The following is a team of players who have all quietly exceeded expectations while flying under the radar in 2010.

C- Miguel Olivo- .308 AVG/ 12 HR/ 43 RBI

Don’t look now, but Olivo has a higher batting average and more home runs than reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer.  Olivo has quietly put together a very respectable career, hitting a career high 23 home runs in 2009 for the Kansas City Royals.  Olivo began the season an afterthought, the Rockies envisioning him as a backup to their underachieving, young catcher Chris Iannetta.  How quickly the tide has turned, as Iannetta’s name is being thrown around all over the place in trade rumors.  The Rockies and fantasy owners are both overjoyed with his performance thus far.

1B- Aubrey Huff- .305 AVG/ 19 HR/ 57 RBI

Featured in last week’s “Overachievers” article, Huff’s ears must have been burning as he continues to rake with in the Bay Area.  His two round-trippers last night have put him ahead of Mark Teixeira and Justin Morneau in home runs for first basemen.  Many speculated whether or not San Francisco had enough offense to compete in the NL West.  They stand today a mere 3 games back of the front running Padres.  With rookie phenom Buster Posey coming into his own, this team is going to be dangerous down the stretch.

2B- Rickie Weeks- .275 AVG/ 19 HR/ 62 RBI and Kelly Johnson- .283 AVG/ 16 HR/ 49 RBI

It was too hard for me to choose between these two, so instead I’ll give props to both Comeback Player of the Year award candidates.  Let’s start with Weeks.  While no one ever doubted his talent, it was always his durability that held him back from becoming one of the elite at his position.  Already having established career highs in home runs and RBI, Weeks is rewarding the Brewers and fantasy owners alike for their patience.  With his name being seemingly the only one not being thrown around in Milwaukee trade rumors, it appears as if he is finally hitting his stride as a major leaguer.  Weeks is the number one offensive second baseman thus far and will likely stay there if he can remain off the shelf.

Kelly Johnson was one of my favorite sleepers to begin the season and he has delivered in style.  While he has slowed significantly since his white-hot start to the season, he finds himself in the top 5 in fantasy for all second basemen.  He even hit for the cycle on Friday.  Like Weeks, Johnson has gotten lost in the shuffle of a severely overpaid, underachieving squad out in the desert.  Released by the Braves in favor of Martin Prado, Johnson is absolutely loving Chase Field batting nearly 100 percentage points higher at home (.326) than on the road (.238).  At an extremely thin position, Johnson is proving the Atlanta brass wrong more and more every day.

SS- Alex Gonzalez- .269 AVG/ 17 HR/ 52 RBI

While I’m still trying to figure out which one’s “the other” Alex Gonzalez, the active one continues to mash.  Even after being dealt to the Braves for Yunel Escobar, AGon has put up a .370 batting average in seven games since the trade.  Gonzalez plays a decent shortstop while providing limited pop from a notoriously light-hitting position.  If he can stay the course with his production, Atlanta will be more than satisfied with the swap.

3B- Scott Rolen- .287 AVG/ 17 HR/ 57 RBI

It has been a renaissance season for third basemen, as Alex Rodriguez remains out of the top 5 in most fantasy leagues.  Scott Rolen has been better than anyone could have imagined in Cincinnati this year, doing everything but steal bases for the surprising Reds squad.  Rolen was thought to be finished by many, not having eclipsed 11 home runs since his 2006 campaign with the Cardinals.  While injuries have finally appeared to catch up with Rolen this season, his offensive contributions and veteran presence have given the team what they sorely needed to compete with the Cardinals- leadership.  The Reds faithful and this writer hope for a speedy recovery from a hamstring strain that has kept him on the shelf for over a week.  Get well soon Scotty.

OF- Nick Swisher- .303 AVG/ 17 HR/ 56 RBI

While the power numbers aren’t surprising, it’s Swisher’s unprecedented increase in batting average that has the Bronx faithful swooning over this fan favorite. A career .251 hitter, Swisher finally appears to have figured out how to hit in (New) Yankee Stadium.  He has been rewarded for his stellar play with his first career All-Star selection this season.  While Swisher is not only cementing his legacy in Yankee lore, he is also softening the blow of Curtis Granderson‘s quietly disappointing pinstripes debut.  As long as he keeps it up, he’ll hold down right field with a kung-fu grip as tight as Paul O’Neill had during his tenure in New York.

OF- Chris Young- .265 AVG/ 17 HR/ 63 RBI

Joining fellow Diamondback Kelly Johnson on this squad of “Silent Stars,” CY is one of the rare breeds of ball players that can beat you with speed and power.  Already having eclipsed 20 stolen bases, Young is 3 homers away from going 20/20 for the second time in his short career.  With all of the attention focused on his paycheck, Young has finally silenced his detractors with a very good 2010 campaign in which he has hit 25 percentage points above his career batting average (.240).  Earning a trip to Anaheim while securing an appearance in this year’s Home Run Derby, it appears Young has finally figured out how to hit with consistency at the major league level.

OF- Alexis Rios- .308 AVG/ 16 HR/ 56 RBI

Another exciting “5 tool” player, Rios has seemed to figure it out in Chi-town after being run out of Toronto.  The two-time All-Star is 4 home runs away from going 20/20 for the first time in his career, already having swiped 23 bags thus far.  Ozzie Guillen always seems to get the most out of his players, especially ones who aren’t playing up to their potential.  Rios is rewarding GM Ken Williams for his faith.  Taking on the bloated contract last season off of waivers was a move that was questioned by nearly everyone in baseball.  There are not many center fielders in the game with as much raw talent as Alexis Rios.  He has held up his end thus far for the Southside faithful.  Keep up the good work Kenny.

SP- Carl Pavano- 12-6/ 3.26 ERA/ 1.01 WHIP

As much pain and suffering as Pavano brought to Yankee fans during his three season debacle in New York is as much joy as he has brought to the Minnesota faithful.  Pavano has been the unquestioned ace for the Twinkies, already notching 5 complete games and two shutouts under his belt in 2010.  His 81:19 K:BB ratio is making GM Bill Smith look like a genius for taking a chance on Pavano for a mere 7 million dollars.  Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to a job well done (ugh).

SP- C.J. Wilson- 9-5/ 3.03 ERA/ 1.20 WHIP

While Christopher John’s K:BB ratio remains ugly (95:60), he has maintained his success by deducing endless ground balls to retire his opponents.  His 8 innings of shutout ball against the Angels catapulted his name into the headlines and into the hearts of Rangers fans.  While the numbers aren’t sexy, to achieve this level of success with virtually no track record of starting pitching (6 career starts in 5 seasons prior to 2010) is simply astonishing. Wilson is a big reason for the Rangers success thus far and will likely have to keep it up if they want to hold off the Angels for the AL West title.

SP- Brett Myers- 7-6/ 3.24 ERA/ 1.25 WHIP

Another pitcher with less than spectacular numbers, you have to look at the circumstances surrounding his season to truly appreciate the job done by Myers.  Left for dead by the Phillies after a monstrously disappointing 2009, Myers has bounced back big time in 2010 pitching for arguably the NL’s worst team.  His ERA is over a full run lower than his career average (4.28) while posting a near 2.5:1 K:BB ratio.  Myers’ name has been thrown around in trade talks as much as anyone’s at the deadline.  Out of all the bad contracts and disarray currently going on in Houston, Myers has provided one of the lone bright spots for Brad Mills‘ circus he calls a team.

SP- Barry Zito- 8-5/ 3.45 ERA/ 1.26 WHIP

Talk about an unlikely hero for the Giants, Zito has finally been able to get over the criticisms concerning his mega-contract handed to him by the Giants in 2007.  Having not had a winning season since his 2006 campaign, Zito’s done everything in his power to right the ship.  With his signature curve ball showing the bite that once made him one of baseball’s most feared pitchers, Zito has posted his lowest ERA in 7 seasons for the Giants.  As long as fellow Silent Star Aubrey Huff continues his torrid pace, it’s looking more and more like the Giants will be the team to beat in the NL West down the stretch.

Closer- Billy Wagner- 22/27 Saves/ 1.73 ERA/ 0.94 WHIP

Having alienated himself from the Mets clubhouse and being dealt to the Red Sox, the Braves took a huge chance in handing over the closer role to Wagner in 2010.  Despite the recent rough patch he has gone through, Wagner has rewarded their confidence with a stellar season at age 38.  Assuming he can get over this bump in the road in which he’s blown his last two save opportunities, Wagner should continue to defy all the odds and skeptics as he slams the door shut on opponents for the first place Braves.  Well below his career averages in ERA and WHIP, Wags may be leaving everything he has left in the tank on the field for one more post-season run.

*All stats courtesy of BaseballReference.com and accurate as of 7/24/10