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I've been critical of Saunders...even called him "Loopy" becasue of the odd swing that he had last year (which is much less odd this year), but he's growing a bit on me.  I don't see a player that is going to be an Adam dunn type simply becasue I don't see him walking that much.  He's not going to hit for average most years.  But I'm getting impressed with the fact that he fields his position well and he hits the ball a LONG ways.  35 taters seems like his upside.  He will hit 10 homers a year on balls that he misses...but will still hit the stratosphere and carry the fence.  2006 was rickie Sexton's last good year.  Saunders could produce numbers like that during his good years.  that's valuable.  Of course, he's showing that the inside part of the plate, especially down and in, is a potentially bad place for pitchers to throw.  I would susbect we're going to see more and more heat up and away.  Can he adjust and LF gap that pitch?  I don't know.  I suspect not.  But he can dial long distance on the miss inside.
As well....he translates fairly well to RF, if and when Ichiro ever shows that he is mortal and can't hit .320 when he is 46.
I'm not convinced that Saunders is there yet...or will be there.  but he is sure showing the potential to be a potent ML'er.  He needs to be in the lineup every day for the rest of the year.  Let's see if he can adjust as pitchers adjust ahead of him.
I'm on the record as really liking Tui's upside.  I still do.  he's sort of a man without a country right now but I would have loved to see him get 30 straight starts (or Carp) at 1B rather than the signing of Branyan (his homer yesterday not withstanding).
Anyway, go team.
 
moe