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Baseball notebook MVP, Cy Young races going down to the wire
JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Ballots went in the mail this week to members of the Baseball Writers Association who vote on the postseason awards for Most Valuable Player, Cy Young Award, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year. They must be postmarked no later than October 2 after all regular season games are played. Postseason games do not figure in the voting for these awards. Two weeks ago it appeared Mike Piazza of the New York Mets had the National League MVP virtually wrapped up. But the catcher's batting slump and the strong finishes by Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent make the San Francisco Giants pair major contenders. A split vote could hurt either of the Giants' stars. The Dodgers' demise hurts Gary Sheffield's chances. The American League MVP could be a race between Toronto's Carlos Delgado and Chicago's Frank Thomas, with the Yankees' Bernie Williams getting some votes. If Pedro Martinez doesn't win the Cy Young Award again there should be an investigation. The NL Cy Young Award race appears to be a tight race between Atlanta's Tom Glavine and Arizona's Randy Johnson. To me, Johnson may lead the league in strikeouts, but he has lost too many big games. The Mets have manhandled him a couple of times. The rookie race in the NL should be interesting. There was a big buildup for pitcher Rick Ankiel of St. Louis in the beginning of the season, but shortstop Rafael Furcal of Atlanta, outfielder Jay Payton of the New York and first baseman Pat Burrell of Philadelphia appear to be strong competition. In the AL, the best performance by a rookie has been turned in by Seattle reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki, who is 32 years old and pitched 10 years in the Japanese leagues before the Mariners brought him to the United States. The fact the Mariners are in first place in the AL West will help his cause. Dusty Baker of the Giants seems a lock to win his third NL Manager of the Year Award with Jerry Manuel of the Chicago White Sox a likely choice in the AL.
McGwire limping into the sunset?The more often he takes a turn at bat and hobbles down to first base on his sore knee, the more obvious it becomes that we may be seeing the last of Mark McGwire. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has been allowing McGwire to take a turn at-bat in the first inning when the team is on the road then promptly removes him from the game in the bottom of the inning. At home he is relegated strictly to pinch hitting, a role he detests. But his knee hurts so much he can barely make it to first base. McGwire says he will not be back next year unless his knee is 100 percent and right now he is against surgery, which is the only way his knee can be repaired. Don't be surprised if McGwire walks away from the game. He would love to keep on playing but not unless he can play all out, which is the only way he knows. He is financially secure enough to call it quits.
Conspiracy theoryMajor league baseball insists the ball is not juiced, but for the first time in history there are two clubs with four players who have hit 30 or more homers. The Anaheim Angels were the first team to do it last week and the Toronto Blue Jays reached that milestone Thursday night.
More penny-pinching in MinnesotaTom Kelly, who appears to have a lifetime job in Minnesota, is about to sign a contract extension for two or three more years. But general manager Terry Ryan, forced to operate on a shoestring budget, may soon be out of a job. Paul Molitor, currently one of Kelly's coaches, is being persuaded to take Ryan's job even though he would rather remain on the field.
Short storyThe best deals are often the ones you don't make. That was an old Branch Rickey theory and it certainly holds true for the Mets, who were disappointed when Barry Larkin refused to allow the Cincinnati Reds to trade him because he didn't want to come to New York. So Larkin winds up on the disabled list and if the Mets had made the deal they'd be trying to win a postseason berth with Kurt Abbott at shortstop.
Utility and futilityTexas manager Johnny Oates made no friends with the Rangers' marketing department when he decided to play Scott Sheldon at all nine positions in Chicago. The marketing department was going to try and boost gate sales by having Sheldon do his act at home.
What about Bob?The Arizona Diamondbacks may be following a route first introduced by the Chicago Cubs in 1960 and later by the San Diego Padres and Houston Astros. The owners of those clubs thought the guys broadcasting the game were better qualified to manage their teams than the guy in the dugout. According to a report in the Arizona Republic, Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo has approached broadcaster Bob Brenly about replacing Buck Showalter in 2001. To Brenly's credit, he apparently asked to talk again after the season. He didn't think it would be fair second guessing Showalter on the air if he might replace him. If Brenly does give up the mike for the managerial job, he will follow in the footsteps of Lou Boudreau, Jerry Coleman and Larry Dierker, all of whom left the broadcasting booth to become manager. Boudreau, of course, had previously been a manager with the Indians and Red Sox, but Coleman and Dierker were new to the profession. Coleman lasted only one season (1980) as manager of the San Diego Padres before returning to broadcasting.
On hallowed groundBig doings in Milwaukee County Stadium September 27-28 when the Brewers bring back some 40 former stars of the Braves, Brewers and Green Bay Packers who played on the field in their glory days. It takes place on the final two days that the stadium will be in use. Next year the Brewers will move into a new ballpark.
Kings of New YorkNote to players who don't want to play in New York: Mike Piazza is dating a Playboy Playmate and Derek Jeter is squiring Miss Universe.
© 2003 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
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