Major League Baseball announced the winners of its prestigious awards this week; now, FanHouse is following suit. We voted on winners in five categories (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Draft Day Bargain, Draft Day Bust), the results of which are revealed below. Remember, this awards show deals strictly in fantasy baseball. I'll also throw in a few awards I'm personally doling out for performances that made the 2009 season what it was.
Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.
Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro made it a point not to bring back the exact same lineup in 2009 after winning the World Series in 2008. He succeeded in that goal by replacing the departed Pat Burrell with Raul Ibanez in left field. The strategy worked as the Phillies won their division and made it all the way to the World Series, eventually losing to the New York Yankees.
During this offseason, expect the mantra to be very similar to last winter. The one position in the lineup that likely will roll over is third base. The team declined their $5.5 million option on Pedro Feliz and will try and find an upgrade in the free-agent pool. If they fail to do so, they can always bring Feliz back to the team.
PHILADELPHIA -- The Brad Lidge Story was shaping up to be a happy one this postseason. A guy who had endured one of the worst season-to-season collapses in recent memory was suddenly reborn, it seemed, busting fastballs and throwing nasty, unhittable sliders.
The latest chapter was unfolding on Sunday night, with Lidge on the mound making tough pitches while the crowd roared, anticipating the Phillies completing an improbable comeback victory and jumping back into the World Series.
"I felt good," Lidge said. "I felt like it would be one of those innings that would be a good quick inning. I made some good pitches to Damon. Then very quickly he was on third base. It turned pretty quick."
In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.
Unless you are a fan with a rooting interest in this World Series, it's nearly impossible to not appreciate how good of a matchup this World Series is. Both the Phillies and Yankees have dominant aces they can rely on, sluggers that pound the ball with the best of them, and tenacious hitters who seem to make every at-bat an epic battle.
In such an even matchup, it's difficult to find glaring edges for either club, and that is where advanced scouting can come into play. Knowing how to pitch a certain dangerous hitter in order to neutralize him or what to look for against a particular pitcher could be what wins or loses a potentially tight series such as this. So, where are those holes each team can exploit and what will it take for them to come out on top?
Playoff Pulse is our morning rundown of the night that was and the night that will be during the MLB postseason.
Looking Forward ...
Bask in the baseball now, because if the Yankees beat the Angels Thursday night, there isn't going to be much to keep us busy until the World Series begins.
In the last three LCS rounds, one of the two series has either gone four or five games. The other half -- the 2006 NLCS and the 2007 and 2008 ALCS -- went the distance. That partially masked the big problem with Major League Baseball's ever-elongating postseason schedule, but if the Yankees wrap up their spot in the World Series, it'll be impossible to ignore.
LOS ANGELES -- What we want, of course, is the bi-coastal, large-market, grudge-wrapped passion play. We crave the Dodgers vs. the Yankees, Hollywood vs. New York, Dodger Blue vs. Pinstripes, Joe Torre vs. the Steinbrenners, a Toxic Twins clash between Alex (Primobolan) Rodriguez and Manny (Gonadotropin) Ramirez, Lousy Ratings Leno vs. Pants Down Letterman, Vinnie Chase Goes Home, a collision of our entertainment and financial epicenters. It's baseball's version of the Lakers and Celtics, and while no one in the PlayStation 3 Generation can relate, the sport never was greater and grander than when the Dodgers and Yankees were in the World Series.
LOS ANGELES – Any comparison between the Dodgers and Phillies has to start at the end.
The end of the game, that is.
One of the axioms of baseball is that good bullpens win in October. That would no doubt help explain why the Phillies won the World Series last year, when they were led by Brad Lidge capping a perfect season of ninth innings. This time around, though, it is the Dodgers who have the lights-out bullpen, a group with two All-Star closers, and the Phillies who have, well, good memories and all the optimism they can muster.
Tuesday, FanHouse had the opportunity to discuss the MLB Playoffs with Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, who currently serves as a studio analyst for TBS. TBS will be broadcasting all four Division Series and also the NLCS again this season. Ernie Johnson is the studio host while Dennis Eckersley and David Wells join Ripken as studio analysts for these playoff games.
Of all the things Ripken discussed Tuesday, the most intriguing subject, not surprisingly, was one Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod is an oft-maligned regular season superstar, in that he's put up extremely gaudy regular season numbers throughout his career, yet has never played in a World Series and has pretty sub-par numbers in the playoffs overall -- especially of late.
Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.
PHILADELPHIA -- The Brad Lidge Story was shaping up to be a happy one this postseason. A guy who had endured one of the worst season-to-season collapses in recent memory was suddenly reborn, it seemed, busting fastballs and throwing nasty, unhittable sliders.
In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.
Playoff Pulse is our morning rundown of the night that was and the night that will be during the MLB postseason.
PHILADELPHIA -- As the Phillies celebrated the NL's first repeat championship in 12 years Wednesday, a fan at Citizens Bank Park held up a sign:
PHILADELPHIA -- And the Phillies' postseason closer is ...
Tuesday, FanHouse had the opportunity to discuss the MLB Playoffs with Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, who currently serves as a studio analyst for TBS. TBS will be broadcasting all four Division Series and also the NLCS again this season. Ernie Johnson is the studio host while Dennis Eckersley and David Wells join Ripken as studio analysts for these playoff games. 
