Sparkplug off the Bench

Wilson Valdez is the kind of valuable bench player you find on contending teams. While he doesn't play regularly or post awesome numbers, he contributes when called upon -- when his team needs him most. Starting in center field for the Reds in their weekend series against the Mets, he drove in three runs on Friday night, got on base in the 1st inning Saturday night (and scored on Jay Bruce's three-home homer) and drove in the first Cincinnati run Sunday afternoon as the Reds swept New York.
A year ago, while capably coming off the Phillies bench, he pulled off a feat that no major leaguer had done in 90 years -- moving from a "regular" position to the mound during a game -- and earning the victory. The previous player to do that was some guy on the Yankees you might have heard of named Ruth.
Rather stunning that the Phils, who've been decimated by injuries this year, traded him to Cincinnati in the off-season as a cost-cutting move.