BACK TO 1987 - Knights win championship! Vote on awards

[albert2b]

They're back :) My apologies again for skipping last year's picks. I thought that since TSN had their own selections, I wouldn't have to post mine. But since a lot of you have asked, here they are again! Please note that I haven't even looked at who TSN selected for their awards, so there may be some "differences in opinions" :wink: I look foward to peeking at them once I've posted my picks and see how they match up. Hope you enjoy 'em!

[b:9d5afbd2f8]MVP [/b:9d5afbd2f8]

Von Hayes, HAKERS - In league with many viable candidates, I went with the best player on the best team. Hayes' individual numbers are not the absolute best (.301 avg, 22 HR, 51 RBI 14 SB, 73 R), but on the whole, there isn't anyone who can match his overall production. Combine his offensive stats with the fact that he's playing LF (2e6) and not CF, his listed position...well, you have a player who can do it all, and thus far, HAS done it all. Other candidates who were considered were Mattingly, Murray, Tartabull, Gwynn and Brooks.

[b:9d5afbd2f8]CY YOUNG[/b:9d5afbd2f8]

Bret Saberhagen, MILLIONS - Another tough choice as there were many pitchers having terrific seasons. Sabes got the nod mainly because of his name showing up in just about every pitching category. From W to CG to Ks to ERA to IP to Opp Avg. to BB/9 , his name was found near or at the top of each category. Overall, his numbers (11-7, 2.59, 0.99) are fantastic...but would no doubt be even better if he pitched for a better hitting team. Others who received consideration include Drabek, Clemens, Ryan and Hershiser.

[b:9d5afbd2f8]ROOKIE OF THE YEAR [/b:9d5afbd2f8]

Dennis Eckersley, FATBOYS - Again, with several fine rookies to choose from this could've gone any number of ways. Eck is the game's highest paid RP and he's pitching like it. With a stat line of 4-1, 2.23, .89, 16 sv, he has instantly become the best closer in the league. For that reason, he gets the edge over guys like McGwire, Gruber, Bosio and W. Clark, all of whom are having terrific years as well.

[b:9d5afbd2f8]FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS [/b:9d5afbd2f8]

C – Carlton Fisk, TEN (Not really catching a lot due to Scioscia's presence, but .303, 13, 52 will get him on the 1st Team)
1B – Eddie Murray, BFD (Steady Eddie keeps rising above the rest of the 1B crop. NOTE: I haven't changed this comment in 3 years)
2B – Steve Sax, BRE (Could possibly drive in 100 w/o hitting double digit HRs; owner of season high 25 gm hit streak)
3B – Hubie Brooks, MUR (Though normally a SS, when this guy gets his 1986 card, he's got enough bat for any position)
SS – Dickie Thon, MUR (Got a late start to his year, but his .850+ OPS is good enough to be 1st team SS this year)
OF – Von Hayes, HAK (See above)
OF – Tony Gwynn, BRE (Hitting a lead leading .384 with 14 SB and playing Gold Glove caliber CF)
OF – Pedro Guerrero, BRE (No stranger to this team, he joins teammate Gwynn in All-Star outfield; .319, 14, 63)
DH – Danny Tartabull, FAT (The #1 RBI man in the league also tops in SLG % and 2B while tied for 2nd in HR)
SP – Bret Saberhagen, MIL (See above)
SP – Roger Clemens, LOA (The ace of the L&L staff leads the league in Ks while racking up 11 wins)
SP – Doug Drabek, VIO (WHIP and ERA are relatively high for a 1st teamer, but his 13-4 record is impossible to ignore)
SP – Orel Hershiser, MUR (Putting together another impressive season for the Murphs; 12-4, 3.13, 1.13)
SP – Nolan Ryan, FAT (Owner of a no-hitter, the Ryan Express has been rolling this year 9-5, 2.94, 1.15, 137 Ks)
RP – Dennis Eckersley, FAT (See above)
RP – Tom Niedenfuer, LOA (Other than saves, putting up numbers BETTER than Eck....in the Kingdome, no less)
RP – Greg Harris, MAN (Has been called upon often in the 1st half, leading to 78 IP with a 2.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 10 saves)
RP – Ed VandeBerg (Ranks 4th in the league with 14 saves sports a microscopic .95 WHIP and 2.02 ERA)
RP – Dave Smith, TEN (With 10 saves, a 2.36 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, he's taken over as primary closer in a deep TEN bullpen)


[b:9d5afbd2f8]SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS [/b:9d5afbd2f8]

C – Bob Brenly, FAT (Actually putting up better numbers than Fisk, but 100 Opp. SB cost him a spot on 1st team)
1B – Don Mattingly, KNI (Narrowly missed making 1st team also; not as much power as Murray, but that .341 avg is as healthy as ever)
2B – Robby Thompson, BFD (A down year for 2B, Thompson beat out Reynolds and Whitaker for 2nd team honors; .258, 12, 35, w/ .827 OPS)
3B – Carney Lansford, TEN (Unseated incumbent Schmidt for the last spot; At .291, 16, 67, he simply has been better than Schmidt this year)
SS – Barry Larkin, FAT (Another weak position, Larkin's .288, 6, 26, w/ 10 SB and 52 R, was enough to make the cut)
OF – Dale Murphy, HAK (Not hitting much for avg, but tied for league lead in HR and top 3 in RBI)
OF – Darryl Strawberry, VIO (see Murphy's comments)
OF – Lloyd Moseby, FAT (Normally platooners have trouble making this team, but one of Moseby or Daniels had to make it; too good to ignore)
DH – Lonnie Smith, VIO ("Skates" is quietly putting together a terrific year; .302, 4, 44 w/ 46 SBs; Canseco gets snubbed)
SP – Frank Tanana, EXP (12-3, 3.42, 1.24; Who knew he had this in him???)
SP – Jose DeLeon, EXP (Actually pitching better than teammate Tanana -1.10 WHIP, 2.93 ERA - but only has 6-6 record due to poor run support)
SP – Dave Stweart, KNI (Knights' ace keeping them in the playoff hunt; 9-4, 3.22, 1.15)
SP – Joe Niekro, HAK (ERA is a tad high, but still on pace to win 20 on a staff full of terrific SPs)
SP – Fernando Valenzuela, BFD (Never thought run support would be a problem for BFDs, but that's the reason Fernando's 7-9 with a 3.15 ERA and 1.22 WHIP)
RP – Bobby Thigpen, LOA (Playing 2nd fiddle to Niedenfuer in Mav's pen, but would be a stud closer almost anywhere else)
RP – Paul Mirabella, EXP (Former lefty specialist has now got the Express closer job all to himself; 2.98 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 15 sv)
RP – Jerry Don Gleaton, TEN (Tough to get saves sharing a pen with Smith and Orosco, but Gleaton's managed to nab 7; 3.00 ERA, 1.18 WHIP)
RP – Gene Garber, KNI (3rd consecutive AS appearance for .75 RP; Can you say bargain?)
RP – Jeff Reed, EXP (Edges out D. Moore and L. Smith for final spot; 2.20 ERA, 0.95 WHIP)

[YountFan]

[size=24:19a8559448]Thank you Albert[/size:19a8559448] I love your awards

[seanreflex]

Albert,

great job, as usual!! Your devotion is extraordinary, as is your character :lol:

I'm really sad that we only have a couple more seasons left of this decade league. This has been AWESOME!!

BC, thank you for the great theme!!

[Hakmusic]

Awsome, Albert, Thanks! I love the awards. And perhaps most shocking, there is a Haker player on the list! :shock:

Of course, I am now in my second half slide that I have made a regular part of my SOM career.

[YountFan]

[quote:93910e4ea1]Of course, I am now in my second half slide that I have made a regular part of my SOM career.[/quote:93910e4ea1]
Yes, the rest of the division has been wonder when it was going to start. :)

[Hakmusic]

10-14 in my last 24. This happened in '86 and you caught me from 12 games back. :cry:

[YountFan]

[quote:30c886996b="Hakmusic"]10-14 in my last 24. This happened in '86 and you caught me from 12 games back. :cry:[/quote:30c886996b]
I will be hard for me given my weak hititng, but the Loaded guys are a different story.

[BigAlric]

Thanks for your dedication to this.

I just have one thing to add: Fisk actually played all his games at C until I saw you awards and then recognized that I had inserted Scioscia at DH vs. righties (he's not in the lineup vs. lefties). I have changed their roles vs. righties now due to Scioscia's bettter range.

[BigAlric]

BCM and me just completed a trade that will absolutely alter the landscape of our teams, our division and the whole league. :wink:

[YountFan]

I am not sure that is any bigger than the BFDs/Violas trade of a few days ago.

Valenzula and DeCinces for b Smith and Jacoby.