2007 Schwartz League Awards
Wednesday, January 09, 2008 | 0 comments »
Albert Pujols of the Chesaning Indians has been named League MVP for the 2007 season. Pujols hit .327 with 54 homeruns and 170 RBI, helping the Indians to win 110 games and set a new Schwartz League record for most wins by a team in a single season. The previous record was held by the 1997 Poopis Power Club, and the 1999 Pink Flamingos team. Pujols 54 homeruns was more than any player hit in 2006, the most last year was 49 by Andruw Jones from the Belin Diamond Jaxx. Albert was surpassed by teammate Frank Thomas who hit an amazing 57 homeruns. Thomas finished just behind Pujols in the MVP voiting as he was not quite as prolific though he hit .283 and drove in 137 runs during the season. 
Carlos Zambrano, pitcher for the Springfield Isotopes, has been awarded the Cy Young award for the 2007 season as the league's best pitcher. Zambrano won 24 games and lost 8 while recording a 2.82 earned run average over 36 starts. His 10.8 baserunners per nine innings ranks among the very best in the league and he was stingy at allowing homeruns as he gave up less than 1 homerun per nine innings pitched.
Gold Glove Awards were earned by the following players by position:
P - Greg Maddux (NEV)
C - Russell Martin (LAK)
1b - Mark Teixeira (SPR)
2b - Orlando Hudson (ELM)
3b - Mike Lowell (ALB)
SS - Derek Jeter (CHE)
OF - Carlos Beltran (AKR)
OF - Andruw Jones (ELM)
OF - Torii Hunter (CHE)
Silver Slugger Selections were awarded as well and the recipients are listed by position:
C - Joe Mauer (TBY)
1b - Albert Pujols (CHE)
2b - Chase Utley (SAS)
3b - David Wright (SAS)
SS - Bill Hall (NEV)
LF - Alfonso Soriano (TBY)
CF - Carlos Beltran (AKR)
RF - Bobby Abreu (DEP)
Todd Jones of the Iowa City Chiefs was awarded the Rolaids Relief Award as voted by the Schwartz News. Jones earned the award after recording 44 saves for the Chiefs. Though they did not make the playoffs, Jones helped the Iowa City pitching staff to give the team a respectable 2007 season. Iowa City got out of the gate pretty well in the spring but faltered in May and June winning only 21 of 45 games. Though the team had it's troubles, Jones was one bright spot on the team and earned this award.
Craig Giles has been named Manager of the Year by the Schwartz News. Giles' Akron Aeros team won the Dark Helmet West division by 16 games with a total of 102 wins. Though they lost in the playoffs, the Aeros finished with a great season and Giles was recognized by the Schwartz News for the success of his team in 2007.
Chesaning has now won its third Schwartz Mug Championship in four years. With the help of strong pitching performances by Pedro Martinez and Takashi Saito, and excellent run production from Miguel Cabrera the Indians came back from two games down to win four of the final five games of the series. The Indians were overwhelmed in the first two games by the offense Tampa Bay put up. Travis Hafner had 4 hits and 4 RBI at SBC Park in Chesaning as the Tampa Bay Bandits embarrassed the Indians by the lopsided score of 12 to 1.
The Chesaning fans didn't appreciate the big day Hafner had. He slapped a single which scored a run in the 1st inning, stroked a one-base hit in the 3rd inning, laced a base-knock in the 4th inning and belted a three-run homer (his 5th of the playoffs) in the 8th inning. Tampa Bay had 14 hits for the night while Chesaning had 4.
Chien-Ming Wang(3-0) allowed 1 run in 8 innings, and picked up the victory. Brandon Webb(4-1) was the losing pitcher. He allowed a few too many base runners giving up 11 hits and 2 walks in 5 and 1/3 innings.
“We just couldn't figure him out tonight,” said Albert Pujols after game one. “He was mixing his pitches and changing speeds while spotting his pitches perfectly.”
Hoping to comeback and even the series in game two, the Indians again were stymied, this time by C.C. Sabathia. Travis Hafner smashed 2 homeruns and had 3 RBI as the Tampa Bay Bandits beat the Chesaning Indians by the count of 6 to 2 in game two taking a two games to none lead back to Tampa for game three.
Hafner had a big evening at the plate. He smashed a solo-shot out of the park in the 4th inning and popped a two-run clout over the fence (his 7th of the playoffs) in the 8th inning. Although they lost, Chesaning did out-hit Tampa Bay 10 to 7. The win went to C.C. Sabathia(3-1) who allowed no runs in 5 and 2/3 innings. Dontrelle Willis(1-1) was given the loss. He pitched 6 innings and surrendered 3 hits and 3 walks.
Not wanting to give up on the series, being down two games to none, the Indians started master craftsman Pedro Martinez who pitched brilliantly to defeat Tampa Bay in game three. Pedro Martinez came through with a solid 8 and two third innings as the Chesaning Indians topped the Tampa Bay Bandits by a score of 2 to 0 at SAFECO Field.
Tampa Bay never recovered after Chesaning took the lead in the 2nd inning plating an isolated run. That was all Martinez(3-0) needed. After the 4th inning, neither team was able to score. Takashi Saito got the save, his 6th, to preserve the shutout. The losing pitcher was Clay Hensley(0-1). He allowed 4 hits and 3 walks in 7 innings.
The Indians came out swinging in game four against Chien-Ming Wang, the winner in game one. Miguel Cabrera had 2 base hits and 2 RBI as the Chesaning Indians defeated the Tampa Bay Bandits 6 to 2 at SAFECO Field. For the Indians, John Smoltz(1-0) pitched well enough to earn the win. He surrendered 7 hits and 2 walks in 5 and 1/3 innings.
Overall Chesaning out-hit Tampa Bay 12 to 8. Chien-Ming Wang(3-1) was the losing pitcher. He was knocked around by Chesaning, allowing 7 hits and 4 walks in 4 and 1/3 innings.
"Wang was just not as effective tonight as he was in game one," said Bandits manager John Ramsey after the game. "It's a new series now that it is all tied up at two games each, but we have to come out tomorrow and win game five. That is our next goal."
Game five, being as important as ever for each team, was perhaps the closest contest of the series. The lead went back and fourth a couple of times and ended deadlocked after nine innings at three runs apiece. Tampa Bay was dominant but could not bring the runs across when they needed to against Brandon Webb. Webb pitched much better than in game one but still allowed eight hits in six plus innings, though he only allowed one run before giving way to the bullpen in the seventh inning. The Indians relief core allowed nine hits over the ensuing five innings before finally breaking in the 12th inning and allowing the game winning run giving the loss to Chris Britton, his first decision of the playoffs.
The fifth game win by the Bandits gave them a three games to two lead as the series shifted back to Chesaning for game six. Needing to win only one game to clinch the Schwartz Mug the Bandits were optimistically confident that they could win the series having already taken two games in Chesaning already in the series.
The Indians had other ideas in game six however. Miguel Cabrera cracked 2 home runs and had 3 RBI as the Chesaning Indians outscored the Tampa Bay Bandits 6 to 3 in game six to even the series and force a game seven. Cabrera enjoyed a fine evening at the plate. He lifted one out of the park for a two run home run in the 2nd inning and hit a bases-empty home run (his 5th of the playoffs) in the 8th inning. Although they lost, Tampa Bay did out-hit Chesaning 14 to 10.
The winning pitcher was Dontrelle Willis(2-1) who allowed 2 runs in 7 and 2/3 innings. Takashi Saito gained credit for his 7th save of the playoffs. C.C. Sabathia(3-2)was the losing pitcher.
Game seven at SBC Park, the Chesaning faithful were treated to an intriguing pitcher's duel. Pedro Martinez(4-0) finally bested his Tampa Bay counterpart, Chien-Ming Wang(3-2), by the score of 3 to 1. Martinez put on a good performance. He surrendered only 5 hits and no walks in 7 and 1/3 innings. The pitchers took over after the 2nd inning as neither team was able to score again. Takashi Saito was credited with his 8th save. Wang suffered the loss. He allowed 3 runs and 6 hits in 5 innings.
The game seven victory clinched the Indians third Championship in four years. Pedro Martinez was named series Most Valuable Player with his brilliant performances in games three and seven. As a whole the series was a very good one, and though the Indians fell down in the first two games of the series they came back in wonderful fashion to take the series. The Bandits played well and were managed very well, but few breaks went their way after game two.