ESPN MLB

It's crunch time and your eyes are on the scoreboard now. You're trained in on the contenders, eager to see how the playoff picture will shape up, anxious for new postseason heroes.

But before the curtain drops on the regular season, do yourself a favor and take one last look at some guys who've played heroically for teams way out of the running.

It's an exciting thing to see a guy rise to the big-time moment, to see him put up numbers and make plays when his team's in the thick of things. But in its own way, it's just as impressive, maybe even more so, to watch a guy who's somehow finding a way to stay focused, motivated and productive when his ship is taking on water or, in some cases, is mired in the deep, dark sand at the bottom of the ocean floor.

These 12 guys (in no particular order) don't have the warmth of the spotlight, they don't get a whiff of the bonus check, and they have no shot at glory this year. All they have is the love. So give 'em some of yours.

	Young

Dmitri Young, Detroit Tigers
In 1935 Wally Berger played center field for the Boston Braves. Boston went 38-115 that year. About August you could have forgiven Wally for playing the field in a folding chair with a drink in his hand. But that's not what he did, what he did was finish sixth in the MVP race. What he did was hit 39 doubles, 34 home runs, slug .548 and knock in 130 runs.

This year the part of Berger is being played by Young, who's managed 30 doubles, 28 home runs, 76 RBI, and a .531 slugging percentage while playing for the 38-112 Tigers. Detroit's hard to watch, and Dmitri's baggy-jammies uniform style isn't exactly easy on the eyes, but still you should check him out.

Brian Giles, San Diego Padres
Pity Giles: finally traded up and out of Pittsburgh ... to San Diego. (At least there are oceanside views in the deal.) Don't pity Giles: He walks (95), scores runs (83), hits (135), hits for power (32 doubles, 18 home runs), doesn't strike out much (53) -- he clearly doesn't pity himself.

What Giles has done for bad teams these last few years has been almost noble. His home run total is down in '03 (he hit 35 or more in each season from 1999-2002), but otherwise, this is a guy you can count on to produce every week, month, and year. Plus, his short, quiet upswing is a thing of compact beauty.

	Kendall

Jason Kendall, Pittsburgh Pirates
There was talk that he would be traded to San Diego, too, but that deal didn't pan out. He's more than panned out in the last third of the season though, looking like his old self, looking like his thumb is all the way back, and like maybe he's getting comfortable in the new park. A .422 average with 15 multi-hit games in the last 30 -- that'll do.

Francisco Rodriguez, Anaheim Angels
You remember Frankie. Stone-cold stare and a scythe for an arm, cutting down hitters like they were dried wheat stalks on his way to World Series immortality last year. Well Frankie got off to a rough start this season (forgive him, he's still only 21), and that thud you heard was the Angels falling from the sky, but the young man's been very good again in 2003. An ERA of 3.07, 91 strikeouts and only 33 walks in 82 innings -- that's no slump, that's must-see TV.

	Riske

David Riske, Cleveland Indians
Maybe folks aren't talking about Rodriguez because they've been so taken with Riske. Wouldn't that be nice? He certainly deserves the attention. The ERA of 2.26, strikeouts (76) and hits allowed (50) totals over 71.2 innings are dazzling. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up one time for Mister David Riske, who ain't no risk at all.

Aubrey Huff, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
First off, you have to love the name. It's a name out of Dickens, a Horatio Alger name, the name of a dirt-faced boy of the streets, the name of a boy born with no advantages who will, by god, make something of himself come hell or high water. "Aubrey Huff: The Bootstrap Kid" -- that's the kind of name it is. And then there are the numbers; they're almost as good as the name: 183 hits, 46 doubles and 31 home runs.

	Helton

Todd Helton, Colorado Rockies
The Rocks aren't bad, but they aren't good, either. Helton, on the other hand, is very good. He's quiet, and he has an easy, lyrical swing that seems so natural, so already there, that it's easy to overlook. Don't overlook it. It's tearing up the pea patch something fierce: .624 slugging, .453 OBP, 30 HR and 127 runs.

Mark Loretta, San Diego Padres
There are moments when all the cosmic tumblers fall into place, when the stars in the heavens are aligned just so, and in these moments things are revealed to us, things we cannot fully understand, things at which we can only marvel. Look up in the sky tonight: Loretta and his 175 hits, 69 runs, and 69 RBI are on display in the west. We can't say why. We can't say whether they will last. We can only appreciate them.

	Webb

Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks
You love Dontrelle. I love Dontrelle. We all love Dontrelle. But save a little respect for young Brandon, too. You can bet NL hitters do. Guys are hitting .212 against him over 164.2 innings, and he's struck out 160 of the poor mugs.

Jason Phillips, New York Mets and Scott Podsednik, Milwaukee Brewers
Strong rookie numbers out of both players. Plus, great shades on Phillips and a name for the ages on Scott. But you know what I like best about these guys? They aren't especially young. Yeah, rookies at 21 are better bets for the long haul, but there's a longshot appeal about Phillips (26) and Podsednik (27). They've been at it a little while, and now they're bringing that things-are-starting-to-click joy to the park every day. It's nice to see.

And I'll just add one more name, to make it an even dozen. There's this guy down in Texas ... plays shortstop ... signed a big deal a few years back. Rodriguez. He's pretty decent.

Eric Neel is a regular columnist for Page 2.