(Yes, I know I did not do an edition one, but we’ll just pretend I did)

1. Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals

Who Else?  Pujols has already one a pair of Cy Young, he has 349 homeruns at age 29, he’s the greatest hitter ever etc.  I’ll go ahead and outline Pujols accomplishments for 2009 anyway.  As we approach the all-star break, Pujols leads the NL in, homeruns (30), runs (61), rbi’s (77), on-base percentage (.453), slugging percentage (.743), total bases (197), and on-base+slugging percentage (1.197).  Pujols is not far behind David Wright in batting average.  MVP in pocket?  Triple Crown?

2. Raul Ibanez, LF, Phillies

The Phillies were ridiculed for signing Ibanez to replace Pat Burrell, creating a L-L-L, 3-4-5 part of their lineup.  Don’t look now, but Ibanez is third to Pujols in HR’s (22), second in .SLG (.656), third in .OPS (1.027), and total bases (164), fourth in RBI (59), and sixth in runs (15).  Ibanez has never come close to winning an MVP award, and won’t this year because of Pujols, but he is one of the top three hitters in the NL.

3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Padres

The only good offensive player in the San Diego lineup, Gonzalez is second in homeruns (24), leads in walks (63), is fifth in OPS (1.002), ninth in total bases (154), and ranks in top ten in many other categories.  If only A-Gone had some offensive help, (like people getting on base in front of him), he’d rack up extraordinary numbers.

• Joke Of The Day: Jeff Francoeur’s ultimate sandwich!

It starts with French bread, because he’s frenchy, then swiss cheese because its full of holes, just like his swing, don;t forget the bacon, sausage, ham, because somehow, he’s the meat of the Braves’ order.  No vegetables, because if he ate his, he wouldn’t be flirting with the Mendoza line.

• Welcome to the Golden Sombrero Club Jason Bay

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