Tuesday, October 19, 2010

A Year to Remember by MICHAEL MARCANTONINI ‘13

Over the last six months, there has been some great baseball played throughout the Major Leagues.  Now, it is October and it is time for the postseason.  Let’s take some time to reflect on the year.  Since April, we have seen much hyped about Rookies phenoms make their MLB debuts like Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg, Braves outfielder Jason Heyward, Reds pitcher Aroldis Champan, Indians catcher Carlos Santana, and Giants catcher Buster Posey.  We have also seen big trades made like the Rangers acquisition of lefty pitcher Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt coming to Philadelphia, and Manny Ramirez leaving LA for the windy city and the White Sox.  It has been an exciting year and it has not gone as expected.
     At the beginning of the season, we all heard the buzz around the big leagues.  The usual Yankees and Red Sox, the Dodgers who have seen the playoffs the last few years, the Phillies once again after repeating as NL champions last year, the Cardinals led by Albert Pujols, and a few other teams with high expectations.  But, it has been a crazy year with teams like the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Cardinals out of playoff contention.  Instead, teams like the Padres, Giants, Rays, Braves, Twins, Rangers, Reds, and Rockies have all had great years along with the Yankees and Phillies, who have lived up to expectations.  Team like the Reds and Rockies are where they are today because of NL MVP candidates Joey Votto and Carlos Gonzalez.  With that said, the Rangers have been led by AL MVP candidate Josh Hamilton.
    Other MVP candidates around the league include Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers (AL), the Blue Jays Jose Bautista (AL), and Albert Pujols from the Cardinals (NL).  While these guys have been doing it with the bat, it has really been the year of the pitcher.  Standout hurlers include Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies (NL), Phillies ace Roy Halladay (NL), Yankees work horse CC Sabathia (AL), Red Sox young right hander Clay Buchholz (AL), Josh Johnson of the Marlins (NL), and Mariners stud Felix Hernandez (AL) are all Cy Young candidates.  There have been five no-hitters this season and two of them have come from guys like Roy Halladay who threw a perfect game and Ubaldo Jimenez. Others have come from Dallas Braden of the A’s, another perfect game, Matt Garza of the Rays, and Edwin Jackson with the Diamondbacks, who was later traded to the White Sox.  2010 has certainly fit its description of “The year of the pitcher.”
    Although there have been some great individual accomplishments this year, many teams have had wonderful seasons like the Reds out of the NL Central division.  Veterans Orlando Cabrera, Bronson Arroyo, and Scott Rolen have contributed to this team of mostly young players.  But, the biggest contribution has come from Joey Votto.    They would be pretty low in their division without his MVP-like performance.  Out of the AL, the Twins put together a great season without Veteran closer Joe Nathan (Tommy John surgery) and much of the year without their slugging 1st baseman Justin Morneau who is on the disabled list with a concussion. They have also gotten through the season with a mostly young pitching staff.  Guys like Joe Mauer, Jim Thome, Carl Pavano, and young Francisco Liriano have carried this team.  Other great stories include the revamped Rays sticking right with the Yankees in the AL East and the Padres in the NL West with their great pitching staff.
    It has been an incredible year and it is almost over.  So many big time players have had wonderful seasons as well as surprise guys who have really made names for themselves.  With this production, a lot of teams have been able to contend for a chance at the postseason.  If we are lucky, the 2011 season will be just as good as and hopefully even better than this outstanding year.  As another baseball season is almost over, it will be great to see who ends up with all the awards in the end and who walks into 2011 as World Series Champions.

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