End of season baseball musings

By Marco Santana Sports Central Columnist

A few random musings as the baseball season nears its end...

* Who would have thought that the Cubs would still be in it this late into the season? I suppose Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, and Matt Clement. But other than them, who?

* The Windy City is abuzz as both of our teams are in the thick of these pennant races. I've even taken to peering over at the American League Central to see just how those White Sox are doing.

* How Tim Hudson doesn't get much in the way of Cy Young consideration, I can't figure out. His ERA is only behind Pedro Martinez for starting pitchers. He is second in innings pitched. And can win 18 or 19 games for the season. Roy Halladay's high-powered offense has gotten him some of his wins while Esteban Loaiza hasn't been getting the job done lately.

* Now my picks for the 2003 awards. Maybe someday, I'll get a vote. But for now, I can only make the picks.

* For the American League Cy Young Award, I'll go with the guy I'm talking up. Give me Tim Hudson and get out of the way.

* The National League Cy Young Award is just as cramped as the junior circuit. The four-headed race features three pitchers who have missed time due to injuries and another who could take the Comeback Player of the Year Award.

* Mark Prior is third in the league in strikeouts and is 16-6 with a 2.47 ERA.

* Kevin Brown of the Dodgers hasn't had such a dominant year as far as strikeouts, but continues to keep the Dodgers in the race with his 2.35 ERA and 14-8 record.

* Hideo Nomo is another piece of that puzzle that keeps the Dodgers in the race. His 16 wins give him an outside shot as does his 2.88 ERA.

* Jason Schmidt is 15-5 and leads the National League with a 2.28 ERA.

* My vote would go to Mark Prior, but I'll try to temper my homerism and go with Jason Schmidt. Note: I just can't bring myself to give it to a closer or else Eric Gagne would get it.

* Before I get to the MVP awards, let me first give you a quick run-through of my criteria. Unless a player has a monster year in a season of mediocre performances, the MVP should be on a team that is in the pennant chase. With the new era of offense, there are a number of players with similar MVP-type seasons. Digging down beneath the numbers is what matters.

* The National League Most Valuable Player is a National League Central guy. Albert Pujols, while falling off in the RBI category in his pursuit for the triple-crown, still has put up some monster numbers and has kept the Cardinals close. Any type of pitching on that team and it would be Pujols by a landslide. His numbers, .367 BA, 42 HR, and 123 RBI, are amazing even by today's standards.

* The American League Most Valuable Player is a tough one to decide. Carlos Delgado, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, and Bret Boone all received consideration. But the MVP in the American League should be Frank Thomas. His season is amazing after you consider how he was left for dead. Although his .262 average may sway voters against him, his 40 HR and 96 RBI as of Tuesday could draw enough support to take the award.

* Now for my postseason picks for 2003. Please use these for recreational purposes. If I hear anybody gambled with this pick, I'll be looking for your e-mail address and hunt you down for my cut.

* The American League will round out like so: the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Minnesota Twins will make the playoffs. The White Sox' schedule will take its toll on them and the Twins will benefit while the Seattle Mariners, only a year removed from having the major league's best record, will be left out.

* The Minnesota Twins will then have to head to New York while the Oakland A's and the BoSox square off.

* The Twins will make the Yankees nervous as the postseason in the Baggie Dome isn't easy to play in. Both teams have experience, but give me the tradition and coaching of the Yankees to win in four games.

* Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox have been here before. Playing in the Yankees' division, every game counts for them. The A's, on the other hand, made a great comeback and will have momentum on their side. The homefield advantage plays a big part as the Red Sox go five games to take the series.

* The ALCS pits familiar foes against one another. The Yankees and Red Sox. It always seems to come down to these two teams. In a tough-fought series, the Red Sox will finally get the flag as the Yankees do have some weaknesses this season that can be used against them. What better team than a team familiar with them to do so?

* In the National League, I see the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants continue to cruise into the postseason. The Chicago Cubs will win the Central as their schedule is too easy for the Houston Astros to combat. If the Astros lose three of their final 12 games, it may be too many. The Philadelphia Phillies should take over the Marlins and then hold onto the lead. If there isn't a one-game playoff this season, it would be a miracle.

* The Chicago Cubs would begin by squaring off against the Atlanta Braves, who hold off the Giants for the best record in the league. The Cubs' top-three of Prior, Wood, and Zambrano outduel Greg Maddux, Mike Hampton, and Russ Ortiz and signal an official changing of the guard in the National League. The Cubs will take it in four games.

* The Phillies, meanwhile, will get outhit and outpitched by the San Francisco Giants as the Giants sweep them out of the playoffs and set up a rematch of the 1989 Giants/Cubs National League championship.

* The Giants and Cubs will be a good series, but in a longer series, the Cubs' horses just won't be able to get it done as the bats let them down and the Cubs fall in six games. Unfortunately, this season will be season No. 95 without a championship on the North Side.

* In the World Series, the San Francisco Giants will get a chance to redeem themselves as they take on the Boston Red Sox. The hearts of most of the country will be with Boston, but it won't be enough as Barry Bonds gets that ever-elusive World Series ring.

* So there you have it. A spectacular season comes down to the last couple of weeks. Hopefully, your team is still in it. Enjoy the postseason, ladies and gentlemen.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.