Freaks of the Week

 FOTW 8/11-8/17

By: Spent Brockman


Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners

Are the Mariners actually going to pull this off? After being buried in the standings for the majority of the season, the team has rocketed back into contention thanks in large part to Rodriguez. J-Rod was hit hard by the sophomore slump, hitting sub 250 with a sky high strikeout rate before the all star break but that break could not have happened at a better time with the young superstar hitting .321 with production across the board since the break. J-Rod upped his play even more this past week, going 13-36 along with 7 XBHs and 3 swipes. If the team's young sparkplug continues this torrid stretch the Mariners will easily find their way into October.


Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins

Sandy is back, boys. After a fairly mediocre but disappointing start to the season for the reigning NL Cy Young, Sandy looks to have found his special sauce and is back in a groove. While the Marlins Ace still features a lackluster ERA over 4, Sandy has been as good as they come over the past month. Alcantara has now gone 8 innings in three of his last four starts including two complete games while the odd start out of the bunch was a six inning quality start against the ever dangerous Ranger lineup. Alcantara's start this past week was his best yet though being the latter of his two recent complete games shutting down the Yankee lineup, allowing 1 earned run on just 5 hits while striking out 10. Alcantara is coming on at just the right time to help the team push for a playoff spot, but a true test of whether he is truly back will come today when he takes on the Dodger lineup.


Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks

This man has been producing enough power to keep all the lights in Phoenix on. As Walker continues to be one of the most unheralded power hitters in the majors, many people do not see what he does in the desert. With the big man looking locked in to past back to back 30+ homer seasons, he is still viewed as a mediocre player but he needs to get more credit for the pop in his bat because it would be fun to see him in a HR Derby. Thanks in large part to a trip to Coors, Walker had a HR Derby of his own this past week. The Arizona first baseman launched 5 homers across the week while adding 2 doubles as he lasered balls all across the park. Power was not the end of the story for Walker either as he was making solid contact on a consistent basis resulting in a 11-26 week. The D-Backs have struggled tremendously in recent weeks so the team will need this kind of play on a consistent basis if they want to climb their ways back up the standings.


Allan Winans, Atlanta Braves

Yes, someone who is currently in the minors made this list. You know the Braves are absolutely stacked when their 27th man can dominate when being called up for a spot start. Winans was called up as part of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets and he seized the day. Winans was locked in for every single one of his 111 pitches. The youngster allowed just 6 baserunners over 7 innings while whiffing 9 and earning the win. Even with a dominant start like this past one, Winans is not particularly close to locking up permanent big league appointment with Fried recently returning to the rotation and Smith-Shawver next in line to get called up in the minors if a rotation spot, but boy this team is built to win now and for a long time.


Zack Gelof, Oakland As

Yes Oakland, it is not a complete train wreck. The 2021 2nd round pick is providing Oakland fans and even Las Vegas residents something to smile about as every since becoming a pro baseball player he has hit like a pro. The kind has pop hitting 88 XBHs across just 201 minor league games while showing great speed swiping 43 bags at the same time. After being promoted on July 14th, Gelof has proved his game translates nicely to the big leagues hitting .294 while still showing speed and power hitting 8 homers and 7 steals. The youngster is only getting more comfortable having his best week as a big leaguer, hitting safely in all but one game while having 2 four hit games. It has been his power binge that has been the most impressive smacking 7 XBHs across the week. Let's hope the team actually chooses to build around Gelof instead of selling him off like they have done with their recent budding stars but do not be shocked if Gelof somehow ends up in Atlanta in a year or two.

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