Posted on: Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Bonds, 40, simply the best in NL
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist
Nobody in baseball has won seven Most Valuable Player awards. And, nobody has won one at age 40, or older, either.
But, then, who has had the kind of season San Francisco Giants' outfielder Barry Bonds, has put up this year?
On top of a league-leading .362 batting average, there were 101 runs batted in, 129 runs and 45 home runs — and all in just 373 at-bats with little help in the Giants' batting order. Thanks to 232 walks (120 intentional), that's 220 fewer official plate appearances than either St. Louis' Albert Pujols or Los Angeles' Adrian Beltre, who helped lift their clubs to division titles.
Without Bonds, the Giants aren't in NL West title contention until the penultimate day. They are just, well... they are the Colorado Rockies or Arizona Diamondbacks.
After three MVP-worthy seasons and no award to show for it, Pujols must be wondering what he has to do to win one. The answer, unfortunately, might be: Get Bonds to retire before he can surpass Wayne Gretzky's mark of nine MVP awards.
As we prepare for the start of the playoffs today, it is time to open the rest of the envelopes on where the rest of baseball's major hardware ought to be sent for 2004:
But Guerrero, a refugee from Montreal, separated himself from the pack when it counted in the September-October stretch run, hitting .363 with 11 home runs and 25 RBIs in 30 games.
NL Cy Young: Roger Clemens, Houston. Nothing like coming out of "retirement" for a dominating 18-4, 2.98 season.
AL Cy Young: Only a finish like Johan Santana (20-6, 2.61) had for Minnesota — 13-0, 1.21 since the All-Star break — could keep the award from going to Boston's Curt Schilling (21-6, 3.26).
NL Manager: Bobby Cox (Atlanta). His managerial skills were often overlooked when he had better talent, but his veteran brilliance showed through this year.
Honorable mention to Phil Garner in Houston as the best half-season manager in replacing Jimy Williams at the All-Star break and taking the Astros (45-26) to a wild-card berth.
AL Manager: Ron Gardenhire (Minnesota). Amid a shifting roster, Gardenhire helped get the Twins to where they are.
NL Rookie: Outfielder Jason Bay (Pittsburgh) put up veteranlike numbers (.282, 26, 82).
AL Rookie: Shortstop Bobby Crosby (Oakland). It isn't easy following Miguel Tejada in the Athletics' infield. But Crosby (.239, 22, 64) made more than a stab at it.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
American League MVP: Vladimir Guerrero (Anaheim). This figures to be a tight one among Boston's Manny Ramirez (.308, 43, 130) and David Ortiz (.301, 41, 139), New York's Gary Sheffield (.290, 36, 121) and Guerrero (.337, 39, 126).
BARRY BONDS
