Last year's MVP season, when he hit .337 with 39 HRs and 126 RBIs, was simply a logical progression for the Dominican masher. Since '98, he has never failed to clear .300, nor (but for an injury-shortened 2003) 38 homers and 108 RBIs. In 2002 he also missed by 1 dinger of joining the 40-40 Club. This eye-grabbing maple bat was responsible for some of last year's carnage. The Canadian-made X Bat, is inscribed "Model 24, Vladimir Guerrero, Pro Maple 34". The barrel of the 2-tone stick is a deep chocolate brown and the handle black, with a silver delineating ring. More than a few shots left their marks on the barrel, streaking it blue and white, and the paint has been somewhat stripped at the barrel top because of banging it on the plate and cleats, creating a "nifty crown" effect, appropos for a kingly hitter.