Opening Weekend MVPs

Starlin Castro scores on Friday afternoon

It took just a few games, but some big league hitters have already gotten off to incredible starts.  Yes, it's only April 4th, but let's recognize the best performances in both leagues during the opening weekend.

National League's Top Performers:

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs:  Castro posted a .615 average in the Cubs' first three games against the Pirates.  He was 8-13, with a double and two triples and he scored four runs.  He also walked once while not striking out against Pittsburgh pitching.  Heading into today's game, his slugging percentage is 1.000, leading the NL.

Ryan Howard, 1B, Phillies: There was a lot of doubt surrounding just how many hittable pitches Ryan Howard would see without Chase Utley in the Phillies lineup, but during open weekend he mashed all the ones that came his way.  Howard went 7-13 (good for a .538 avg.) with one home run and a NL-leading six RBIs.

Ryan Hanigan, C, Reds: Hanigan only played in two of the Reds three games during their opening weekend sweep of the Brewers, but he made his two starts count.  He went 5-7 (.714 avg.) with two home runs and four RBIs.  He has a ridiculous OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 2.321.

American League's Top Performers:

Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers: Kinsler killed Red Sox pitching on opening weekend (just like almost every other Rangers' player).  He went 4-10 (.400) with three home runs, three RBIs, and three walks in the series, including a home run in the Rangers' first at-bat of the season.

Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees: Teixeira is normally a very slow starter.  He had two home runs in the entire month of April last season, but in the Yankees' first three games of 2011, Tex smashed three home runs, drove in seven runs and scored four runs.  He went 4-12 for the series against the Tigers.

Carlos Quentin, RF, White Sox:  Quentin will be one of the keys to a successful White Sox season, and he started 2011 with a bang.  In three games, Quentin went 6-11 (.545) with a home run, three doubles, seven RBIs, and three runs scored.  Last year, Quentin only hit .187 during the first month of the season, so the White Sox are hoping that his fast start will last.