American League:  In one of the closest votes in Player Of The Block history, Chris Carpenter of the New York Flatirons narrowly wins the 2nd award for the 2006 season.  With staff ace Curt Schilling on the shelf with injury, Carpenter has been doing more than his share to pick up the slack.  Winning all four of his block two starts, he compiled 32 strikeouts in as many innings while allowing less base runners than innings pitched.  Over those four dominating starts, his ERA has dropped from 4.05 to 2.77.  The Flatirons are currently looking up in the standings at the Cleveland Clubbers, but Carpenter is ready for the chase.  “It’s going to be a long road ahead, but getting to know the newer guys on the team has already yielded terrific results.  Something special is happening in New York!”

Honorable Mention:

• Johan Santana (CHA):  3-0, 1.80 ERA, 34 K, beating rivals MIL, HOU, CLE

• Jason Bay (LAS):  .345 BA, 7 HR, 18 RBI, 15 RS

• Bobby Abreu (BOS):  .411 BA, 13 RS, 14-game hit streak

National League:  Jim Kies of Toronto has shown that he has the brass to shell out the big bucks to get positive results, but now he has shown that he can make savvy swaps and be rewarded.  Off-season acquisition Derrek Lee wins the Player of the Block award for his incredible performance over the past 15 games.  While accumulating a block-leading 10 home runs, 22 runs scored and 20 RBI, there is little that Lee didn’t lead the league in.  He even managed to raise his batting average from a tepid .263 to a scorching .349.  Lee said of this award, “I started slow, no homers in the first ten games or so, but with this [pitching] staff here in Toronto, I know that one or two runs each game will be enough.  I’m ready do my part the rest of the way.”

Honorable Mention:

• Jermaine Dye (PHI):  8HR, 18 RBI, raised BA from .214 to .280

• Roy Halladay (KCN):  3-0, 0.60 ERA, 16 base runners allowed in 24.3 IP

• Darrin Erstad (FLA):  .373 BA, 3 HR, 22-game hit streak

• Johnny Damon (ANA):  .410 BA, 17 RBI, 5 HR, 5 BB in one game

- written by Christopher Lecher