The past week contained some pretty strange events, including the tragic death of a fan at a Rangers game, Albert Pujols returning from the Disabled List a month early, and highly touted 19 year-old prospect Mike Trout’s promotion in Los Angeles following an injury to outfielder Peter Bourjos.

Fantasy Stud of the Week – Michael Cuddyer, RF, Twins

Michael Cuddyer helped the Twins continue their journey toward first place (8-2 record over their last ten games) last week, by posting a line of 12-26 (.462 AVG) with 3 home runs, 7 runs scored, and a whopping 12 RBIs. He also walked (5 BB) more times than he struck out (3 K), which always adds value in leagues which use OBP instead of AVG. Cuddyer is also extremely valuable because of his position eligibility: he has played more than 10 games at first and second base, as well as outfield, allowing him to fill in for multiple positions on a fantasy team. (Honourable mention: Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins, .423 AVG, 3 HR, 6 R, 10 RBI)

Fantasy Dud of the Week – Matt Joyce, OF, Rays

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. After Joyce posted a .414 AVG in May he posted a .173 AVG in June, and carried it into July last week by going 1-21 (.048 AVG). Matt Joyce is a player who has probably been picked up by a team in your league (81% owned in ESPN leagues). Here’s a tip: if it was you, it’s time to drop him. Joyce is normally a guy who both strikes out and walks a lot (24.8% career K%, 11.6% career BB%), but with his BB% dipping to 9.1% this season, and his growing void of offensive production, his time should be up on anyone’s fantasy roster. (Honourable mention: Adam Dunn, 1B, White Sox, .107 AVG, 2 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI, 15 K)

Rookie to watch – Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves

The “2” of the Braves’ young Heyward-Freeman 1-2 punch has performed up to those expectations this week, going 9-23 (.391 AVG) with 4 home runs, 6 runs scored, and 9 RBIs, while tossing in 5 walks. Freeman is certainly going to be a fantastic player as he has already shown this season by posting a .279 AVG and a .353 OBP with 13 home runs. In the Braves’ lineup Freeman has the possibility to score and drive in a lot of runs because he will be consistently hitting with (barring injuries) Martin Prado, Jason Heyward, and Dan Uggla around him. Freeman can be a great pickup for anyone’s fantasy team, especially if you need someone to fill in for injured first basemen Justin Morneau or Ike Davis. Make sure to grab him fast, if he hasn’t been taken already: he’s 88% owned in ESPN leagues and that increased by a mammoth 36% last week alone.

Waiver Wire Player of the Week – Danny Valencia, 3B, Twins

Danny Valencia followed Michael Cuddyer’s lead to carry the Twins last week, as he went 12-26 (.462 AVG) with 2 home runs, 6 runs scored, and 9 RBIs. With Valencia and Cuddyer hitting so well in the same lineup, it’s no surprise that the Twins are winning so many games and that both players picked up a lot of runs scored and RBIs. If the MVP version of Joe Mauer shows up next week, expect both Valencia and Cuddyer to have the opportunity to put on repeat performances. Valencia is only 41% owned in ESPN leagues, but he’s going fast, as that increased by a monstrous 39% last week, so pick him up if you need someone to be a stopgap at third base and your team has been lacking in offensive production from that position.

To commemorate this new field, the Twins have released a hilarious commercial.  While the commercial doesn’t have enough women’s behinds in it like the new Reebok spots, it is still worth watching.  Humorous sports commercials have been really good this year.  This one even seems funnier than the Dwight Schrute ads for the NBA on TNT.

This Twins commercial gives us our first real look at the new field, which seems like a beautiful ballpark.  In it, delivery trucks are rolling into the field and “delivering” different players and items.  Boxes, championship trophies, and even Denard Spahn are unloaded at the field.  The best part of the clip, however, is when one of the movers wheels a bubble-wrap encased Joe Mauer on a dolly onto the field.  The mover asks the foreman with the clipboard “where do you want Joe Mauer?”  To which the foreman responds, “Mauer…behind the plate.”  The commercial also features Michael Cuddyer, Joe Nathan, and even a White Sox fan.

Hat Tip – [Sports By Brooks]

Going into the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals tied 1-1, Cuddyer started the party off with a solo home run off Brian Bannister, and ended things with a two run shot off Kyle Farnsworth.  The Twins would score eight runs in the inning and seal the 10-3 victory.  In addition to the two homers over the course of a single inning Cuddyer would also add a single, going 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs, enough to earn “The Stat Line Of The Night” for Sunday, August 23rd, 2009.

Cuddyer is the first player to hit two homers in a single inning since the Red Sox David Ortiz did it exactly one year ad two days earlier.  He is also the first Twin to do it in the history of the team.  You would expect it to be Morneau or Mauer accomplishing this first for the Minnesota organization, but yesterday was Cuddyer’s day in the spotlight.