Huff Makes ESPN's "Silver Lining Team"

Hey, it's easy to muster enthusiasm for the stretch drive when your team is in a pennant race, showing a pulse in the wild-card chase or playing at least .500 ball. Every minor league call-up, positive news on the injury front or Freddy Garcia signing brings an adrenalin rush and renewed faith that things will work out OK in the end.

Still, positive omens can be found amid the rubble. In this week's installment of Starting 9, we pay tribute to major leaguers who have made unexpectedly strong contributions to give losing teams a reason to feel good amid all the bad news. With apologies to San Francisco's Brian Wilson, Detroit's Armando Galarraga and Seattle's Jose Lopez, here are nine members of what we like to call our "silver lining" edition.

1. Joakim Soria, Royals (32 saves, 1.51 ERA)

2. Brad Ziegler, Athletics (37 innings, 21 hits, 0 runs)

3. Aubrey Huff, Orioles (.302 batting average, 24 homers, 76 RBIs)

Here's a great way to fall out of favor in the town that worshipped Cal Ripken Jr: Hit 15 home runs in the first year of a three-year, $20 million contract. Perpetuate a reputation for slow starts, a half-hearted work ethic and a penchant for producing only when your team is out of the race.

Add some ill-advised comments about Baltimore and its lack of night life on the "Bubba the Love Sponge" radio show, and it's easy to see why the locals viewed Huff with skepticism in April.

Four months later, Huff is Mr. Popularity at Camden Yards. He leads the AL in extra-base hits, ranks third in total bases, fourth in doubles, sixth in homers, seventh in slugging and eighth in RBIs. Huff and Kevin Millar, who combined for 32 home runs out of the first base-DH spots in 2007, already have 42 homers with seven weeks left to play.

Huff started slowly in spring training after January surgery for a sports hernia, but a mechanical alteration at the suggestion of Orioles hitting coach Terry Crowley has made a huge difference. During a one-on-one tutorial in July 2007, Crowley urged Huff to stand taller in the batter's box and make a greater effort to use the entire field. Huff hit .346 in August and September 2007, and he's never looked back.

(espn.com)