Silent but Deadly: Roy Halladay and 10 MLB Players Quietly On Fire

Roy Halladay is having an amazing year, and he's been pretty special over the last month or so as well. In six starts, he has gone 3-2 with a remarkable 1.91 ERA while holding his opponents scoreless three times. This streak includes a game where his opponent took a perfect game into the ninth inning, and Halladay threw nine shutout innings without getting a win, complete game, or shutout for his efforts.

But Halladay you know about. Here is a list of 10 other players who are currently lighting the major leagues on fire, but doing so quietly.

10. John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers

John Axford took over the closer role for the Brewers after Trevor Hoffman faltered.

In the month of July, he has gone 3-0 with seven saves in eight chances while striking out 14 and walking only two in 12.0 innings pitched. He has a 2.25 ERA over that time, and opponents are hitting .214 against him.

9. Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers

Weeks is already having a great season; he's almost made the All-Star team and is having a break-out season.

Nevertheless, in the last two weeks he's turned it up a notch: He's hitting .327 with a 1.160 OPS, and has six home runs and 14 RBI.

8. Johan Santana, New York Mets

Why has it been so easy to forget about this guy? Just a couple of years ago, he was on pace to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

No matter: Johan is back.

After an admittedly un-Johan like start to the 2010 season, Santana has spent the month of July dominating the National League. He has allowed only three runs in five starts, going 3-0 with an ERA of 0.71.

He hasn't been flashing the power-pitching, striking out only 26 batters in 38.0 innings, but he hasn't allowed a home run in six straight starts, and opposing hitters are batting only .199 off him.

7. Rafael Furcal, Los Angeles Dodgers

Will the real Rafael Furcal please stand up?

Since June 15th, the Dodgers shortstop has five home runs, 11 doubles, and 30 runs scored. He is hitting .373 with a 1.036 OPS, and is currently leading the National League in batting average at .326.

This from a guy who hit .269 with a .711 OPS in 2009.

6. Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees

Lost in all the "A-Rod is about to hit number 600" talk is the resurgence of Mark Teixeira. After watching his average dip below .200 in May and still having an OPS below .750 in late June, the Yankees first baseman has come alive in July.

In 21 games, he is hitting .380, with a 1.244 OPS on the strength of seven home runs and nine doubles. Teixeira has 15 walks and only 10 strikeouts, and 22 RBI to go with 23 runs scored.

5. Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies need all hands on deck, and Cole Hamels has responded. In the month of July, Hamels has allowed just seven earned runs in 36.2 innings for a 1.72 ERA. He has cut down on walks allowed and has given up only one home run in five starts.

His 1-1 record is more a reflection of the Phillies' hitting than anything else; he recently allowed one hit over eight innings and came away with a no-decision.

4. Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves

The haters doubted him just a month ago, wondering aloud why he should be on the Rookie of the Year shortlist and calling him the worst All-Star on the roster.

And how has the J-Hey Kid responded? He returned from injury on July 15, and since July 17, he has hit a simply shocking .516 over eight games. During that time, he has gone 16-for-31 with five walks and only five strikeouts, scoring nine runs.

Even more impressive, he has posted a 1.175 OPS while hitting just two doubles and no home runs.

This guy can hit and doesn't have to rely on all-or-nothing home runs to be productive.

3. Delmon Young, Minnesota Twins

Has Delmon Young finally arrived after three disappointing years with the Rays and Twins?

Young has already exceeded last season's home run, RBI, walks, and doubles totals, and is currently putting up career highs in average, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS.

On top of all that, Young has been on fire in July. Since July 1, he is hitting .427 with a 1.166 OPS, which includes five home runs, 11 doubles, and only seven strikeouts in 22 games.

2. Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals

The 2010 season, to this point, has been all about Jaime Garcia, Ubaldo Jimenez, Roy Halladay, and Josh Johnson.

It is time to put Adam Wainwright's name into the mix.

In his last five starts, Wainwright has gone 4-0 while allowing just one earned run. His ERA is 0.25, his strikeout-to-walk ratio is over 4:1, and his season ERA is now below 2.00.

1. Aramis Ramirez, Chicago Cubs

On June 4, Ramirez was batting .158 with a .485 OPS, and looked ready to retire.

He has recovered significantly since then, and has exploded of late. Since July 6, Ramirez is batting .386 with a 1.292 OPS and nine home runs to go with 24 RBI and 18 runs scored.

He has more home runs in the last 17 games than he had in 56 games before his streak.