Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Bonds, Mariners lead wild season

Three days from the end of a 162-game season, six National League teams had a chance to either win their division, tie or secure a wild-card berth.

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 7, 2001

A fitting end to a wild season.

Seattle had won more games in a season (115 through Friday) than any other American League team. Remember when Cleveland overcame a 12-run deficit to beat the Mariners on Aug. 27? Barry Bonds caught the country's interest with his pursuit, and passing, of Mark McGwire's single-season home run record. Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken say goodbye to the game this weekend. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks forced an eight-day stoppage, prompted heightened security at ballparks across the country and could push the World Series into November for the first time.

With the final day upon us, here's a review of the season and a glance ahead at the major awards:

BIGGEST SURPRISE: The Mariners have seen Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey and Alex Rodriguez leave since the 1998 season, and the club is playing better than ever. From the retooled pitching staff to a solid offense, Seattle was built for success. Honorable mention goes to the Twins, A's and Phillies.

BIGGEST FLOP: Talk about dysfunctional. Granted the Red Sox have been devastated by injuries to key players all season, but is that any excuse for what happened in the second half? Boston imploded, and the problems began even before Jimy Williams was fired and replaced by pitching coach Joe Kerrigan.

BEST ACQUISITIONS: Split this category into preseason and midseason, and Mariners GM Pat Gillick and Oakland GM Billy Beane are the hands-down winners. Gillick gambled on Ichiro Suzuki and Bret Boone and won big. Beane's trade-deadline deal for Kansas City outfielder Jermaine Dye assured A's players the club was serious.

WORST ACQUISITIONS: Take your pick. John Rocker to the Indians for Steve Karsay and Steve Reed? Bruce Chen from Philadelphia to the Mets for Turk Wendell and Dennis Cook? But the Diamondbacks trading Nick Bierbrodt to the Rays for Albie Lopez and catcher Mike DiFelice earns this dubious distinction. Lopez, who did pitch a complete-game shutout Friday, nearly tied Brian Kingman's mark for 20 losses in a season. DiFelice was charged in August with assaulting two women outside a Pittsburgh nightclub and later released by the team.

MEMORABLE MILESTONES: Where do you start? Rickey Henderson passed Ty Cobb for the career runs record. The farewell tours for Gwynn and Ripken. Sammy Sosa became the first player to hit 60 home runs in three seasons. Roger Clemens, defying age, started the season 20-1. The Brewers whiffed more times than any other team. But Bonds passing McGwire's record of 70 home runs is the defining moment.

NL MVP: It's a five-man field and an argument could be made for each. Sosa leads the league in runs (141), RBI (154) and ranks second in home runs (61). Colorado's Todd Helton ranks among the top five in average (.336), runs (129), RBI (143), hits (191) and homers (47) and is the only player to have 100 extra-base hits in consecutive seasons. Luis Gonzalez started off hot and is among the league leaders in runs (125), RBI (138) and homers (56). The Tampa native is five hits from 200. St. Louis rookie Albert Pujols is in the mix. Bonds' home runs (72), walks (177), on-base percentage (.514) and slugging percentage (.868) get your attention and prove he's one of the best ever.

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez has lived up to his $252-million paycheck, but the Rangers were so dismal it didn't matter. Manny Ramirez started off well in Boston and faded like the rest of the team. Jason Giambi followed his 2000 MVP campaign with another solid season. And what about Juan Gonzalez in Cleveland? Or Clemens and Tino Martinez from the Yankees? Seattle's two candidates -- Boone and Ichiro -- could split enough votes that Giambi sneaks this one out.

NL CY YOUNG: The Diamondbacks have it covered. Johnson (372) and Curt Schilling (293) have struck out more batters this season than any other duo in history. Johnson, scheduled to start today, has won a career-high 21 games and is the first to strike out 300 or more batters in four consecutive seasons. Schilling (22-6, 2.98) became the first 20-game winner this season. In a close one: Johnson.

AL CY YOUNG: There's really no question. For the sixth time in his career, Clemens will win the Cy Young. Besides winning 20 games for the sixth time, the right-hander moved past Bert Blyleven and ranks third on the all-time strikeout list with 3,717. Oakland's Mark Mulder and Seattle's Jamie Moyer and Freddy Garcia will get consideration.

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Pujols will get votes for MVP, but the Cardinals outfielder deserves this without a doubt. Pujols broke the 71-year-old record for RBI by a rookie.

AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Technically not a rookie, Ichiro came to America from Japan and set the major-league record for hits by a rookie and singles in a season. Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia would've benefited from a full season.

NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Some will argue that for a rookie manager, Larry Bowa did a remarkable job taking the Phillies from 65-97 last year to contention this season. But Tony LaRussa did better with the Cardinals in the second half. St. Louis was nine games back with a 43-45 record July 13 and caught Houston on Tuesday by going 48-22.

AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: There is much to be said about winning when you should. Seattle's Lou Piniella has done a fabulous job with the talent the Mariners have acquired. But look at what Art Howe has done with the A's. Oakland was 56-17 through Friday in the second half and has the second-best record in the majors despite starting the season 8-17.

Three days from the end of a 162-game season, six National League teams had a chance to either win their division, tie or secure a wild-card berth.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright