A slugging percentage over 1.000 is always a good way to gain notice, and Lance Berkman rode it to a National League Player of the Week award Monday, batting 10-24 with six home runs and 12 RBI on an incredibly hot road trip, one that saw him hit a grand slam and pick up two two-homer nights, including one in which he launched the ball twice to the opposite field.
It's Berkman's third NL Player of the Week award, and his first since the week of May 5, 2002, when he was 10-26 with three home runs, two doubles, and nine RBI. He also earned the award on Jun 24, 2001, when he hit an incredible 14-27 with six doubles, two home runs, and 13 RBI. It was part of a 21 game hitting streak in which he hit .471, with 12 doubles, a triple, and nine home runs.
Prior to last week, Berkman was hitting just .214 with two doubles, no home runs, and one RBI. Since his first home run of the year he's been at .417/.462/1.167.