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July 18, 2006
Doug Padilla: Angels near miss
The Oakland Athletics' Mark Kotsay might have won the American League Player of the Week Award for the week ending July 16, but the fact that two Angels received honorable mention might be more impressive.
Vladimir Guerrero and John Lackey each received consideration for the award in a week shortened by the All-Star break. It is proof that the Angels are coming together as a team with a little under a half season still remaining.
Kotsay, a Cal State Fullerton product, certainly was worthy of the award for batting .556 with a .772 slugging percentage in a four-game series at Fenway Park in Boston. He had three doubles, five RBI and 13 total bases. It was the first time Kotsay had received the award in his career.
Guerrero was 7-for-11 with two home runs and six RBI last week as he emerged from a June funk to find his top form.
Lackey might have been a lock for the award had he pitched more in the week. As it were, Lackey still received mention off of just one start. He pitched a shutout Friday against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays with 10 strikeouts. It was not only Lackey's second consecutive shutout, but he has struck out 10 batters in three consecutive games. He makes his next start Wednesday afternoon against the Cleveland Indians in the finale of the Angels' current homestand.
Posted by Doug Padilla at July 18, 2006 03:36 PM