2018 ALDS MVP: Minneapolis v. Los Angeles
The 2018 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....
LF KEALAALOHI NERIDA, MIN. Round of Applause!!!
The most anticipated first round matchup of the 2018 playoffs was undoubtedly between the 96 win Mutiny and the 95 win, defending Champion Gargoyles. The series did not disappoint and Nerida was able to take the Mutiny on his back to win the series in 7 games, winning the last 3 coming back from a 3-1 deficit. Minneapolis jumped off to a quick win in Game 1 but then allowed LA to win 3 in a row, two games by 1 run and one game by 2 runs. Minneapolis looked doomed down 3-1 in the series but Game 5 they managed to hold off the Gargoyles 2-0 with the help of Nerida's 7th inning HR and Pete Sherman's great pitching performance. In Game 6 Nerida went 3-4 and Minneapolis won 5-4 with a dramatic 8th inning HR by Victor Hicks. Nerida helped seal the deal and pour it on the Gargoyles in a 10-1 victory where he went 1-4 with a 3 run HR. Nerida's totals for the series was a .385/.429/.808, 3 HRs, 8 RBI. Stroh's is happy to announce that Nerida will be their new official spokesperson in Samoa. Cheers!
2018 ALDS MVP: Washington v. Montreal
The 2018 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....
SP CLINT MILLER, WAS. Round of Applause!!
Las Vegas oddsmakers saw no more lopsided matchup in the 2018 playoffs than the Washington Admirals/Montreal Knights series. Montreal had won 99 games, the most in baseball. Meanwhile Washington went .500, won a play in game versus Boston only to face Denver in the Wildcard round. Washington, despite many injuries, defied the odds and beat Denver and now faced the Goliath in Montreal. Washington's big strength was their starting pitching and Clint Miller set the tone in Game 1. Miller was able to come out and pitch 5.2 innings of scoreless ball before he was forced out by a 44 minute rain delay. However, his performance was enough to get Washington a 2-0 win and earn him the Player of the Game. Montreal evened it up in Game 2 but Washington was able to shut out Montreal in Games 3 and 4 to take a 3-1 series lead. Miller would once again step out in Game 5 and pitch wonderful, going 5.1 innings and giving up 1 run before again being shut down by a rain delay. Washington would go on to defeat Montreal in one of the biggest upsets in EWB history. Hey Clint, they don't call you Shark for nothing, here's a Stroh's to relax after you strike fear into the hearts of hitters all over.
2017 World Series Champion
Los Angeles Gargoyles
Owner Weinstein Brothers
GM Wes Ellis
Manager Chang-yong Gong
2017 World Series MVP: Los Angeles v. Cincinnati
The 2017 Stroh's World Series MVP Award goes to....
SS MATT PETERSON, LA. Round of Applause!!
In a rather unexciting World Series, Los Angeles dispatched Cincinnati in such an extraordinarily efficient way that it was hard to believe Cincy won 98 games. The 4-1 was series did have three 1 run victories but LA was never seriously threatened. Star SS Matt Peterson contributed early in the series and heavily in Game 3 where he was 3-4, 2 runs, 3 rbi, 1 double and 2 HRs. Peterson totaled .364/3/8 in the series and played a great SS as well. Here's to the World Series MVP! Drink a Stroh's for LA and one of the great managers, Chang-yong Gong!
2017 NLCS MVP: Cincinnati v. Memphis
The 2017 Stroh's NLCS MVP Award goes to....
OF KENNY DUKES, CIN. Round of Applause!!
The Cincy/Memphis matchup appeared at first glance to be a highly competitive series. Both teams won their division and were 90+ game winners. Cincy with the most potent offense in the NL and Memphis with the best shutdown pitching staff. Cincy jumped to a 3-1 series lead before falling to Memphis in Game 5. Game 6 would prove to be an intense affair with Cincy beating Memphis 6-5 and taking the series 4-2. No player for Cincy was as consistently good throughout the series as Kenny Dukes, the former Memphis Razorback. Dukes hit in all 6 games and totaled a .348 avg/.423 OBP/ .478 SLG. He also put up 1 HR and 3 RBI. Dukes has been the heart and soul of this Cincy team since he joined in 2013. There is no doubt that Cincy's success since 2013 has been on the shoulders of this perennial All Star and former MVP.
2017 ALCS MVP: Los Angeles v. Washington DC
The 2017 Stroh's ALCS MVP Award goes to....
1B MINORU YAMAMOTO, LA. Round of Applause!
The relatively unknown Yamamoto put on quite a performance during the Gargoyles quick but expected 4 game sweep of DC. The 28 yr old has only played one full season in EWB prior to 2017 and only appeared in 75 games in 2017. In addition, he was dismal in the games he played against Chicago in the ALDS. After an 0-2 Game 1, Yamamoto looked like he again would be a non factor. Then after his mentor coach in Japan reached out to give sage advice, Yamamoto erupted in Games 2, 3, 4. He totaled a .467 avg, 4 HR, 12 RBI to lift the Gargoyle offense against what was a dominating pitching staff against Omaha. Enjoy this day and Stroh's acknowledges your Japanese heritage and we love your Japanese culture and we send you many Stroh's!
2017 NLDS MVP: Memphis v. Dallas
The 2017 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....
SP TOM PARRISH, MEM. Round of Applause!!!
Most fans looked upon the Memphis/Dallas series as perhaps the most intriguing of the first round matchups. Loads of EWB fans were backing the historically bad Razorbacks as the feel good story of the year. Yet Dallas boasted the league's best and likely most popular player in William Walker. Oddsmakers had this matchup as the closest with only a slight edge going to Memphis. Parrish had been the Razorback Ace all year long and led the team to the lowest amount of runs scored against in the NL. Taking the mound in Game 1 Parrish breezed by the Brahmas, pitching 6 innings and giving up only 3 hits with 7 K's. The bullpen finished the game out and Memphis won handily 10-0. Memphis looked like they were about to sweep after going up 3-0 in the series but a comeback win for Dallas in Game 4 prevented the brooms from appearing. That meant that Big Tom was going to come out for Game 5. This time Big Tom was even better, going 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, and 6 K's for his 2nd W of the series and to close out the Dallas Brahmas. Stroh's happily sends a big keg for Parrish to enjoy this offseason. Cheers Big Tom!!!!
2017 NLDS MVP: Cincinnati v. El Paso
The 2017 Stroh's NLDS MVP Award goes to....
LF IVAN GONZALEZ, CIN. Round of Applause!!!
Ivan Gonzalez is one of most exciting young players in the league today. The former 1st rounder has put up some serious numbers in the last couple of years and at age 25 had 18 games of postseason experience before these 2017 playoffs. The El Paso/Cincy series was a relative mismatch as El Paso snagged a hard fought wildcard but was clearly an inferior offensive team, scoring less than scored upon them in 2017. Cincy was a 98 win powerhouse who had been to the playoffs 4 of the last 5 years. Gonzalez had no problem setting the pace at the top of the lineup. In Game 1 he was 1-2 with 2 BB. In Game 2 he was 2-4 with a R. Game 3 he was 3-4 with 2 R. But it was Game 4 where Gonzalez really shined. Cincy was up 2-1 in the series but was tied 2-2 in Game 4's 8th inning when Gonzalez led off the 8th with a solo HR to go up 3-2. Then in top of the 9th Gonzalez singled to bring in 2 more runs for insurance. Cincy would win the game 5-2 and eventually the series in Game 5. Here's a toast of ice coooooollllllllddddddd Stroh's to a long prosperous career, Mr. Ivan!
2017 ALDS MVP: Washinton DC v. Omaha
The 2017 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....
SP JOSE "ALIBI" DE LA GARZA, DC. Round of Applause!
Washington DC was below .500 for much of the season before they finally rose up to an 81-81 record to end their regular season. Clearly no one was willing to give them a shot against the 94 win, Plains Division winner, and modern day powerhouse Omaha Wolverines. DC struck first blood though in Game 1 with a phenomenal pitching performance by Stanton Jenkins. The prevailing sentiment was that, though Game 1 was interesting, it was clearly a fluke and Omaha would rally back strongly. Omaha reaffirmed that sentiment by clearly winning Games 2 and 3 and taking a 2-1 series lead. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, doubts that if if Omaha won Game 4 and took a 3-1 lead that DC would be done for. So who does DC send to the mound for Game 4 but De La Garza, Mr. Postseason himself and longtime Wolverine. In the offseason the Diplomats gave De La Garza a 2 year contract which paid him 27 M and 34 M, however, De La Garza underperformed his contract value in 2017 by posting an 8-15 record with a 4.80 ERA. It was understood by most though that the 27 million was for moments like this. De La Garza marched to the mound and pitched like it was 2007 again. A complete game 3 hit shutout performance against a team with a blistering offense and a history of strong being a strong playoff team. The Game 4 performance turned the tide of the Series, allowing DC to win the final two games and steal the series. Mount this trophy right up next to your 2007 and 2012 Awards, Alibi, and swig some Stroh's while you reflect on your magnificence!
2017 ALDS MVP: Los Angeles v. Chicago
The 2017 Stroh's ALDS MVP Award goes to....
SP JEFF "PIGEON" CHAMBERS, LA. Round of Applause!!!!
Despite winning 93 games and having the 3rd amount of runs scored in the AL, the Chicago Samurai knew they would be severe underdogs to LA and especially when Chambers took the mound. Chambers' 2017 was one for the history books as he took down the Pitcher's Triple Crown and was to sure be the unanimous Bob Gibson Award winner. Chambers took the mound for Game 1 and pitched 8.0 inning of 1 run ball with 4 hits, and 9 K's for good measure. Serrano took over in the 9th to ensure Chambers a W and himself a save. With that 4-1 victory LA sent a message to all of EWB for things to come. In his 2nd start of the series Chambers again went 8 innings, but this time gave up 2 runs and had 8 K's. Unfortunately his almost always reliable Closer, Antonio Serrano was unable to close it out and Chicago was able to tie it and go to extra innings. LA eventually vanquished Chicago 4-3 in that game and 4-2 in the series. Needless to say, Chambers' two starts were a large part of the Gargoyles success. You've long outgrown your Squab stage, Jeff, time to indulge the Pigeon with an ice cold Stroh's!