2056.09: Individual Player Awards

[BaseClogger]

10/19/2056


Hitter of the Year - C Joe Zwicker
Don Moore won this award last season and by all reasonable measures should win this award again if its purely based on hitting. However, I want to highlight my position player who led my team in WAR at 3, catcher Joe Zwicker. Zwicker was an offseason free agent acquisition who plays pretty good defense and hit .291/.349/.420. That's a great OBP for a catcher, which explains amassing 3 WAR in only 398 ABs. I used the lefty strictly in a platoon, so I'm not sure there is much more value to squeeze out of his game.

Fielder of the Year - 2B Marcello Custello
Marcello Custello has been the best defender on the Bears since he slid over to second base full-time in 2053. His 2056 ZR was the second best score of his career at 2B (+7.1) and he even accrued positive ZR at SS for the first time on his BBA resume in spot duty (+1.1). Offensively, Custello was as mediocre as ever (.243/.295/.398) but the total package was good enough for 2 WAR. The most interesting story for Marcello will be whether he opts out of his contract this offseason.

Starting Pitcher of the Year - SP Alexander Swanson
For the second year in a row, Alexander Swanson is my best starting pitcher. His 2056 performance represents a step forward for the now 25 year-old and he is now the clear winner after taking it by default last season. Swanson led the team in innings (180 IP) and reduced his ERA from 4.50 to 3.60. The recipe didn't change much, as Swanson is still a pitch-to-contact guy who gets groundballs and limits walks. I'd be happy if he can just replicate this performance for the next few years.

Relief Pitcher of the Year - RP Adam Barber
Adam Barber was signed in April 2056 and is perhaps most notable for leveraging his no-trade clause to deny a trade to Vancouver down the stretch. After tossing 31.2 innings in AAA to prove he was ready, Barber threw an impressive 106.1 innings shoring up the San Fernando bullpen. Those innings were more average than elite, with a 3.47 ERA and 1.2 WAR. Barber still views himself as a starting pitcher and looks to test free agency heading into 2057.

Rookie of the Year - LF Michael Schultz
Schultz entered the league with a bang and continued to do damage against Frick League pitching, admittedly taking a step back from the highs of his first week in the show. But the right-handed slugger did damage indeed, swatting 42 XBHs in only 327 ABs with a .272/.355/.550 triple-slash. I expect Schultz to bat somewhere in the middle of my order for years to come.

[Lane]

another awesome year for Zwicker. Being released by @Rubaboo after being a R5 pick really lit a fire under his ass and turned him into a good ballplayer.

[Rubaboo]

another awesome year for Zwicker. Being released by @Rubaboo after being a R5 pick really lit a fire under his ass and turned him into a good ballplayer.

Yeah, not sure why I released him. He'd be exactly the kind of player I'd be interested in having now...

[Lane]

another awesome year for Zwicker. Being released by @Rubaboo after being a R5 pick really lit a fire under his ass and turned him into a good ballplayer.

Yeah, not sure why I released him. He'd be exactly the kind of player I'd be interested in having now...

to be fair, he wasn't much at the time.

[Dington]

People slept on Zwicker in free agency. I thought I'd be in on him, but J-Rod been staying decent.