MLB Team of the Week: Yoenis Cespedes, Bryce Harper and David Ortiz Star
A third of the September schedule has already whizzed by, and another week of MLB action is in the rear-view. That means it's time for a fresh installment of Bleacher Report's Team of the Week.
In case you're new to the party, these are the players (one per position, including a starting pitcher and designated hitter) who have busted box scores over the past seven days. Forget their overall stats. We're judging them solely on what they accomplished between Sept. 4 and Sept. 10.
To qualify, a player needs at least two starts at the position in question or at least one start for pitchers.
Finally, we award bonus points if a strong individual performance led to an uptick in the win column—because as the postseason finish line approaches, that's what it's all about.
Catcher: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
1 of 10
Even as the wheels come off for the San Francisco Giants in this predictably cursed odd year, there's Buster Posey—the cherub-faced embodiment of all that is good—reminding the Bay Area faithful why they love baseball.
This week, the Giants went 3-3 and drifted further out of the playoff mix. Posey, on the other hand, kept right on doing Posey things, going 8-for-17 with three doubles and a home run.
And guess what? He'll be around in 2016, which is an even year, in case you forgot.
Honorable Mention
Travis d'Arnaud (NYM): Travis d'Arnaud went 7-for-19 with a pair of home runs and six RBI, remaining one of the New York Mets' most underrated assets heading toward October.
First Base: Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles
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Chris Davis continued his comeback campaign with a big week, going 8-for-19 with two doubles, three home runs and seven RBI.
Davis hit just .196 last season and was slapped with a 25-game suspension after a positive amphetamine test. But he's regained his stroke this year and should cash in as a free agent this winter, as Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun noted:
"He now has 41 homers -- six in his past seven games -- and is bashing his way to a huge contract. Frankly, he’s probably homering his way out of Baltimore because he is going to get a huge payday on the open market. And, let’s be honest, the Orioles traditionally fail when the dollar signs get crazy.
Davis has his flaws -- his streakiness and propensity to strike out are the main ones -- but his kind of power is a rarity and a tremendous asset in today’s game.
"
That asset almost certainly won't be enough to propel Baltimore to the postseason. Despite Davis' output, the defending American League East champs went 3-3 this week and now sit six games off the pace for the second wild card.
Honorable Mention
Anthony Rizzo (CHC): The Chicago Cubs kept charging toward their first postseason appearance since 2008, and Anthony Rizzo kept raking, going 7-for-21 with two doubles, two dingers and nine RBI.
Second Base: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds
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Brandon Phillips began his week by going 4-for-4 in the first game of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers, who sit with the Cincinnati Reds in the basement of the National League Central, and ended it by homering in an 11-0 drubbing of the St. Louis Cardinals, the division's top squad.
Overall, the veteran second baseman went 10-for-27 with two home runs and seven RBI, though the Reds went 3-4 and remained mired in last place.
Honorable Mention
Chase Utley (LAD): Chase Utley justified the Los Angeles Dodgers' decision to acquire him for the stretch run, hitting safely in every game this week and going 7-for-22 with two doubles and a home run.
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Third Base: Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners
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It's been a lost, dreary season in the Pacific Northwest, but Kyle Seager offered a ray of sunshine this week.
The 2014 All-Star and fan favorite stroked a dozen hits in 25 at-bats, including two doubles and two home runs, while collecting eight RBI and posting a robust 1.333 OPS.
The M's, meanwhile, went 5-2, though it's almost surely too little, too late. After nearly tasting the postseason last year, Seattle is currently buried five games below .500 and six games out of the race for the second wild card.
Honorable Mention
Nolan Arenado (COL): The Colorado Rockies are anchored in the bottom of the NL West, but Nolan Arenado rode high this week, going 9-for-26 with four home runs and six RBI.
Shortstop: Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox
5 of 10
It's been a massively disappointing season on the South Side, with the Chicago White Sox tumbling out of contention after an aggressive offseason.
Alexei Ramirez, who will become a free agent this winter if the Sox buy out his contract, may not be back.
But he made the most of his remaining time this week, going 10-for-25 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI.
Rookie Tyler Saladino has flashed impressive leather at short, but skipper Robin Ventura suggested he'll stick with Ramirez for the time being.
"There is a loyalty, he's the guy who’s been there and he's also producing," Ventura said, per ESPN.com's Doug Padilla. "So you let him play it out and the offseason stuff will take care of itself."
Honorable Mention
Francisco Lindor (CLE): Francisco Lindor stayed in the AL Rookie of the Year conversation by going 7-for-25 with two doubles, two triples and a home run.
Left Field: Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians
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After a 5-2 week, the Cleveland Indians are four games out for the second AL wild-card slot.
If they're going to make an improbable run, the Tribe will need more of the same from Michael Brantley, who went 8-for-28 with three doubles, three home runs and seven RBI.
Honorable Mention
Starling Marte (PIT): Starling Marte went 8-for-24, good for a cool .333 average, while picking up two doubles, a home run and five RBI for the NL wild card-leading Pittsburgh Pirates.
Center Field: Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets
7 of 10
First, let's get this out of the way: Despite increasing hype about Yoenis Cespedes' NL MVP credentials, the Mets slugger doesn't deserve the award.
Who does? We'll get to that in a moment.
For now, let's appreciate what Cespedes did this week for the club that acquired him at the trade deadline.
The Cuban crusher cracked 11 hits in 31 at-bats, including three doubles, a triple, four home runs and an eye-popping 10 RBI.
And the Mets went 5-2, including a crucial three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals. It ain't over till it's over (remember 2007?). But right now, New York holds a commanding 7.5-game lead in the NL East.
Honorable Mention
Mookie Betts (BOS): Mookie Betts offered hope for the future in Beantown, going 12-for-24 with four doubles, a home run and six RBI as the last-place Red Sox rolled to a 5-1 week.
Right Field: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
8 of 10
All right, we promised we'd talk about the worthy NL MVP, and here he is.
Yes, the Nationals are fading out of contention after getting swept by the Mets. But the MVP is an individual award, and Bryce Harper is the individual who deserves it.
The Nats' brash masher solidified his credentials this week, going 10-for-23 with three doubles and five home runs, good for a cartoonish 1.753 OPS.
If anything, Harper's output is more staggering when you consider the rest of Washington's lineup has been hobbled by ailments and underperformance.
"You can cry over spilled milk, but having guys injured and out of the lineup, the guys that generally hit in front of him, puts him at a disadvantage in that regard," manager Matt Williams said, per Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. "To his credit, he's stayed the course and done really well, regardless of the situation."
Honorable Mention
Matt Kemp (SD): A resurgent Matt Kemp kept swinging it for the San Diego Padres, going 10-for-28 with a double, four home runs and seven RBI.
Designated Hitter: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
9 of 10
The march toward 500 home runs continues for David Ortiz.
Big Papi blasted three more jacks as well as three doubles among his seven hits, posting a ludicrous .950 slugging percentage for the week.
Ortiz now sits at 498 big flies and could well reach the milestone away from Fenway, as Boston is about to embark on a nine-game road trip.
Wherever he launches No. 500, we hope discerning baseball fans everywhere will stand up and cheer.
Honorable Mention
Billy Butler (OAK): Billy Butler had arguably a better week than Ortiz, going 11-for-20 with a double and two home runs. But, you know, there's that whole history thing to consider.
Pitcher: Bartolo Colon, New York Mets
10 of 10
With all the controversy swirling around Matt Harvey and his innings limit, Bartolo Colon showed the Mets and the baseball world what an unrestrained geriatric can do.
The 42-year-old right-hander went 2-0 this week, notching a complete-game shutout Sept. 5 against the Miami Marlins and then logging 6.2 innings of two-run ball in a 7-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
"I'm out of limits," Colon said after blanking the Fish, per ESPN.com's Adam Rubin. "An old person like me, I've got no limit."
Honorable Mention
Jake Arrieta (CHC): How do you follow up a no-hitter? If you're Jake Arrieta, you twirl eight innings of four-hit, no-run, seven-strikeout ball and edge closer to the forefront of the NL Cy Young race.
All statistics and standings current as of Sept. 10 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
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