Who's Hot Who's Not

Who'S Hot

CHAD BILLINGSLEY
All those innings pitched last year (201, up from 147 in 2007) don't seem to be taking a toll on the 24-year-old Dodger. He was 3--0, had a 2.84 ERA and was deflecting praise. Pitching for this year's club (10--3 through Sunday) is easier, he says, "knowing the guys are going to put up runs."

RAFAEL NADAL
Living the good life in Monaco. Nadal's victory in the Monte Carlo Masters was his fifth straight at the event and ran his winning streak on clay to 21 sets. Even he seems stunned by his ongoing dominance. "Who would have thought I could achieve this?" he mused.

RYAN ZIMMERMAN
A good start for the Nationals' third baseman (10 RBIs through Sunday) got better when he signed a five-year, $45 million deal. Zim might have gotten more as a free agent in 2011, but, as he said to The Washington Post, "How much do you really need?"

JASON PETERS
The Pro Bowl player's trade from Buffalo to Philadelphia made him richer (by $53 million), more visible (the Eagles regularly make the playoffs; the Bills don't) and appreciated. Philly coach Andy Reid called him "the best left tackle in football."

Who'S Not

CHIEN-MING WANG
All that time missed last year (out the last 15 weeks with a torn tendon in his foot) may be affecting the 29-year-old Yankee. After three starts he was winless; had an ERA of, gulp, 34.50; and no one was sure why his sinker wasn't sinking. Said manager Joe Girardi: "It stinks, what he's going through."

SERENA WILLIAMS
Upset in the Key Biscayne final three weeks ago, ousted in the first round in Marbella two weeks ago, forced out of last week's Family Circle Cup with a thigh injury. Then the official bummer: Dinara Safina bumped Serena from the top spot in the WTA rankings.

RYAN ZIMMERMAN
He's 24 with great promise, but now he may be a National for five more years. If Washington's 203--282 record over the past three seasons isn't enough of a bad sign, how about this: A wardrobe gaffe had Zim playing in a uniform that read NATINALS last Friday.

L.A. AVENGERS
The Arena Football League is already on a one-year hiatus, and now, reports the Los Angeles Times, the AFL's nine-year-old Avengers are closing up shop altogether. This again leaves L.A. without a pro football team—except for USC of course.