by Gerrit Ritt

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May have been a little harsh, I'll admit. However, I guess most of them were reading, because this week we had an incredible turnaround in backstop batting. While Joe Mauer and Victor Martinez continue to rake, a few others finally turned it around last week.

Chris Iannetta: 4-for-11 (.364), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 runs
Brandon Inge: 8-for-21 (.381), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 runs
Russell Martin: First HR of the season (over 200 at-bats), .478 OBP
Victor Martinez: 2 HR, 8 RBI, 7 runs
Joe Mauer: 7-for-20 (.350), HR, 2 RBI, 5 runs, SB
Bengie Molina: 6-for-17 (.353)
Mike Napoli: 9-for-17 (.529), HR, 5 RBI
Pablo Sandoval: 10-for-22 (.455), 2 HR, 4 RBI
Geovany Soto: 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 runs, SB
Kurt Suzuki: 8-for-23 (.348), 3 RBI, 4 runs

They're back, folks! ... Well, at least for now, that is.

Scott Podsednik has found a new life with his old team. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)

Where Have You Been, Man!?!

Just a few years ago, Scott Podsednik was the toast of the town for the White Sox, having run them into the World Series, then showing a display of power once they got there as well. After that, he disappeared, basically falling off the baseball map, getting injured and making the rounds. He would be sent down to Triple-A Charlotte after going through a slump the next year, then played for the Rockies in 2008, as well as a stint at their Triple-A affiliate Colorado Springs. After hitting just .253 for them, he was released and once again picked up by the Sox before this season. He spent the first month at Charlotte again before finally being brought up to the show, where he's been on fire ever since. After hitting .400 (16-for-40) with a home run, six RBI, four runs and a pair of steals the past nine games, he's now hit the .300 mark for the season (.319), along with two homers, 16 ribbies, 22 runs scored and 10 stolen bases in 45 appearances. Welcome back, Scottie!

Players of the Week

It would be tough to top Albert Pujols and his four home runs, 11 RBI, six runs and .389 average. However, I'm gonna give it to the A.L. Player of the Week instead, B.J. Upton. It makes sense, of course, because I traded him just one week ago to the day. As soon as he leaves my lineup, he goes off for a pair of home runs, including a game winner, nine RBI, six runs, two steals and a .429 average. The power numbers weren't as huge as Albert's, but the average and steals make up for it. And the guy's been in a slump most of the season, so it made last week even more special for those of you who stole him from me.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee: 10-for-26 (.385), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 10 runs, 2 SB

Ugly Line of the Week

My favorite portion of this column each week. This time, we look no further than Texas and first baseman Chris Davis. My friends, this guy is on some kind of record pace this season. And most of it ain't all good. Last week, Davis went just 1-for-20 (.050). Of course, the one hit was a solo home run, which makes sense, since that's pretty much all he's done. The most boom or bust player in the big leagues (taking over for Jack Cust), what made this week all the more impressive was the 10 strikeouts he accrued, compared to ZERO walks, over those 20 at-bats. In fact, in the process he became the fastest player in the history of the sport to reach the 100 strikeout plateau, making it all the most likely he'll do just what I predicted of him a month ago, and that's to absolutely destroy Mark Reynolds' all-time single-season strikeout mark, set just last year (204). Good luck Chris. We'll all be rootin' for ya!

Honorable Mentions: Pedro Feliz, Philadelphia: 2-for-26 (.083), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 runs, 0 SB, 0 BB
Dave Bush, Milwaukee: 13 ER in 6 1/3 IP, 13 hits, 2 BB, 3 K, 18.47 ERA, 2.37 WHIP

Pitcher of the Week

He may have only chalked up one win for you, but the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw still did as much as you can possibly hope for this week. In two starts, the powerful lefty didn't allow a single run in 12 2/3 innings, beating the Angels over the weekend and picking up a no decision with eight Ks against Oakland earlier on. It was all the more important for him to do so after getting shelled by the Padres after just 2 2/3 innings the start before that. It now looks as if the youngster's got his stuff doing what he wants it to, which could be scary for the rest of the league. With 13 strikeouts on the week, the punch out power is there. It's the seven walks you have to worry about, though.

Fireman of the Week

Just as this was finally the week where the league's catchers broke out in numbers, this was also easily the week where closers stepped up their game. It was seriously tough picking the best of the best, and I'm going to go out on a limb and give this week's award to Colorado's Huston Street. What makes this strange is that of all the closers I'll mention here, he was the only one to give up any runs at all. And he actually gave up a pair of them. However, he also had three saves AND a win, as the Rockies went 6-1 on the week and have now won 16 of their last 17 games.

Honorable Mentions: David Aardsma, Seattle: 3 saves, 0 ER in 3 IP, 2 hits, 0 BB, 7 K!
Andrew Bailey, Oakland: 3 saves, 0 ER in 5 IP, 4 hits, 2 BB, 3 K
Jose Valverde, Houston: 3 saves, 0 ER in 4 IP, 3 hits, 0 BB, 4 K
George Sherrill, Baltimore: 3 saves, 0 ER in 4 IP, 1 hit, 1 BB, 2 K
Kevin Gregg, Chicago Cubs: 2 saves, 1 win, 0 ER in 3 2/3 IP, 2 hits, 1 BB, 2 K
Brian Fuentes, Los Angeles Angels: 3 saves, 0 ER in 2 1/3 IP, 1 hit, 1 BB, 4 K

Who The Heck Are YOU!?!

Even I had no idea who Casey McGehee was until after he went 6-for-9 (.667) with a home run and four RBI in a three-game series over the White Sox about a week or two ago. I was definitely slow on the gun with him, and it may end up costing me. In 15 games this month, the newest Brewer third baseman has hit .437 (21-for-48) with a pair of home runs, nine RBI and 11 runs and looks to be in the lineup for quite some time to come.

The Interesting Line of the Week

Cristian Guzman, Washington: 12-for-29 (.414), yet 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB and only four runs scored

The Bourn Supremacy

It's taken three years for Michael Bourn to figure out how to hit, but he finally seems to be coming around. After batting just .237 in his 594 career at-bats coming into the year, a .409 week at the plate has increased his season average to .300, with 41 runs scored and 24 stolen bases with almost 100 games left to play in '09. If he can ever consistently get on base, he may be the next Chone Figgins, with even more home run potential.