August 28, 1998
BP Polling: Steven Rubio's Ballot
by Steven Rubio
TOP TEN TEAMS
- Yankees
- Braves
- Astros
- Red Sox
- Padres
- Indians
- Mets
- Giants
- Orioles
- Angels
A handful of great teams and lot of not-so-hot teams. The wild-
card "pennant races" really are a sham. The Braves and the Giants
going down to the last day with 100+ wins, that's a pennant race.
One which wouldn't have mattered under the wild-card system, of
course.
AL MVP
- Alex Rodriguez, Mariners
- Nomar Garciaparra, Red Sox
- Albert Belle, White Sox
- Bernie Williams, Yankees
- Todd Walker, Twins
Shame on everyone who said Walker was the next Dave McCarty.
NL MVP
- Mark McGwire, Cardinals
There is no need for a second choice.
AL CY YOUNG
- Pedro Martinez, Red Sox
- Roger Clemens, Blue Jays
- Kenny Rogers, Athletics
- Bartolo Colon, Indians
- Chuck Finley, Angels
I agreed with Montreal's roster moves until they let Pedro go.
Meanwhile, Tribe fans should enjoy Colon while they can; he'll be on
the DL by August of '99.
NL CY YOUNG
- Greg Maddux, Braves
- Kevin Brown, Padres
- Tom Glavine, Braves
- Curt Schilling, Phillies
- Andy Ashby, Padres
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
- Orlando Hernandez, Yankees
- Ben Grieve, Athletics
- Bobby Smith, Devil Rays
I don't know if I can believe in Smith, because his OBP is higher in the majors
than it ever was in the minors.
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
- Kerry Wood, Cubs
- Todd Helton, Rockies
- Kerry Ligtenberg, Braves
Ligtenberg is on this list to remind people that "closer" is just a
word. Pitchers who get called "closers" are not magical beings, they
are just pitchers who show up for the ninth inning.
AL LEAST VALUABLE PLAYER
Brian Hunter, Tigers
He represents all those awful low-OBP/high SB players who
stink up the majors.
NL LEAST VALUABLE PLAYER
J.T. Snow, Giants
How many years of mediocrity will it take before people realize the
one good year he had was the exception, not the rule?
AL DISAPPOINTMENTS
Scott Sanders, Glendon Rusch
Pitchers will break your heart...
NL DISAPPOINTMENTS
Mark Kotsay
.. and somtimes so will hitting prospects.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
I don't believe in making this pick
in August. If I did, Lou Pinella would be
on the bottom of the list.
Other Ballots
Chris Kahrl
Dave Pease
Joe Sheehan
Greg Spira
Michael Wolverton
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