Post-season awards were handed out by the Baseball Writers Association of America (a group I would steal a loaf of marble rye from an old lady to be a part of!), and there weren't any real surprises. For Rookie of the Year, voters unanimously chose Aaron Judge of the Yankees and Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers. This award was a no-brainer, because both guys had great seasons (even though Judge got a bit "cold" after the all-star break). I would have voted for both of them; no surprise there.
For the Cy Young award, the AL winner was the Indians' Corey Kluber (who won his second Cy Young award) and the Nationals' Max Scherzer for the NL. Yes, THAT Max Scherzer - my current baseball crush! It's Scherzer's third Cy Young, and I'm just glad that someone other than Clayton Kershaw won it this year. It was a tough decision, because all of these guys had spent a bit of time on the Disabled List this year, so it wasn't a runaway vote like Rookie of the Year was; but hey, my man beat out Kershaw and fellow teammate Stephen Strasburg, so I'm happy about that.
For MVP, I was a bit nervous. There was speculation that Aaron Judge would get the award for the American League, beating out the Astros' José Altuve. I personally think it's rude to win more than one of these awards in the same year (Fred Lynn and Ichiro Suzuki have been the only ones who have done that), but as the player, you have no control over who these baseball writers are going to vote for (and I love Ichiro, but I would have voted for Roberto Alomar for MVP in 2001 so Ichiro could get one award and Alomar could get the other one). Plus isn't Rookie of the Year a more special award because you can only win it once? I was relieved when Altuve was named as MVP for the American League, because I had told my husband that if Altuve wasn't the winner, I would run around the neighborhood naked. Luckily my neighbors were spared. In the National League, the Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton was the MVP, and I'm OK with that. He hit 59 home runs (I was really rooting for him to reach 60), and he's pretty bad ass. Congratulations to all of this year's winners.
Speaking of Giancarlo Stanton, the Miami Marlins are interested in trading him during the off season. This is a pretty big deal, because not only does it mean that the Marlins realize they're going to suck next year and Stanton is better off playing somewhere else, but it could potentially make Stanton a very very VERY rich man. And with Derek Jeter being part owner of the Marlins, us baseball nerds have seen a lot of video of him lately talking about how, yes, trading Stanton is a definite possibility. The main thing I've gotten out of these videos is the fact that Jeter looks way better in a baseball uniform than he does in "real people" clothes.
Also newsworthy so far this off season are both a death and a retirement. At 40 years old, former Blue Jays and Phillies pitcher and Cy Young award winner, Roy Halladay, died while flying his single-engine plane that crashed off the Gulf of Mexico on November 7. I always liked Halladay when he was with Toronto, but as soon as he joined the Phillies, I automatically disliked him. The eulogy that his wife gave at his memorial service was heart-wrenching and emotional, especially since they were just starting their new lives after Halladay's retirement in 2013. So sad!
And after 20 years in professional baseball, Puerto Rican Carlos Beltrán announced his retirement. Beltrán is one of those classy old-school guys you just can't help but love - he always played hard, was constantly smiling, and was always known as an excellent leader and faithful teammate. I have a soft spot for Carlos because he threw me a baseball during batting practice when he played for the Mets and I acted like a crazy Puerto Rican to get his attention (some would say I wasn't acting). My husband was always bothered with Beltrán being a "mouth breather," but I like him anyway (at least Beltrán probably doesn't snore, because he breathes through his mouth, which is more than I can say about my dear husband who keeps me up at night!). Let's see if Jayson Werth and Ichiro Suzuki follow in Beltrán's footsteps and announce their retirements too - while some of us would like to think that Ichiro could play forever, he's 44 and not as marketable as he once was. He will definitely be missed. And Werth? Yeah - it's time to call it quits, old man!
What else is there to look forward to during this off-season? Let's see... Which team will sign Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani? Apparently this kid can pitch, hit, run, and solve complex mathematical equations while mastering all levels of Candy Crush. He's being touted as the most perfect free agent ever (which automatically means he's over-hyped) and is being compared to Babe Ruth (!!!), but he won't require a ton of money, so he'll be easy to sign once all the bureaucratic red tape has been taken care of (apparently he's still technically under the ownership of his Japanese team, so there are some "t"s to cross and "I"s to dot before he can be signed by a Major League team. Stay tuned. What else? There are other free agents out there, like Yu Darvish, Wellington Castillo, Jonathan Lucroy, and yes, CC Sabathia (he's still got it at 37 years old).
This off-season promises to be interesting, with the signing of free agents and trading of players like Stanton (and will the Nationals please trade Tanner Roark so he can actually get some playing time and some respect?). I'll be paying attention so you don't have to (unless you really want to), and I'll keep you all updated as events warrant. In the meantime, have a wonderful Thanksgiving, support your local businesses during your holiday shopping, and enjoy your time with family and friends.
Showing posts with label cody Bellinger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cody Bellinger. Show all posts
Friday, November 17, 2017
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Playing "Catch-Up"
The Major League Baseball season is halfway over, and my life has been so crazy busy that I haven't been able to blog very much. But that doesn't mean that I don't have a lot to say (shocker!), so here I go trying to catch up on the latest baseball topics:
1, Aaron Judge. If you don't know who this kid is, you clearly haven't been paying attention. Friends have been asking me when I'm going to write about Judge, and I've been putting it off (mainly because he's a Yankee), but there's no ignoring this amazing kid any longer.
First, in true Mudville Mom fashion, I have to give my shallow opinion on what this kid looks like. He is 6'7, resembles "Lurch" from "The Addams Family," and has teeth that qualify him to be a member of the British royal family. Not cute at all, but he's humble, seems friendly enough, and appears to have been raised well by good parents. He has great poise for being subjected to the ruthless New York media, but even the harshest of critics is in love with this guy. He is leading the Majors with 30 home runs, is third in the American League in batting average, and will likely be named the AL Rookie of the Year (as well as possibly the MVP). Despite being a Yankee, I have no problems with this kid - he seems legitimately talented, doesn't come across as a self-absorbed ass, and hey, he won the Home Run Derby this past week. so there's something to be said for that. And with a last name like "Judge," the puns have already started ("All rise for Judge!," Yankee Stadium is "the Judge's chambers," and "the jury is still out on Judge.") Stay healthy, Aaron - you may actually get me to become a fan of yours!
2. The All-Star Game. This year's All-Star game had five Nationals players in it (Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, and Max Scherzer), so I was looking forward to it. The game did not disappoint, especially since my guy Scherzer pitched a scoreless first inning and showed the entire world what a badass he is (there were so many microphones around that you could actually hear Max grunting with every pitch). Bryce Harper made a very good catch in right field, so everyone in the world was able to see how good his hair looks even when his ball cap falls off his head trying to make a good play (according to the T-Mobile commercial, Bryce is always "perfectly coiffed!"). And Daniel Murphy got a base hit, so Nats-wise, I was happy to see my guys do well on the national stage.
The moment that had me all choked up and in an emotional mess was the tribute to Hispanic players in the Hall of Fame. Legends like Orlando Cepeda, Rod Carew, Tony Perez, Pedro Martinez, Roberto Alomar, and of course Iván Rodriguez simultaneously threw out the first pitch(es) of the game, and they each threw their baseball to a current Hispanic player. Pretty cool moment, especially when Roberto Clemente's widow and children were introduced. Nothing makes a Hispanic person more proud than seeing your nation's flag representing greatness. And we have no shame in saying we get teary - we don't blame it on allergies, Hillary Clinton!
3. The current standings. As of right now, the Dodgers and Astros look like the teams to beat. The Dodgers were the first team to reach 60 wins this season, and the Astros weren't so far behind. Can I tell you how sick and tired I am of the Dodgers? I know Clayton Kershaw is a beast, but I am so tired of hearing about how great he is and how wonderful Cody Bellinger is and how Justin Turner is all that. As hideous as the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks' uniforms are this season (think 1970s bell-bottom pants), I would much rather see them in the playoffs than the Dodgers. But knowing the Dodgers, they will make it to the playoffs (again!) and be totally wonderful. Whatever.
The Astros are another story. That team is chock full of raw talent, dedicated fans, and one of the best infields in the Majors. I want the Astros to not only make the playoffs, but make it to the World Series. Will they be facing the Nationals in October? Highly unlikely, since the Nats have terrible relief pitching that won't take them past the first round of the playoffs. Astros and Dodgers in the World Series? I guess. :-(
4. A-Rod. For the All-Star game, Fox Sports thought it would be a brilliant idea to send Alex Rodriguez onto the playing field to interview the players while they were getting into their positions. It was bad enough that A-Rod had already insulted Hall of Famer and fellow commentator Frank Thomas by saying he was getting fat and "growing sideways;" having A-Rod go onto the field just turned the whole thing into an A-Rod Fest. He said things like "I'm here in Miami, in my hometown;" (who cares?) "I remember my first All-Star game...;" (back when you were on steroids) "This is starting to remind me of my career a little bit." (which some of us would rather forget!) Shut up, Alex - no one cares about you anymore! Not even JLo, since you cheated on her (granted, she should have known that a guy who cheats in baseball is likely to cheat in a relationship!).
Well, I feel better now that I got all that out! Phew! What do we have to look forward to in the second half of the season? Let's see... Adrián Beltre reaching 3000 hits, the upcoming trade deadline (where contending teams try to strengthen their rosters for the post-season, usually with players who will become free agents at the end of the season, so they will only be with their new teams for a few months), and the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the end of this month (I'll be watching on TV; not in person, but I whined about that in a previous blog post, so I'll be quiet about that). There is still so much to look forward to - Wild Card races, new young talent coming up from the Minors, and our trip to yet another ballpark this year. Stay tuned, my friends; Mudville Mom will still have plenty to say for the next few months!
1, Aaron Judge. If you don't know who this kid is, you clearly haven't been paying attention. Friends have been asking me when I'm going to write about Judge, and I've been putting it off (mainly because he's a Yankee), but there's no ignoring this amazing kid any longer.
First, in true Mudville Mom fashion, I have to give my shallow opinion on what this kid looks like. He is 6'7, resembles "Lurch" from "The Addams Family," and has teeth that qualify him to be a member of the British royal family. Not cute at all, but he's humble, seems friendly enough, and appears to have been raised well by good parents. He has great poise for being subjected to the ruthless New York media, but even the harshest of critics is in love with this guy. He is leading the Majors with 30 home runs, is third in the American League in batting average, and will likely be named the AL Rookie of the Year (as well as possibly the MVP). Despite being a Yankee, I have no problems with this kid - he seems legitimately talented, doesn't come across as a self-absorbed ass, and hey, he won the Home Run Derby this past week. so there's something to be said for that. And with a last name like "Judge," the puns have already started ("All rise for Judge!," Yankee Stadium is "the Judge's chambers," and "the jury is still out on Judge.") Stay healthy, Aaron - you may actually get me to become a fan of yours!
2. The All-Star Game. This year's All-Star game had five Nationals players in it (Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, and Max Scherzer), so I was looking forward to it. The game did not disappoint, especially since my guy Scherzer pitched a scoreless first inning and showed the entire world what a badass he is (there were so many microphones around that you could actually hear Max grunting with every pitch). Bryce Harper made a very good catch in right field, so everyone in the world was able to see how good his hair looks even when his ball cap falls off his head trying to make a good play (according to the T-Mobile commercial, Bryce is always "perfectly coiffed!"). And Daniel Murphy got a base hit, so Nats-wise, I was happy to see my guys do well on the national stage.
The moment that had me all choked up and in an emotional mess was the tribute to Hispanic players in the Hall of Fame. Legends like Orlando Cepeda, Rod Carew, Tony Perez, Pedro Martinez, Roberto Alomar, and of course Iván Rodriguez simultaneously threw out the first pitch(es) of the game, and they each threw their baseball to a current Hispanic player. Pretty cool moment, especially when Roberto Clemente's widow and children were introduced. Nothing makes a Hispanic person more proud than seeing your nation's flag representing greatness. And we have no shame in saying we get teary - we don't blame it on allergies, Hillary Clinton!
3. The current standings. As of right now, the Dodgers and Astros look like the teams to beat. The Dodgers were the first team to reach 60 wins this season, and the Astros weren't so far behind. Can I tell you how sick and tired I am of the Dodgers? I know Clayton Kershaw is a beast, but I am so tired of hearing about how great he is and how wonderful Cody Bellinger is and how Justin Turner is all that. As hideous as the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks' uniforms are this season (think 1970s bell-bottom pants), I would much rather see them in the playoffs than the Dodgers. But knowing the Dodgers, they will make it to the playoffs (again!) and be totally wonderful. Whatever.
The Astros are another story. That team is chock full of raw talent, dedicated fans, and one of the best infields in the Majors. I want the Astros to not only make the playoffs, but make it to the World Series. Will they be facing the Nationals in October? Highly unlikely, since the Nats have terrible relief pitching that won't take them past the first round of the playoffs. Astros and Dodgers in the World Series? I guess. :-(
4. A-Rod. For the All-Star game, Fox Sports thought it would be a brilliant idea to send Alex Rodriguez onto the playing field to interview the players while they were getting into their positions. It was bad enough that A-Rod had already insulted Hall of Famer and fellow commentator Frank Thomas by saying he was getting fat and "growing sideways;" having A-Rod go onto the field just turned the whole thing into an A-Rod Fest. He said things like "I'm here in Miami, in my hometown;" (who cares?) "I remember my first All-Star game...;" (back when you were on steroids) "This is starting to remind me of my career a little bit." (which some of us would rather forget!) Shut up, Alex - no one cares about you anymore! Not even JLo, since you cheated on her (granted, she should have known that a guy who cheats in baseball is likely to cheat in a relationship!).
Well, I feel better now that I got all that out! Phew! What do we have to look forward to in the second half of the season? Let's see... Adrián Beltre reaching 3000 hits, the upcoming trade deadline (where contending teams try to strengthen their rosters for the post-season, usually with players who will become free agents at the end of the season, so they will only be with their new teams for a few months), and the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the end of this month (I'll be watching on TV; not in person, but I whined about that in a previous blog post, so I'll be quiet about that). There is still so much to look forward to - Wild Card races, new young talent coming up from the Minors, and our trip to yet another ballpark this year. Stay tuned, my friends; Mudville Mom will still have plenty to say for the next few months!
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