This block's AL and NL representatives are both staff aces for their respective teams and have done what staff ace's are supposed to do:  pitch big down the stretch to help both teams in their playoff runs.  And the winners are...

American League:  Johan Santana, Chicago Blue Knights

This was a tough call, as there was a veteran slugger (who would also have been a 2nd time POTB winner) who put up some big numbers as well, but in the end I gave the nod to Chicago ace Johan Santana.  He has been an honorable mention in almost half the POTB lists this season and if anyone is more deserving of being a two-time POTB winner in the AL, I can't imagine a better candidate.  Johan Santana has helped lead Chicago once again to the playoffs and a #1 seed in the AL.  His numbers this block were his normal outstanding stuff:  3-0, 1 SO, 2.05 ERA, 22 IP, 13 H, 1 BB, 28 Ks and a microscopic 0.64 WHIP.  Santana is a big time AL Cy Young candidate, but is much more interested in a different piece of hardware that he can share with his Blue Knight teammates.  With Johan ready to start game one of any big playoff series, he gives Chicago fans a reason to feel like this could be their year.

Honorable Mention:

• David Ortiz (MIL) -- .408/.592/.959, 8 HR, 16 RBI, 13 RS

• Randy Winn (CHA) -- .326/.413/.783, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 7 RS

• Ryan Howard (PIT) -- .364/.424/.848, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 7 RS

• Brad Radke (SFS) -- 3-0, 2.61 ERA, 20 2/3 IP, 11 K, 0.87 WHIP

National League:  Derek Lowe, Atlanta Mets

With his team in a tight race for a playoff spot and every win a crucial one, Lowe stepped up and made a statement for the rest of the staff to follow with three very big starts in block 10.  His stats for this block:  2-0, 1.86 ERA, 19 1/3 IP, 17 Ks.  When asked about how he feels to be fighting for a postseason berth in the leagues worst division, he had this to say, "We may not have the best win-loss record, but if we can just play well enough to make the postseason, all that stuff gets wiped away.  It's a brand new series, and we hope people will take us lightly if we make the playoffs -- it will only make the upset that much sweeter."  Atlanta fans love his hard-nosed competitive nature, and hope Lowe can help pitch the Mets to an NL East title.

Honorable Mention:

• Ken Griffey, Jr. (STL) -- .458/.563/1.021, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 19 RS

• Ryan Klesko (COL) -- .429/.629/.914, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 8 RS

• Andruw Jones (ANA) -- .405/.541/.865, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 11 RS