for many of our favorite players. The stars shine brightest when we expect them to, but for this week’s Stud we’re going to look at someone you may not be expecting. Someone flying under the radar. For the Dud of the Week, well, let’s just be happy it’s not Albert Pujols for a third week in a row.
Albert Pujols hit his first home run of the year, and despite the fact that his batting average is below .200, that home run was enough to elevate him beyond the Dud of the Week. Bryce Harper, on the other hand, would have been an easy pick for the Stud of the Week. His defensive, his arm, his speed, and his bat (and don’t forget his age), make him the envy of the entire league. However, the Stud and the Dud are going to fall outside the realm of obvious.
Stud of the Week
Chris Davis isn’t a household name. If you throw out his name to most fans, you’ll get mixed reactions. The diehards on the east coast may be able to tell you he plays for the Orioles. Some, outside Baltimore of course, may be able to tell you he is their starting first basemen and occasional DH. However, the vast majority of the baseball-watching world (including all those casual fans) couldn’t tell you much about Davis.
They certainly couldn’t tell you that Davis, in his last seven days, hit well over .300, clubbed a home run, and picked up a win. That’s right, he got himself his first Major League win as a pitcher.
In today’s marathon game agains the Boston Red Sox, Davis was called on to pitch. The Orioles were simply out of pitchers. Davis, who struggled at the plate in the game, welcomed the opportunity. He said after the fact, “I was like ‘Sweet! I get to try something different today — because hitting ain’t working,'”
Davis had been 0 for 8 in the game, which equates to two games worth of futility. On the mound, however, he dazzled. Davis struck out two batters, allowed two hits, and walked just one. Adam Jones of the Orioles blasted a three-run homer in the top of the 17th, and Davis finished up with a scoreless bottom of the 17th to earn the win. It’s the type of story you see in Disney fantasy movies about baseball. No one gets that opportunity. Redemption was had not at the plate, but on the mound.
Beyond the two inning performance, Davis has also compiled a .364 batting average over the past week. He has driven in three runs, walked three times, and doubled. You may not being opening the sports page (because honestly I know you all still read the newspaper) to read about Davis. But you should. The Orioles are leading the powerhouse AL East, and Chris Davis is a big part of it.
Dud of the Week
Closers across the league have fallen apart. Both literally and figuratively. Whether it be season-ending injuries or
poor performances, the shutdown closer is hard to find this season. Joe Nathan was rumored to be in danger of losing his job at one point this year, Carlos Marmol struggled as he always does for the Cubs, and now Heath Bell has been demoted.
The former Padres closer, and three-time All-Star, has struggled like no one could have expected with his new club. He signed a big contract with the newly rich (or at least it seems their rich) Marlins, but he has failed to live up to expectations. With San Diego, Bell had 134 saves in five seasons. He averaged 26.8 saves per year in those five seasons, but 40 or more saves in each of his last three seasons with San Diego.
So far this season, Bell has blown four saves while converting just three. He has an ERA north of 11, and simply can’t get anyone out. According to the Miami Herald, Ozzie Guillen has decided to remove Bell from his closer role. Bell will work early-inning relief until he finds himself again. There is no set time-table for his return to the stopper role he has coveted for so long since leaving the Mets to come to the Padres.
Many questioned Heath Bell’s capabilities as he chose to pursue free agency. The Padres offered Bell arbitration to remain in San Diego, but it was clear the team didn’t want him back. Despite Bell’s desires to remain in San Diego, he signed with Miami. Some thought Petco Park’s pitcher-firendly atmosphere helped Bell become the closer he was. When he was with the Mets, Bell was 1-5 with a 4.92 ERA.
Now, with his closer role stripped of him, the Marlins have a $9 million a year middle reliever. Heath Bell is a good pitcher, and he will likely find his stuff again, but for now it’s clear he is the Dud of the Week.
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