Major League MVP Candidates

As the season has ended, its time to start filling out your ballots for MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year for both the Major and Superior Leagues. My colleague, Lyman L. Lewis will be sending out the voting format in the next few days, but it will be the same as last year. For MVP, vote for your top 5 players, and for Cy Young and Rookie, and vote for your top 3. I believe points will be tallied in a 7-4-3-2-1 and 5-3-1 type format, but Lyman will confirm.

For the Major League, I thought it would be interesting to compare the top candidates, and look at the arguments for and against each player being MVP. This writer now presents his top 8 candidates, organized alphabetically by team:

Stan Marsh, 1B, Denver Rabbits
Argument For: Stan hit a whopping .312-43-127 and was in the top 5 in many statistical categories including 5th in Avg, 2nd in SLG, T-1 in OBA, 3rd in Runs, 2nd in RBI's, and 2nd in HR. Stan also led the league with 142 runs created, and finished 2nd in the league with 8.7 runs created per game.

Argument Against: Stan's team only won 83 games, and they finished 7 games out of the playoffs. Stan also plays the easiest defensive position on the field, 1B.


Miguel Tejawa, SS, Hollywood B's
Argument For: Miguel's team made the playoffs, as they cruised to a Western Division title by 13 games. He hit .26-30-118 and played all 162 games to be the new league iron man. Did I mention he hit 30 homers and plays Shortstop, one of th more demanding positions? Also, he helped the B's to a season best 14 game winning steak, which ended up being a streak of 19 out of 20 as well (hello Miguel Tejada circa 2002?).

Argument Against: Since he played every day, he was 7th in the league with 473 outs made. He also led the league with 271 runners left on base, making his RBI total a little less impressive. He also committed 27 errors, and had the 2nd lowest RC/G (6.7) amongst the players mentioned in this article.


Geoff Favre, RF, Hollywood B's
Argument For: .284-36-99, great defense in RF (24 baserunner kills), and per game, the best offensive player on the Hollywood B's (7.8 RC/G - 4th in the league), and tied for 3rd with 36 HR.

Argument Against: Only 99 RBI's, played only 138 games, not quite the offensive punch as Marsh and White, not quite the tough defensive position as the middle infielders.


Hank Crowell, 3B, Los Angeles Shockers
Argument For: In April and May, it looked like he would run away with this award (and repeat his 2006 MVP season) as he was the dominant offensive force in the league on the surprising 1st place LA Shockers. He finished with a .297-27-105 stat line and played great defense at 3rd Base.

Argument Against: The second half. He came back to earth, and the Shockers finished 13 games out of first place. His RC/G fell back to "only" 7.3.


Chad White, CF, New York Cobra
Argument For: Helped New York to the best record in the league and hit .301-34-130. Played error-free baseball in Centerfield and had yet another 30-30 season (34-37). Chad led the league with 130 RBI.

Argument Against: Chad was 3rd in the league with 492 outs made. People are starting to say his speed is slipping, as evidenced by his league leading 27 GIDP. Also, only 6.0 RC/G, lowest for the players mentioned as candidates.


Brett Solo, SS, New York Cobra
Argument For: .293-36-111, and great defense at shortstop for the best team in the league. 3rd in the league with 36 HR, and 3rd in the league with 7.9 RC/G.

Argument Against: Really, no weaknesses at all this year. Except he isn't as good as A-Rod yet.


Jimmy Taylor, 2B, Philadelphia Grays
Argument For: .319-17-64 and 143 runs scored. Finished 2nd in the league in batting, losing out on the batting title to Leon Wolf (who won despite 500 plate appearances thanks to the Tony Gwynn rule). Also, helped lead Philadelphia to their first ever post-season appearance by playing every day until the wild card was clinched. Had 669 AB and led-off all season. Also 44 2B, 9 3B, and 25 SB. Impressive 7.1 RC/G led all 2B and 2nd to Brett Solo among middle infielders. 3rd in the league with 123 runs created.

Argument Against: 468 outs made. Was an average defensive shortstop last year, and made the switch to 2B to alow Philadelphia to sign a great defensive SS in Ruiz. At 2nd, Taylor's offense did flourish but he was average to below average defensively. Some folks think that Ruiz is a big reason for the team's turnaround, as the entire pitching staff excelled this year.


Paul White, 1B, Philadelphia Grays
Argument For: .288-49-124 and led the league in Homeruns and Runs Created per game (9.0). Also had 49 doubles for a league leading 98 extra base hits. Led league in SLG at .632, 2nd in runs created at 140, and 3rd in RBI.

Argument Against: An average defensive first baseman with absolutely no value on the basepaths. Were being nitpicky here, but hey.


This voter's opinion: Can't tell you, but I think the best player in the league will win. We'll see if I'm right.

Season over

Final stats are up.

Playoffs start next week:

Toledo at Utah
New York Knights at Charlotte

Detroit at NY Cobra
Philadelphia at Hollywood

Top 15th, Knights vs Boston, game 162

Further game details in the comments section.

Last 3 Games

All in the East.

First, a meaningless game as far as the standings are concerned:

Miami 8 Orlando 3

Dave Lefevre goes the distance, striking out 10 and allowing 5 hits, to even his record at 14-14. Still, his ERA is a career worst 4.62 and its still uncertain if this will be his last game with the Stars, or his last game ever.

Next, cousin Doug Lefevre takes on Boston and Johnny DeMario, with a chance to clinch the Eastern division.

Bottom 2nd: RBI single by Holmes puts NY up 1-0
Double by Perry extends lead to 3-0
Bottom 6th: Gwosdz 3 run double makes it 6-0
Top 8th: Clark Huntley RBI single breaks up no-hitter for Lefevre, lead is 7-1
Lou Jones hits the next pitch out for a 3 run homer, 7-4. Joe Dirte in from the bullpen with 5 outs to go.

Top 9th: Dirte still in, Troy Everett is unavailable for the game, but warming up just in case, they think he can face one batter. Tom Groovine is warming up in the bullpen.

Powers double
Corgan strikes out

Suarez now pitching, Dirte out, 7-4 lead.

Durham HBP

Everett in to face German Gonzalez.

Gonzalez homers! Game tied at 7! Everett stays in to retire Coffey and Huntley.

Bottom 9th, Freeman pitching for Boston.

Ho Chi fat groundout
Conan walks, Dallas Knight Jr pinch runs
steals 2nd
Russell K
Ramos flies out.

Top 10th, Tom Groovine pitching.
1-2-3 inning, Garciajawa K to end it.

Bottom 10
Blake out
Gwosdz BB
Jimenez doubles, 2nd and third for Holmes

Franco pitching

Holmes BB
Perry K
Fat K -wasted opportunity

Top 11
Groovine gets 1st 2 out but allows 3 hits and 2 runs.

Bottom 11 facing Don Thompson

Knight BB
Russell 4-3
Ramos single
Blake 5-4, runner at 3rd holds
Gwosdz 2 run, 2 out DOUBLE!

He's stranded, and back to the top 12th
Groovine gets 1st 2 out, then double to Nomad
Powers flies to Holmes

Bottom 12th
NY down 1-2-3

Top 13th
Corgan single
Durham K
Norton pinch runs
Gonzalez 4-3, runner moves up
Coffey K

Bottom 13
Oliver bats for Knight against lefty
Knights down 1-2-3

Top 14
No runs

Bottom 14
Munoz bats for Blake
1-2-3 inning again

To be continued...

Baltimore stays alive

Storm Morris pitched into the 9th against the Sluggers, and left with a 5-2 lead. Then closer Gene Burris gave up a shocking 3 run homer to George Brown. The game went to extra innings, and Kobe Jones won it with a 2 run double. Burris set the Sluggers down 1-2-3 in the 9th.

One game left to play. If Baltimore wins behind Rufus Anderson, and New York loses to Boston, we have a one game to decide the division winner. For either team this will be their first trip to the playoffs.

Toledo is in

With a 7-5 win over Cleveland, Toledo clinches a wild card spot. Catcher Humberto Castillo homered twice.

New York lost 8-6 to Boston, leaving their magic number at 1. They need to win their last game, or hope Baltimore loses to Louisville, but the Sluggers are done and Baltimore has Rufus Anderson and Storm Morris scheduled for those games.

Two is the Magic number

New York, with an 8-5 win over Orlando, cut their magic number to 2. Conan hit career HR #784 in the game. Baltimore lost to Boston, 5-4. They tied the game at 4-4 with a 3 run 9th but the Beaneaters pulled it out in the bottom of the inning.

Baltimore is the only challenger left to both New York and Toledo, and Toledo's magic number is two as well.

The Sluggers' season is officially over after yet another loss to Miami. The Sluggers gave Roger Chillingworth a 6-3 lead in the 4th inning, but after struggling to record two outs while loading the bases. Then he threw what might be the last pitch of his career: a grand slam to Damon Nkik.

Two blown saves

Starting a lineup of mostly backups and minor leaguers because of injuries, the Sluggers looked anemic against Miami rookie Andy Roughton, who struck out 10 in only 6 innings. The Sluggers had something left though, and tied the game at 3-3 in the 8th on Hal Glover's homer. Bubba Lewis put Miami back up 4-3. Against Bob Belardi in the 9th, Jason Foster put the Sluggers up 5-4 with a 2 out, 2 run single off Bob Belardi. In the bottom 9th, however, Slugger closer Chad Anderson could not hold the lead, and Ron Young's sacrifice fly won the game as Jason Foster could not throw out Everett Jimenez on a short fly to left.

The Sluggers are now 3 back, and their tragic number is down to 2.

Devastating loss for Sluggers

After New York lost in extra innings to Orlando, Baltimore beat Boston 9-4 behind Rufus Anderson to move within one game. Slugger sent their 7 foot lefthander, Jojo Lewis, to the mound hoping to keep pace, but Jojo could not get out of the second inning against Miami.

What's even worse is that the Sluggers suffered injuries to their leadoff man and second baseman Quilvio Gato, right fielder Julius Alfonzo, and catcher Willie Gomez, who was hitting .315 with 77 RBI. In addition, Rob Block, Marvin Franco, and backup second baseman Leon Davis are all hurt. The Sluggers now need a miracle to make a playoff spot.

Toledo's magic number is three

With 4 games to play, the Mud Hens have a 3 game lead against the Sluggers and Colts. Those 2 teams have a better shot against New York for the East division, as they are 2 games back. It will not be easy, as New York's next 4 games are against last place Orlando, followed by 2 against 4th place Boston (and we know New York always beats Boston this time of year). The Sluggers play Miami for 4 while Baltimore has 4 in Fenway. The Sluggers and Colts then play the last two games against each other.

After reducing their magic number to one, Charlotte proceeded to lose 6 in a row while Toledo got hot, but they finally clinched on 9/24 with a 14-6 win over Springfield.

In the west, Utah has 100 wins with 4 to play, and is 26 games ahead of second place Mars. Henry Rollins, the Saving Ute, has set a new club record with 51 saves.

Block injured, possibly done for good

To start the day the Sluggers are 2.5 games behind New York for the division and 2.5 behind Toledo for the wild card. This is the only pennant race in APBA this season.

Roger Chillingworth takes the mound against Orlando looking for his 13th win. In the bottom 1st, Rob Block is hit in the wrist by a John Rachunok fastball. X-rays indicated a break, and Block's season is over. He finished the year batting .197 with 25 homers and 54 RBI in 117 games. As he's hit under .200 for thelast two years, Block may not play in 2008. If so he finishes with 742 homers and 1969 RBI. With Barry Bonds and Conan already passing Hank Aaron's 755 mark, there is little incentive for Block to play just to chase a record.

Sluggers in trouble

The Louisville Sluggers, with a little over a week to play, are 3 games behind New York for the East division, and 2 behind the surprising Toledo Mud Hens for the wild card.

They kept pace today with a 5-3 lead over Orlando. With the game tied at 3 in the 9th, Sluggers rookie John McConnell delivered a 2 run double. McConnell, nephew of Kentucky's non-ex-MLB Senator, is one of the bright spots of the farm system, and could be the third baseman of the future.

Utah Utes, 2007 West Division Champions

After a 4 game sweep of Las Vegas, Utah rested on Thursday, September 6th, and watched as Texas beat 2nd place Phoenix by a 6-2 score. This officially puts Utah into the playoffs, and we are not sure if any team has ever clinched so early, although the 1995 Utes won their division by 30 games. Utah has now won 12 division titles in the last 16 seasons.

Frank Lewis is the most likely MVP candidate on Utah. He's hitting .329 with 22 homers, 85 RBI, 97 runs, 87 walks and 30 hit by pitches, for a .459 on base percentage. Frank has also worked hard on his defense for the first time in his career, after criticism of his glove may have cost him the 2006 MVP award. Frank has only made 7 errors this year.

Lindros Traded, Hernandez wins debut

Dirk Lindros was traded to Hawaii along with a second round pick in exchange for Hawaii's first round pick. Lindros, 34, will be a free agent at the end of the season. Hawaii also reached contract extensions on two of their young infielders, Yoda Skywalker signed a 5 year, 40.5 million extension, and Daniel Smith signed for 28 million over 7 years.

Juan Francisco Hernandez, the 19 year old Las Vegas phenom, made his debut against Texas and pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. He only allowed 1 run on a Mark Crawford solo homer, and left after 5 with a 14-1 lead. Fellow rookie Andy Moore had a 3 run homer, and Alvaro Samuel added 2 homers, including a grand slam.

Hernandez was scheduled to start Monday after Charlie Herrell, but Boba Fett opted to move him up to Sunday because the Monday start will be against Utah. Fett will follow a strict 5 inning limit for Hernandez the remainder of the season.