*-* 1987 IL Last Call Relief *-*

[Clay]

Ken Bayer
CL - BAT
35 Saves - 1.04 ERA - 0.80 WHIP

1st Place - Ken Bayer (34) - BAT
2nd Place - Vernon 'Old Blue' Simmonds (31) - VIR
3rd Place - Wayne Van Slyke (27) - LAM

Others Receiving Votes:
- Joe Alveraz - PHI
- Jayson McQueen - VIR
- Roman Magueu - CAL
- Brian 'Giant Killer' Hanrahan - BAL

***

Ten awards are handed out annually in the BLB and it was only the IL Last Call Relief award that truly had any drama and mystery this season. With 4 different players receiving at least 4 1st places votes, the top finisher had only 8 points more than the 4th place finisher when the 22 voting GMs checked in. In the end, it was first time winner Ken Bayer who took home the award - the second straight year that a Batavia Closer brought home the prize.

The Canadian born Bayer was a rookie last season when the Muckdogs gave him the opportunity to set the table for last year's Last Call winner Roger Simonds. With that experience behind him, the 'Dogs shifted Simonds into a set-up role and gave the kid the keys to the 9th inning. Simonds would later be moved to Davenport when it was clear the job was Bayer's for good. Scouts believe Bayer has one of the best fastballs in the league and a slider that leaves right-handed hitters all but useless against the powerful southpaw.

While Bayer pulled the most 1st place votes with 9, it was actually BLB All-Star Vernon Simmonds that appeared on the most total ballots (15). 'Old Blue' nabbed 4 1st place votes, but was the popular bridesmaid choice as he was listed 2nd 8 times. Moving from Pittsburgh to Virginia in the off-season, Simmonds notched 40 saves while posting a career-best 0.76 WHIP and a 1.31 ERA - his best ERA since the salad days back in Chicago. At only 30 years old, many around the league expect Simmonds to be the Closer who will set the bar for Career Saves that future Firemen will be chasing.

What can you say about Wayne van Slyke? He may be the best player in the BLB that you don't know. He won the Last Call Relief award in the DL in '85. Lead the DL in Saves in '86. Comes back to the IL in '87 and leads the league again. He's been to two All-Star Games and won back-to-back Brewmaster's Cups with Maine. Where's the love!?!??! Van Slyke was great in '87 converting 47 saves (in 50 opportunities) and helping to lead Los Alamos on a 2nd half playoff surge. While the fans around the BLB may not think of van Slyke, batters who face him won't soon forget.

Joe Alveraz from the Freedom finished in 4th place just one point behind van Slyke with 26 points (4 1st Place votes).
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[Matt]

Wa-hoo!

[spot]

I was all set to cry foul and bitch about how Wayne van Slyke got jobbed but I did a bit of research and I think that it was a good choice.

I will certainly second the "no love" angle that Clay mentioned, but Bayer was as solid as they come this year, even if van Slyke had more saves than Bayer had opportunities.

I do think that Simmonds got the second place nod on reputation however. I don't think he was better than van Slyke this year at all. But who argues about 2nd and 3rd anyway?

[Clay]

I do think that Simmonds got the second place nod on reputation however. I don't think he was better than van Slyke this year at all. But who argues about 2nd and 3rd anyway?

I think it was the deeper stats like ERA and WHIP that got Simmonds 2nd. As great as van Slyke was... a 0.76 WHIP is disgusting.

[Jistic]

van Slyke got lots of love from me. He's a former Playboy you know.

[Clay]

van Slyke got lots of love from me. He's a former Playboy you know.

That was an amazing 3 game run he had with the Playboys.

[Riverman]

That was an amazing 3 game run he had with the Playboys.

But then he became Theodore and is still going strong.

[Jistic]

That was an amazing 3 game run he had with the Playboys.

After the fist fight with Simmonds, we knew we had to move one of them. Old Blue won.

[Clay]

After the fist fight with Simmonds, we knew we had to move one of them. Old Blue won.

And the pattern was born that continues today... at least in Last Call ballotting.

[Jistic]

We're hoping to add a new name next year.

[Clay]

We're hoping to add a new name next year.

Manny Alvarez or Kit Kat?

[Jistic]

Kit Kat. It's his job to lose starting next year. We got some other young guns in the mix too. But he was earmarked as our next Vernon Simmonds on draft day.

[Clay]

I like that guy.

He can battle Jayson McQueen for the Last Call in the future. McQueen had a great year as a MR. He'll be the S/U man this season. Then, most likely, we thank 'Old Blue' for his service, move him next off-season and give McQueen the job. He's going to be nasty. That is, if he doesn't become a Starter, which my Scouts and Manager apparently still think he could be.