*OFFICIAL* IL AWARDS PIMP THREAD 1996

[Pat]

You know the drill.

[Pat]

IL Stout Slugger Nominee = OF Shawn Burton
.301/.404/.528/.933
25 HR, 102 RBI, 92 BB, 6 SB, 56.1 VORP
Batter of the Month for September
Debut on top 20 player list

Not the numbers of Doorbell, Chavez, Knight, Hardin or Maeda, but I still think he deserves 2nd or 3rd consideration. Burton missed 21 games this season due to injury. He also didn't have the benefit of hitting in a hitters park like most listed above. Burton hit .335 with a .966 OPS on the road. And while this isn't technically an "MVP Award" Burton put the Bats on his back down the stretch and is the main reason why we are playing in the post-season. In August, 1.019 OPS, 1.137 OPS in September and 1.008 OPS in October. In close/late situations he hit .319 with a 1.124 OPS. He was the only player on my team with more walks than strikeouts and for what it's worth, he gets along with everyone.

IL Last Call Relief Nominee = MR Edgar Salazar
9-1, 13 Holds, 2.51 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 126 K, 111 IP, 33.1 VORP
2nd in VORP
2nd in Wins
4th in Games
2nd in IP (of those who didn't have one start or more)
1st in Ks
5th in OPP AVG
1996 All-Star

He's not a closer. He could probably close however for more than half the teams in the league. His 111 IP were 2nd on my entire team, more than any player not named Pat Daniels. He also lead my entire team in strikeouts, by 40! He pitched in more than half of my games and was a dominant force the whole year. Martinez, Gordinho, Bayer and Milton all had great seasons as closers but pitched about half the innings because they had such a defined role.

IL Pale Ale Nominee = SP Pat Daniels
11-8, 2.82 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 179 IP, 47.4 VORP, 4 CG
3rd in ERA
6th in VORP
2nd in CG
65.4 % QS
1996 All-Star

No, he doesn't deserve to win the award. But like Salazar and Burton, he is worth a few votes. He came out of nowhere, made the All-Star team, and on a rotation full of nobodies, he carried a lot of weight. He had 75 more innings pitched than my next highest starting pitcher. The Bats used twenty different pitchers in the rotation this season and Daniels was the only one there from start to finish. He's no Pancho Herrera, but he could have had the 2nd best season all things considered.

IL GM of the Year Nominee = Matthew Pittman
100 Wins, 2nd best record in the BLB
17 win improvement from 1995
First playoff appearance since 1985
Highest win total for Tobs since 1981
3rd highest attendance in franchise history
Signed SS Kip Higgins in FA
Signed SP Manny Mendez in FA
Signed SP Loren Washington in FA
Traded for RP Raul Reyes
Traded for SP Ivan Vazquez
Traded for RP Doug Ellis
Overcame five significant (longer than two weeks) injuries

Before Funclown has a heart attack, Pittman is the winner. You could make a case for Mwetts for winning the division for the first time since 1985. You could make a case for Clay because his team lead the BLB in wins. You could make a case for Jim and Matt for winning the division, overcoming injuries and making moves. You could make a case for Gyro for overcoming off the field issues to win the division. You could make the case for me for somehow patch-working a team together despite losing my two aces and sneaking into the playoffs. But those are all 2nd and 3rd place votes in my opinion. Pittman deserves your vote.

[Delandis]

Wei-liang Kim: 5.27 ERA and -3.9 VORP went 12-3?

Only in Virginia.

[Pat]

Kim, Turner and Legere combined to go 36-9.

Gus Jenkins went 8-8.

[Clay]

Kim, Turner and Legere combined to go 36-9.

Gus Jenkins went 8-8.

Turner was in relief.

Legere was legit good.

[liquidcrash]

IL GM of the Year Nominee = Matthew Pittman
100 Wins, 2nd best record in the BLB
17 win improvement from 1995
First playoff appearance since 1985
Highest win total for Tobs since 1981
3rd highest attendance in franchise history
Signed SS Kip Higgins in FA
Signed SP Manny Mendez in FA
Signed SP Loren Washington in FA
Traded for RP Raul Reyes
Traded for SP Ivan Vazquez
Traded for RP Doug Ellis
Overcame five significant (longer than two weeks) injuries

Before Funclown has a heart attack, Pittman is the winner. You could make a case for Mwetts for winning the division for the first time since 1985. You could make a case for Clay because his team lead the BLB in wins. You could make a case for Jim and Matt for winning the division, overcoming injuries and making moves. You could make a case for Gyro for overcoming off the field issues to win the division. You could make the case for me for somehow patch-working a team together despite losing my two aces and sneaking into the playoffs. But those are all 2nd and 3rd place votes in my opinion. Pittman deserves your vote.

Wow. I certainly didn't expect to see that when I came in to this thread, but thank you. I guess a lot of the moves I've made recently have worked out. Washington and Mendez were two guys I really wanted in free agency and they've worked out well. Vazquez has been better than I could have hoped and while Raul Reyes has been inconsistent for me, it's a different story if he can actually be a starter. I don't know how people vote for this award, but it's been a good year here. Seriously, thanks.

As for my guys:

IL Pale Ale Pitcher- Ivan Vazquez

16-6 record, most wins in IL
2.99 ERA, 6th in IL
48.2 VORP, 4th in IL
1.13 WHIP, 2nd in IL
2.17 OAVG, 2nd in IL
192.2 IP, 4th in IL

Vazquez has been my best pitcher and his stats back that up. I didn't expect to get this kind of production from him, but there it is. He led the IL in wins, had a sub 3 ERA and was an absolute workhorse for me despite being in a six man rotation.

IL Stout Slugger- Al Hamilton

.326/.430/.529 (.959 OPS), 35 HR, 123 RBI

He's been ice cold since we clinched, but Hamilton carried my offense this year for most of the way. He grew into his power, finishing 3rd in the IL in HRs and 2nd in RBI, showcasing some Triple Crown potential. He finished with 202 hits, 125 runs scored and drew 109 walks compared to just 36 strikeouts.

IL Stout Slugger- Ismael Reyes

43 home runs!!! 151 RBI!!!! Look at those power stats! Second most RBI in BLB history. Just look at those counting stats!

[BradZ]

Well, that sucks. Not sure why C Shawn Bowen doesn't show under the IL New Brew ballot.

[Clay]

This place is turning into a Turkish Bathhouse. Stop blowing one another and blindly defend mediocre players like I do!!!

<----------------

[liquidcrash]

Clay isn't feeling the love here. He'll have to settle with winning Stout Slugger, Pale Ale and New Brew yet again this season.

I defended three mediocre players earlier in this thread. Looking at the results, I'm not sure it had any effect.

[Clay]

I was kidding of course and trying at a Danny Nelson joke. I love the pimp threads,but mostly read the DL one. I know the league fairly well, but the IL like the back of my hand.

[Carlos]

I was kidding of course and trying at a Danny Nelson joke. I love the pimp threads,but mostly read the DL one. I know the league fairly well, but the IL like the back of my hand.

In the DL thread, we're more concerned with Pawtucket's failures than the actual voting.

[Lintyfresh85]

For those that haven't voted, don't forget Kodiaks SP Sergio Bela for IL Pale Ale Pitcher... for at least a second place vote.

Fantastic year.