2014 ALDS MVP: Omaha v. Portland
The 2014 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....
3B MATT SIMMONS, OMA. Round of Applause!
Game 1 really set the tone for the series. Portland was already a dog despite winning their division and the most games in the American League. However, they looked ready to show the world that it was wrong as they took a 5-4 lead into the 9th. Closer Greg Parker nailed down the first two outs and had to face Matt Simmons. Simmons already had 2 hits that game and ripped a ball out into the OF for a double. Without skipping a beat, Craig McClain ripped another double driving in Simmons to tie the game. Omaha would eventually win in extra innings. Matt Simmons would hit in every game of the series and become a huge thorn in Portland's side. Simmons would finish the series 10-21 .476, 4 runs, 4 RBI, and a HR. He also won the Player of the Game in the final Game 5.
2014 ALDS MVP: Chicago v. New York
The 2014 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....
SP RANDALL "SODA POP" HUTCHINSON, NY. Round of Applause!
The Chicago/New York series was devoid of much offense and full of tense low scoring pitching match ups. The elite pitcher of the series was Randall Hutchinson who made his first start in Chicago's 1-0 Game 2 victory. Hutchinson went 6.1 IP, giving up 4 hits, walking 2, and striking out 7. That performance earned him the Player of the Game and put Chicago up 2-0 in the series. New York would battle back and win 3 straight to go up 3-2 in the series. With the series on the line Chicago turned to Hutchinson who again stepped up, throwing 6.1 IP again with 2 ER and 8 K's, only allowing 6 hits. Unfortunately he left the game down due to some unearned runs. Chicago would come back and win it through a dramatic 8th inning 3 run HR by 2B Roger Kelley. Hutchinson proved to be the stopper that allowed Chicago to win 1-0 in Game 2 and to keep them within striking distance in the Game 6 elimination game. Trade that Soda Pop in for a manly Stroh's, Randall! Here's a six pack for you to sip on, boy.
2014 NLDS MVP: Indianapolis v. Brooklyn
The 2014 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....
LF JOE HAMILTON, IND. Round of Applause!
Joe Hamilton has been the "face" of the Indianapolis BlackJacks since 2004 and now with their only real opportunity in the postseason he was not going to back down. Though Indianapolis was a pennant winner and a 93 game winner, most people had them as very big dogs to the all powerful Brooklyn Barons. Yet, Indy zipped out to a 2 game lead right out of the gate before they finally dropped Game 3. In those first 3 games Hamilton put up a couple of hits had a run and rbi but was largely a non factor. Once Game 4 came around Joe Hamilton heated up! He hit 2 HRs in Indy's 5-0 win in Game 4, hit a HR in their Game 5 loss, and finished Brooklyn off in Game 6 with a HR. All in total Hamilton was 7-24, 6 R, 6 RBI, 4 HRs, and he won the Player of the Game in Game 6. Are you a bloated, ugly, veteran ballplayer with only a couple of years left in a good but unillustrious career? Well, Joe Hamilton, if you're answer is YES here's a keg of Stroh's to make you feel the way you should, slim, pretty, young, and HOF worthy.
2014 NLDS MVP: Cincinnati v. El Paso
The 2014 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....
CF MATT WILKINS, CIN. Round of Applause!
The former 1st rounder Wilkins has turned into the typical journeyman, playing for a lot of teams and being traded often. He signed a mL deal with Cincy prior to the beginning of the season and ended up contributing quite a bit this season in the OF. Nothing though can match the contribution he made against El Paso in Cincy's 3-1 series victory. In Game 1 Wilkins lit up El Paso for 2 doubles and a triple, going 3-5, 1 R, and 4 RBI. Wilkins easily won the Player of the Game and ignited Cincinnati to win 9-4. In Game 3 with Cincinnati up 2-0 in the series Wilkins again won the Player of the Game going 1-4 with a grand slam HR. Wilkins' totals were 6-18 .333, 4 R, 1 HR, and an amazing 10 RBI with two Player of the Game Awards. Here's a case of Stroh's Matt, crack a few open with Kenny Dukes in thanks for the opportunities his injury brought you!
2013 World Series MVP: New York v. San Francisco
The 2013 Stroh's World Series MVP Award goes to....
3B ISMAEL MARTINEZ, NY. Round of Applause!
Several players played quite well in New York's 4 game sweep of San Francisco but none more so than All Star Ismael Martinez who captured 2 of the 4 Player of the Game Awards. In Game 1 Martinez went 1-4, 1 R, 2 RBI with a 2 run HR in the 5th that finished off SF 4-3. Martinez followed up in Game 2 with another big HR, going 2-4 with 3 runs and 1 RBI! Martinez and the whole NY offense let SP Carlos Costello finish SF 1-0 in Game 3. Finally in Game 4, Martinez lit up the scoreboard with a Grand Slam HR! He finished that game 3-4, 1 R, 4 RBI and, of course, with the Player of the Game. Martinez's dominant performance won't be forgotten in New York as it will live on in legend. 2013 will forever be known as the year Zach Wright and Ismael Martinez took the Five Point offense to the World Series and won it. Ismael and Zach, crack a few back bros stylee!
2013 NLCS MVP: San Francisco v. Cincinnati
The 2013 Stroh's NLCS MVP Award goes to....
SP JOHN BARR, SF. Round of Applause.
The consensus was that SF would be non competitive in the 2013 playoffs and that they'd be extremely lucky if they got past Miami, let alone any further. Part of the reason was the loss of Beatty, McElroy, and Hutchinson, none of whom were a SeaWolf any longer. With the rotation significantly weakened much of the pressure would come down on newly acquired SP John Barr. Barr pitched well in the short sweep of Miami but would truly prove himself in the 7 game series against Cincy. After losing Game 1, SF sent Barr to the mound in Game 2 where he was able to hold the Rebels to only 2 ER in 8.0 IP with 6 Ks. That was good enough to get the W and to tie the series for SF 1-1. Barr was sent out again in Game 6 with his team needing a win, down 2-3 in the series. With cunning efficiency, Barr delivered again, pitching 8.0 IP with 2 ERs and 9 Ks. That was enough to win the POG and give his team a Game 7 shot to go to the World Series. SF capitalized and will face a tough NY team.
2013 ALCS MVP: New York v. Omaha
The 2013 Stroh's ALCS MVP Award goes to....
RF ZACH WRIGHT, NY. Round of Applause!
New York entered the series as a slight underdog to the best team in the AL in 2013, Omaha, and things weren't looking to bright when Omaha leaped out to a 2-1 series lead. However, that's when Zach Wright stepped and took over. He already won the 2013 ALDS MVP and was continuing his amazing hot streak into the Omaha series. In a crucial Game 4 Wright went 2-4 with a 2 run HR which ended up allowing NY to win 2-0 and earned Wright the Player of the Game. With the series tied 2-2 Wright again went 2-4 in Game 5, this time with a 2 run double in the 7th to tie the game 5-5. NY would go on to win 7-6 and Wright would earn himself the second Player of the Game for the series. NY never let Omaha win another game and finished them 4-2 in the series, completing the upset. Wright finished 9-25, 5 Rs, 5 RBI, 2 doubles, 1 triple, and a HR, to go along with his 2 POG trophies. As a reward for the ALDS MVP we sent some beer, this time we'd like to send a Stroh's couch to sit in a drink that beer. So this offseason, Zachary, you can kick back in this authentically rendered Stroh's couch designed by the same artists that bring you our beer cans. Enjoy!
2013 NLDS MVP: Cincinnati v. Atlanta
The 2013 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....
SP PHILLIP FOSTER, CIN. Round of Applause!
Prior to the series starting, it was general consensus that main attractions were going to be George "Shameless" Johnson and Manny "Mr Jaunty" Carmona. One is the league's premier pitcher for the last decade and the other poised to take that title into the next decade. However, Carmona was injured and Johnson was mediocre for the most part. The pitcher that stood up when the time called for it was none other than longtime veteran and now journeyman, Phillip Foster. Foster, who's had a remarkable comeback year out of nowhere, started 2 of the 4 wins by the Rebels, including the deciding Game 7. In Game 4 Foster pitched 7.2 IP and gave up only 2 ER while getting the W in Cincy's 4-3 defeat of Atlanta. Cincinnati had to get that win and tie it up 2-2 because being down 1-3 looked like a season ending sentence. When it came down to Game 7, Cincy trotted out Foster on short rest to match up against George Johnson. Foster proved to be the right choice despite only going 3.2 IP. He still gave up less ERs than Johnson and put his team in a position to win the series. Renew yourself at the Fountain of Youth of Stroh's with this new keg, Mr. Phillip, the rejuvenated man that you are.
2013 NLDS MVP: San Francisco v. Miami
The 2013 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....
1B JUAN "BOOTLEG" BELTRAN, SF. Round of Applause.
No player was more destructive to the Miami pitching staff in San Francisco's 4 game sweep than Juan Beltran. In every single game Beltran had multiple runs or RBI, consistently producing with devastating timeliness. In Game 1 he went 3-5 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 2 RBI. In Game 2 he went 1-3 with a HR, 2 runs, and 1 RBI. In Game 3 he went 2-3 with 1 run and 2 RBI. In Game 4 he went 1-4 with a HR, 1 run and 3 RBI. All together he totaled 7-15, 6 runs, 2 doubles, 2 HR, and 8 RBI! An outstanding offensive display from one of the league's most dangerous hitters. Stroh's is the official sponsor of the Miami Banditos as well as the postseason awards, and therefore, the company declines to send any complimentary beer to Beltran. He should receive the Award Trophy in 6-8 weeks though he can expedite it if he chooses to pay for the UPS costs.
2013 ALDS MVP: New York v. Portland
The 2013 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....
RF ZACH WRIGHT, NY. Round of Applause!
NY's 4 game sweep of Portland doesn't give much of a time span for anybody to put up extraordinary production but nonetheless, it was clearly Wright's Award. Wright impacted all 4 of the games for a total of 7-15, .467, 3 runs, 4 RBI, and 2 HR. He was 2-3, 2-4, 1-4, 2-4 in the games of the series. Zack Wright's ability to step up in the 3 hole and produce runs was probably the decisive factor in New York defeating one of baseball's best pitching staffs. Wright stymied the Fog Devils and now he can afford to stymie himself for a night with this case of Stroh's 40 ouncers.