With the season winding down, let’s look at how the awards might (should…) play out.
Captain/GM of the Year:
Saad & Sid (Ducks) – I’m not even going to bother to write about any other team and what they did this year. Saad and Sid will be robbed if they do not win these awards. With a deep roster, they have found the right balance to make a complete softball team. Still undefeated into the last week of the season, with the league’s best defense by a mile. Forget the preseason predictions with most people having them in SNL. They made this season nothing short of perfect. With a suffocating defense, and a top notch offense, they are the favorites to walk away with the cup in a few weeks.
Rookie of the Year:
1. Dex Ortiz (Savages) – Second in batting average, second in OPS, third in OBP. One of the best ROY seasons SASL has ever seen. People might be angry about the rating system, but regardless, he is a rookie to this league. In the running for MVP as well.
2. Rafael Liriano (516) – Rafael has played every game at every important position for 516. They still have a chance to avoid SNL. With an OPS near 1.8, a truly elite hitter who gave great production (7 HR, 46 RBI, 47 hits, 27 XBH). One of the best two-way players who can fill any hole a team has.
MVP (Race is too close to call, it could go to any of these players):
1. Denen Olsen (516) – 10 home runs, 47 RBI, and an average of over 700 are nothing short of incredible for most anyone, but that’s an average season to Denen. He is the main reason why 516 is in a dog fight in the playoff picture. With a sweep of the Outlaws on Sunday, he would put a stamp on his MVP campaign.
2. Ramy Abdelhamid (Mets) – How are more people not talking about him? Barring a disaster, the Mets will be the 3 seed into the playoffs, and Ramy is having one of the best offensive seasons in the league. Third in batting average, tied for 4th in home runs, tied for 5th in RBI, and the league leader in OPS. Ramy has been the best hitter in a loaded lineup that has exceeded expectations, and are a dark-horse in the playoffs.
3. Matt Zicherman (Ducks) – Played every game this season. Locked down SS and is truly one of the league’s best there. Solidified the middle of the batting order as well. The offensive numbers don’t blow you away, (1.4 OPS), but his value far extends the offensive box score. When a team only gives up ~100 runs in a season, look to a great SS as one of the reasons why.
4. Hashim Naveed (Savages) – After that slow start, few are surprised he still ends up in the MVP discussion. Saving runs with his gold glove defense at SS never changes, and his bat more than came alive after his slow start. Second in the league in slugging, third in runs, 17 XBH… you’re likely dealing with Hashim standing on second base when his at bat is done. Looks like as Hashim goes, the Savages follow; as they have been a wrecking ball, only losing to the Ducks, after their 2-4 start.
