MLB Team of the Week: Hunter Pence, Charlie Blackmon and Jon Lester Star
The Chicago Cubs lost on Thursday, but they still became the first team to clinch a postseason berth when the San Francisco Giants defeated the St. Louis Cardinals.
Now, nothing can go wrong. They're the Cubs, after all.
Speaking of nothing going wrong, we here at Bleacher Report's MLB Team of the Week are out to honor 10 players—one per position, including a starting pitcher and designated hitter—who busted box scores over the past seven days.
To qualify, a player needs to have made at least two starts at the position in question, or one start in the case of pitchers. And while this is primarily about individual output, we award extra credit for flashy stats that led to ticks in the win column.
Stretch out your commenting muscles and proceed when ready.
Catcher: Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees
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The New York Yankees may be fading from the postseason picture, but rookie catcher Gary Sanchez is leaving an indelible mark.
This week, the burgeoning backstop went 7-for-26 with a double and three home runs. Oh, and on Saturday he turned an attempted intentional walk into a sacrifice fly.
"The game of baseball is about making adjustments," Sanchez said, per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch and Brian Heyman. "They're going to make adjustments, I've got to make adjustments, and it goes back and forth."
Honorable Mention: Stephen Vogt (OAK): 9-for-27, 3 2B, HR, 7 RBI
First Base: Hanley Ramirez, Boston Red Sox
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Launching a walk-off, three-run homer in the Boston Red Sox's 7-5 win over the Yankees on Thursday at Fenway Park was the cherry on top of Hanley Ramirez's week.
The veteran put together a sweet seven-day stretch, collecting eight hits in 26 at-bats, including four home runs and 10 RBI with six runs scored.
"I was trying to go to the moon," Ramirez said of his Yankee-slaying blast, per Ian Browne and Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Even if he didn't quite get there, he inarguably landed among the stars.
Honorable Mention: Joey Votto (CIN): 12-for-25, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R
Second Base: Jean Segura, Arizona Diamondbacks
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On an Arizona Diamondbacks squad that has been largely barren, Jean Segura is an oasis of production.
The 26-year-old continued the trend this week, going 10-for-33 with a double, four homers, five RBI and seven runs scored.
His role with the D-Backs going forward is uncertain. As Steven Burt of AZ Snake Pit noted, "An argument could be made that Segura probably won't match these numbers next year and a trade would do wonders to rebuild a dilapidated farm system, but in the meantime let's just enjoy what he's doing out there while we can."
That's sound advice for snakebitten Diamondbacks boosters everywhere.
Honorable Mention: Starlin Castro (NYY): 13-for-25, 3 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R
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Third Base: Ryon Healy, Oakland A's
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It's been a down year for the Oakland A's, who went 4-3 this week but are mired more than 20 games off the pace in the American League West.
Ryon Healy lifted East Bay spirits with a booming 480-foot home run Thursday at Kauffman Stadium in a 14-5 win over the Kansas City Royals.
It was, as MLB.com's Jane Lee noted, the second-longest homer of the year not hit at Coors Field.
Overall, the 24-year-old Healy led all qualified third basemen for the week with 13 hits in 29 at-bats, including two doubles and three home runs with nine RBI.
Honorable Mention: Adrian Beltre (TEX): 10-for-26, 2B, 4 HR, 5 RBI
Shortstop: J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles
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James Jerry Hardy (that's J.J. to you) tallied eight hits in 20 at-bats this week for the Baltimore Orioles, including two doubles, a home run and six RBI. And he led all qualified shortstops with a 1.150 OPS.
The O's went 4-3 behind their potent offense to remain locked in a dead heat with the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays for a wild-card position and within just two games of Boston for the AL East lead.
More of the same from Hardy will go a long way toward propelling Baltimore back into late October.
Honorable Mention: Freddy Galvis (PHI): 7-for-25, 3 HR, 7 RBI
Left Field: Brandon Drury, Arizona Diamondbacks
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Yes, another D-Backs player makes the cut. That's the nature of Team of the Week.
Rookie Brandon Drury deserves it after going 14-for-29 with three doubles, four home runs, nine RBI and eight runs scored.
Drury has put in work at both corner outfield positions this season, as well as second base, third base and first base.
"We'd hope to find one position for him. It'd be great," manager Chip Hale said, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. "But he is able to play two or three, four different positions. If that's the way we do it to get him those at-bats, then we have to do it that way."
Honorable Mention: Matt Kemp (ATL): 9-for-23, 2 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI
Center Field: Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies
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Charlie Blackmon enjoyed a scalding week, banging out 10 hits in 25 at-bats with two doubles, a triple and four home runs.
Most impressively, he did it all on the road.
That's nothing new for the hirsute Colorado Rockies outfielder, who has more home runs (17 to 10) and a higher OPS (.967 to .889) away from Coors Field.
Honorable Mention: Dexter Fowler (CHC): 9-for-25, 2B, 3B, 2 HR
Right Field: Hunter Pence, San Francisco Giants
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It's been a dreadful second half for the San Francisco Giants. They're still holding on to a National League wild-card slot, though, thanks in part to the recent hot hitting of Hunter Pence.
The veteran right fielder and noted motivational speaker let his lumber do the talking this week, banging out 13 hits in 26 at-bats with four doubles and two home runs.
"You start with the talent and the way he's swinging the bat," manager Bruce Bochy said, per Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area. "But just the energy he brings [is big]. I talk about it so many times, but he brings it every day."
Honorable Mention: Nick Markakis (ATL): 7-for-21, 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI
Designated Hitter: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
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The Boston Red Sox are hoping David Ortiz's charmed farewell season ends with another World Series parade.
If it doesn't, the home run he hit Thursday against the Yankees at Fenway may count as a high-water mark.
It was the 537th blast of Big Papi's career, which moved him ahead of Yankee legend Mickey Mantle on the all-time list. Talk about a flair for the dramatic.
In all, Ortiz went 9-for-29 on the week with three homers, two doubles and seven RBI.
"There are always the stories on the rivalry and then there are the subplots," Boston manager John Farrell said after Ortiz eclipsed Mantle, per Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. "David is one of those magnetic personalities that is always going to draw the extremes. Love him or—I'm sure down in the Bronx—maybe not."
Honorable Mention: Nelson Cruz (SEA): 10-for-22, 4 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Pitcher: Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
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The Cubs, as mentioned, became the first team to punch their postseason ticket this week.
Technically, they backed in, losing to the Milwaukee Brewers as the Giants beat the Cards. But make no mistake: The Cubbies earned this.
Similarly, Jon Lester earned Team of the Week honors. In two starts, the veteran southpaw went 2-0 and twirled 15 scoreless innings with one walk and 15 strikeouts.
"Everybody’s goal coming into spring training is to win the World Series," Lester said, per CSN Chicago's Patrick Mooney. "Hopefully, we'll save some bullets and guys are feeling good going into October. We'll put one good, last run into it and see where we’re at."
Honorable Mention: Tanner Roark (WSH): 1-0, 13 IP, 1 ER, 6 BB, 15 SO
All statistics current as of Thursday and are courtesy of MLB.com and Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
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