Yesterday was the first full day off I've taken from my writin' duties here on YC and at FanHouse in a loooooong time, and while I did have fun losing $38 in Vegas (blimey!) I suffered from Acute Baseball Chat Withdrawal Syndrome (ABCWS) and I'm glad to be back. Since my day off fell on a Tuesday, I failed to post my usual Top Ten list (and I'm sure many tear were shed). Don't fret, though, my pets! I've got one for ya right here right now.

The season is just a few weeks old, but at this point there has been enough time to take a gander at a few players' fine performances and cross our fingers that they will remain hot throughout the season. Some of the hot bats and hot hands come from usual suspects and known commodities - Mariano, Chone Figgans, Lance Berkman, Jake Peavy, Ben Sheets, etc etc - but a lot of the star performances thus far have been from new players and journeymen, some of whom we aren't very familiar with at all. Allow me to congratulate...

Top Ten Random and Newbie Performances

10) Jose Molina (Yankees C): .364 average/.576 slugging in 33 at-bats
9) Kurt Suzuke (A's C): .347 average/.408 slugging in 49 at-bats
8) Shawn Chacon (Astros P): 2.25 ERA in 20.0 IP (3 games)
7) Evan Longoria (Rays 3B): .333 average/.667 slugging in 12 at-bats
6) Randor Bierd (Orioles P): 0.00 ERA in 10.0 IP (5 games)
5) Angel Pagan (Mets OF): .381 average/.500 slugging in 42 at-bats
4) Nate McLoulth (Pirates OF): .391 average/.656 slugging in 64 at-bats
3) James Loney (Dodgers 1B): .365 average/.558 slugging in 52 at-bats
2) Justin Upton (Diamondbacks OF): .370 average/.704 slugging in 54 at-bats
1) Edwin Jackson (Rays P): 2.84 ERA in 19.0 IP (3 games)

Read last week's Top Ten: Week One Failures