Who's Hot / Who's Not

WHO'S Hot

Twins
Seven straight wins put Minnesota at .500 and angling to get back in the AL Central race. And catch this: Joe Mauer (left, batting .380 through Sunday) could be the first backstop in 64 years to lead the AL in hitting. Said ace Johan Santana, "We're putting everything together."

Nail-biting
The U.S. Open (page 48) went down to its last, agonizing strokes (Phil Mickelson, right); Game 5 of the NBA Finals went down to its last, controversial seconds; the U.S. and Italy played a 1--1 edge-of-seater in the World Cup; and the Stanley Cup (page 62) got pushed to Game 7.

Kenny Rogers
Tigers gambled on the ol' lefty (he's 41) last winter with a two-year, $16 million deal. The reward: Rogers was 10--3 after nailing down career win number 200 on Sunday. Said Mr. Rogers, "I've got some left."

Ecuador
Two wins had the upstart nation rolling into the second round of the World Cup. And look out: This team beat Brazil and Argentina in the qualifying rounds.

WHO'S Not

Braves
Seven straight losses dropped Atlanta 14 games back in the NL East through Sunday. The injury-nicked team (with starter Horacio Ramirez, below) had a division-worst 4.83 ERA, and fans chanted, "Let's go Red Sox," during a sweep by Boston in Atlanta. Said G.M. John Schuerholz, "It's frustrating and perplexing and aggravating."

Driving
NBA prospect J.J. Redick (below) made an illegal U-turn that led to a DWI. Devil Rays prospect B.J. Upton went 55 mph in a 30-mph zone and got a DWI. And A's pitcher Esteban Loaiza drove his Ferrari 120 and got busted; police smelled alcohol and booked him on suspicion of DUI.

Aaron Small
Journeyman starter's fairy-tale 2005 (10--0 for the Yanks) seems long ago. After New York sent him to the minors with an 0--3 record, Small, who has been released four times, called it the "hardest demotion" of his career.

Togo
First it had much-publicized squabbles over salaries and bonuses, then it got bounced, 2--0, from the World Cup by Switzerland.