2006 NLDS MVP: Houston v. Atlanta
The 2006 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to.....
SP LUIS GUERRERO, HOU. Round of Applause!
The story of the Atlanta/Houston series was supposed to be about the dominate Confederate staff as they steamrolled the hapless Black Gold, NOT about a journeyman, former Rule 5 starter named Luis Guerrero. But scripts are made to be broken and Heros are always unlikely chaps. Atlanta rolled out to a quick 2-0 series lead and looked inevitable. They had Cam "No Neck" Davis matching up with Luis Guerrero and momentum at their back. Guerrero came out firing though, stopping a Confederate offense that had scored 8 and 10 runs in Games 1 and 2. Guerrero was able to go 7.1 IP and give up only 7 hits and 1 ER, allowing the Houston offense to finally have a chance to score. Guerrero was named Player of the Game. Houston went on to win the next 2 games before dropping Game 6 which forced a tense Game 7 with Guerrero facing Davis again. This time, however, the Houston offense was not able to provide a big lead for Guerrero. Instead he battled Davis in a 2-2 tie for 8 Innings before Houston scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th. Guerrero handed the ball over to his CL Darren Owens and watched him blow through the bottom of the 9th sealing the win for Guerrero and the NLDS for Houston. Guerrero also won the Game 7 Player of the Game. He ended with 2 Wins and a 1.76 ERA for the Series but more importantly, he ended up the Hero. Grab you girl, Luis, and go sit in the sun with an ICE COLD STROH'S because you earned it.
2006 NLDS MVP: Miami vs. St. Louis
The 2006 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to.....
2B SAM NOBLE, MIA. Round of Applause!
Though there are other players that put up a better series statline, namely Billy Miller, Jake Coad, and John Mills, none impacted the NLDS like Sam Noble. Noble ended up with a series statline of .259/3/7, 5 R, and a .915 OPS but two of three HR were momentous. Noble was nearly invisible in Games 1-3 before finally starting to catch wind in Game 4. However, it was Game 5 when Savages fans learned to curse him. Miami entered Game 5 down 3 games to 1 and their playoff life was riding on SP John Mills. Mills came out and dominated, but so did his nemesis Arthur Turner. The game was tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the 9th in Miami. St. Louis put in Ace Closer Bill "Looney Tunes" Samuels to face the 8-9-1 batters of the Banditos. With 1 out Sam Noble came in and drilled a walkoff HR to win the Game and keep the Banditos alive! With that momentum, the Banditos came out in Game 6 and laid a whooping on the Savages in St. Louis. Game 7 saw the Savages take an early lead which they held 6-4 going into the top of the 8th. The Banditos had 6 outs and 2 runs needed to save the 2006 season. Wolf led off the inning with a Double bringing up feared Alex Davis, who anti-climactically ground out. However, with 1 out and Billy Miller coming to the plate as the tying run the excitement was building, Miller pounded out a Double scoring Wolf and making it a 6-5 game. Pinch Hitter Millard Hammond struck out bring up Sam Noble. Noble was facing a 2 out, tie runner on 2nd, and himself representing the go ahead run, the pressure of all of 2006 likely came down to now. Noble sucked it up and drilled a HR! Giving Miami the go ahead run. The Miami bullpen was able to not implode for the last 6 outs and Miami will progress to the NLCS due solely to the clutch hitting of Sam Noble. Kick back and have a Stroh's son, you deserve it.
2006 ALDS MVP: DC vs. Omaha
The 2006 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to.....
RF KELSEY WOOD, DC. Round of Applause!
The 28 yr old Wood actually started his professional career as a Wolverine before becoming a Wolverine Hunter. Kelsey Wood put up a great series line, .333/3/9 with 8 Runs, but it was really his performance in Games 5 and 6 which merited the Award. In Game 5, with the series at a crucial 2-2 juncture, Wood went 1-2 and managed 3 Runs and 2 RBI's which was nearly half of DC's total contribution. Wood also pulled down the Game 5 Player of the Game. However, it's Game 6 where he most made his mark on the series. In a closely fought battle, with Omaha holding on to their playoff life, Wood was able to get over on the overpowering Robinson Sanchez with 2 clutch Doubles. In the 5th inning, he hit a leadoff Double which inevitably led to the game's first run. In the 6th inning he hit a 2 Run Double to take the lead 3-1 where it would eventually finish. In the clinching Game 6, Wood was responsible for all 3 of the Runs scored by DC. Congratulations Kelsey, this Stroh's is for you.
2006 ALDS MVP: Minneapolis v. Washington
The 2006 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to.....
CF MIGUEL LOPEZ, MIN. Round of Applause!
Add this Award to the Star Centerfielder's growing Trophy Case. Lopez erupted against the Washington Admirals as the Mutiny took down the series 4-1. Lopez put the following line during the series: .529/.652/1.412 for a 2.064 OPS. He had 9 Hits and of those, 3 2B and 4 HR. He produced 6 RBI, 6 BB, and 7 Runs. This ranks up there as one of the most dominating series performances in recent memory. Lopez had a hit in all 5 games and a HR in 3 of the 5 games. He also won Player of the Game in Games 1 and 4. Even Admiral GM had nothing but praise, "buy that man a STROH'S" was his response. Congratulations Miguel and good luck in the upcoming ALCS.
2005 World Series MVP: Atlanta v. LA
The 2005 Stroh's World Series MVP Award goes to.....
1B DAN WEEDEN, ATL. Round of Applause!!!
All the Atlanta players put in great contributions throughout this series and playoffs and it was difficult to decide which player stood out. However, 27 year old Dan Weeden was the heart of the Confederate offense. This season, his third, Weeden hit .265/35/119. In the World Series he was responsible for 7 Runs and 3 RBIs while going 7-26 with 2 HRs. Most importantly, in the final Game 6 he went 1-3, 2 R, 1 RBI and 1 HR which won him the Player of the Game.
2005 NLCS MVP: Atlanta v. Miami
The 2005 Stroh's NLCS MVP Award goes to.....
SP GEORGE "SHAMELESS" JOHNSON, ATL. Round of Applause.
Johnson, arguably the best MVP candidate in the NLDS as well, was a no brainer for the NLCS MVP. Continuing his dominance, Johnson won the Player of the Game in Game 2 and in the clinching Game 6. In Game 2 with the Confederates winners of Game 1, Johnson went 7.1 scoreless innings, scattering 3 hits, striking out 9 while only walking 2. As Johnson sat down Bandito after Bandito, he watched his teammates destroy Bob Gibson Candidate Vince Dorsey and go on to win 9-2. The Confederates took a commanding 3-0 series lead but complacency snuck in and they allowed the Banditos to win 2 straight bringing the series to a Game 6. The Banditos had momentum but the Confederates were "Shameless" in their confidence. Johnson lives up to his nickname but he is not brash, just a very plain speaking man who says what he thinks. Prior to the game he shamelessly guaranteed an Atlanta win and World Series Championship. True to his word, Johnson came in and pitched with merciless power. He went 7 Innings, struck out 7, walked 1, and didn't allow a run. He left the game with the Confederates up 2-0 and cruising. Unfortunately his bullpen let him down, giving up 3 runs in the top of the 8th, but destiny arrived as a saviour and powered the Confederate offense to 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th and the lead. van As came in and closed the game that was only winnable because of Johnson's dominance.
2005 ALCS MVP: LA v. Washington
The 2005 Stroh's ALCS MVP Award goes to.....
LF JOE WHITE, LA. Round of Applause!!!
Joe White was a very under the radar player for LA this season hitting .259/5/58 in 121 Games. During the playoffs he had the additional pressure of making up for the injured Caleb Lang in the lineup but responded well by becoming the most consistent Gargoyle. No LA player initiated more offense than White who had at least a hit in every game except for Game 1. His cumulative totals were 12-26, .462 AVG, 4 BB, and 3 R. His most important contribution may have been getting a leadoff walk against Bennie "Kitten" Tyler in the 9th Inning of Game 7. This BB ignited a 3 run comeback for LA to win the Series. On a low potency offense Joe White provided a much needed hot streak at an important time.
2005 NLDS MVP: Miami v. San Antonio
The 2005 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to.....
C JEFF HICKS. Round of Applause!!
This was another very close decision. SP John Mills got 17 IP and 2 Wins for Miami while 3B Alfredo Silva had 10 hits, 4 doubles, .500 AVG, 1 HR, 5 RBI. However Hicks' numbers weren't shabby either, .357/2/6 with 4 R. What set Hicks apart was his heroic moments and his team leadership. In Game 1 Hicks led off the top of the 9th with a Double. Coad and Silva both grounded out moving Hicks to 3rd as Yun came to bat with 2 outs and the game tied 2-2. Glenn Abrams through a ball into the dirt, wide left that got by SA C Mark Harris. Hicks never hesitated sensing this was his opportunity and lumbered home. Never has Hicks been fast but at age 35 and with an ever growing paunch, he looked like rumbling monster pig. With all the grit and determination of a champion he dove head first towards home and just beat the outswiped hand of Abrams. Hicks other glowing moment was his grand slam in Game 3 to take a 10-6 lead over San Antonio which I previously wrote about. Also, the only game Miami lost was the one Hicks did not start (it should be noted that was also the game Medellin pitched against us).
2005 NLDS MVP: Atlanta v. Detroit
The 2005 Stroh's DLDS MVP Award goes to.....
CL KELSEY VAN AS. Round of Applause!!
Essentially the decision was between George "Shameless" Johnson or van As because there was really no offensive contenders. van As notched 4 Saves in this series and 3 of them game in 1 run ballgames. Only Game 1 when van As came into the 9th with a 3 run lead was relatively easy. Once the mighty Confederates reached the 9th it was lights out as van As was rarely even threatened. The pressure and workload may have gotten to him as he recently came down with a viral infection and will miss the first two games of the NLCS.
2005 ALDS MVP: LA v. Montreal
The 2005 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to.....
SP BOB TUTTLE, LA. Round of Applause!
The 28 yr. old Bob Tuttle put up the following statline 2 GS, 1-0, 0.69 ERA, 11 K, 13 IP. Tuttle started Game 3 for LA and went 5.1 Innings allowing only 2 hits and setting up LA for the win which they did shortly after he left the game. Though he didn't get the decision he pitched extremely well. He really shined and won the MVP Award with his Game 7 performance where he was also named Player of the Game. In Game 7 Tuttle went 7.1 IP, struck out 6 and got the W. His only mistake was an errant HR by Rojero of Montreal. Congratulations Bob Tuttle.