2018 MLB Season

[Flint]

Why is the World Series MVP award named after Willie Mays? He wasn't that great in the Series. I don't think he was even in a Series after 1960 which is about 15 years before he retired. The award should be named after Mantle or Berra, easily the 2 best Series players ever. But of course we all know why.

 

[sport historian]

Why is the World Series MVP award named after Willie Mays? He wasn't that great in the Series. I don't think he was even in a Series after 1960 which is about 15 years before he retired. The award should be named after Mantle or Berra, easily the 2 best Series players ever. But of course we all know why.

It used to be the Sport Magazine World Series MVP award. The winner received a new car. In the late 50's, Sport started giving one to the MVP of the NFL Championship game. Sport has long since gone out of business but the award continued. In 2017 it was renamed the Willie Mays Award, supposedly because 2017 was the 63rd anniversary of The Catch by Mays in the 1954 World Series. Rather convoluted, one might say.

 

[BeyondFedUp]

Second year in a row I'm bummed about the Dodgers. They were just flat out-played this year. I think it's the end of a run for Kershaw and Company.

 

[FootballDad]

Second year in a row I'm bummed about the Dodgers. They were just flat out-played this year. I think it's the end of a run for Kershaw and Company.

Disappointed here as well. Been a Dodgers fan since I was old enough to know what baseball is. This wasn't unexpected though, the Dodgers were flawed this year and the Red Sox were pretty much a juggernaut the entire year. They flat-out smoked the defending champ Houston in the ALCS as well.

 

[Shadowlight]

NO he is not and never was a superstar but I have always liked Brett Gardner. Certain players you gravitate to and he fits the bill. He is 35 and past his "prime" I think but it was nice to see the Yankees bring him back for one more season.

I have discussed this speedster in the past and won't rehash his career but there is one really odd thing about his stats this year. Typically Brett fades in the second half and that happened again as he ended up with a .236 batting average. But he did play a lot reaching over 600 at bats.

He still has wheels (16 SBs in 18 attempts and seven triples)) and is a high quality OF that plays bothe CF and LF. And for the second year in a row he registered over 10 assists.

But the true oddity of his statistics for 2018 was he scored 95 runs. For a player who batted .236 that is very uncommon.

Look for Brett to still get solid playing time and perhaps hit better next season. In 2017 he set a personal high in HRs with 21.

When his playing days are over expect to see Gardner eventually become a Manager. He has great leadership qualities and has always played the game with passion and guts. He came up with the Yankees so it is a good thing to see that the organization is sticking with him. They are fully aware of how much he brings to the table for such a young rising club.

And if he does retire at the end of next season or later I would think the Yankee faithful will have a warm send off for this feisty underdog.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Tampa Bay's Blake Snell takes the AL Cy Young Award, 21 victories, while the Mets Jacob Degrom take the NL Cy Young Award.

 

[Freethinker]

Tampa Bay's Blake Snell takes the AL Cy Young Award, 21 victories, while the Mets Jacob Degrom take the NL Cy Young Award.

Great season for both of our guys. Big congratulations to them both!!

 

[Booth]

I was looking at the Silver Slugger awards winners for this year. The American League winners were 7 Latinos, 1 black, and one white which was Mike Trout. The N.L. winners was 5 Latinos and 4 whites. It ain't the game I remember growing up.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Boston Red Sox Mookie Betts wins the AL MVP. Mike Trout, the best player in MLB, despite leading the league in OBP, OPS, OPS+, BB, and IBB finished second for the fourth time! Too bad Trout has no help what so ever in LA while Betts had the help of rising star Andrew Benintendi and JD Martinez, 43 HR's, 130 RBI's and batting .330 around him. ....and while Trout plays in a not so friendly hitting ballpark, Betts enjoys a hitters paradise in Boston at Fenway Park.
Hopefully, Trout will get traded in the next year or two to a better prepared organization.
Looking forward to Trout setting more individual records next season and staying healthy!

 

[knightedsoldier5000]

Boston Red Sox Mookie Betts wins the AL MVP. Mike Trout, the best player in MLB, despite leading the league in OBP, OPS, OPS+, BB, and IBB finished second for the fourth time! Too bad Trout has no help what so ever in LA while Betts had the help of rising star Andrew Benintendi and JD Martinez, 43 HR's, 130 RBI's and batting .330 around him. ....and while Trout plays in a not so friendly hitting ballpark, Betts enjoys a hitters paradise in Boston at Fenway Park.
Hopefully, Trout will get traded in the next year or two to a better prepared organization.
Looking forward to Trout setting more individual records next season and staying healthy!

Trout's month long injury cost him the MVP for the 2nd straight year. Still very amazing that Trout has won it 2 X, and come in 2nd place 4X, with a 4th place finish mixed in.

Angels better make some moves to get Trout protection in the lineup.

 

[Booth]

I just want to give a mention to Joey Gallo of Texas who hit 40 hr's and 92 rbi's while playing part time for the Rangers. He is an all or nothing hitter batting .202 for the year, but he is only 24 years old.

 

[knightedsoldier5000]

Thing is, the Cardinals could easily be much whiter if they so chose.

Carson Kelly (white) is the #1 rated Catching prospect in MLB and is ready to start today, but he's being blocked by the overrated and moody Molina and the Cardinals sent him down to AAA since he's blocked.
Tyler O'Neal (white) OFer is a top rated prospect with big power
Harrison Bader(white) plays good CF defense and is a well rounded player. I think he made the bench this year.
Gyorko could easily replace and outhit Wong at 2B, Carpenter could go to 3B, and Luke Voit could play 1B

Luke Voit ended up getting traded to the Yankees since the Cardinals refused to give him a chance.

For the NYY, Voit hit .322 / .398 / .671 with 15 HR in 143 AB

TYler O"neal had a decent year and hit .254 with 9 HR in 130 AB

Bader brought a lot of excitement to STL down the stretch with his speed and defense which brought a much needed spark to the team. Looks like he has CF locked down as the starter next year for STL.

Carson Kelly is TRADED to ARIZONA so he should get a chance to start instead of being permanently blocked by the vastly overrated Molina. Best wishes to Carson Kelly next season in ARIZONA!

Arizona sends Paul Goldschmidt to STL for Kelly and a couple other players.

Fowler remains a complete albatross for the Cardinal organization and will probably be handed the RF job despite being one of the absolute worst players in MLB, and the cardinals are completely stuck with him due to handing him a no-trade clause when they signed him to a huge contract.