Ian Kinsler Named AL Player Of The Week

I remember a few weeks ago I was talking to a friend about my fantasy baseball team I had just drafted. He asked me who I drafted to play second base and I told him Ian Kinsler. His reaction was kind of expected.

"Who?"

I informed him of the type of season I thought Kinsler was capable of having this season and that he would soon know the name. Well, not even I had anticipated the start Kinsler's had this season, and he has earned himself the AL Player of the Week Award.

Ian Kinsler's bat tattooed American League pitching for a .476 (10-for-21) average last week. Paired with his gaudy 1.095 slugging percentage, it was plenty to earn the 24-year-old the American League Player of the Week award on Monday.

"I have had some good at-bats, [and I'm] trying to keep the same approach as last year and in Spring Training," Kinsler said of winning the award. "I'm trying to put good swings on the ball and if it goes out, it goes out."

Oh, it's going out. Kinsler had four home runs last week to give him six on the season, second only to Alex Rodriguez. On the season Ian is hitting .343 with an OPS of 1.338. Pretty good numbers for a #9 hitter.

Rangers manager Ron Washington has no plans in the immediate future of moving Kinsler up in the order, and he understands his manager's reasons.

"Home runs come in bunches. I'd like to keep it consistent, but it's not really realistic to think I'm going to hit 81 home runs. I'm just trying to hit line drives gap to gap, get on base and help the team win."

That's not the kind of attitude I want to hear from one of my fantasy players, Ian. I don't care if the Rangers win, only that my fantasy team does. Keep hitting home runs, or else I'll give your spot to Dan Uggla. That's right, I said it.