Shane Victorino named American League player of the week

Shane Victorino has been named the American League player of the week.

Talk about a breath of fresh air in the midst of all this Biogenesis, uh, fun...

Shane Victorino is a classy dude

Victorino takes to Twitter to apologize for nearly hitting Brandon McCarthy in the head with a liner.

While it's been more Shane's glove, personality, and approach to the game that has endeared him to Boston fans in his first season with the Red Sox, Victorino has more than gotten the job done at the plate of late. After going 0-for-4 against the Rays on July 29, Victorino has rattled off a six-game hitting streak, only failing to pick up multiple hits in one game. Over that period--one which has seen the Red Sox win five games--he's hitting .462/.500/.808.

Of course, just because he's producing at the plate doesn't mean Shane has been taking it easy elsewhere. He hasn't picked up any stolen bases, but he's been throwing himself all over the place in the field as per usual. And Sunday afternoon it produced some concerning results, with a late leap into the right field barrier coming immediately before an unusual decision for the switch-hitter to bat righty even against right-handed pitching. It didn't help that he proceeded to get plunked not once, but twice.

So far, though, it sounds like Shane is ready to keep right on going, and to do so with class.