In this trying year for baseball, let's recognize the positives
Posted: Tuesday July 02, 2002 11:59 AM
This has been a difficult season to enjoy. The fun and games have been
interrupted too often by the sadder realities of life. Two seemingly vibrant,
healthy ballplayers, Mike Darr and Darryl Kile, died suddenly. One
of the game's most recognizable voices, Jack Buck, was silenced. The
possibility of a player strike threatens to truncate the season. The prevalence
of steroids and other illegal, performance-enhancing supplements creates a cloud
of suspicion over players and records. The Yankees, already in first place,
simply pick up another $10 million-a-year guy the way Hugh Hefner does
blondes. So what's a fan to do for a little escapism? How about rooting for the
Twins and
Expos?
Minnesota and Montreal, targeted for contraction by commissioner Bud
Selig, are competing for playoff spots, keeping alive the flickering hope
that surprises still happen in baseball. The Angels and Reds are also unexpected
contenders. On the other hand, the Mets, Rangers, Cubs, Astros, Phillies and
White Sox are all disappointments who have
underachieved
Who could have guessed that second base stalwarts Roberto Alomar and
Craig Biggio will sit out the All-Star Game while Alfonso Soriano
and Junior Spivey are in Milwaukee? Soriano, in fact, is my surprise MVP
winner for the first half of the season, the biggest breakout player, as I
present my first-half awards and All-Star team (which again includes actual
outfield designations, not the three generic spots). Soriano is a catalyst and
run producer for the Yankees, gaining an edge over Paul Konerko (because
the White Sox posted a losing record through 82 games), Nomar Garciaparra
(whose numbers, except for RBIs, don't measure up to those of Soriano) and
Jason Giambi (a DH playing first base who is afraid to make routine
throws).
Who knew Derek Lowe, booed out of Fenway Park last season as a closer,
would be the first-half Cy Young pick after moving into the Red Sox rotation?
Conversely, Eric Gagne ofthe Dodgers, a failed starter, is the best
closer in the NL. Who would have thought walking 200 times in a season was
possible? Barry Bonds may accomplish the feat, as well as win an unprecedented
fifth MVP Award.
My two Managers of the Year for the first half could probably walk down the
street in most cities in America without being recognized. Jim Tracy of
the Dodgers and Ron Gardenhire of the Twins may keep a low profile, but
they've done a terrific job guiding their teams into first
place.
Meanwhile, the Cy Young race in the NL is the one competition with no surprises.
Tom Glavine is the first-half pick over two other proven winners, Curt
Schilling and Randy
Johnson.
Who knows what unforeseen developments the second half has in store? Will Scott Rolen,
Cliff Floyd, Jim Thome or Jeff Weaver be traded? Can the
Angels and Expos really contend? Will the White Sox wake up to give the Twins a
run? Will the NL West remain a wild three-team race? Can the Cardinals hold onto
first despite the tragic death of Kile. Mostly, though, we will spend the next
two months asking ourselves this: Will the players go on strike? If they do,
alas, nobody should be
surprised.
Most Valuable Player
American League
National League
1. Alfonso Soriano, New York
1. Barry Bonds, San Francisco
2. Paul Konerko, Chicago
2. Shawn Green, Los Angeles
3. Nomar Garciaparra, Boston
3. Vladimir Guerrero, Montreal
4. Jason Giambi, New York
4. Adam Dunn, Cincinnati
5. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle
5. Andruw Jones, Atlanta
6. Torii Hunter, Minnesota
6. Luis Gonzalez, Arionza
7. Garret Anderson, Anaheim
7. Eric Gagne, Los Angeles
8. Alex Rodriguez, Texas
8. Sammy Sosa, Chicago
9. Eric Chavez, Oakland
9. Lance Berkman, Houston
10. Mike Sweeney, Kansas City
10. Jim Edmonds, St. Louis
Cy Young
American League
National League
1. Derek Lowe, Boston
1. Tom Glavine, Atlanta
2. Freddy Garcia, Seattle
2. Curt Schilling, Arizona
3. Mark Buehrle, Chicago
3. Randy Johnson, Arizona
Rookie of the Year
American League
National League
1. Eric Hinske, Toronto
1. Kazuhisa Ishii, Los Angeles
2. Rodrigo Lopez, Baltimore
2. Brad Wilkerson, Montreal
3. Jorge Julio, Baltimore
3. Josh Fogg, Pittsburgh
Manager of the Year
American League
National League
1. Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota
1. Jim Tracy, Los Angeles
2. Mike Scioscia, Anaheim
2. Bob Boone, Cincinnati
3. Grady Little, Boston
3. Frank Robinson, Montreal
Tom Verducci's All-Star Picks
American League
National League
Jorge Posada, New York With Pudge Rodriguez breaking down, Posada is head
and shoulders above all other catchers in the league at what has become a down
position.
C
Mike Piazza, New York A bit of a down year for such a great hitter, but
still way ahead of the rest of the
pack.
Paul Konerko, Chicago RBI machine gets the slight nod over Giambi at a very
deep position (Giambi, Sweeney, Thome, Konerko and John Olerud occupied five of
the top six OPS spots at the halfway
mark).
1B
Todd Helton, Colorado A truly great hitter in any park, with or without a
humidor.
Alfonso Soriano, New York Scouts who saw a little bit of Vladimir Guerrero
in him last year were right on the
mark.
2B
Jose Vidro, Montreal Little speed and not much home run power, but a
professional hitter with a nose for
RBIs.
Alex Rodriguez, Texas The worst of many Mets' mistakes: turning their back
on the guy who is still the best overall player in
baseball.
SS
Jose Hernandez, Milwaukee Ridiculous strikeout numbers, but still doing
more damage than Rich Aurilia and Jimmy
Rollins.
Eric Chavez, Oakland One of the overlooked stars in the game who, at 24, is
two years younger than Shea Hillenbrand with more pop and better
glove.
3B
Mike Lowell, Florida He has an outside shot at 60 doubles, as long as he
keeps turning triples into
two-baggers.
Garret Anderson, Anaheim One of only two AL left fielders who began the
week with more than 40 RBIs; he gets the edge over Jacque
Jones.
LF
Barry Bonds, San Francisco The most feared hitter in baseball -- maybe
ever.
Torii Hunter, Minnesota Fabulous defender who may be on his way to 30-30
season.
CF
Lance Berkman, Houston League leader in RBIs is a rare power-hitting switch
hitter.
Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle A true throwback, he is the rare modern dynamic
offensive player who does it without
power.
RF
Shawn Green, Los Angeles Awesome home run tear has put him back among the
elite players in the
game.
Ruben Sierra, Seattle Picked up the slack in Seattle while Edgar
Martinez was hurt and Bret Boone, Jeff Cirillo and Mike
Cameron
slumped.
DH
Derek Lowe, Boston Statistically, the toughest pitcher to hit in
baseball.
RHP
Curt Schilling, Arizona Thirteen wins at the break leads all of
baseball.
Mark Buerhle, Chicago Underappreciated lefty holds a razor-thin edge over
Barry
Zito.
LHP
Tom Glavine, Atlanta Maybe his best year
ever.
Eddie Guardado, Minnesota League leader in saves also has better than a 4:1
strikeout-to-walk
ratio.
Relief
Eric Gagne, Los Angeles If he keeps this up, he'll threaten the saves
record of 57 and get more than a few MVP
votes.
Sports Illustrated senior writer Tom Verducci covers the baseball beat for
the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Click here to send a
question to his weekly baseball mailbag.
