Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/26/2018

Hitting home runs is hard so they say.  But our Sportsman of the Week seemed to have no problem doing just that this week.  Six games in a row.  Seven home runs total.  Toronto Blue Jays slugger Kendrys Morales went on a tear with at least one home run per game every game played this week.  The Jays went 5-1 against NL playoff contending Philadelphia Phillies along with the struggling Baltimore Orioles.  Overall, Morales went 11-23, 6 HR with 12 RBI.  The Jays are not in postseason contention, but they certainly have a franchise memory and the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/19/2018

Young players with unlimited potential are what sports fans dream about. And our Sportsman of the Week fits that bill.  The Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuna has come of age.  Fast.  On a Braves team that has lost 90 or more games the last 3 seasons looks like it is most likely to win 90 this year.  And the NL East.  Acuna wasn't on the Braves roster out of camp, but got here as fast as he could.  By April 25.  In 284 AB he's hit 19 HR for the season.  That's 73 games.  Less than half a season.  Easily 40 for a season.  And we haven't mentioned yet that he's only 20.  But this week, he hit .484 with 4 HR, 9 RBI, and even 3 SB this week (I mean he's young).  Going back to the week before, he homered in 5 straight games, and 7 out of 8.  The Braves are a surprise N.L. East leaders, with the Mets/Nationals fading away, look out for Acuna.  This Venezuelan could be Mr. October 21st Century.  But he's our Sportsman of the Week for sure!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/12/2018

Back to baseball, as the busy sports summer season hits it's peak with the pennant race.  And no team is in more control than the Boston Red Sox.  Led by an unlikely hero.  Unlikely because he was an unsigned free agent until late in the offseason.  February 26.  Now he's an odds on favorite for the American League Most Valuable Player.  J.D. Martinez has earned every dollar of his contract.  This week, Martinez batted .464 with 4 HR and 11 RBI in seven games.  Games in which the Red Sox went 6-1.  Piling on to their 4 game sweep of the rival Yankees last weekend, the Sox are 10-1, literally just one loss in August.  But back to Martinez, his season totals are staggering, batting .333 with 37 HR and 104 RBI.  The last Red Sox hitter to hit for the triple crown was Carl Yastrzemski, who finished at .326, 44, and 121.  J.D. is on pace to shatter those numbers, although the triple crown may remain elusive due to teammate Mookie Betts amazing batting average.  Either way, Martinez has been the offseason signing of the year, and is a worthy Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/5/2018

Ninety nine races to find Victory Lane, but here's betting it won't be the last time.  NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series phenom (by blood and skill) Chase Elliott was constantly hounded by "when are you going to win a race).  And it was legit, since his debut in 2016, the 24 year old had 28 Top 5 finishes and over 1000 laps led.  But none of the Top 10 finishes were first.  And none of the 1000 laps led were the last lap.  But Elliott looked both aggressive but smart at Watkins Glen, NY, as he constantly pressured the leaders until finally, they were looking at his tailpipe.  Elliott finished the race holding off 2017 Cup Series Champion Martin Truex Jr. who was the only other competitor who could give him a run.  And he got the run, but ran out of gas, as Elliott accelerated through the finish line for his first victory.