2015 World Series MVP: Miami v. Kansas City
The 2015 Stroh's World Series MVP Award goes to....
C STEVE MITCHELL, MIA! Round of Applause!!
No player in the World Series was as consistent or as damaging to the opponent as Steve Mitchell was in 2015 versus Kansas City. In every single of the 6 games Mitchell had at least a hit leading Miami to a 4-2 series victory. Mitchell battered KC in Game 1 with a 3-3 performance with a 2b and a HR. He would finish the series 12-20 with 5 runs, 6 RBI, and 3 HR, along with the Game 4 Player of the Game. Mitchell was a deserving World Series MVP and this continues his tendency to step up in the postseason. Don't be satisfied Stevie, stay hungry, there are more Strohs where this came from.
2015 ALCS MVP: Kansas City v. Washington DC
The 2015 Stroh's ALCS MVP Award goes to....
SP JUAN YANEZ, KC. Round of Applause.
All things considered, KC's from an individual perspective no player really shined for KC in this series. Instead the continuing postseason disappointments of Kenny Etchells and Gilberto Munoz were the larger story. Yanez's role in the 4-3 series vicory should not be diminished though it was hardly legendary. Yanez took the mound in Game 1 and managed to pitch 8.0 IP, allowing 6 hits and 4 runs, racking up 8 Ks. Despite a solid performance, Yanez would not get the win as KC had to go into extra innings to claim victory. Yanez returned in Game 4 and again pitched well, going 6.1 IP with 4 hits and 2 ER, totaling 8 Ks. This time Yanez did get a decision, a loss. With the series on the line in Game 7, KC once again turned to Yanez and this performance won him the MVP. Yanez went 7.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, and 6 Ks to get the W. Each time Yanez took the mound he gave KC a good shot at winning. His Game 7 performance propelled them into the World Series. Congrats Yanez, congrats.
2015 NLCS MVP: Miami v. Brooklyn
The 2015 Stroh's NLCS MVP Award goes to....
SP BILL BYRD, MIA! Round of Applause!
Miami's ace Bill Byrd stepped up big against divisional rival Brooklyn in the 2015 NLCS. Byrd was slated to start Game 2 and after Miami dropped Game 1 he was already pitching from a hole. Pressure has never bothered the Byrd man and he went out and threw 118 pitches to probably one of the best lineups in modern day baseball. When it was all said and done, Byrd went 7.0 IP, giving up 2 ER and compiling 6 Ks and the Player of the Game as Miami won Game 2 3-2. Miami would take a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 and once again send out Bill Byrd to face the Barons. Byrd fearlessly threw another 7 IP with only 2 ER, but this time notched 9 Ks. Byrd took home his 2nd Player of the Game for the series as Miami clinched with a 6-2 victory. Swell pitching deserves a swell beer, boy.
2015 ALDS MVP: Washington DC v. Chicago
The 2015 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....
2B DENNIS GOODELL, DC. Round of Applause.
Goodell's series was more about coming up big in the right spots rather than a cumulative performance. Goodell's timeliness was crucial to DC's 4-2 series win against Chicago and he will always be clutch to Diplomats fans. The tight Game 1 featured a matchup between Soda Pop Hutchinson and Ismael Pacheco and it was zeros until the bottom of the 5th when Goodell hit a triple to bring in a run and give DC a 1-0 lead. That's where the game would end up as well, with Goodell's RBI triple being the only score. Goodell also stepped up in the clinching Game 6 when his lead off double in the bottom of the 8th sparked a 4 run inning to bring DC within a run. Goodell would then proceed to take of making that run up in the bottom of the 9th by knocking in Artie Cunningham with a double to tie the game. DC would score in the next inning but were only in the game because of Goodell's heroics. Take a cold one champ.
2015 ALDS MVP: Kansas City v. Los Angeles
The 2015 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....
SP SLOAN KELLY, KC. Round of Applause!
Scouts and pundits have always considered Sloan Kelly a top flight SP but only in the last two seasons did he begin to live up to the hype. Kelly has been rather disappointing for the majority of his career. However, Kelly has shown a propensity to pitch very well in the postseason, exhibiting this in 2009, 2011 and this season of 2015. KC chose Kelly to start Game 1 vs. LA and he did not disappoint. He went 8.1 IP, allowing only 5 hits and giving up 0 runs. Kelly claimed the W and the Player of the Game Award. He then came back in Game 4 with KC up 3-0 in the series. He was slightly less effective but also on short rest. Kelly was able to go 6 IP and 7 Ks while giving up 4 runs. Kelly exited the game with a 1 run lead but KC would go on to lose the game in late innings. LA would build on that and end up tying the series up 3-3 and forcing Game 7. KC again called on Sloan Kelly on rather short rest. Kelly was remarkable, going 7.1 IP and allowing only 4 hits and 0 runs. His 12 Ks tied the American League Playoff record and won Kelly his 2nd Player of the Game for the series. Three crucial starts and Kelly came through for KC leading them to the ALCS.
2015 NLDS MVP: Brooklyn v. Indianapolis
The 2015 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....
CF PAUL 'REVEREND' OGLETHORPE, BRK. Round of Applause!
Brooklyn's dynamic offense let nobody down this series against Indianapolis. Winning the series 4-2, Brooklyn also scored 36 runs and were led by Paul Oglethorpe's bat. Oglethorpe set the pace in Game 1 by going 3-3, 2 R, 3 RBI and 2 HRs! He was the consensus Player of the Game and continued his hot streak in Game 2 with another HR. Oglethorpe hit well throughout the series and totaled 10-26, 6 runs, 3 HRs, and 11 RBI, an amazing series deserving of the prestigious Stroh's MVP Award. Toss back a cold one Reverend!
2015 NLDS MVP: Miami v. El Paso
The 2015 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....
LF MIGUEL BARRERA, MIA. Round of Applause!
Thirty seven year old Miguel Barrera has a wealth of experience behind him but the last time he was on an intense postseason was in 2003 when he was facing Miami with Philly. This time around Barrera was integral in helping Miami complete the sweep of El Paso. Barrera was extremely quiet in the first 3 games of the series and Miami didn't much need him for that matter. Miami jumped all over El Paso and stormed to a 3-0 series lead. El Paso was not going to go down without a fight and Game 4 in Miami was just that. El Paso carried a 3-2 going into the bottom of the 9th with Bill Briggs in the game. Ward Anderson led off with a groundout bringing Barrera up to bat. Barrera calmly knocked the first pitch out of the park to tie the game. Miami and El Paso would go to extra innings to settle it. In the bottom of the 11th with 2 outs Ward Anderson hit a double to bring Barrera to the plate. Barrera nailed a single of Bill Samuels to drive in the winning run. So to complete the sweep Barrera hit the game tying HR and the game winning single. Drink yourself a cold Stroh's Miguel!
2014 World Series MVP: Indianapolis v. Omaha
The 2014 Stroh's World Series MVP Award goes to....
SP BUTCH JOHNSON, IND. Round of Applause!
Indianapolis entered the World Series as a heavy underdog against Omaha despite having the better record and regular season. Omaha had just steamrolled Portland in the ALDS and Chicago in the ALCS and both teams had a similar profile to Indianapolis, strong pitching with questionable offense. After Omaha's Game 1 victory it looked like it would be an easy walk through for the Wolverines. Then, however, the Black Jack pitching staff came alive and stifled the Wolverine bats winning Game 2. Butch Johnson went out in Game 3 and pitched 8 innings, giving up only 3 ER with 7 Ks. Johnson got the W and gave Indy much needed momentum as they won 2 straight to go up 2-1. They would win the next game after an impressive outing by Ryan Spencer. Despite being up 3-1, no one can ever count out the Wolverines and true to their nature they roared back. The offense came alive as they rattled off the next two wins to force a Game 7. Butch Johnson, the Indy Ace and former Bob Gibson winner, was anointed as the Game 7 starter. Johnson pitched magnificently, quelling the Wolverines bats in 7.2 innings. Johnson only allowed 6 hits and 1 ER, handing the lead over to the bullpen. Xavier Whispers Montoya made it scary but Indy held on for the 3-2 victory and Butch Johnson was given the Player of the Game. Congratulations Butch on your World Series victory and MVP, Stroh's admires winners.
2014 NLCS MVP: Indianapolis v. Cincinnati
The 2014 Stroh's NLCS MVP Award goes to....
SP RYAN SPENCER, IND. Round of Applause!
The reality is that the entire Indianapolis pitching staff deserves a share of this. The BlackJacks did an excellent job of holding the Cincinnati offense down and overcoming their own lack of offensive production. Yet, Spencer was the only SP to get 2 wins in the series and more importantly, he clinched Game 7. Spencer made his first start of the series in Game 3 where he pitched 7.1 IP and only gave up 3 hits, 2 runs, and 1 earned run. That extraordinary pitching performance was enough to get the W and put Indy up 3-0 in the series. Cincinnati would battle back though and eventually tie the series 3-3 forcing a Game 7 in which it would be Ryan Spencer pitching. Spencer was spectacular, going 8.0 IP with only 2 hits and 1 ER allowed. Spencer grabbed the Game 7 Player of the Game and Indianapolis advanced to their first World Series since 1981! Way to double down the wins and garner a BlackJack this series, Ryan! You earned yourself double the Stroh's and a double "good luck" from Stroh's in the World Series.
2014 ALCS MVP: Omaha v. Chicago
The 2014 Stroh's ALCS MVP Award goes to....
SS DUSTY "THE PARTY" HARDY, OMA. Round of Applause.
Omaha was able to dispatch Chicago in 5 games and it was never really close. Omaha's bats were just overpowering and Chicago did not have the firepower to match it. The Wolverine that made the biggest contribution, although several players contributed, was Dusty "The Party" Hardy. Hardy really made his mark in Game 1 when he hit a Grand Slam in the 4th inning breaking the game and the series wide open. Hardy would win the Player of the Game in Game 1 and go on to get at least a hit in every game afterward. He finished the series with a commendable statline of 8-17 .471, 5 runs, 9 RBI, and the Grand Slam. NO PARTY is complete without Stroh's, so here's an offseason supply of Stroh's beer, Dusty. Party hearty Dusty Hardy.