MLB Team of the Week: Victor Martinez, Erick Aybar and Zack Greinke Star
With another week of baseball action in the books, it's time for another installment of Bleacher Report's MLB Team of the Week.
In case you're just joining us: These are the guys (eight position players plus a designated hitter and starting pitcher) who've busted box scores over the past seven days. Toss out their overall stats; they're being judged solely on what they accomplished between July 3 and July 9.
To qualify, a player needs at least two starts at the position in question, or one start in the case of pitchers.
Finally, extra credit is awarded if stellar stats led to a bump in the standings. Because while individual performance is cool, it's even cooler when you're winning.
Catcher: Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians
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Yan Gomes missed more than six weeks with a knee sprain early in the season. Even after he returned, his timing lagged behind.
"When he first came back, he wasn't quite getting to [pitches] or he was a little hesitant," Cleveland skipper Terry Francona said, per Chris Assenheimer of the Chronicle-Telegram. "Now I think he's just starting to settle in and feeling a little bit better about himself."
Gomes should be feeling dandy after a week in which he went 7-for-23 with a pair of doubles for the Tribe, who climbed within shouting distance of .500 at 41-44.
Honorable Mention
Welington Castillo (ARI): In a so-so week for backstops, Welington Castillo went 6-for-16 with a home run for the surprising Arizona Diamondbacks, who now sit at 42-42.
First Base: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
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On July 4, Joe Mauer declared his independence from lowered expectations, clubbing a two-run tater and going 4-for-5 overall.
The 32-year-old six-time All-Star and former AL MVP doesn't enjoy the hype and accolades he once did, but with 11 hits in 29 at-bats this week, including two home runs, the league will take notice.
"It was a really good night for him," Twins manager Paul Molitor said after Mauer's July 4 display, per Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press. "I think everybody's been waiting for a little bit of a breakout."
Honorable Mention
Jose Abreu (CWS): The Chicago White Sox remain mired in last place in the AL Central, but reigning AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu did his part, going 10-for-29 with two doubles, a triple and a home run.
Second Base: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners
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To say 2015 has been a disappointing season for Robinson Cano and the Seattle Mariners is like saying the Space Needle is moderately pointy.
This week, Cano brightened the gloomy Pacific Northwest skies a tad, going 11-for-31 with two doubles and a home run.
On July 7 against the Detroit Tigers, he collected his first walk-off hit in an M's uniform.
"Thank God I came through in that situation," Cano said of the 11th-inning knock, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. "It's kind of a game when you can say, as a team, we have the stuff to win and compete with anybody."
Honorable Mention
Wilmer Flores (NYM): Switching from shortstop to second base didn't disrupt Wilmer Flores' bat, as the Mets' second-year middle infielder went 11-for-24 with five RBI.
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Third Base: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
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The Tampa Bay Rays went 1-6 this week and sank two games below .500, dropping to fourth place in the wide-open AL East.
But don't blame Evan Longoria, who went 11-for-31 with two doubles, a home run and six RBI.
He enters play Friday with an eight-game hit streak. Whether he can jolt the Rays' moribund offense, which ranks 25th in MLB in runs scored, is another matter.
Honorable Mention
Nick Castellanos (DET): In the midst of a 9-for-29 week that included a pair of home runs and nine RBI, Nick Castellanos offered a Zen assessment of his hot spell, per Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press: "It's just hitting. It is what it is."
Shortstop: Erick Aybar, Los Angeles Angels
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Erick Aybar jump-started his week by going 5-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored and never looked back.
Overall, the Los Angeles Angels shortstop collected 13 hits in 25 at-bats, good for a .520 average, as the Halos went 5-1 and moved within 1.5 games of the first-place Houston Astros in the AL West.
Honorable Mention
Alcides Escobar (KC): All-Star starter Alcides Escobar solidified his case with 13 hits in 29 at-bats for the first-place Kansas City Royals.
Left Field: Yoenis Cespedes, Detroit Tigers
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Yoenis Cespedes won't defend his two consecutive Home Run Derby victories in Cincinnati. He did, however, put on quite a display this week, going 11-for-33 with four doubles and a pair of long balls.
It's a genuine shame that Cespedes isn't in the Derby—that's like Rocky sitting out Rocky III—but the Detroit faithful can still send the Cuban slugger to the Midsummer Classic via the final fan vote.
Honorable Mention
Alex Gordon (KC): Before going down with a groin injury that could cost him two months, Alex Gordon was in the midst of an excellent week, going 9-for-20 with seven RBI.
Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star broke down Gordon's importance in Kansas City:
"Gordon is more than the best player on this team. He is the hardest worker, the highest-paid, and the most-admired. Baseball teams tend to be cliquey, not unlike any group of 25 co-workers. But Gordon is universally respected, the one coaches point to when a rookie comes up asking how to stay in the big leagues.
"
Now, for the foreseeable future, the defending AL champs will have to point to someone else.
Center Field: Cameron Maybin, Atlanta Braves
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On July 3 and 4, Cameron Maybin banged out six hits in nine at-bats, including two doubles and a home run. By week's end, the lanky Atlanta Braves outfielder had gone 12-for-29 with those two doubles plus a triple, two home runs and seven RBI.
He'd also become the subject of trade rumors, including a hypothetical swap to the San Francisco Giants posited by Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
Whether or not Maybin is moved remains to be seen, but his status as one of Atlanta's key offensive contributors is settled.
Honorable Mention
Carlos Gomez (MIL): Speaking of potential trade targets, Carlos Gomez showcased his value for the last-place Milwaukee Brewers, going 7-for-17 with three home runs and 10 RBI.
Right Field: Kole Calhoun, Los Angeles Angels
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Kole Calhoun hiked his slugging percentage more than 30 points this week with a barrage of extra-base hits.
Among his 10 knocks, the Angels right fielder rapped out four doubles and three home runs while netting 11 RBI and scoring eight runs.
And, what the heck, he threw out Robinson Cano of the division-rival Mariners at the plate, picking up his team-leading fourth outfield assist, per Mark Carlisle of the Orange County Register.
Honorable Mention
J.D. Martinez (DET): J.D. Martinez launched three dingers and drove in seven runs for the Detroit Tigers, helping to ease but not erase the pain of losing Miguel Cabrera to a calf injury.
Designated Hitter: Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers
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Speaking of a guy named Martinez mashing in the Motor City, Victor Martinez went 13-for-31 with three doubles and a home run.
The Tigers, meanwhile, went 5-2 to claw back above .500 at 44-41 and remain in the playoff picture. The question now is: Can they keep it up with Miggy sidelined for six weeks?
Honorable Mention
Nelson Cruz (SEA): All-Star starter Nelson Cruz rediscovered his power stroke with a home run and two doubles among nine hits.
Pitcher: Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers
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In two starts this week, Zack Greinke tossed 15 shutout innings with no walks and 12 strikeouts.
And while this doesn't factor into our Team of the Week deliberations, it's worth noting that Greinke hasn't allowed a run for 35.2 consecutive frames.
Dare we mention Orel Hershiser, another Los Angeles right-hander who in 1988 engineered an MLB-record 59 straight scoreless innings?
Greinke is a few unblemished outings and a whole lot of media scrutiny away from history. For now, the Dodgers will gladly take the zeroes he's already put up.
Honorable Mention
Jose Fernandez (MIA): The mere fact that Jose Fernandez is pitching again in a big league uniform is cause for celebration. But watching the 22-year-old Miami Marlins phenom carve up the Cincinnati Reds in a seven-inning, no-run, no-walk, nine-strikeout showcase was nothing less than a revelation.
All statistics current as of July 9 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
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