Welcome back to our exclusive weekly player hot and cold feature. I recommend you use the information in this column like I do to identify players who might be worth picking up this week, as well as ones to consider benching or moving, perhaps.

Consider this the ultimate in short-term gratification. We’re not looking at histories of contact rates or command or anything other than what has occurred over the last week in the ten standard fantasy scoring categories, whether good or bad.

I will be calling out names that may have eluded your notice that either could still be available on your waiver wire in a mixed league or perhaps stashed on someone’s bench in an AL- or NL-only league. I will pick anyone who is on ice, as that information can help guide your line-up selection choices.

FIRE

Catcher

Rod Barajas, Tor

.348 BA, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 8 R

The former Philadelphia Phillie and Texas Ranger (ballplayer, not lawman) has taken over the daily backstop job north of the border from Gregg Zaun, who had hoped to be traded at the deadline but was not.

First Base

Doug Mientkiewicz, Pit

.375 BA, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R

I realize this is not a sexy pick and Minky alone isn’t going to win anyone their league. On the other hand, realize that he has hit .348 since the break. Usually knocked as a singles hitter, his OPS is .918 during this stretch. He is also eligible at third base and outfield in many leagues.

Second Base

Jeff Kent, LAD

.429 BA, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R

Regular readers may think I am being a weather vane here after dumping on Kent all season long. Well, here’s the deal: something has changed. Manny arrived on the scene and Kent is hitting in front of him. Kent is getting pitches to hit and is delivering. Take another look at the scrap heap.

Shortstop

Cesar Izturis, StL

.471 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 SB, 2 R

Listen up. This time of year, we’re all looking for an edge. There aren’t many emerging stars available, so we should be taking hot players, riding them out and dropping them when they cool off. The Cardinals shortstop has seven stolen bases in the last month as manager Tony La Russa tries to hold onto the season. Izturis currently has four two-hit games in a row. He fits the bill.

Third Base

Jed Lowrie, Bos

.344 BA, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 6 R

Though he has been playing shortstop for the BoSox, Lowrie is also third base-eligible in many formats. He is quietly in the midst of a seven-game hit streak and could provide some decent fill-in numbers at either short or third. Besides, isn’t Jed a cool name?

Outfield

Jody Gerut, SD

.368 BA, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R

The well-traveled and oft-injured left-handed hitter has quietly batted .311 with 27 runs scored, eight home runs and 23 RBI since June 1. Though considered part of a platoon situation with the Padres, Gerut has the good side.

Alex Romero, Ari

.304 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 3 R

While Justin Upton has been on the disabled list, Romero has done a nice job filling in for the Diamondbacks. However, unless you are in a National League format, the ride should end soon. Romero won’t get enough at-bats to have any mixed league value going forward.

Daniel Murphy, NYM

.500 BA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R

The 25-year-old, trained as a third baseman, has nine hits in five starts covering in the injury-depleted Mets outfield. In NL-only leagues, give Murphy a shot. I did. Badly in need of offense, I just paid $13 FAAB for him in National League Tout Wars. 

Starters

Charlie Morton, Atl

1 W, 14 IP, 1.29 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 8 K

The Braves starter yielded just two runs in two starts last week against two good clubs, Milwaukee and Arizona. On the other hand, he was slapped with 12 runs over previous two outings against the Cardinals and Marlins. Wait for consistency, if you think it is coming.

Andy Sonnanstine, TB

1 W, 13.1 IP, 2.02 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 10 K

Sonnanstine has pitched especially well in his four starts since the break, with a 1.09 WHIP and about a run lower in ERA than prior, yet he has just one win to show for it. Don’t count on ten strikeouts each week, either.

Braden Looper, StL

0 W, 14 IP, 2.57 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 7 K

Never having been one with a large margin for error, despite pitching well overall this season, Looper has had one of the least-reliable bullpens in the majors behind him. Not being a strikeout artist cuts that fantasy value margin even more, yet you could do far worse.

Reliever

Joel Hanrahan, Was

3 SV, 0 BS, 0-0 W-L, 3 IP, 3.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 3 K

Sometimes, it is as much about being fortunate as it is being good. Once Chad Cordero’s on-again-off-again season was ended, Jon Rauch stepped in as the Nats closer, building his value to the point that Arizona traded for him. Now, Hanrahan stepped into the void and has been solid, if unspectacular.

ICE

Catcher

Joe Mauer, Min

.250 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R

Since the break, Mauer is hitting .286 with two home runs. The former is quite a step down from the .322 beforehand. Like many catchers, the career .314 hitter traditionally hits less in the second half, but he’s still better than most. Just don’t overpay in trade.

First Base

David Ortiz, Bos

.130 BA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB, 1 R

Big Papi is just 3-for-28 since Manny Ramirez left town and stopped hitting behind him. No knock against Jason Bay, a fine player in his own right, but the jury is clearly out on whether Ortiz can carry the load, especially with a bad hand.

Second Base

Dan Uggla, Fla

.095 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R

Uggla is hitting 124 points worse after the break than before (.162 vs. .286). In fact, other than a fantastic May (12 homers, 26 RBI, .347), Uggla’s season hasn’t really been all that phenomenal, despite the hype.

Shortstop

Jimmy Rollins, Phi

.250 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, 1 R

The defending Most Valuable Player should be held up to a slightly-higher standard, shouldn’t he? Rollins’ .250 mark last week is the same as his total since the break. He does have 12 runs scored in 19 second-half games, but that is about all on his stat sheet that isn’t dreadfully boring. Still, you have to ride it out at this point.

Third Base

Mike Lowell, Bos

.143 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R

Being listed here for the second time in two weeks means the Sox had better not expect Lowell to be picking up any of the post-Manny slack. Since July 1, Lowell has exactly one home run and is batting .202. Bench time. 

Outfield

Adam Dunn, Cin

.154 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R

In July, Dunn smacked 12 home runs, hit .310 and was among the nominees for Player of the Month. In eight August games, he has four singles and absolutely nothing else. You should already know he is a streaky hitter and in daily transaction leagues, keep him out until he gets hot again.

Kosuke Fukudome, ChC

.150 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R

I think most fantasy players already know the Japanese import has been highly overrated in the media. Yet, it is worth pointing out that in the second half, Fukudome was dropped from fifth to seventh in the order (though since returned), likely as a result of batting just .246 with one home run, six RBI and eight runs scored in 20 games.

Ken Griffey, Jr., CWS

.118 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R

It’s early, very early, but first returns to Chicago in adding Junior are not favorable. I think they were hoping for more than four singles in 20 at-bats. But as Griffey himself pointed out, hopefully no one is expecting that guy from Seattle. He’s been missing for years.

Starters

Jered Weaver, LAA

1 W, 11 IP, 9.00 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 8 K

The younger Weaver actually managed a win against the Yankees despite yielding five runs in six innings. The previous time out, he gave up six runs in five frames against the same club. Other than this past week, Weaver has been good since a rough month of May, so stick with him, especially at home.

Johnny Cueto, Cin

0 W, 11 IP, 4.91 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 13 K

Remember all the excitement at the start of the season? Cueto hasn’t won in over a month (seven starts ago) and his ERA is back over five. The strikeouts are nice, but the rest of the package is harmful, at least in 2008.

Kenny Rogers, Det

0 W, 10.1 IP, 8.71 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, 13 K

It might be time to put The Gambler on the Todd Jones career plan. Rogers is allowing too many runners (1.55 WHIP) as enemy batters tee off against him at a .297 rate. Divest in any stake you might still hold in him.

Reliever 

Aaron Heilman, NYM

1 SV, 0 BS, 1-0, 3 IP, 12.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 4 K

Someone has to close for the Mets in Billy Wagner’s absence and Heilman is at the head of the line. Despite the ugly numbers, he fanned three over two perfect innings to knock down his first save on Friday night, preserving a shutout in a big win over the Marlins.

Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.