While the ROY, MVP, Cy Young, Gold Gloves, Silver Sluggers and Manager of the Year are the major awards to which people actually somewhat pay attention, there actually are a few other awards in the postseason that aren't really worth mentioning, but I thought I would anyway.
AL Comeback Player of the Year: Francisco Liriano
NL Comeback Player of the Year: Tim Hudson
Also known as the Imagine What We Could Have Done Last Season If So-and-so Didn't Get Hurt (IWWCHDLSIS&sDGH), a pair of pitchers who helped lead their team to the postseason this year walked off with the hardware... or plastic... I'm not really sure what this stuff is made of.
Delivery of the Year: Heath Bell
Can you imagine if his last name was Bar? That would be so awesome.
Clemente Award: Tim Wakefield
Also known as the Most Likely to Die a Premature Death in a Plane Crash Award (What? Too soon?).
AL Hank Aaron Award: Jose Bautista
NL Hank Aaron Award: Joey Votto
So... let me get this straight. Votto wins the Hank Aaron Award (given to the top offensive player in each league), and he doesn't win the Silver Slugger? Interesting...
You Down With M-V-P? Yeah, You Know Me!
The National League and American League MVPs were announced earlier this week. Quite frankly, neither one was much of a surprise.
Joey Votto won the NL Award over Albert Pujols and Carlos Gonzales. Legitimately, any of those three could have won the award this season, but Votto still managed to garner all but one first place vote. For my Reds friends who now want to talk smack about Votto getting it over Pujols - once Votto has finished in the Top 4 nine times in ten seasons (and 9th in the other season), we'll talk.
In a rags to riches story that could only be written in Arlington, Josh Hamilton won the AL MVP, just a few short years after everybody thought he wasted his talent on booze and drugs. I'm not sure what the moral of the story is, but I have a feeling that if you are a recovering drug abuser, then I'm pretty sure that Arlington, TX is your place of fairy tale endings.
Joey Votto won the NL Award over Albert Pujols and Carlos Gonzales. Legitimately, any of those three could have won the award this season, but Votto still managed to garner all but one first place vote. For my Reds friends who now want to talk smack about Votto getting it over Pujols - once Votto has finished in the Top 4 nine times in ten seasons (and 9th in the other season), we'll talk.
In a rags to riches story that could only be written in Arlington, Josh Hamilton won the AL MVP, just a few short years after everybody thought he wasted his talent on booze and drugs. I'm not sure what the moral of the story is, but I have a feeling that if you are a recovering drug abuser, then I'm pretty sure that Arlington, TX is your place of fairy tale endings.
Attention V-Mart Shoppers
Since this is everybody's first place for breaking news, the first major free agent signing of the winter took place just seconds ago...
Victor Martinez, the 1B-DH-C-BNAS (Backup National Anthem Singer) formerly of the Indians and Red Sox, signed a 4-year, $50 million deal with the Detroit Tigers. The career .300 hitter should solidfy an already half-way decent, mildly dangerous, frequently injured lineup.
Victor Martinez, the 1B-DH-C-BNAS (Backup National Anthem Singer) formerly of the Indians and Red Sox, signed a 4-year, $50 million deal with the Detroit Tigers. The career .300 hitter should solidfy an already half-way decent, mildly dangerous, frequently injured lineup.
Cy Youngs Announced
The National League Cy Young Award was handed out a couple of days ago, so hopefully, you don't come here for breaking news. Meanwhile, breaking news, the American League Cy Young Award was handed out about an hour ago... well, as of writing this, it was an hour ago. How am I supposed to know when you are reading it?
Roy Halladay, traded from the Blue Jays to the Phillies in the offseason, won the NL Award. Everybody assumed that he would totally dominate the National League simply because he was a good pitcher in the American League. Let's face it, everybody pretty much gave him the award once he was traded to Philadelphia, all he had to do was show that he earned it... and he did.... unanimously.
Continuing their trend of bestowing the hardware to pitchers with poor records, the AL Cy Young winner was Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners. He posted a 13-12 record on the year, but more impressive was the fact that his bullpen/offense didn't manage to blow every game that he pitched for them. The only other player to win a Cy Young with 13 wins was Fernando Valenzuela, who did it in the strike-shortened 1981 campaign.
Managing for the Hardware
There have been a lot of captains throughout the years.
Captain Planet
Captain Jack Sparrow
Of course, who could forget...
Captain Caveman
And... Captain.... whoever the heck this guy is.
But the main guys at the helm for National League and American League teams, the ones who bravely led their team to defy all expectations, the ones who were named Manager of the Year:
It's hard to really argue with the selection of either candidate. After being the runner-up for five of the last eight seasons, Gardenhire wins his first Manager of the Year. He led the Twins to the AL Central division title, in spite of the fact that one of his top players had an awful year at the plate (not so well played, Mauer), and another missed basically the last half of the season trying to come back from a concussion. Honestly, I think Ron Washington is more deserving, but mostly because I wanted another reason to put up a picture of him eating an imaginary apple.
Yup, that picture.
I imagine that some people really wanted Dusty Baker to win the NL award because of how the Reds finished and made the playoffs, but quite honestly, Black was a better decision. He took the Padres from the cellar of the 2009 season into contention until the last day of the 2010 season... all without any major overhauls on the roster. In the 2009-2010 offseason, the talk was all about where the Padres were going to ship first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and closer Heath Bar.... errrr... Bell.
Speaking of people that really wanted Baker to win it. I'm assuming that Captain Jean Luc Picard, clearly a Reds fan (look at what he's wearing), is one of those people. Here is he expressing his feelings to the AP.
Sorry, kids. That is an action unbecoming of a Starfleet officer. Unbelievable.
Captain Planet
Captain Jack Sparrow
Of course, who could forget...
Captain Caveman
And... Captain.... whoever the heck this guy is.
But the main guys at the helm for National League and American League teams, the ones who bravely led their team to defy all expectations, the ones who were named Manager of the Year:
American League
Ron Gardenhire of the Minnesota Twins
National League
Bud Black of the San Diego Padres
It's hard to really argue with the selection of either candidate. After being the runner-up for five of the last eight seasons, Gardenhire wins his first Manager of the Year. He led the Twins to the AL Central division title, in spite of the fact that one of his top players had an awful year at the plate (not so well played, Mauer), and another missed basically the last half of the season trying to come back from a concussion. Honestly, I think Ron Washington is more deserving, but mostly because I wanted another reason to put up a picture of him eating an imaginary apple.
Yup, that picture.
I imagine that some people really wanted Dusty Baker to win the NL award because of how the Reds finished and made the playoffs, but quite honestly, Black was a better decision. He took the Padres from the cellar of the 2009 season into contention until the last day of the 2010 season... all without any major overhauls on the roster. In the 2009-2010 offseason, the talk was all about where the Padres were going to ship first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and closer Heath Bar.... errrr... Bell.
Speaking of people that really wanted Baker to win it. I'm assuming that Captain Jean Luc Picard, clearly a Reds fan (look at what he's wearing), is one of those people. Here is he expressing his feelings to the AP.
Sorry, kids. That is an action unbecoming of a Starfleet officer. Unbelievable.
The Marlins are Idiots
Okay, maybe that's a little harsh, but word came down not too long ago that the Florida Marlins have agreed to trade Dan Uggla to the Atlanta Braves for infielder Omar Infante and and reliever Mike Dunn. I think the Braves got the better end of this deal. Infante had a nice season, but he's no Uggla. And, Dunn? Well, honestly, I have no idea who he is in the first place.
So, why are the Marlins idiots? You don't trade one of your best players to a team in the division... you know, one of the first teams that you have to beat over the course of the season. Okay... maybe it worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles, who traded Donovan McNabb to the Redskins... but the Redskins didn't just make the playoffs like the Braves did.
But perhaps the greatest part in all of this is Mark Bowman's tweet on the situation.
That's right, the Braves were indeed "very close to nearing a deal." This guy's a writer? Geez!
So, why are the Marlins idiots? You don't trade one of your best players to a team in the division... you know, one of the first teams that you have to beat over the course of the season. Okay... maybe it worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles, who traded Donovan McNabb to the Redskins... but the Redskins didn't just make the playoffs like the Braves did.
But perhaps the greatest part in all of this is Mark Bowman's tweet on the situation.
@mlbbowmanMark Bowman
#Braves appear to very close to nearing deal for Dan Uggla.
That's right, the Braves were indeed "very close to nearing a deal." This guy's a writer? Geez!
ROYs Announced
The National League and American League Rookie of the Year Award was handed out today to the top first year players in each league. Can't really say that there were a lot of surprises here.
Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants won in the NL after being called up in May and putting up slugging and on-base numbers that were only bested by some scrubs named Pujols, Votto, Carlos & Adrian Gonazalez. Personally, I was pulling for St. Louis pitcher Jaime Garcia, but after he was pretty well shut down at the end of the season I knew that he didn't have a chance. Garcia ended up 3rd in the voting trailing Posey and runner-up Jayson Heyward of the Atlanta Braves.
In the American League, Rangers' closer Neftali Feliz took 20 of 28 first place votes to walk away with the award. Feliz had 40 saves in his debut season for the American League champion Rangers, a team record. Also, in related news, Feliz won the Major League Award for coolest name, beating out players such as: Jo-Jo Reyes, Marc Rzepczynski, Nelson Figueroa, Esmerling Vasquez and Wilfredo Ledezma.
Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants won in the NL after being called up in May and putting up slugging and on-base numbers that were only bested by some scrubs named Pujols, Votto, Carlos & Adrian Gonazalez. Personally, I was pulling for St. Louis pitcher Jaime Garcia, but after he was pretty well shut down at the end of the season I knew that he didn't have a chance. Garcia ended up 3rd in the voting trailing Posey and runner-up Jayson Heyward of the Atlanta Braves.
In the American League, Rangers' closer Neftali Feliz took 20 of 28 first place votes to walk away with the award. Feliz had 40 saves in his debut season for the American League champion Rangers, a team record. Also, in related news, Feliz won the Major League Award for coolest name, beating out players such as: Jo-Jo Reyes, Marc Rzepczynski, Nelson Figueroa, Esmerling Vasquez and Wilfredo Ledezma.
Silver Slugs
Quite possibly the coolest creepy-looking thing I've ever seen: a dragon slug
As the awards season presses onward to its inevitable conclusion, the Silver Slugger Awards were handed out to the top offensive player at each position. Here are your winners:
American League
C: Joe Mauer (well played... again...)
1B: Miguel Cabrera
2B: Robinson Cano
3B: Adrian Beltre (wait a tick, is it 2004 again?)
SS: Alexei Ramirez
OF: Jose Bautista (raise your hand if you had Bautista as the MLB HR leader. Anybody? Anybody?)
OF: Carl Crawford
OF: Josh Hamilton
DH: Vladimir Guerrero (yeah, that totally makes up for those errors in San Fran)
National League
C: Brian McCann
1B: Albert Pujols (plus the Gold Glove & somehow Votto is favored for MVP)
2B: Dan Uggla (soon to be a former Marlins player from the looks of things)
3B: Ryan Zimmerman
SS: Troy Tulowitzki (So, a mullet's just a bunch of hair?)
OF: Ryan Braun
OF: Carlos Gonzalez
OF: Matt Holliday (so much for people ragging on his inability to hit in the clutch)
DH: Yovani Gallardo (he's a pitcher... why is he listed as DH?)
Can I Paint His Glove Gooooooolllldd?
Much to the delight of a certain villain from Austin Powers, the Gold Gloves were awarded to (allegedly) the best defensive players at each position. Here are your winners:
American League
C: Joe Mauer (well played indeed)
1B: Mark Teixeira (Remember, I before E except in Teixeira)
2B: Robinson Cano
3B: Evan Longoria (no, Evan, that's not your hat!)
SS: Derek Jeter
OF: Carl Crawford
OF: Ichiro Suzuki (10th consecutive GG)
OF: Franklin Gutierrez
P: Mark Buehrle (who sealed his up in April with this play)
National League
C: Yadier Molina (at least he didn't hit .262 in vain)
1B: Albert Pujols (once again showing why he is the best player in the game)
2B: Brandon Phillips
3B: Scott Rolen (Remember when he used to play on the Cardinals... that was awesome)
SS: Troy Tulowitzki (I thought a mullet was a fish!)
OF: Michael Bourn (Michael Bourn... not Jason Bourne)
OF: Carlos Gonzalez
OF: Shane Victorino (the only guy on the NL list whose team actually won a playoff game)
P: Bronson Arroyo
I have only heard of mild controversy about these choices. Most don't seem to think that Jeter deserved to win, and I've heard a few rumblings about Zimmerman getting overlooked at NL 3B. All in all, this is an award that often ends up being based more on reputation instead of the actual defensive numbers. Of course, you know how I feel about advanced statistics.
Breakfast of Champions
Pablo Sandoval, also known as Kung Fu Panda in some circles, plays for the recently crowned World Champion San Francisco Giants. Some have noticed a severe dip in his production from last season to this season (.330 to .268 BA; 25 to 13 HR; 90 to 63 RBI). I saw this awesome tweet from ESPN's Buster Olney today that might help explain why.
@Buster_ESPNBuster Olney
Pablo Sandoval will go into the spring training on notice. A friend saw him power down this breakfast during WS: Cheetos and Mountain Dew.
I can't even begin to describe how much this makes me laugh. It sounds as though Timmy's habits may have caught on to some other guys who have succumbed to the munchies throughout the season. No word yet on Sandoval's reaction to the destruction of Proposition 19.
Passing of a Legend
In case you haven't already heard, Sparky Anderson the first manager to lead teams from both leagues to victories in the World Series passed away earlier this week. Anderson managed the Red and Tigers to World Championships. Incidentally, only one other manager has led teams in both leagues to a World Series Championship - Tony LaRussa, who led the Cardinals and the A's to baseball's version of the Promised Land. Sparky will truly be missed, after all, with a name like Sparky, you know he has to be awesome.
Stories of Sparky's generosity abound. Here he is about to share a piece of gum with Cecil Fielder.
Sparky cared a great deal about his players.
Some would say he could only be faulted for caring too much.
This picture is awesome because pipes make a person 35% more awesome.
Here he is letting God know that they'll be seeing each other soon.
Putting a Bow(tie) on 2010
Well, I guess that does it. So much for the Rangers winning the World Series in their first trip. The San Francisco Giants are your 2010 World Series Champions. I don't know if I have it saved, but at some point during the season, I think it was on an MLB Network Radio status update midseason, I said that the Giants are a darkhorse for the World Series because of their pitching. If they can get into the playoffs - seriously, this is what I said at the time - they have a legitimate shot of winning it all simply because of their pitching staff. And then they scored 20 runs in the first 2 games.
While small victories are just that... small... I would also like to note that Timmy Lincecum is not going to legally be able to celebrate in his usual way, as Proposition 19 was shot down by California voters by half a million votes. The reason: stoners weren't sensible enough to actually vote... because they were stoned.
Regardless, I think this officer of the law has the right expression as far as the Giants actually winning the Series is concerned.
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