| As June approaches, the 2006 MLB season | | | | himself into one of the better run producing |
| continues to heighten. While there is well over four | | | | hitters in the NL. This week Bay showed his |
| months left of games, the division races have | | | | offensive prowess, hitting three long balls and |
| been exceptionally close. All three AL divisions, as | | | | knocking in ten, while scoring five times. Hitting 8 |
| well as the NL West, have its top two teams | | | | 24 on the week with a double also added to his |
| either tied or separated by only one game. The | | | | impressive week, leading the Bucs' offense. His |
| NL East and NL Central have its leaders ahead by | | | | team split games on the week with a 3-3 |
| 2.5 and 4 games, respectively.Barry Bonds | | | | record.AL Player of the WeekScott Kazmir | SP | |
| continues to dominate headlines, although this is | | | | Tampa Bay Devil RaysOnce thought as a high-end |
| the last week we will hear about him attempting | | | | pitching prospect that never would develop, now |
| to tie Babe Ruth's 714. Bonds is now tied for | | | | those thoughts seem to be gone for good. |
| second on the all-time home run mark after his | | | | Currently having one of the best individual years |
| second inning home run on Saturday against the | | | | for a pitcher in '06, Kazmir is just one budding |
| Oakland Athletics.Albert Pujols has shown no signs | | | | star in the Devil Rays organization that has |
| of slowing up and may start to get some Triple | | | | already begun to blossom.Kazmir's week was as |
| Crown hype swirling his way. He currently has 22 | | | | good as a starting pitcher could ask for in today's |
| home runs and 54 RBI, both tops in the majors. | | | | game: Two starts and two gem-like outings for |
| While he is only hitting .317, most consider him the | | | | the 22-year-old Devil Ray ace. His two wins this |
| best hitter in the game and know he is quite | | | | week helped to improve his 2006 campaign to |
| capable of leading the NL in batting over the | | | | 7-2, tied for the major league lead in wins.The |
| course of a season.NL Team of the WeekLos | | | | first start came against a great White Sox lineup |
| Angeles DodgersPlaying in the most up-for-grabs | | | | that seemed to be clueless when Kazmir took the |
| division, Los Angeles turned in a successful week | | | | mound. He pitched seven innings only allowing one |
| that has got them back to within one game of | | | | run, while conceding five hits and striking out |
| the NL West leading Colorado Rockies. All five | | | | eight.Kazmir's second start on Sunday was even |
| teams are only separated by two games, so a | | | | better. He out dueled Marlins' ace Dontrelle Willis on |
| single week's worth of games could turn this | | | | the day, throwing eight shutout innings with eleven |
| division completely upside down.The Dodgers' | | | | strikeouts, while only allowing four hits and a |
| week started off in Coors Field as they played | | | | walk.Upcoming Weekend Series to WatchSt. Louis |
| the first place Rockies. Despite all three games | | | | Cardinals @ San Diego Padres | May |
| being fairly low scoring, Los Angeles managed to | | | | 26-28Probable Pitching Match-upsFriday - Jeff |
| take two of three on its way back to California. | | | | Suppan vs. Clay Hensley |
| Still without the injured Eric Gagne, the Dodgers | | | | Saturday - Mark Mulder vs. Chan Ho Park |
| received saves from two of their relievers. | | | | Sunday - Anthony Reyes vs. Jake PeavyThe |
| Takashi Saito recorded his first save of the year, | | | | first meeting in 2006 between the two will mark |
| while veteran closer Danys Baez recorded his | | | | a rematch of their NL Wild Card series this past |
| ninth.Los Angeles' weekend series opened | | | | October. The Cardinals swept San Diego easily |
| interleague play as they hosted the Los Angeles | | | | last postseason and seem in even better shape |
| Angels of Anaheim. The Dodgers took all three | | | | at this point in the 2006 season.Heading into this |
| games in convincing fashion, dismantling their | | | | week, these two teams are going in opposite |
| California counterparts, 31-7, over the course of | | | | directions. The Cardinals finally caught the surprise |
| the three game set. The Dodgers' overall record | | | | Cincinnati Reds and now lead the NL Central. San |
| sits at 24-20.AL Team of the WeekTampa Bay | | | | Diego, since their impressive week seven days |
| Devil RaysOften the joke of the AL now passed | | | | ago, has dropped three straight and now occupy |
| on to the Kansas City Royals, the D-Rays have | | | | the NL West cellar.While the Padres throw two of |
| been playing some good ball thus far in '06. A 5-1 | | | | their better starting pitchers to the mound this |
| week now has them only four games under .500 | | | | upcoming weekend in Chan Ho Park and Jake |
| at 20-24.Home for all its games this past week, | | | | Peavy, their offense will not be able to keep up |
| Tampa Bay's first series saw them take two of | | | | with the lineup St. Louis will counter with.Pujols, |
| three from the defending world champion White | | | | Edmonds and Rolen are arguably are the best |
| Sox. The Devil Rays offense scored 15 runs in its | | | | 3-4-5 in baseball and their presence in the batting |
| two wins versus Chi-town, both victories earned | | | | order can menace any arm on the mound. The |
| by the starting rotation.After a victorious series | | | | Cardinals' arms are no slouch either. Mark Mulder |
| during the weekday, Tampa Bay busted out the | | | | has been a great addition since coming over from |
| brooms and swept the Florida Marlins in a battle | | | | the A's. Reyes has been ever impressive since |
| of the Sunshine State. Reliever Tyler Walker had | | | | replacing injured Sidney Ponson.Series |
| an impressive week, registering three saves and | | | | PredictionCardinals win 2-1The views expressed in |
| a relief victory. Scott Kazmir won his second | | | | this article are not necessarily those of Doc's MLB |
| game of the week, forcing the Marlins to a goose | | | | picks service.Doc Moseman of Doc's Sports is a |
| egg on Sunday.NL Player of the WeekJason Bay | | | | | documented member of the Professional |
| LF | Pittsburgh PiratesDespite playing for an awful | | | | Handicappers League. |
| team, the Pirates' Jason Bay continues to mold | | | | |