2001 MVP AWARD 2nd runner up: Barry Bonds, Springfield Isotopes AVG OBP SPC AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI HBP BB K SB CS .335 .511 .824 556 186 36 1 78 182 164 4 199 110 17 9 Bonds had another statistically impressive season. His slugging average of .824, his 182 runs scored and his 199 walks are all league records. He also smashed 78 home runs and drove in 164 runs. He even stole 17 bases. The thing he could not do was will his team to the playoffs, who finished 2 games out. ***************** 1st runner up: Sammy Sosa, DBL Fishbiscuits AVG OBP SPC AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI HBP BB K SB CS .317 .386 .709 654 207 35 9 68 152 206 7 72 187 3 0 Sosa was the big clean up bat in the mighty Fishbiscuits offense this year, setting a new league record for RBI's. Sosa also scored 152 runs, slugged .709 and smashed 68 home runs for the pennant winning Fishbiscuits. ***************** 2001 CDBL MVP: Alex Rodriguez, Avila Dragons AVG OBP SPC AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI HBP BB K SB CS .361 .424 .738 695 251 31 9 71 174 182 19 58 143 27 2 Controversy! Rodriguez didn't set any records this year, unlike the 2 runner ups. But Rodriguez did fare well throughout the leaderboard, finishing second in batting average, runs, RBI, and home runs. His 93.1% stolen base success rate was 4th best, as was his 111 extra base hits. Rodriguez finished 9th in on base average, 3rd in slugging and first in hits. Rodriguez also helped the Dragons win 98 games and a playoff spot this year, all while playing all 162 games at shorstop. ******************************************************************* 2001 CDBL CY YOUNG AWARD 2nd Runner Up: Curt Schiling, Springfield Isotopes ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 3.41 .693 21 9 0 36 36 5 0 261.2 243 108 99 50 316 42 14 Schilling was a winner this year, posting a league best 21 wins. His 3.41 ERA was tied for 9th best, and his 316 strikeouts were 2nd best in the league. Schilling did about as much as any pitcher can, getting his team to 2 wins from making the playoffs. *************** 1st Runner up: Mike Mussina, Concord Minutemen/Encinitas Surfers ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 3.14 .659 16 8 0 37 37 0 0 244.0 221 100 85 42 234 27 16 Mussina was a tale of two pitchers. With the Surfers, he was just 8-8 with a 3.67 ERA. But once he was traded to the Minutemen, Mussina came alive, going 8-0 with a 2.42 ERA, and helped the Minutemen make the playoffs. Overall Mussina's 3.14 ERA was 5th best in the league, his 234 strikeouts were 4th best and his 16th wins tied for 7th best. ************** 2001 Cy Young Winner: Kerry Wood, Alphaville Cautions ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 2.59 .577 18 6 0 33 33 1 1 211.2 141 73 61 94 246 18 8 Wood put it all together in 2001, posting the league's best ERA at 2.59, and finished 3rd in strike outs with 246. He went 18-6, 4th best in the league, and his 75% winning percentage was tied for best in the league. Wood held batters to league lows in batting and slugging average. Wood was the ace on an Alphaville team that captured the Tiant division pennant and the best record in the league with 109 wins. ******************************************************************* 2001 CDBL Fireman of the Year Award 2nd Runner Up: Steve Karsay, Springfield Isotopes ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 2.39 .584 5 6 32 77 0 0 0 83.0 75 24 22 17 76 3 9 The Isotopes were a competitive team this year, finishing 2 games out of a playoff spot. Karsay was a quality closer, saving 32 games (tied for 2nd in the league), sporting a 2.39 ERA (10th best amongst relievers with at least 60 IP) and a 0.584 OPS (9th best amongst relievers with at least 60 IP). *************** 1st Runner up: Rich Garces, Boston Bulldogs ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 2.02 .666 1 3 33 66 0 0 0 71.1 64 20 16 32 49 2 6 Boston may have only finished at .500, but they can't blame it on Rich Garces. Garces finished as the league's saves leader at 33. His 2.02 ERA is 3rd best amongst relievers with at least 60 IP. ************** 2001 Fireman of the Year: Robb Nen, Concord Minutemen ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 1.88 .555 3 4 32 72 0 0 0 71.2 51 17 15 20 71 6 5 The Minutemen completed a wild 2nd half surge, capturing a playoff spot, and part of that was due to the steady hand of Robb Nen. Nen's 32 saves were tied for 2nd best, and his ERA of 1.88 was 2nd best in the league amongst relievers with at least 60 IP, and his OPS of .555 was 4th best in the league. Nen converted 32 out of 33 save opportunities for an impressive 97% save percentage.