2022 NL King Cobra Wildcard MVP: New Orleans v. St. Louis

...Will Meyer, 2B, New Orleans.

Similar to the AL pick, in that it reflects late inning dramatics from Game 2 of a 2-game-sweep.

In Game 1, the 33-year-old Myer (a former SeaWolf) was a decent contributor, going 1-3 with 2 RBI in a 6-2 Dukes win. In Game 2, the Dukes were trailing 6-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth. St. Louis's closer retired the first two batters, and so now the Dukes were down to their final out. Things looked very bleak. Trailing by 3 with 2 outs in the 9th... I bet their winning percentage was under 5%.

But then, a rally: a single, followed by a walk, followed by a hit by pitch, followed by another walk to force in a run. So now it's 6-4, 2 outs, bases loaded. Walt Wolf is scheduled to bat, but the Dukes pinch hit with Myer, who had been sitting because he doesn't start against lefties. Myer drives a 1-1 pitch to deep left center, and it lands. The runner from 3rd scores, the runner from 2nd scored, and it's tied. The speedy Henry Melton (7-9-10 baserunning ratings) had been on first, and he's going to try to come all the way around... which he does. Myer wins the game with a bases clearing double, sending the Dukes on to the next round.

Incidentally, if you are St. Louis in that situation, you absolutely cannot give up a deep double. You need to be playing a "no doubles" defense, with outfielders basically starting at the wall. There's a tradeoff in doing so, yes: if the Dukes get a single, the tying run almost certainly scores from 2nd, whereas if your OF is in you might prevent that. But the tradeoff is worth it--you can't lose on a double. Gotta place some blame on Savages' manager Jeffery Taylor, who was in his first year as a manager at any level this season, after being Las Vegas' bench coach for 6 years.

2022 AL King Cobra Wildcard MVP: Minneapolis v. Denver

... Kealaalohi Nerida, CF, Minneapolis.

This is more of a "narrative" pick than a "stats" pick, but then, stats-wise, nobody really stood out in the 2 game sweep.

So, the narrative... Back during the 2018 World Series, the Minneapolis Mutiny entered the top of the 9th inning of Game 6 trailing Memphis by 1, where a loss would end the series and make the Razorbacks the champions. But with 2 outs and runners on, Nerida hit one of the most dramatic World Series home runs in EWB history, propelling the Mutiny to the win in Game 6. They went on to win the title with a Game 7 victory, giving the franchise their one and only championship.

Four years later, the now 34-year-old Nerida is mostly a role player, as evidenced by the fact that he got just 180 ABs this year. He still has power though: he hit 13 HRs in those 180 ABs.

Anyway, bottom of the 9th of Game 2, win the score tied 1-1. The Mutiny get the leadoff hitter on, then make 2 outs. They bring in Nerida as a pinch hitter, and he drives a 2-2 pitch 385 feet for a game-winning and series-clinching home run. It was his only at bat of the series, but boy was it dramatic, and reinforced Nerida's reputation as a tremendous clutch performer. He's something like the "Big Shot Bob" of EWB.

2021 World Series MVP: Denver v. Pittsburgh

The 2021 Stroh's World Series MVP Award goes to....

DH DRAKE MATHEWS, DEN. Round of Applause!

The 2021 Denver-Pittsburgh World Series did not lack for excitement as it went all 7 games and had several pivotal moments. However, none had more impact than Drake Mathews' Game 7 HR. With Denver up 3-2, Mathews took Bob Sheppard 433 feet deep in the top of the 5th to make the score 6-2. Pittsburgh would not be able to come back from that deficit, sealing the Denver's World Series. Mathews was named Player of the Game and paraded all throughout Denver.

2021 NLCS MVP: Pittsburgh v. New Orleans

The 2021 Stroh's NLCS MVP Award goes to....

LF PAUL OGLETHORPE, PIT. Round of Applause!

Pittsburgh was able to dispatch New Orleans in 6 games and Oglethorpe got at least 2 hits in 5 of those 6. The veteran Oglethorpe came over from Brooklyn in 2021 and joined Nelson English and Shawn Jordin in a very talented outfield. Oglethorpe had two 4 RBI games during the series and was responsible for 2 HRs as well.

2021 ALCS MVP: Denver v. New York

The 2021 Stroh's ALCS MVP Award goes to....

RF JORGE REA, DEN. Round of Applause!

Denver's improbable playoff run already included wins over two traditional powerhouses in Washington and Omaha. Defeating NY would be another titan sized victory on their way to the World Series. Denver started down 2-1 in the series before catching fire and winning the next 3. Jorge Rea was the primary offensive driver of the Amigos playing lights out baseball through the series. Rea posted 14 hits in 24 at bats with 2 HR and 7 RBI. He won Player of the Game in games 2, 4, and 6. In Game 4 he scored the tying run in the 8th and then knocked in the go ahead in the 9th. In Game 6 he was again responsible for the game winning run. Kick back with Stroh's this offseason, Jorge. Well deserved.

2021 ALDS MVP: New York v. Portland

The 2021 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....

1B KELLY CRUM, NY. Round of Applause!

In a David versus Goliath matchup, underdog Portland was up 3-1 in the series and poised to win their first playoff series ever. Portland had a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the 8th of Game 5 and history was right around the corner, that is until NY tied it up with an unfortunate error on SS Allen Roberson. Going into the bottom of the 9th 1-1 Kelly Crum came up with 2 outs. On an 0-2 count Crum hit a 421 foot game winning HR against Mack Dodson! NY went on to win the remainder of the games and the series. Crum finished with a .329/2/7 line and the Fog Devils' testicles.

2021 ALDS MVP: Denver v. Omaha

The 2021 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....

SP JUAN MAESTAS, DEN. Round of Applause!

Juan Maestas was 10-14 with a 6.21 ERA for Denver in 2021. Let that sink in for a moment and it will make his postseason performance against Omaha all the more amazing. The 36 year old Maestas had spent his entire career in El Paso before coming over to Denver in free agency prior to the 2021 season. Maestas got the start against Omaha in Game 2 after Denver dropped Game 1 4-0. Maestas was able to calm the Omaha bats down a bit, going 5.2 IP and giving up only 2 ER, allowing Denver to win 6-2.  With Denver up 3-2 in the series, Maestas came out in Game 6 and pitched a doozy, going 8 innings with 0 ER and earning the win and the series. Maestas won the Player of the Game and also earned the reputation as a Wolverine killer.

2021 NLDS MVP: Pittsburgh v. San Francisco

The 2021 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....

SP STEFFEN PATTERSON, PIT. Round of Applause!

The story behind this series was the amazing pitching of the Pittsburgh Crusaders. The Crusaders were able to take down the SeaWolves 4-1 and only allowed 2 runs in the five game series. That included 3 complete games by Crusaders starters including Robinson Barrera's defeat in Game 4. Steffen Patterson put together the most impressive start in Game 3 which earned him the Stroh's MVP. Patterson went the entire 9 innings and only allowed 2 hits and zero walks. The 32 year old is in his 1st year with the Crusaders after spending his career in Memphis.

2021 NLDS MVP: New Orleans v. Miami

The 2021 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....

CF HENRY MELTON, NO. Round of Applause.

The New Orleans Dukes were able to take down Miami in a 7 game series after falling behind 2-0. A large part of their offensive success was due to the young CF Henry Melton who won an astounding 3 Player of the Game Awards in the series. His line totals were .345/1/9 while batting primarily cleanup for the Dukes. Melton, savor this Stroh's 6-pack as it will be the last one earned against the mighty Banditos.