Star Performer of the Week (4/6 – 4/15)

The Star Performer of the Week Award is back for 2012. The honor will be handed out every Sunday evening and I’m including the opening weekend’s games in this, the first award of the season. The Astros starting pitchers got a quick start out of the gate, but the offense has stolen the show lately. There are a few players who have had outstanding performances, but none have been better than J.D. Martinez.

Martinez has hit safely in all nine of the Astros games this season, amassing a .371/.436/.714 slash line. Martinez leads the team with three homers and ten runs batted in. J.D. continues to come up with clutch hits and has done everything possible to keep his team in games.

Jordan Schafer and Carlos Lee share runner-up honors this week. Schafer had a tough day today but has thrived in the leadoff spot thus far. Schafer has shown patience at the plate, drawing nine walks in nine games and currently boasts a .405 OBP. The Astros appear to have found their leadoff hitter – if Schafer can stay healthy. The centerfielder injured his neck on a stolen base attempt today and is listed as day-to-day going forward. Lee has avoided another slow start by hitting .297/.381/.432 out of the gate. Lee homered on Opening Day and has nine RBIs including Saturday’s game tying single with two outs in the ninth.

J.A. Happ gets an honorable mention as perhaps the team’s most pleasant surprise to this point. Happ beat the Braves his first time out and pitched well enough to win again today. Happ has struck out 13 in 12 innings while walking only three. Happ has been solid since last year’s demotion to AAA. If he has regained the form he exhibited in his rookie season it’s good news for Astros fans.