2008 Pirates Awards Part 1

Here's what I'll do: I'll make this in an award-like fashion, there will be a few nominees followed by the winner.

Team MVP:

1. Nate McLouth, McLouth leads the Pirates in almost every offensive category. His job was the only one in question at the beginning of the season, and he has been about as close to consistent as the Pirates have had in the past 16 years.

2. Paul Maholm: Easily the best of the pitchers this year, Maholm, previously labeled inconsistent, has been the exact opposite this season. In almost all of his starts, he has made it to at least the sixth inning, something that definitely helps the Pirates win.

3. Pirates Management: It was hard to gauge what management would do coming into the season, especially because of the recent failures of Dave Littlefield and Cam Bonifay.

All Neal Huntington and Frank Coonelly did was trade for pitching at the deadline by selling high, acquire veteran locker room leaders, and actually give the team a chance to talk about realistic future plans for the first time in 16 years.

The Winner: This is a tough one, but I have to go with Pirates management.

By doing what they did at the trade deadline, they ensure future success. Because of previous management, we cannot contend in the next two to three years, but that isn't the current management's fault.

They got solid pitching talent in Jeff Karstans, Daniel McCutchen, Bryan Morris, and Ross Ohlendorf among others. It is clear that Brandon Moss will succeed as a Pirate, at least offensively anyway, once he figures out left/right field, he will be good to go.

LVP (Least Valuable Player):

1. Matt Morris: What else is there to say except that he is no longer a big league pitcher. He was a baffling acquisition during last year's trade deadline and he was not worth the money he was being paid, just to be a locker room leader.

2. Tom Gorzelanny: Just not the same pitcher he was last year. Gorzelanny struggled with control and weight all year—he did not take the Pirate's accountability theme to heart.

 3. Ian Snell: He just struggled with control all season. I think he hid an injury, and he isn't the same pitcher as last year either. He needs to add another pitch or at least improve his location with his pitches.

4. Adam LaRoche: Despite his stellar second half, he is a rally killer. He strikes out way too much, and he leaves way too many on base.

The "Winner": Matt Morris. When you are being paid that much money, pitching 1 & 2/3 innings is not an option. All in all, the Matt Morris experiment was yet another smashing failure for past Pirate management.

Most Improved Player:

1. Nate McLouth: In his first year as starter, he showed why he became the starter in the first place. If Pirates management puts Nate in one place in the lineup (preferably lead off), he can really showcase his talent.

2. Ryan Doumit: Doumit was doing really well last year before an injury hit him, but this year, He is at it once again. He lost weight during the off season, and calls a good game behind the plate. Yet, he needs to work on hitting to the opposite field.

3. Paul Maholm: Maholm is the Pirate's most consistent starter. He is not afraid of pitching any pitch in any count.

The Winner:Nate McLouth. McLouth has taken a step in the right direction both offensively and defensively.

Moment of the Year:

1. Nate McLouth's two-run home run to beat the Yankees: In a sell out game, Nate McLouth blasted a two-run home run to giving the Pirates the edge, 4-2—a lead they never would relinquish.

2. Jason Michael's Home run to beat the Cardinals: In a see-saw battle heading in to the bottom of the ninth, Jason Michaels delivered a two-run homer to defeat the Cardinals and make Steve Blass scream, something I thought was never possible.

 3. The Pirates Extra Inning Record: I had to include this as a choice: Whether it was opening day against the Braves, or a game against the Cardinals, the Pirates had the best record in the league in extra inning games—something worth noting. This Pirates team showed a fire that fans have not seen in a long time.

The Winner:This is also a very hard one, but I am going with the Jason Michaels home run. Given the circumstances, this game looked like yet another loss, but when Kyle McClellan, Jason Isringhausen, and others failed to close the door, the Pirates got right back into the game.

In the tenth inning after Raul Chavez (the last Pirates hitter on the bench) walked, Michaels hit the home run and the crowd went bonkers.

Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow!!