Maxwell and Blanco Form an Odd Couple of Player of the Week Winners

By KYLE KEOUGH
Double Day AP

In a short career filled with accolades, Philip Maxwell of the Albuquerque Dukes earned yet another distinction recently.

For Ricardo Blanco of the Pittsburgh Crawfords, earning accolades is less routine.

Blanco and Maxwell were named the Pitcher and Player of the Week, the fifth selections on the season for each. Maxwell, a former Silver Slugger, All-Star, and Most Valuable Player, became Player of the Week for the first time on the heels of yet another MVP campaign.

It was always assumed that someday soon, Phil Maxwell would earn his first Player of the Week honor. But for 31-year-old Ricardo Blanco, such a distinction came as a surprise, as Blanco turned in the best string of performances of his career to capture the award.

Blanco, with a 6.33 career ERA, was dazzling with a 21:5 strikeout to walk ratio and four victories on the week. Despite being just 5-4 on the season with a 7.10 ERA, Blanco has been asked to both start (seven starts) and close (four saves) for the 42-68 Pittsburgh Crawfords.

While in fourth place, the Crawfords have a legitimate chance to finish out of the cellar in the NL East this year, which boasts World Series contenders Durham (75-35) and Toledo (70-40). The Tampa Bay Seminoles who earned a postseason bid last season, are just two games ahead of the Crawfords.

Meanwhile, Phil Maxwell hopes to power the Albuquerque Dukes back into the World Series, and to collect along the way the distinction of being a two-time Most Valuable Player. Maxwell has batted .333 on the season, with 41 home runs and 108 RBIs, and has fit in very well in Albuquerque's potent lineup.