2010 League Awards


	by Randall Mussman 2010 HCBB Most Valuable Player *Jose Bautista (Prolonging The Magic, Clueless)* 56.2% of the vote 54 HR, 124 RBI, 109 R, 9 SB, .2601 AVG In the entire history of the HCBB, has there ever been a more unlikely MVP winner than Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista? In a league where past winners include future Hall of Famers like Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez, the twenty-nine year old Bautista was little more than an afterthought during the 2010 draft, remaining undrafted until Prolonging theMagic took him with a late reserve pick. But Bautista’s production last season would rank with the best offensive years of anyone in the league’s recent history, as the bargain draft selection would explode for a ridiculous 54 home runs, almost equaling his entire career total up to that point, while adding in 124 RBI and 109 runs. Bautista’s incredible production would be one of the biggest reasons why the Magic would be able to weather the loss of Kendry Morales and remain in contention the entire year. Also nominated: Carlos Gonzalez (Charlestown Chiefs), Joey Votto (Hotel California), Miguel Cabrera (Suicide Squeeze), Albert Pujols (Butt Pirates), Carl Crawford (Hotel California) 2010 HCBB Cy Young Award *Roy Halladay (Tazmanian Devils)* 41.1% of the vote 21 W, 250.7 IP, 2.442 ERA, 1.0412 WHIP There were a few eyebrows raised when the Tazmanian Devils owner Crystal Cambre decided to keep starter Roy Halladay before the draft – not because Halladay wasn’t one of the best pitchers in all of baseball – but because the Cy Young winner was under contract at a pricy $42. But the Toronto-turned-Phillies-starter would not disappoint his fantasy owners in 2010, tossing a perfect game en route to a dominating season, the NL Cy Young, and the HCBB’s top honor for pitchers. Halladay would lead the NL in wins (21) and innings (250 1/3), while posting a sparkling 2.44 ERA and an outstanding 1.041 WHIP, easily making him the top starter in all of the game and leading the Devils’ staff to an all-time HCBB record in WHIP. Also nominated: Ubaldo Jiminez (Suicide Squeeze), David Price (Ball Hogs), Tim Hudson (Half Cajun), Adam Wainwright (Hotel California, A Quality Product), Felix Hernandez (Half Cajun) 2010 HCBB Closer of The Year Award *Rafael Soriano (Hotel California)* 35.2% of the vote 3 W, 45 SV, 62.3 IP, 1.733 ERA, 0.8021 WHIP There are few positions in fantasy sports more volatile and risky than that of a baseball closer, making owing an outstanding one at a cheap price always a luxury for any team in the HCBB. Such would be the case for Hotel California in 2010, as closer Rafael Soriano would return to his fantasy squad even while joining a new major league team in Tampa Bay – and both squads would be thrilled by their reliever’s production. Soriano would be utterly dominant, recording an AL-leading 45 saves to go along with a microscopic 1.73 ERA and 0.802 WHIP. What made Soriano’s incredible production even sweeter would be the $6 price tag he carried, making him also one of the biggest bargains in the bullpen for any HCBB team. Also nominated: Billy Wagner (Half Cajun), Neftali Feliz (Ball Hogs), Brian Wilson (Light Bulbs), Joakim Soria (Time To Run), Heath Bell (Charlestown Chiefs) 2010 HCBB Ro-Sham-Bo Award (Hitter) *Chris Davis (Roll The Bones)* 43.7% of the vote 1 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R, 0 SB, .1917 AVG in just 120 MLB ABs before trip to AAA Even the most optimistic of Chris Davis owners couldn’t argue that the Texas first baseman wasn’t a risky proposition going into the 2010 season. The slugger had flashed tremendous potential in 2008 during his debut in the majors, but his 2009 season had largely been a bust – with a trip to the minor leagues and a buyout of his contract from then-owner Suicide Squeeze included. Roll The Bones had snagged Davis off of waivers late that year and, following a solid late-year finish by the first baseman, brought him back for another go-round – a decision that would backfire horribly and help to sink the franchise’s hopes to contend. Davis would be even worse in 2010, hitting under .200 and getting sent back to the minors again, leaving the Bones with a dead spot in their active lineup for most of the season. Also nominated: Jimmy Rollins (Charlestown Chiefs), Jacoby Ellsbury (Ball Hogs), Dexter Fowler (Half Cajun, Clueless???), Jason Bay (HGH Boys), Lance Berkman (Time To Run) 2010 HCBB Ro-Sham-Bo Award (Pitcher) *Josh Beckett (Hotel California, Half Cajun, Ball Hogs)* 70.5% of the vote 5 W, 125.3 IP, 6.32 ERA, 1.763 WHIP After struggling with an uncharacteristically shaky pitching staff in 2009, Hotel California owner Randall Mussman decided to invest heavily in a pair of top-of-the-rotation starters in 2010. While C.C Sabathia would earn his keep on the Hotel squad, the Hotel’s second “ace” starter, Boston starter Josh Beckett, would be anything but, putting up a season so terrible that he nearly sunk the Hotel’s money chances single-handedly. Beckett’s nightmarish season started on opening night when the Yankees pounded him unmercifully, a result that would be all-too-common as Beckett would post an atrocious 5.78 ERA and record only six wins in an injury-plagued season – and make him a complete waste of the $31 that the Hotel had invested on him. Also nominated: Ben Sheets (Butt Pirates), Chad Qualls (Roll The Bones), James Shields (Half Cajun, Butt Pirates), Joe Blanton (Clueless???), Javier Vasquez (Light Bulbs) 2010 HCBB Rookie Of The Year *Neftali Feliz (Ball Hogs)* 66.7% of the vote 4 W, 40 SV, 69.3 IP, 2.726 ERA, 0.8798 WHIP As the Ball Hogs made their slow charge to the 2010 title, one of the team’s most valuable contributors would be Texas closer Neftali Feliz. The Rangers reliever had made an eye-opening debut the season before in limited action, and his debut on the Hogs roster would be even better, as Feliz would emerge as one of the best shut-down men in the American League. Feliz would win the AL Rookie of the Year award as well, posting 40 saves (good for 3 rd in the league) a solid 2.73 ERA, and a jaw-dropping 0.880 WHIP to anchor the Hogs bargain bullpen all season, all while emerging a solid keeper for the future as well. Also nominated: Andrew McCutchen (Prolonging The Magic), Colby Rasmus (Half Cajun, Charlestown Chiefs), Jason Heyward (Half Cajun) 2010 HCBB General Managers of the Year *TIE: Adam Caveney (Half Cajun), Steven Prentiss (Ball Hogs)* 41.1% of the vote In the tightest race in the HCBB’s long, illustrious history, it’s not surprising that there would be a tie for the GM of the Year voting between two of the teams battling for the title into the league’s final day. Even though his team was lightly-regarded going into the season, Adam Caveney would lead the race for most of the season, largely based on his assembly of one of the league’s best pitching staffs. Caveney seemed to push all of the right buttons early on, and even though his team would suffer a bitter collapse in the final weeks, Half Cajun would still finish with their bests eason ever. Meanwhile, Prentiss and his Ball Hogs would overcome a devastating injury to prize keeper Jacoby Ellsbury to stay in the money race during a summer where winning the title seemed little more than a fantasy. But Prentiss would avoid pushing the panic button and would make a number of smaller moves down the stretch that would lead his franchise back into the winner’s circle for his first title since 2002 in one of the biggest comebacks in the league’s history. Also nominated: Jeff Romero (Prolonging The Magic), Randall Mussman (Hotel California), Dave Farrell (Butt Pirates) *2010 HCBB Best Draft Day Value Award* *Jose Bautista (Prolonging the Magic, Clueless???)* 94.1% of the vote 54 HR, 124 RBI, 109 R, 9 SB, .2601 AVG The HCBB awards continued to roll in for Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista, as not only would he win the HCBB MVP honors, but he would be a runaway winner for Best Draft Day Value, ending the voting as the unanimous winner for the award. And there wouldn’t be a more deserving winner, as Bautista’s production – which included leading the majors in home runs en route to a 4th place finish in the AL MVP voting – would come from the cheapest of draft day investments, a late round reserve pick, clearly making Bautista the best value from the 2010 season. Also nominated: Trevor Cahill (HGH Boys), Aubrey Huff (Time to Run, Butt Pirates), Mat Latos (Tazmanian Devils), Colby Lewis (Tee Timers), Carl Pavano (Tazmanian Devils, Clueless???) 2010 HCBB Comeback Player of the Year Award *Adrian Beltre (Roll The Bones)* 23.5% of the vote 28 HR, 102 RBI, 84 R, 2 SB, .3209 AVG Over the years, Roll The Bones has garnered a reputation for driving a stake into the careers of talented veteran players (see: Sizemore, Grady and Alomar Roberto), but in 2010, there would be a reversal of fortune for the franchise, as they would seemingly resurrect the career of former HCBB MVP, Adrian Beltre. The Red Sox third baseman had been only a decent option at the hot corner, but nothing spectacular, since that magical 2004 season – but in 2010, Beltre would recapture his magic, hitting a stellar .321, with 28 HR and 102 RBI while leading the AL in doubles with 49 and providing the Bones one of their top offensive threats. Also nominated: Francisco Liriano (Tazmanian Devils), Chris Young (Light Bulbs), Fausto Carmona (Roll The Bones), Vladimir Guerrero (Prolonging The Magic), Tim Hudson (Half Cajun), Kelly Johnson (Charlestown Chiefs), Aubrey Huff (Butt Pirates, Time to Run), Jose Reyes (Half Cajun) *2010 HCBB Breakout Player of the Year Award* *Carlos Gonzalez (Charlestown Chiefs)* *44.4% of the vote* 34 HR, 117 RBI, 111 R, 26 SB, .3356 AVG There had been no mistaking the talent and the potential of Carlos Gonzalez, but for most of his major league career, the Rockies outfielder had been a disappointment. But the 2010 campaign would be a coming-out party for the five-tool talent, as Gonzalez would emerge as one of the best players in the HCBB and one of the biggest values in the league and for his owner, the Charlestown Chiefs. Gonzalez would win the NL batting crown with a .336 average and he would finish in the top five in the NL in runs (111), home runs (34) and runs batted in (117) while also adding 26 steals. Also nominated: Jose Bautista (Prolonging The Magic, Clueless), Joey Votto (Hotel California), Delmon Young (Time To Run, Clueless???), Angel Pagan (Tee Timers), Brett Gardner (Half Cajun), Rickie Weeks (Suicide Squeeze)