Jacoby Ellsbury, the speedy center fielder for the Boston Red Sox, injured his shoulder as the Boston Red Sox lost on Sunday to the Texas Rangers by a final count of 6-3. Ellsbury suffered the injury by making a diving catch in the fourth inning to rob Ian Kinsler.
Despite suffering the injury, Ellsbury stayed in the game. It wasn’t until the end of the fifth inning that Ellsbury went out. Trainers for the Red Sox are calling his injury a shoulder strain.
For the season, Ellsbury is hitting .302 with one homer and 16 RBIs. Arguably most importantly, Ellsbury has swiped …read more

Ian Kinsler, who may have been the American League favorite in the MVP race, suffered a sports hernia and he may miss the rest of the season. Currently, Kinsler and the Texas Rangers are figuring out if he needs surgery. If he does need surgery, Kinsler is definitely out for the remaining games of the regular season.
Kinsler has been great this season. The 26-year-old second baseman is hitting .319 with 18 homers, 71 RBIs, 102 runs and has an on-base percentage of .375. If Kinsler’s season is indeed over, his chances to win the AL MVP …read more

AL MVP – Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
Ian Kinsler and Milton Bradley are playing very well for the Rangers. However, I believe that it is Hamilton who is the backbone of that team’s lineup. Take him away and the Rangers wouldn’t be nearly as deadly.
NL MVP – Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
Sure, the Astros are a bad team and chances are slim that they will make the playoffs. That said, Berkman is having a career year and is the best hitter in the NL to date this season.
AL Cy Young – Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
Mariano Rivera might be having …read more

C Russel Martin – Martin playing his best ball of the season.
1B Ryan Howard – Low OBP but producing when he gets contact.
2B Ian Kinsler – Kinsler is the spark of the baseball’s best lineup.
SS Hanley Ramirez – Best shortstop (player?) in the game.
3B Alex Rodriguez – A-Rod is making headlines everywhere.
OF JD Drew – Drew finally living up to the hype.
OF Jermaine Dye – Playing great for White Sox.
OF Grady Sizemore – On pace for career best season.

Is Hanley Ramirez the best player in baseball?
Photo: Newscom

Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
Chase Utley isn’t only the hottest hitting second baseman, he’s the hottest hitting player in the major leagues – period. He’s hitting .357 with 13 homers, 26 RBIs and 28 runs scored. On top of that, he has a .432 on-base percentage. The 29-year-old has arguably been the best player in baseball in 2008.
Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers
Ian Kinsler has really been hitting the ball well as of late. For the season, he has two homers, 14 RBIs, 21 runs scored and a batting average of .288. The 25-year-old is quickly becoming one …read more