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.
2005 ALDS MVP: Chicago v. Washington
The 2005 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to.....
3B NED BROWN. Round of Applause!!
Ned Brown beat out hot hitting C Pedro Gonzalez and SS Stephen Phillips mostly due to his clutch hitting. Don't get us wrong, Brown did put up some numbers too going 4-14, 1 HR, 1 3B, 8 RBI, 5 R. Brown's big moment was in Game 1 in the top of the 11th with the game tied 4-4. Reliever Jose Lucero was pitching for Chicago when Brown came up with runners on 1st and 2nd and 2 outs. Brown took a 2-2 fastball 336 feet into Left Field for a 3 run HR giving Washington a 7-4 lead and an eventual 7-6 win. Washington took that momentum and left Chicago in the dust as the remainder of the series was never really close.