Who's Hot
Rockies pitching
Eight shutouts and
a 4.13 ERA, second-best in the NL. In homer-happy Denver? Some say the balls
stored in the Coors Field humidor don't travel, but Colorado's staff, including
Jason Jennings (above), is mile-high. Manager Clint Hurdle: "Our guys ...
take a lot of pride going out there."
Oakland
Raiders began
their latest incarnation under Art Shell (below) by beating the Eagles 16-10 in
their preseason opener-hey, after going 13-35 the past three years Raider
Nation will take what it can get. The A's swept the Mariners to tighten their
grip on the AL West.
Dodgers
The trade deadline
was very, very good to them. They'd won nine straight through Sunday, led by
imports Greg Maddux and Julio Lugo.
Athletic
Scents
Blue Jays pitcher
Gustavo Chacin has a cologne (SI PLAYERS, June 26) and Yankee Derek Jeter
(left) does too-Driven, which, the maker says, smells of "ambition,
courage, passion and confidence." Surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost an arm
in a shark attack, has a perfume: Stoked.
Who's Not
Cardinals pitching
A league-low 643
strikeouts and a 4.55 ERA, eighth in the NL. Is this the look of a pennant
contender? Cards' woes are such that they're still starting Jeff Weaver (4-12,
6.71 ERA, right). Said manager Tony La Russa, "Is he the only guy
struggling? No, he's not."

