Post by Bish on Dec 2, 2023 12:39:38 GMT -5
2008 HOFFBL Team Awards
Best Team: Philadelphia Phillies (66-15)
Notes: 5th in runs scored. 1st in runs allowed. +235 run differential at the break. This is the best all around team right now. The Tigers offense is utterly absurd, but I do worry about their pitching come playoff time. Orioles have looked really good this season. This might be one of Jah’s best teams ever assembled. I like them quite a bit with their nice balance of hitting, fielding, and pitching. At the end of the day, it’s all a crapshoot, but this has been the best team at the break. Superstars everywhere. I’m interested to see how many wins this group will end up with.
Worst Team: Tampa Bay Devil Rays (18-63)
Notes: They are on their way to their 7th consecutive losing season. With that occurring, you’d honestly wish (or hope) there was actually more talent on this roster. Freddie Freeman looks like a budding superstar. John Danks looks like a future ace perhaps. Aside from that, there’s nothing to be too excited about right this minute. Tough times in Tampa.
AL Best Farm System: Chicago White Sox (145 Points)
Notes: Big Mark has done a nice job with his rebuild here. This is a team loaded with talent down at the farm. Their 3 best prospects for me are all on the hitting side. Buster Posey is going to be a future all star at the catching position…when you considering this to be a position that is generally weak, this is a big time plus. He also has a future leadoff stud in Starling Marte. With A/A speed, solid defense, and the ability to get on base…you’re looking at a fun player there. Rosario has the looks of your typically 1B with power, but he also is going to give you elite defense which is a nice added bonus. Looking forward to eventually seeing the White Sox competing again. Angels would’ve been my top choice perhaps, but no GM, so let’s reward the guys that are here!
NL Best Farm System: Pittsburgh Pirates (155 Points)
Notes: Josh has done a nice job of turning his farm system around quickly here. I don’t know if there’s a superstar among these guys, but the chances are high that the PD gods will eventually give them one or a few. Fowler, Trumbo, Suarez, and Kroenke are all looking the part here! In another couple of seasons, this system will be even more loaded than it currently is. I’m excited to see if Josh won’t get too trigger happy, and remain patient for once, and strike when the time is right. I also liked the Marlins system, but why is Jake Arrieta pitching in Single A? Bizarre decision in what has been many of them lately with the Marlins organization.
2008 HOFFBL Awards
AL MVP: 1B Miguel Cabrera (Tigers)
Notes: Well well well what do we have here…Miggy is once again the favorite to bring home the AL MVP. Adrian Beltre probably would’ve been the guy, but he has missed about 20 games and that’s hurt him. Miggy is once again having an absolutely amazing season. He’s hitting .376 with an on base of .425 and is slugging a career high .690. He is just truly absurd. His teammate Chipper arguably could be picked here, but I just think the gap of an OPS of 100+ is too much for Chip to overcome. I’m riding with Miggy here, but if you say Chipper, I wouldn’t argue with his league leading 98 ribbies on the year. Nearly on pace for 200! These two are the favorites for sure at the moment.
NL MVP: 1B Jack Cust (Cubs)
Notes: I’m so against picking Colorado hitters because they just reap the rewards of playing in that ballpark. The home/road splits are almost always slanted towards that narrative. Same deal with Helton, so I elected to go with Jack Cust. Lieberthal is having a heck of a season with the Marlins, but I had to roll with Jack Cust here especially when you consider the Cubs are still atop the division as Play has been retooling. I was tempted to give Utley the nod, but didn’t want to be called biased! Anyway, I’m hopeful the NL field gets a bit more competitive because this is a tad of an inspiring grouping here right now.
AL Cy Young: SP Carlos Zambrano (Red Sox)
Notes: Break was pretty confident that his squad would run away with the division. That hasn't been the case, and it’s not this guys fault. Carlos Zambrano is having another terrific season of pitching. He’s pitching even better than the season prior where he won the Cy Young. He’s on pace for another one. Josh Johnson and Kerry Wood are in the mix.
NL Cy Young: SP Odalis Perez (D’Backs)
Notes: I think if Ben Sheets can stay healthy for the remainder of the season, he has a great chance of claiming his 2nd Cy Young of his career. We’ll see as he comes back this very sim. Odalis Perez has been the best overall pitcher for an underwhelming D’Backs team if we’re being honest. Kinda the same story with Z…it hasn’t been his fault whatsoever. Perez is allowing 6.40 runners/9 innings…this is the best in the NL. Impressive stuff. With an ERA of 1.74, he has been dominant this year.
AL Rolaids Relief Man: Eric Gagne (Athletics)
Notes: An ERA of 0.27 will kinda do the job here. Francisco Rodriguez is right there with him, but I have to give Gagne the edge. One ER in 33 innings pitched is just utterly absurd. Almost the best reliever in all of baseball, but that belongs to…
NL Rolaids Relief Man: Chad Cordero (Phillies)
Notes: We’ve been waiting for this man to finally dominate, and boy has he ever. He’s without a doubt the best reliever of the first half. He’s allowing 5.5 runners/9 innings. He hasn’t given up an earned run in his nearly 35 innings of work. I mean…what else is there to say at this point!?
Best Team: Philadelphia Phillies (66-15)
Notes: 5th in runs scored. 1st in runs allowed. +235 run differential at the break. This is the best all around team right now. The Tigers offense is utterly absurd, but I do worry about their pitching come playoff time. Orioles have looked really good this season. This might be one of Jah’s best teams ever assembled. I like them quite a bit with their nice balance of hitting, fielding, and pitching. At the end of the day, it’s all a crapshoot, but this has been the best team at the break. Superstars everywhere. I’m interested to see how many wins this group will end up with.
Worst Team: Tampa Bay Devil Rays (18-63)
Notes: They are on their way to their 7th consecutive losing season. With that occurring, you’d honestly wish (or hope) there was actually more talent on this roster. Freddie Freeman looks like a budding superstar. John Danks looks like a future ace perhaps. Aside from that, there’s nothing to be too excited about right this minute. Tough times in Tampa.
AL Best Farm System: Chicago White Sox (145 Points)
Notes: Big Mark has done a nice job with his rebuild here. This is a team loaded with talent down at the farm. Their 3 best prospects for me are all on the hitting side. Buster Posey is going to be a future all star at the catching position…when you considering this to be a position that is generally weak, this is a big time plus. He also has a future leadoff stud in Starling Marte. With A/A speed, solid defense, and the ability to get on base…you’re looking at a fun player there. Rosario has the looks of your typically 1B with power, but he also is going to give you elite defense which is a nice added bonus. Looking forward to eventually seeing the White Sox competing again. Angels would’ve been my top choice perhaps, but no GM, so let’s reward the guys that are here!
NL Best Farm System: Pittsburgh Pirates (155 Points)
Notes: Josh has done a nice job of turning his farm system around quickly here. I don’t know if there’s a superstar among these guys, but the chances are high that the PD gods will eventually give them one or a few. Fowler, Trumbo, Suarez, and Kroenke are all looking the part here! In another couple of seasons, this system will be even more loaded than it currently is. I’m excited to see if Josh won’t get too trigger happy, and remain patient for once, and strike when the time is right. I also liked the Marlins system, but why is Jake Arrieta pitching in Single A? Bizarre decision in what has been many of them lately with the Marlins organization.
2008 HOFFBL Awards
AL MVP: 1B Miguel Cabrera (Tigers)
Notes: Well well well what do we have here…Miggy is once again the favorite to bring home the AL MVP. Adrian Beltre probably would’ve been the guy, but he has missed about 20 games and that’s hurt him. Miggy is once again having an absolutely amazing season. He’s hitting .376 with an on base of .425 and is slugging a career high .690. He is just truly absurd. His teammate Chipper arguably could be picked here, but I just think the gap of an OPS of 100+ is too much for Chip to overcome. I’m riding with Miggy here, but if you say Chipper, I wouldn’t argue with his league leading 98 ribbies on the year. Nearly on pace for 200! These two are the favorites for sure at the moment.
NL MVP: 1B Jack Cust (Cubs)
Notes: I’m so against picking Colorado hitters because they just reap the rewards of playing in that ballpark. The home/road splits are almost always slanted towards that narrative. Same deal with Helton, so I elected to go with Jack Cust. Lieberthal is having a heck of a season with the Marlins, but I had to roll with Jack Cust here especially when you consider the Cubs are still atop the division as Play has been retooling. I was tempted to give Utley the nod, but didn’t want to be called biased! Anyway, I’m hopeful the NL field gets a bit more competitive because this is a tad of an inspiring grouping here right now.
AL Cy Young: SP Carlos Zambrano (Red Sox)
Notes: Break was pretty confident that his squad would run away with the division. That hasn't been the case, and it’s not this guys fault. Carlos Zambrano is having another terrific season of pitching. He’s pitching even better than the season prior where he won the Cy Young. He’s on pace for another one. Josh Johnson and Kerry Wood are in the mix.
NL Cy Young: SP Odalis Perez (D’Backs)
Notes: I think if Ben Sheets can stay healthy for the remainder of the season, he has a great chance of claiming his 2nd Cy Young of his career. We’ll see as he comes back this very sim. Odalis Perez has been the best overall pitcher for an underwhelming D’Backs team if we’re being honest. Kinda the same story with Z…it hasn’t been his fault whatsoever. Perez is allowing 6.40 runners/9 innings…this is the best in the NL. Impressive stuff. With an ERA of 1.74, he has been dominant this year.
AL Rolaids Relief Man: Eric Gagne (Athletics)
Notes: An ERA of 0.27 will kinda do the job here. Francisco Rodriguez is right there with him, but I have to give Gagne the edge. One ER in 33 innings pitched is just utterly absurd. Almost the best reliever in all of baseball, but that belongs to…
NL Rolaids Relief Man: Chad Cordero (Phillies)
Notes: We’ve been waiting for this man to finally dominate, and boy has he ever. He’s without a doubt the best reliever of the first half. He’s allowing 5.5 runners/9 innings. He hasn’t given up an earned run in his nearly 35 innings of work. I mean…what else is there to say at this point!?
