Marcus Semien

I probably don't need to explain why I select someone as handsome as this:

Still, Marcus Semien had some good stats to go with his good looks last week. 

Semien had 9 hits in 20 at-bats last week giving him a .450 batting average. He scored 9 runs, hit 2 home runs, had 8 RBI and 2 stolen bases.

For the Texas Rangers, Semien's performance has been a big part of why the team now leads the American League West. For me, it means lots of close-up pics of him getting high-fives from his teammates.

Congratulations, Marcus Semien! You are my MLBoyfriend of the week.

Marcus Semien

Marcus Semien was such an obvious choice that there's really not much to say. Last week, he had a .480 average and 1.536 OPS with 7 runs, 4 home runs, 6 RBIs,  and 2 stolen bases.

On Tuesday, June 7th, Semien had 7 hits and 3 home runs in one day as the Rangers faced off against the Guardians in a double header. 

And Semien did all that looking like this:

SRSLY.

Congratulations, Marcus Semien! You are my MLBoyfriend of the week.

Martín Pérez

Pitchers don't have to throw two great games in a week to win the MLBoyfriend title, but it helps. Martín Pérez earns the prize after his two quality starts led to two wins last week.

On May 15, Pérez pitched 6.0 innings giving up just one run on 5 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 7 and got his first win of the week. 

I try to avoid silly baseball slang here, but I couldn't resist this headline: Rangers' Martín Pérez Twirls Shutout. Twirling sounds like something you'd do at a rave not on the mound. Anyway... Pérez threw a complete game on May 21 giving up 8 hits and 1 walk but 0 runs in the 9 innings. 

At the end of the week, with 15.0 innings pitched, Pérez had a very impressive 0.60 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. As if those 2 wins and stats weren't enough, he also had a few other things going for him. First, he posted great recaps of the games on Instagram:

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Next thing in Pérez's favor is that he chews bubble gum--which has proven to be the way to my heart in the past.

Last, but certainly not least, this is how Pérez appeared in his post-game interviews last week:

Congratulations Martín Pérez, you are my MLBoyfriend of the week! FWIW, your performance last week got me to add you to my fantasy baseball team as well. So, you'll be seeing a lot more of me as your pretend manager this season.

Week 8: Adolis García

I'll keep this short and sweet. Adolis García is clearly my MLBoyfriend of the week. No contest.

When you have stats like these:

• .286 batting average,
• 1.060 OPS,
• 4 home runs,
• 10 RBIs,
• 5 runs, and the icing on the cake,
• 2 stolen bases.

And, you look like this:

I really have no choice but to give you the title. The only real surprise is that García has never won it before.

Congratulations, Adolis García! You are my MLBoyfriend of the week. Welcome to the club.

Week 18: Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels put up some very strong numbers in his two outings last week--both of which were Quality Starts. In fifteen full innings pitched, he had a 1.80 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP. To be honest, Hamels first game of the week on Monday, July 31, was not so great. He did strike out seven batters, but gave up three earned runs in a loss against the Seattle Mariners (although he was not charged with the loss).

Hamels threw his first complete game with the Texas Rangers on Saturday, August 5, and it was a humdinger. Unfortunately, he notched up the win against my hometown team, the Minnesota Twins. Still, it's impossible not to be impressed by what Hamels did that day in giving up just four hits, one base on ball and zero earned runs.

In other Cole Hamels news; he is back to being clean shaven after playing much of the season with a beard.

Misters October

Fifteen of my MLBoyfriends made it into the postseason. This gives us a great opportunity to take another look at them.

Week 2: Eduardo Núñez, San Francisco Giants
The first entry on this list is bittersweet. I chose Eduardo Núñez as my MLBoyfriend when he was with the Minnesota Twins. As a Twin, he was the best player on a terrible team--but it's my hometown team and they have a special place in my heart. In July, he was traded to the Giants where he has been a very good player on a very good team. Even though he's not on San Francisco's wild card play-in game roster, the move definitely gave Núñez a shot at some postseason play.

Week 3: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
Here's hoping Bryce Harper will be bringing his best hair game to the postseason.

Week 4: Michael Conforto, New York Mets
Michael Conforto's season has been a bit of a roller coaster, but his towards the end earned him a spot on the Mets playoff roster.

Week 6: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
Max Scherzer is the Nats' go-to starter--as witnessed by the fact that he will be pitching in their first game of the postseason.

Week 7: Jackie Bradley Jr., Boston Red Sox
The fact that I chose Jackie Bradley Jr. as my MLBoyfriend despite my longstanding hatred of the Boston Red Sox is a testament to his talent. However, my personal good feelings towards him have a limit, and I hope not to see him on the field for very long in October. Of course, I'd be more than happy to see him elsewhere.

Week 8: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
Congratulations, to Buster Posey for joining the 1,000 Hits Club on September 27th--and doing it in style with a home run.

Week 9: Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
It's no surprise Madison Bumgarner is pitching in the Giants Wild Card play-in game against the Mets. His pitching has outstanding in October.

Week 12: Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
Since I'm a posting after the playoffs have begun, we've already gotten to see Josh Donaldson perform in the postseason--and he was a key contributor to the Blue Jays 11th inning defeat of the Orioles.

Week 13: Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals
Another player with an inconsistent season at the plate, veteran Danny Espinosa comes into the postseason having just broken a cold streak--and is hoping to keep the hitting going in October.

Week 15: Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
Unfortunately, Jacob deGrom underwent surgery in September and will not be able to pitch for the Mets in the playoffs. We look forward to seeing his famous locks back on the mound in 2017.

Week 19: Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers
Yu Darvish won the last game of the regular season in an impressive showing--a quality start with twelve strikeouts and giving up only one run in six innings. Unfortunately, I simply cannot route for his team, the hateful Texas Rangers. Sorry, Boo.

Week 20: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
It's been 112 years since the Cubs win a World Series--which is a really long time--but they are the favorites to win this year. Kris Bryant--a very strong candidate for the National League MVP--is a key player in the Cubs quest to break The Curse of the Billy Goat.

Week 23: Trea Turner, Washington Nationals
Trea Turner inspired my favorite sports headline of the past week: Nobody puts baby-faced Trea Turner in a corner. Not anymore. Could he be the missing piece the Nationals needed to make it into their first World Series? Quite possibly.

Week 24: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
Unfortunately, Baltimore is already eliminated, so we won't be seeing any more of Adam Jones in October. After the game, he showed his heart in calling out a Toronto fan who threw a full beer at fellow Oriole, Hyun Soo Kim, saying "That's as pathetic as it gets." He's a class act.

Week 25: Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers
Elvis Andrus just had the best season of his career; however, I'm hoping his postseason is a repeat of last year (see Yu Darvish, above). While my hatred of the Rangers may be somewhat irrational, I also can't help still liking Elvis.

Thanks to all my MLBoyfriends for a great inaugural season of this blog. Congratulations to the fourteen who made it into the playoffs. Keep an eye out as I will be naming more MLBoyfriends as -the postseason progresses--culminating with my very own Mr. October.

Week 25: Elvis Andrus

I had to overlook my hatred of the odious Texas Rangers in making my choice this week. Fortunately for Elvis Andrus his fabulous first name helped me say, "I can pick a Ranger, and 'That's All Right.'"

Last week, Andrus had his competition "All Shook Up" with his .412 batting average and 1.474 OPS, His three home runs, five runs, five RBIs and two stolen bases made him the Rangers' "Good Luck Charm". With a performance like that as the season draws to a close, "It's Now Or Never" to name him my MLBoyfriend.

The Rangers clinched the AL West on Friday night, and Andrus celebrated with "A Little Less Conversation" and a little more action by hitting two home runs in one game for the first time in his career. Andrus will get a chance to "Shake, Rattle & Roll" some more in the playoffs in October.

Week 19: Yu Darvish

Yu Darvish has been very impressive in his last two starts with a combined ERA of 1.32 and WHIP of just 0.80. He only gave up one walk in 13.2 innings. Not surprisingly, both outings were scored as quality starts and he was awarded the win in August 12th game against the Detroit Tigers. Yes, the better of those two games--in which he pitched seven shut-out innings with no walks against the Houston Astros on August 7th--was technically in Week 18 and should have put him in consideration for my MLBoyfriend last time, but this is my blog and I can make or break the rules as I choose. So, congratulations to Yu Darvish, my MLBoyfriend of the week.

Darvish has always been a strike-out pitcher. This amazing GIF of five of his pitches against Albert Pujols (no slouch of a hitter) superimposed over each other shows his control and consistency.

However, that is from 2013, and Tommy John surgery took Darvish out of the game all last season. He has come back this season as good or maybe even better than before.