Like this morning's "Jock Talk," I was also at the Ravine last night--for only the third time this season--to see the Dodgers defeat the dreaded Giants. While "Jock Talk" understanably cited Gagne's sterling work as a closer, I am somewhat in awe of Paul Lo Duca's 24-game hitting streak. It is the longest streak by a Dodger since John Shelby back in 1988. And Kevin Brown (who has to be "comeback player of the year") became the season's first 10-game winner.

Side point: a colleague let me know that I was shown on tv during the 8th inning, when a Bonds' blast was chased down by a diving Roberts. When showing the crowd's reaction, I could be seen cheering. "I'm ready for my close up..."

~Adam

Not only is Kevin Brown a shoe-in for the comeback player of the year but at this pace with his 10-1 record and 1.97 ERA eek! he should unanimously win the NL Cy Young and, IF the Dodgers somehow stay in contention for the NL West crown, be strongly considered for league MVP....I know giving the MVP award to a pitcher (which I am ordinarily opposed to) raises the ire of many fans (after all, a starting pitcher only plays once every five games) but if Eckersley won it as a closer on the A's "bash brother" teams why not give Brown BOTH awards.

The way it looks now Kevin Brown and Jamie Moyer (both 10 game winners) are the probable all-star game starters next month in Chicago -- two more of the growing list of former Orioles that Peter Angelos and his "knowledgeable" GMs gave up on for being "mediocre"....if you add former O's Curt Schilling and Mike Mussina to the list, that would make for a formidable starting rotation (a little more impressive than Omar Daal, Rick Helling, Jason Johnson, and Sidney Ponson, wouldn't you say?)

Brown for first-half Cy, yes -- not for MVP (that's reserved for a historic season by a pitcher, IMHO).

All respect to Moyer, Esteban Loaiza is having the best AL pitching year thus far -- it'd be nice to have him make an All-Star start in his park...

BillW, regarding the starting pitcher winning an MVP debate, I agree completely that should be exclusively reserved for an "historic season" as you state -- however, IF Brown somehow maintains his microscopic ERA under 2.00 for the remainder of the season (a feat that would be even more impressive today than it was in the Bob Gibson era 30 years ago) I would agrue that would represent one of the most historic seasons by a starting pitcher in my generation.

As for Loaiza (whose 9-2 record and 2.24 ERA is undeniably impressive) he is a mortal lock to win the A.L. comeback player of the year award -- especially considering the fact that he has never won more than 11 games in a single season before and has a career record well below .500....I admit that considering the summer classic is taking place at Comiskey (I refuse to call it U.S. Cellular field or whatever corporation Reinsdorf has sold out to this week) that if it is a "close call" Loaiza will likely get the starting nod from Scioscia -- I guess we'll just have to wait and see how Moyer (who has demonstrated consistent excellence for the past decade) and Loaiza (who is truly having a "career year", or at least two months anyway) perform over the next three weeks.

One thing that dilutes Brown's sub-2 ERA is that he's doing it making half his starts in Dodger Stadium -- one of the cuddliest pitcher parks in Creation. (Not a knock, Tom Seaver had similar help from Shea.) The type season I was thinking of was Pedro 2000.

And Albert Pujols is probably going to be NL MVP.

No argument about Pujols here....his offensive numbers this year are absolutely phenomenal -- especially considering Albert's age and his length of experience in professional ball...it wouldn't surprise me to see Pujols make a run at the Triple Crown in the near future -- and Delgado is the clear runner for the A.L. MVP thus far (I know it's only mid-June but the elite players are starting to rise to the top once again).

[ June 18, 2003, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: gamecock ]

Agree with the praise being heaped upon Pujols--I am particularly impressed by his accomplaihments considering how young he is! Even Tony LaRussa--who has spent years around some truly great players--has said Pujols is the best player he's ever had on a team.


Updating the Paul LoDuca streak (yes, length matters...) it is now at 25 games. He is currently tied with the retired Steve Sax--who has some supporters here--and is just six games short of the Dodger record.

~Adam

[ June 19, 2003, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: Adam ]