2007 MLB Award Winners

Sorry for the lateness people, but even I need a vacation from the world of cutthroat sports writing. Sadly, looks like I didn’t miss much. But on the lighter side, we have learned that everyone has an opinion, and some are actually good ones.

Case in point: The Winners of the Best of 2007 Awards! It was interesting, but I think we can make peace with the results. Why would we? Because it was you, the fans, who decided who earned these honors. Here are your winners:

 
Best Baseball Team of 2007: Boston Red Sox

Despite a world of hype behind their latest acquisition, Dice K, the Boston Red Sox quietly went through the motions of the season. Not even a fist fight between their rival Yankees occurred. However, you have to respect the maturity that Boston showed this year. Even with all the scandals (Steroids), the rumors (A-Rod trade), and the chase towards history (Bonds*), the Red Sox prospered on other team’s miscues.

It became very apparent during the final stretch of the season that Boston was out to win it all—one way or the other. They earned their spot when they became only the second team in history to come back from the brink of elimination to win the AL pennant during the postseason.

The other team? The 2004 Boston Red Sox. Not isn’t that ironic?

Honorable Mention: Colorado Rockies

2007 Best Slugger: Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz

The reason that there are two winners instead of one is because there was a tie between these two powerhouses. I could have placed Ortiz, but it wouldn’t have been fair for A-Rod, and vice versa, so I decided to put them both.

As much as I detest the state of Massachusetts, I can’t deny how good Ortiz was with the Sox. In contrast, A-Rod picked up the slack for an injured Derek Jeter, and even nailed his 500th career homer in the process. Despite the rumors of his “night” with a blond bombshell in Toronto (why is it that almost every funny moment from Canada involves a blond bombshell?), Rodriguez persevered and went on to lead the Yankees back into postseason play.

Ortiz just had a stronger bat when October came around, which is why he has the ring(s), and A-Rod has a shot at making things right in baseball next season.

Honorable Mention: Manny Ramirez and Ryan Howard

Best Baseball Story: Jon Lester’s Cancer Comeback

In case you weren’t paying attention last year, I included a write in. Someone took advantage of this and despite coming in second to the Rockies Run, I am making this the winner simply because anyone who can comeback from cancer and be twice as dangerous as the illness itself deserves an award for that.

Though it wasn’t a category, I have to give Lester the Cal Ripken Ironman Award. Even though I don’t know much about baseball statistics (and anyone can vouch for that), I know what the fans were talking about at season’s end.

So here’s to Jon Lester, and anyone who is battling cancer and winning that war. Everyone deserves their moment in the sun.

Honorable Mention: Rockies Run and Bonds Bombs

Worst Baseball Story: Bonds Screws Himself

This wasn’t a category, but if it’s bad news or news that everyone knew but wasn’t kissing and telling, this was the one.

Barry Bonds lied for an entire season that he has never taken steroids. How shocking that after the season is over someone finally tells the truth about it: Barry Bonds did take steroids.

But is that even a surprise to anyone? Seriously, who among us thought that Bonds was 100 percent clean and \just ate his meat and potatoes in the offseason to get that big? Exactly. In any event, despite all the people who went to bat for him, Barry’s record is nothing more than the TP that he wipes his @$$ with now.

So Barry, here’s a one finger salute for the mediocrity that is becoming your life. Hopefully you will retire and we never have to say anything about you again.

Dishonorable Mention: Roger Clemens Gets Tagged

Best Pitcher: Jake Peavy, C.C. Sabathia, and Josh Beckett

Statistically, Peavy could have won this one. Clutch pitching, Sabathia could have taken this hands down. But as far as fan favorite and silent partner goes, no one deserves it more than Josh Beckett. Even behind Dice K and Curt Schilling, Beckett rose from a self-destruct mode to become arguably the biggest reason why the Sox won the World Series last season.

Peavy, who is probably kicking himself still for that one-game playoff, did all he could to get the Padres into the postseason. But in the end, not even he could have prevented the inevitable. The worst part? He wasn’t even playing that night.

As for Sabathia, that’s an interesting one. If you take out his performance against the Red Sox in the ALCS, he was a pretty good pitcher. If you include it, he was probably one of, if not the biggest, busts of the playoffs. So to prevent anyone from getting angry about the decision (but I’m sure someone will anyway), I’m giving this honor to all three for coming through when it mattered. However, that Red Sox player with the crazy dancing (Papelbon, I believe) earns the postseason honor just for the dancing.

Honorable Mention: Papelbon

2007 Best Comeback Team: Colorado Rockies

The Rockies have been mentioned multiple times in this column, but they finally have earned an award. Truthfully, they were the hottest team in baseball in the final stretch. They became the first team to sweep their way to the World Series, winning 20+ games before being swept by Boston. They even supplied everyone with good conversation in regards to their team.

But don’t take my word for it. The majority of the voters who did place a vote gave this honor to them. Now let’s see if they can duplicate the success from last season.

Quick FYI: The last team to be swept by the Sox in the Series (St. Louis) went on to win the series two years later. Can history repeat itself? They were crazy. They were controversial. But when the smoke cleared, Denver had another championship to add to its Hall of Fame. I think they’ll be looking for the World Series crown next time around.

Honorable Mention: Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Boston (for doing it again in October)

2007 Biggest Bust/Chokers: New York Mets

Here’s a question: How bad do you have to suck to be called the Biggest Bust of 2007? Ask Willie Randolph.

The NL East was right there for the taking for the Mets, but they pulled a rabbit out of the wrong place and wound up getting crossed off the contender’s list. What’s even worse about this is that there isn’t a single person in New York who would even dare to disagree.

The Yankees were mentioned, but that’s blasphemy if you actually leave a name. So, I never thought I would say this in any column that wasn’t about it, “New York Mets, everyone in America thinks you suck. You won the honor of Biggest Choker in 2007. How do you like dem apples?”

Dishonorable Mention: Philadelphia Phillies? (Hey, don’t look at me. I voted for the Mets.)

2007 Manager of the Year: Mike Scioscia and Lou Piniella

I bet all of you were expecting Terry Francona to win this award, weren’t you? Sorry, but Francona won the World Series with power and clutch players. Scioscia won his games with practically nothing. The Angels went under the radar for a majority of the season and almost went the distance to make a push for the World Series.

As for Piniella, well, does an explanation even need to be made? He took the mediocre Chicago Cubs and made them Division Champs and playoff babies...in his first season! Enough said on that one.

Despite it all, the usual suspects got served up and dished out on a championship platter. But these two, Piniella and Scioscia, they earned these honors. And if you don’t believe that, just ask the people who voted for them.

Honorable Mention: Terry Francona and Clint Hurdle

2007 Clutch Player of the Year: Matt Holliday and Jason Varitek

There was no harder decision than this one. Boston fans wanted Manny, Ortiz, Varitek, Beckett, and even Papelbon to win this one. Yankees fans wanted A-Rod. Indians fans wanted C.C. I even had a write-in vote for Mike Lowell. So I had to compromise somehow, and this was the best I can do on short notice.

Varitek wins this one for waking his bat up at the perfect time. He led the charge that sparked Ortiz and Manny to follow suit and help Boston win another World Series. I gave it to Varitek because of that, and the fact that Ortiz and Manny seem to win everything else.

As for Holliday, it’s simple. Holliday and Todd Helton kept the Rockies motivated in the final stretch. It was Holliday who led the charge that sparked Kaz Matsui, Helton, and the other members of the Blake Street Bombers Version 2.0 to fight for their postseason lives. Winning in Philadelphia is not an easy task, but winning in Philadelphia after an overnight flight from your one-game playoff the day before? That’s impossible...right?

Honorable Mention: David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Mike Lowell, and Jacoby Ellsbury

There are your baseball winners (and in some case losers). For those who voted, thanks. Hope we can actually get a bigger turnout at the end of ’08. Happy New Year!