On now to the MGL, where our Denver Brewers play.
Starting with batters:
I think it's fair to say, especially in terms of young elite players, that the balance of power has been shifting pretty heavily to the SJL for the past few years. You can see it here in the WAR leaders totals in the MGL. And no offense to former Brewer Eric Hammock- he's a good ballplayer having a strong season- but when that is the name at the top of the WAR list, talent might a bit thin in your league. Rookie Baltimore right fielder Alex Afanador, who found himself under contract with the independent league Albuquerque Airmen (of the Iowa Baseball Confederacy) as a free-agent out of Cuba, saw his contract get bought out by Baltimore and quickly became the #7 prospect in the WPK. He is also now the top candidate for Rookie of the Year but also should be an MGL MVP contender. San Francisco's 23-year old second baseman Seth Garone looks like he will hold on to win the batting title- and likely with the best batting average in all of the WPK among qualifiers- and is also a strong MVP candidate. In addition to his great contact, line-drive bat, he profiles as a fine defender (but has a -1.3 ZR in this first full season of his career) and is already considered the team captain of a team that has been in need of better leadership to counterbalance several disruptive players.
Oklahoma City's brilliant defensive third baseman Antonio Briones, who won a Gold Glove award at shortstop in 1983, looked to be headed towards his first MVP award when he was felled by a knee injury in very early August and since he won't be back in action until the very end of the season, there go his chances this year.
It appears that the MGL MVP is still very much up for grabs and if one of the handful of contenders (even our own
Ryan Campbell) has a torrid stretch run they could move into a dominant position.
Let's look at pitchers:
For much of the season it appeared that the reigning two-time in a row Harris/Lee award winner Jon Harrington of the San Francisco Velocity would surely win his 3rd straight.
But 24-year old Matt Greene of that vaunted Oklahoma City starting rotation is trying to make a case otherwise. And if he doesn't prevail this season, don't be surprised if before long he has a few of these awards in his trophy case. Sako Zakian, the 34-year old veteran ace of the Baltimore Lords rotation, did win a Harris/Lee back in 1981 and he'll be a contender this year also, though not likely at the top of the voting. And of course, the Brewers lefty over-achiever
Austin Bond should get some votes too.
I'd still put my money on Harrington but this should be a tight race.