This season I am evaluating the five AL MVP’s and Bournigal award candidates and placing them in the order I’d put them on my ballot. I am also going to name two honourable mentions, the best two players that were not on the final candidates list. Please note this write-up was completed after 161 games.
AL MVP
1.
Magglio Javier (Louisville): 120 R (T-2), 52 HR (2nd ), 142 RBI (1st), .315 AVG (8th), 1.015 OPS (T-2)
The 3-time and 2-time defending MVP put together another fantastic season. The only candidate to finish in the top 10 in R, HR, RBI, AVG and OPS, while finishing in the top 2 for R, HR, RBI and OPS. Add those stats to the fact Magglio Javier powered the Sluggers to the 2nd best AL record and I think he can add a 3rd MVP to his mantle. I’m sure some people will think I’m biased to my own player but the numbers bear his ranking out.
2.
Braden Cox (Pawtucket): 120 R (T-2), 49 HR (3rd), 120 RBI (5th), .302 AVG (21st), 1.015 OPS (T-2)
Last year’s runner up looks to be a bride’s maid again. Cox might have dethroned Javier has he avoided the 2 trips to the DL this season with that said in the end Cox only played 6 games fewer. In the 5 major cats the best Cox could do is two ties. The record of 0-3-2 vs Magglio speaks for itself. The future looks bright for Cox as Magglio’s power numbers are slowly beginning to erode. This former MVP will likely take the mantle as the AL’s best hitter very shortly.
3.
Ozzie Purcell (Sco): 122 R (1st), 40 HR (T-10), 109 RBI (13th), .289 AVG (NR), .968 OPS (6th)
The top 3 slot into their spots quite easily. Purcell’s power numbers put him squarely infront of McCarty and Zorilla. While his average and HR total place him behind Cox and Javier. It does deserve to be noted that Purcell lead the AL in runs (2 better than Javier/Cox) and finished in the top 10 of three major categories.
4.
Juan Zorrilla (SF): 85 R (NR), 26 HR (NR), 109 RBI (14th), .332 AVG (3rd), .948 OPS (9th)
This is the part of the list where WIS places too heavy a focus on average. I actually think McCarty had a slightly better year but, this is MVP voting and Zorrilla gets credit for playing on the better team. I won’t say he’s SF best player as that mantle goes to Bournigal. Normally I am against SP as the MVP however, had he made the list of final candidates I would have had a really tough time picking between him and Javier.
5.
Glenn McCarty (Tex): 103 R (12th), 26 HR (NR), 94 RBI (NR), .329 AVG (4th), 1.001 OPS (4th)
Texas’ 2nd best hitter made the list while their best hitter (Kaufman) got snubbed. I’d like to take this spot to congratulate Texas on their first playoff appearance. Wolfhound has been in Hunter since season 1, so it was very nice to see his persistence payoff. I fully expect the Beefeaters to push the Sluggers hard next season in the AL South
Honorable Mention:
Desi Nixon (Har): 114 R (2nd), 41 HR (9th), 135 RBI (2nd), .302 AVG (T-20) , 1.024 OPS (1st)
Nixon should check to see if he’s missing his wallet because he was robbed not to make the finalists. Had he made the list I would have ranked him 3rd just in front of Purcell. Nixon was the only player other than Javier to finish in the top 20 in all five categories. He should have received the recognition of making the finalists.
Bruce Kaufman (Tex): 90 R (NR), 43 HR (7th) , 105 RBI (T-16), .302 AVG (T-20), .990 OPS (5th)
SF deserves to have a player on the MVP finalist list. So I would swap Kaufman in for his teammate McCarty. The only thing holding Kaufman back is his lack of durability, which keeps him out of 35 games or so a season.
AL Felipe Bournigal Award1.
Felipe Bournigal (SF): 229 IP (T-5), 21 W (T-1), 214 K (2nd), 1.65 ERA (1st)
The award’s namesake put together he’s best season to date. An argument for another candidate can’t even be made. The race for 2nd is extremely interesting as all four pitchers can make a valid claim that they are the best “human” pitcher. As it’s been revealed that Bournigal is from another planet.
2.
Pete Daly (SF): 229 IP (T-6), 20 W (T-3), 221 K (1st) , 2.87 ERA (3rd)
When it comes to the Bourngial Award, I put a lot of focus on IP and K’s. Therefore Daly last year’s runner-up deserves 2nd spot again. Led the league in K’s, was top 10 in IP. He’s sub-3 ERA clinched the 2nd spot on the list.
3.
Bob Creek (Lou): 242 IP (1st), 21 W (T-1), 206 K (3rd), 3.71 ERA (12th)
This was an extremely hard spot to pick however, based on my value of K’s and IP, Creek edges out Meng for the 3rd spot. Creek bested Meng in IP (14), W (3) and K’s (39) which was just enough to justify the .88 difference in ERA.
4.
Mark Meng (Sco): 228 IP (8th), 18 W (T-6), 167 K (10th), 2.83 ERA (2nd)
Meng came to Scottdale in the year of the FA pitcher (when WIS closed the loop-hole of extending your own player by one year). Meng’s contract was the largest contract ever given to a starting pitcher and thus far he has earned every dollar of it. Meng lead Scottsdale to a WS last year and has them back in the playoffs for a chance to defend the title.
5.
Giovanni Dale (NB): 230 IP (T-4), 20 W (T-3), 156 K (13th), 3.21 ERA (6th)
Dale another member of the bumper FA pitcher crop of Season 8 has also earned every dollar of his contract. It was a coin flip between Dale and Meng but the .4 difference in ERA and 11 extra K’s was enough to overcome 2 W and 2 IP.
Honourable Mention:Mark Cheng (Paw) &
Phillip Daniels (Bur): The top 5 were clearly the class of the AL this season. I wouldn’t bump any of them out for Cheng or Daniels but both do deserve a mention for almost identical great seasons.
#1. New York Metropolitans (106-56) - (+1) – After winning the WS last season Metropolitans found themselves on top of the power rankings for the first time in franchise history. There’s no MVP’s, Cy Young, ROY, Fireman award winners on this team but at the same time there’s no weakness either. Their strength is the pitching staff that finished season 9 with 3.67 team ERA and 1.26 team WHIP, both 2nd best in Hunter. The offense finished 3rd in Hunter with 989 RS but had the best road BA (.305) and 2nd best overall team BA (.295). Last season addition Trinidad Molina and this off-season addition Matty Garces make this line up much stronger.
#2. Louisville Sluggers (98-64) - (+2) – Sluggers won their first ever AL pennant last season finally beating San Francisco Night Demons (4-2) in the ALCS. In the ALDS they took care of very strong New Britain Yorkies (3-1). If pitching and defense wins championships than Louisville is on the right track, last season they finished with the 3rd best pitching staff (4.05era), 6th best offense (936rs) and Hunters top defense (.985FPct.). Sluggers superstar Magglio Javier already has 4 AL MVP awards and will be looking for a 5th one this season. Sluggers were also voted the favorite to win the World Series this season.
#3. San Francisco Night Demons (109-53) - (-2) – San Francisco won Championships in season 6 and season 7 while posting Hunters’ best regular season record in 3 of the last 4 seasons. Their ability to shut down the best of offenses is what drives this team, Night Demons pitching staff led by Felipe Bournigal and Pete Daly has ranked first in Hunter for the past 5 seasons. My vote for the favorite to win the WS this season went to the Night Demons simply because of Felipe Bournigal and Pete Daly, facing these two multiple times in a playoff series can’t be much fun. Betwen the two of them they have 15 All Star apperances, Felipe also won 5 straight AL Cy Young awards from S5 to S9.
#4. Colorado Blasters (100-62) - (-1) – Blasters yet again displayed last season why they are considered to be the powerhouse of the NL. Not only are they in the playoffs every single season they also won 2 Championships in S3 and S5. Last season Colorado took current Champs Metropolitans to extra innings of game 7 in the NLCS, that’s how close they came to the WS. Colorado is the opposite of San Francisco as their strength is in the line up, Blasters have ranked first in Hunter for the past 6 seasons in runs scored and home runs and it looks like it will be more of the same this season. The back bone of this line up is Hunters best power hitter Frank Zhang who won the ROY in season 4 and two MVP awards in season 6 and season 9. Erubiel Johnson, Alan Grimsley, Lonny Iglesias and Jason Hutton complete the best line up in Hunter.
#5. San Juan TCB (94-68) - (E) – San Juan is another team that’s always in the playoffs, they have never finished lower than 2nd in the NL south and have five division titles in nine seasons. They held the second best record in the NL most of last season and went into the playoffs as the 4th seed. Their playoffs ended quickly as division mate Santa Fe Flyers beat them in the NLDPS (3-1). TCB offense finished second in Hunter last season with 1053 runs scored, led by veteran Angel Bolivar who maybe the best pound for pound player in Hunter. This club holds the 5th position on the power rankings for a reason and is one of the favorites to win it all in season 10.
#6. Pittsburgh Studdabubbas (96-66) - (E) – Pittsburgh was the surprise team in the NL last season, winning the NL North for the first time in franchise history and posting franchise best 96 wins. Studdabubbas pitching staff finished 12th best (4.39era) last season, the loss of SP Doc Robinson will hurt even with the addition of SP Shawn Owen. The offense finished 9th best (903rs) and defense finished 12th best. Superstar 1B Willie Drew, 2B Archie Blake, LF Wayne Hernandez and the addition of SS Rodrigo Brito make this line up very dangerous for opposing pitchers.
#7. New Britain Yorkies (95-67) - (+4) – Yorkies finished season 9 with impressive 95 wins, winning the AL North crown by 15 games ahead of Pawtucket. New Britain entered the playoffs as the #3 seed in the AL, in the DPIS they disposed of Texas Beefeaters (3-1) but lost in the ALDS (1-3) to the current AL Champ. With the 9th best pitching staff (4.32era), 12th best offense (877rs) and 15th best defense (.980FPct.) this team doesn’t need much to move up the rankings in the near future. The addition of veteran Ace Derek O’Keefe makes this pitching staff much stronger, after winning 95 games last season without Derek they should be one of the favorites in the AL with him.
#8. Scottsdale Aces (93-69) - (+3) – Season 8 Champs had a slow start last season but stormed back in the second half to win 93 games and earn the 5th seed in the AL playoffs. Aces 4th ranked offense (953rs) is this teams back none, RF Ozzie Purcell and 2B J.R. Alston are two young stand outs in this line up. The pitching staff finished 10th in Hunter (4.32era) but with young SP Christopher Kieschnick and veteran Mark Meng it should only get better. 7th best defense makes Scottsdale very good all around and will be very tough in a playoff series.
#9. Washington DC Generals (92-70) - (-1) - 8th ranked pitching staff (4.26era), 15th ranked offense (846rs) and 3rd ranked defense (.984FPct) place the Generals in the 9th place on the rankings. Washington won the AL East crown 9 straight seasons and have 3 Championships (S1,S2 and S4). Lately it's been a bit different as they have been eliminated early in the playoffs for five straight season, they haven't reached the ALCS since S4. Last season the Generals came into the playoffs as the 4th seed but lost in the first round (ALDPS) to Scottsdale Aces (2-3).
#10. Santa Fe Flyers (91-71) - (-2) - Another surprise team in season 9, Santa Fe finished only 3 games behind San Juan in the NL South and advanced to the playoffs for the first time in 6 seasons. In the playoffs the Flyers beat San Juan (3-2) in the first round and gave New York all the could handle before losing in 5 games of the NLDS. The Flyers offense is probably the single reason why they won 91 games, their 953 RS and .289 team BA ranked them 4th best in Hunter. The pitching staff wasn't as good posting a biz-mo 5.23 team ERA and 1.60 team WHIP that ranked them 27th in the World, off season departure of ace Derek O'Keefe and the 29th ranked defense definitely doesn't help.
