MLB 2008 Season

AL MVP

THE FAVORITES
Francisco Rodriguez, Angels: K-Rod has had a hand -- or, rather, a right arm -- in two out of every three Angels wins. His record-approaching saves total isn't the result of greater use -- he appeared in a similar number of games in each of the prior four seasons. Rather, as manager Mike Scioscia has pointed out, it is owed to the amazing number of situations begging for his specialty that have presented themselves.
Rodriguez's response to those repeated challenges is in the numbers. The Angels have won 55 games by one or two runs; K-Rod has saved 47 of them, and picked up the victory in two others. No one else in the league, obviously, has directly affected as many team wins. By definition, no one else has been as valuable.
Josh Hamilton, Rangers: He has brought a smile to everyone's face and six weeks ago would have been excused for working on his acceptance speech. He was still on a better-than-an-RBI-a-game pace, the main man behind the resurgent Rangers, rallying them from the worst 24-game start in club history.
Both man and team have since been yanked down to earth -- in Hamilton's case, the attrition of a long season not surprising on someone who for years had played no ball while tackling bigger foes. "My toes don't hurt," he said the other day, focusing on the bright side.
In 41 games since July 26, Hamilton has driven in only 21 runs. But, given his head start, he still leads the league in RBIs, and could yet rally to also take the home run crown. So even if he no longer is the MVP-elect, he remains a hot candidate.
THE CONTENDERS
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox: If you tune into Red Sox Nation, you quickly get the idea that the little second baseman is the citizenry's choice as the team nominee. Every Boston surge has paralleled his streaks, which tend to be white-hot.
For instance: Pedroia went 21-for-34 (a .618 average) from Aug. 27 to Sept. 3 while Boston was going 6-2 to stay on the Rays' heels. He has scored 112 runs -- 30 more than any teammate -- which doesn't come as a surprise considering he reached base 243 times through 141 games. And he is in the driver's seat to cop the batting title, which could clinch it.
Justin Morneau, Twins: Belying his team's name, Morneau has been virtually an only child in Minnesota's offense. His 119 RBIs are 46 more than any teammate's, and he also has 25 percent of the banjo-hitting lineup's home runs.
Morneau is duplicating the numbers that did earn him the 2006 MVP Award. There is one significant difference between the seasons, however: Two years ago, he was surrounded by Torii Hunter and a healthy Michael Cuddyer, protection he didn't have this time. Makes this season even more impressive.
THE DARK HORSES
Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox: Youkilis will be Boston's third different RBI leader in three seasons (following Mike Lowell and David Ortiz), a testament to the team's balance. If intangibles entered the formula, his intensity would gain him extra votes. But the numbers themselves aren't glossy enough to swing the election in his favor.
Carlos Quentin, White Sox: One of the early front-runners finds himself in an odd situation, due to the self-inflicted wrist fracture borne of an instant of pique. If the White Sox hold onto the AL Central lead without Quentin, would that devalue his impact? So his best chance at MVP would come from the Sox fading without his bat -- but who would want that?
HONORABLE MENTION Grady Sizemore, Indians; Alex Rodriguez, Yankees; Joe Nathan, Twins; Vladimir Guerrero, Angels.
 
NL MVP

THE FAVORITES
Lance Berkman, Astros: The slugging first baseman hit a blistering .347 in the first half, but cooled off in July (.266) and went into an 0-for-18 skid to start September. Even so, Berkman still remains among the top five in the league in total bases (3rd with 304), runs (3rd-110), hits (5th-167) and on-base plus slugging percentage (2nd-1.034). Berkman's 28 homers are the 13th most in the NL, and his candidacy could get a lift from Houston's late-season surge.

Carlos Delgado, Mets: Delgado's turnaround has mirrored the Mets' midseason U-turn. Delgado hit .231 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs in the first three months of the season, then went on a tear under new manager Jerry Manuel to help the Mets climb into first place in the NL East. His average is 47 points higher after the break (.295) than before, and Delgado ranks third in the league in both home runs (35) and RBIs (104). The negatives are his .264 batting average and that he isn't the only Met deserving consideration for the award. At the very least, his second half probably convinced the Mets to pick up Delgado's $12 million option for 2009.

Ryan Howard, Phillies: There's no way a guy who leads not just the NL but the Major Leagues in home runs (42) and RBIs (126) won't make a ballot of the top 10 NL MVP candidates, no matter how many times he strikes out. And Howard, eighth in the league in total bases with 288, has picked it up lately. In his past 10 games, the big first baseman is hitting .375 with five homers and 13 RBIs, and if the Phillies make it in the playoffs again, Howard's candidacy will only be helped.

Albert Pujols, Cardinals: Arguably the front-runner at the moment, Pujols ranks among the top 10 in the league in total bases (second with 308), hits (2nd-170), home runs (tied for fifth-33), RBIs (tied for ninth-99) and OPS (1st-1.122). He is having another Pujols-esque year for the surprising Cardinals, is playing his usual outstanding defense and history is also on his side -- Pujols has finished in the top 10 in each of his seven previous seasons, including the top five in six of those.

THE DARK HORSES
Chase Utley, Phillies: Utley was hitting .325 in early June and among the league leaders in a dozen categories, but he wasn't able to retain that ridiculous pace. And yet he remains among the league leaders in total bases (fourth with 295), runs (tied for eighth-96), home runs (8th-31), RBIs (12th-93) and OPS (9th-.913). Utley could split the vote with Howard, or ride a hot finish into the short list of MVP candidates.

Ryan Braun, Brewers: Braun, the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year, leads the league in total bases (313) and ranks among the top 12 in hits (tied for 12th with 162), home runs (4th-34), RBIs (11th-96) and OPS (8th-.916). He's hitting .320 since the All-Star break for a team leading the Wild Card and trying to end a 26-year playoff drought.

HONORABLE MENTION Carlos Beltran, Mets; Matt Holliday, Rockies; Adrian Gonzalez, Padres; Chipper Jones, Braves; Carlos Lee, Astros; Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals; Aramis Ramirez, Cubs; Hanley Ramirez, Marlins; Jose Reyes, Mets; David Wright, Mets.
 
CUBS vs. ASTROS could be interesting

From mlb.com:

HOUSTON -- Friday's game between the Astros and Cubs has been postponed, although officials from the Astros are optimistic baseball will be played between the two teams at some point this weekend.

"We feel that we will [play this weekend]," club owner Drayton McLane said. "We're still working with Major League Baseball. We haven't worked it out yet."
Hurricane Ike is headed for the Texas coast and is expected to hit landfall late Friday evening. The brunt of the storms are expected to pass through Houston on Saturday.
The Cubs have already confirmed they are returning to Chicago after their game with the Cardinals Thursday night instead of flying to Houston. The two teams are currently working with Major League Baseball to decide how and where the games will be played. Neutral sites are an option.
 
Brewers vs. Cubs

Brewers and Cubs go head to head 6 more times this season with a 3 game series in Chicago and another in Milwaukee at the end of the season. My money's on the Brewers taking the wildcard and the Cubs winning the division, and then the Brewers ousting the Cubs in the playoffs. But, depending on the outcome of these games, possibly the Cards, Astros, or Phillies could sneak into the wildcard spot if they get hot. Should make for an interesting finish in the NL Central.

This is when it's hardest to be a devoted Pirate fan (and Reds fan I imagine). :(
 
Brewers and Cubs go head to head 6 more times this season with a 3 game series in Chicago and another in Milwaukee at the end of the season. My money's on the Brewers taking the wildcard and the Cubs winning the division, and then the Brewers ousting the Cubs in the playoffs. But, depending on the outcome of these games, possibly the Cards, Astros, or Phillies could sneak into the wildcard spot if they get hot. Should make for an interesting finish in the NL Central.

This is when it's hardest to be a devoted Pirate fan (and Reds fan I imagine). :(


The Brewers (and to a lesser extent the Cubs) have allowed the Astros and Cardinals to sneak back in it.
 
Sweet Lou went ballistic on the team after Tuesday's games. Let's see what a lil' late season "power of postive thinking" talk from him will do to the team from here on out!:eek:


KCK,
I realize your Angels have wrapped things up early. But besides that, IMO, this is the most intriguing pennant races in years!
 
Am I crazy if I think the D-Backs are going to spiral out of the playoffs?

They haven't been the same since their great start.

In April, they were as hot as the Celtics- since then, they've played like the Heat.
 
KCK,
I realize your Angels have wrapped things up early. But besides that, IMO, this is the most intriguing pennant races in years!

Oh, no doubt, Bill. When you look at all the other magic numbers they are still quite high. Will the Phillies make it? Will the Mets melt? The Cubs and Brewers with all that pitching. White Sox or Twinnies? Will Joe Torre once again show why he is considered the Mercedes Benz of managers?

But, you have to love your Sox once again having a shot at both the AL East and the Wildcard. They are in one way or the other.

And, celebrate now as I may for these next few days, no one realizes more than me that the team with the biggest bullseye on their backs is that Angels. Also, I realize that history shows that all does not bode well for the Angels come October when you look @ first clinchers, best records, etc.
 
But, you have to love your Sox once again having a shot at both the AL East and the Wildcard. They are in one way or the other.



I agree that the Sox are more than likely in, but boy did they blow it the last two nights against the Rays. They should be 1.5 games up on the Rays and 1 game behind your Angels for HFA. Instead, they're 2.5 games behind the Rays and 3 games behind the Halos for HFA.
 
Am I crazy if I think the D-Backs are going to spiral out of the playoffs?

They haven't been the same since their great start.

In April, they were as hot as the Celtics- since then, they've played like the Heat.

:haha:haha:haha Sabres, you crack me up with your analogies, but you are dead-on. I think the D-Backs are toast.
 
Am I crazy if I think the D-Backs are going to spiral out of the playoffs?

They haven't been the same since their great start.

In April, they were as hot as the Celtics- since then, they've played like the Heat.

Sabres,

I know the Dodgers have Minnie Me and all that. But the reason they will prevail now in the NL West is purely and simply the magicianship of Merlin Torre. He is now in the position he was in last year when he pulled a mismatched ragtag team into the playoffs. How far he will get them is another story. But, Joe will lead them to October!
 
I agree that the Sox are more than likely in, but boy did they blow it the last two nights against the Rays. They should be 1.5 games up on the Rays and 1 game behind your Angels for HFA. Instead, they're 2.5 games behind the Rays and 3 games behind the Halos for HFA.

Love and worship Scioscia as I may, he really blew it last season when he did not play for best record but rather he rested his big guns. During yesterday's celebrations, a champagne soaked Arte Moreno admitted that error and swore to play as hard a possible for HFA this time around.

...and it will not be easy...
 
Love and worship Scioscia as I may, he really blew it last season when he did not play for best record but rather he rested his big guns. During yesterday's celebrations, a champagne soaked Arte Moreno admitted that error and swore to play as hard a possible for HFA this time around.

...and it will not be easy...


Last years AL playoff teams (Red Sox, Indians, Angels, Yankees) all finished within two games of each other. If who ever comes out of the Central picks up the pace a little, the same thing could happen again this year.
 
From mlb.com:

HOUSTON -- Friday's game between the Astros and Cubs has been postponed, although officials from the Astros are optimistic baseball will be played between the two teams at some point this weekend.

"We feel that we will [play this weekend]," club owner Drayton McLane said. "We're still working with Major League Baseball. We haven't worked it out yet."
Hurricane Ike is headed for the Texas coast and is expected to hit landfall late Friday evening. The brunt of the storms are expected to pass through Houston on Saturday.
The Cubs have already confirmed they are returning to Chicago after their game with the Cardinals Thursday night instead of flying to Houston. The two teams are currently working with Major League Baseball to decide how and where the games will be played. Neutral sites are an option.

Saturday's Cubs-Astros game has been postponed as well. They're hoping that they can get the three game series in between Sunday and Monday (a mutually scheduled day off).

Meanwhile, the Astros won again tonight, (they've now won 15 out of 16) and are now only 3 games behind the Brewers for the wildcard.
 
Roy Oswalt has now thrown 32 1/3 scoreless innings, and has pitched back-to-back complete game shutouts............giving up a COMBINED 4 hits in the two games! :eek:
 

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