Craig 'Triple Crown' Wilson and Jose 'That Rolaids Guy' Mesa

Hats off to Craig Wilson for carrying us around on his back. In case you're chained in the cave with Chris Kahrl, Wilson had 2 GWRBI in Beertown and is stroking it to the tune of a 1.154 OPS, third in the NL to San Francisco OF and that beefy Ned Beatty-looking guy. Nice work giving Craig the love he deserves, Rowdy, but Brian Meadows for MVP? Esteban's been great, but Fabio gets my co-MVP vote.

The other half of the MVP goes to a guy I've always respected and who deserves some major props right about now. Jose Mesa is 9 for 9 with a 0.79 ERA, giving up 1 ER, 6 H and 2 BB in 11 2/3rds with 7 Ks. Think about that for a second. The Bucs have won 12 games, and Mesa is 9-FOR-9. (At this rate, when the Bucs take the division with 92 wins, Mesa would have 69 saves.) Where are all the Mesa-haters now? Pretty damn silent. Meanwhile, Mesa has crept into 20th place on the all-time saves list. Mesa earned my eternal respect a long time ago, with his justified opinion of show-off/Salsa-jar-painter/tattletale Omar Vizquel. You have to respect hatred when it predetermines the future of baseball: 'If I face him 10 more times, I'll hit him 10 times. Every time.' By the way and for the record, Omar stunk in the 1997 world series. So keep keepin' it real Jose, and if you get an 11th chance, bean Omar for me.