Here is the MLB Press Release...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2011
PAUL KONERKO OF THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX AND ASDRUBAL CABRERA OF THE CLEVELAND INDIANS NAMED THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko and Cleveland Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera have been named American League Co-Players of the Week for the period ending April 10 th . Konerko, along with reigning A.L. Player of the Week Carlos Quentin, are the first teammates to gain the A.L. honor in consecutive weeks since White Sox products Jim Thome and Mark Buehrle (7/20/09 and 7/27/09, respectively).
In six games last week, Konerko hit .417 (10-for-24), matching league-bests with Cabrera with three home runs and eight RBI. He posted a .760 slugging percentage and a .385 on-base percentage. The four-time A.L. All-Star helped the White Sox to three wins over the Tampa Bay Rays at U.S. Cellular Field this past weekend, hitting .500 (7-for-14) with four runs scored, one double, two home runs and four RBI during the four-game series. The 35-year-old homered twice on Sunday as part of a 2-for-3 effort in the series finale. The 13 th overall selection in the first round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft (by the L.A. Dodgers) currently has a 10-game hitting streak (.421, 16-for-38) dating back to 2010, collecting at least two hits in six of those contests. The 2005 ALCS MVP established a new franchise record by driving in a run in the season’s first seven games. This is Konerko’s fourth career weekly award (previously accomplished on 8/31/03, 6/18/06 and 5/2/10).
Cabrera batted .360 (9-for-25) in six games last week. In addition to matching Konerko for the league-lead in home runs and RBI, he was second in the A.L. with 19 total bases, tied for third with five runs scored and fourth with a .760 slugging percentage. Since dropping their first two games of the season, Cabrera has helped guide the A.L. Central- leading Indians (7-2) to a seven-game winning streak, including consecutive three-game series sweeps of the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. The Indians are off to their best start since going 11-1 to begin the 2002 campaign. On April 6th , the Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela native went 2-for-5 with four RBI, including a three-run home run to carry the Indians to an 8-4 victory over the Red Sox at Progressive Field. The following day against Boston, Cabrera layed down a squeeze bunt to bring home the game’s only run in a 1-0 Indians win. On April 10 th , the 25-year-old collected three hits and two RBI, including his third home run of the week to help the Indians secure an 8-6 win and series sweep of the Mariners at Safeco Field. The switch-hitter’s three home runs last week matched his season total from 2010. This marks Cabrera’s second career weekly award (last accomplished on 9/15/08, sharing it with Minnesota’s Carlos Gomez).
Other noteworthy performances from the season’s first full week include second baseman Dustin Pedroia (.458, 11 H, 5 RBI) of the Red Sox; Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila (.333, 3 HR, 7 RBI); Kansas City Royals first baseman Billy Butler (.500, 9 H, 5 BB, 0 K); Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim starting pitcher Jered Weaver (2-0, 2 GS, 14.1 IP, 21 SO) and Indians relief pitcher Chris Perez (4 SV, 0 ER, 3 SO).
The co-winners of the American League Player of the Week, Paul Konerko and Asdrubal Cabrera, are each awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.
