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.