The Sully Baseball Ballot for the BBA Awards

Every year the Baseball Bloggers Alliance announces their individual awards. And as a member, I need to fill out my ballot for each prize.

I know it is the postseason now, but let’s hand out some hardware for regular season excellence.

The Connie Mack Award for Best Manager 

American League

1. Bob Melvin – Oakland Athletics
2. Buck Showalter – Baltimore Orioles
3. Joe Girardi – New York Yankees

National League
1. Bruce Bochy – San Francisco Giants
2. Davey Johnson – Washington Nationals
3. Dusty Baker – Cincinnati Reds

The Willie Mays Award for Top Rookie

American League

1. Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

2. Yoenis Cespedes – Oakland Athletics

3. Yu Darvish – Texas Rangers

National League

1. Bryce Harper – Washington Nationals

2. Wade Miley – Arizona Diamondbacks

3. Todd Frazier – Cincinnati Reds

The Rich Gossage Award for Top Reliever

American League

1. Fernando Rodney – Tampa Bay Rays

2. Jim Johnson – Baltimore Orioles

3. Rafael Soriano – New York Yankees

National League

1. Craig Kimbrel – Atlanta Braves

2. Aroldis Chapman – Cincinnati Reds

3. Jason Motte – St. Louis Cardinals

The Walter Johnson Award for Top Pitcher

American League
1. Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers
2. David Price – Tampa Bay Rays
3. Chris Sale – Chicago White Sox
4. Felix Hernandez – Seattle Mariners
5. Jered Weaver – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

National League
1. R. A. Dickey – New York Mets
2. Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati Reds
3. Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Gio Gonzalez – Washington Nationals
5. Craig Kimbrel – Atlanta Braves

The Stan Musial Award for Top Player

American League
1. Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers
2. Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
3. Robinson Cano – New York Yankees
4. Adrian Beltre – Texas Rangers
5. Josh Hamilton – Texas Rangers
6. Joe Mauer – Minnesota Twins
7. Alex Gordon – Kansas City Royals
8 Edwin Encarnacion – Toronto Blue Jays
9. Prince Fielder – Detroit Tigers
10. Yoenis Cespedes – Oakland Athletics

National League

1. Buster Posey – San Francisco Giants

2. Andrew McCutchen – Pittsburgh Pirates

3. Ryan Braun – Milwaukee Brewers

4. Yadier Molina – St. Louis Cardinals

5. David Wright – New York Mets

6. Matt Holliday – St. Louis Cardinals

7. Aramis Ramirez – Milwaukee Brewers

8. Chase Headley – San Diego Padres

9. Carlos Gonzalez – Colorado Rockies

10. Ryan Zimmerman – Washington Nationals

So there is my complete ballot. And no doubt I have ticked SOMEONE off.

I am sure my putting Cabrera on top of the AL Stan Musial Award will be fine with everyone.

Now back to the post season.

These Reds and Yankee hitters were a swing away from being heroes

The Reds shockingly blew a 2-0 series lead where the Giants were on the ropes.
The Yankees almost as shockingly are playing for their lives in a Game Five this afternoon against Baltimore.

Both teams not only were in control but there were several moments where a single swing of the bat could have made an instant legend out of a player and send their team to the LCS.

A walk off home run would have clinched it. In a few cases, a home run would not have been necessary.

The Reds are going to be stewing over a very long winter wondering what could have been.
If the Yankees lose today, they will be tormented by missed opportunity after missed opportunity.

But we here at Sully Baseball don’t just think about things like the players who could have clinched a playoff series with one swing.

We list them in alphabetical order (because some hitters had more than one shot!)

Reds hitters who could have clinched the Division Series with one swing

Jay Bruce

Game 5 Giants leading 6-4, one out, bottom 9 against Sergio Romo. Runners on first and second. Home run would have clinched the series.

Hit a fly ball to left field.

Ryan Hanigan.

Game 3 tied 1-1, one out, bottom 9 against Sergio Romo. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Hit a deep fly ball to center field that was caught.

Scott Rolen 

Game 3 tied 1-1, nobody out, bottom 9 against Sergio Romo. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Hit a deep foul ball that was caught in left field.

Game 5 Giants leading 6-4, two outs, bottom 9 against Sergio Romo. Runners on first and second. Home run would have clinched the series.

Struckout swinging.

Drew Stubbs

Game 3 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 9 against Sergio Romo. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Hit a pop up to the second baseman.

Yankees hitters who could have clinched the Division Series with one swing

Robinson Cano

Game 4 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 10 against Darren O’Day. Runner on first. Extra base hit would have clinched the series.

Popped up to shortstop.

Curtis Granderson
Game 4 tied 1-1, one out, bottom 9 against Darren O’Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Flew out to deep center field.

Game 4 tied 1-1, no outs, bottom 12 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Struck out swinging, catcher to first after dropped ball.

Raul Ibanez
Game 4 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 9 against Darren O’Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Grounded to first base.

Derek Jeter
Game 4 tied 1-1, no outs, bottom 10 against Darren O’Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Grounded to third base.

Game 4 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 12 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Groundout to third.

Russell Martin
Game 4 tied 1-1, no outs, bottom 9 against Darren O’Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Grounded to third base.

Game 4 tied 1-1, two out, bottom 11 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Struck out swinging, catcher to first after dropped ball.

Eduardo Nunez

Game 4 tied 1-1, one outs, bottom 12 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Groundout to third.

Alex Rodriguez
Game 4 tied 1-1, no outs, bottom 11 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Grounded out to shortstop.

Ichiro Suzuki
Game 4 tied 1-1, one out, bottom 10 against Darren O’Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Grounded out to first base.

Game 4 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 12 against Pedro Strop. Runner on first. Extra base hit would have clinched the series.
Grounded out to first base.

Nick Swisher
Game 4 tied 1-1, one out, bottom 11 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Flyball out to deep left field.

Mark Teixeira
Game 4 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 10 against Darren O’Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Walked.

So four Reds hitters went a combined 0-5 in potential series clinching at bats.
Ten Yankee hitters went a combined 1-13 with a walk in potential series clinching at bats.

If the Yankees join the Reds on the golf course, then they will be wondering what could have been if their at bats went a little differently.

If a drive out of the ballpark would have turned them into instant legends instead of post season footnotes.

Nats… want to shut up all of the Strasburg talk? Win tonight

You know if Edwin Jackson and Jordan Zimmermann pitched as well as Ross Detwiler did yesterday, nobody would be complaining about Stephen Strasburg being shut down.

So it is up to Gio Gonzalez. He needs to shut down the Cardinals, end their reign as World Champions and move the Nationals to the NLCS.

Once there, Strasburg complains are off. This team making it to the NLCS would be quite an accomplishment no matter what.

Win today and the complaints will at least die down.
Lose today and be prepared for the what ifs all winter through the next fall.