Dodgers postmortem: Blue MVP and other awards

Blue MVP Race

5th Place - Andre Ethier (.284 BA, 13 HR, 64 RBI, 50 Runs)
The most underrated and often under-appreciated Dodger.  Ethier is often the most slept on "kid" since he doesn't have Matt Kemp's sick athletic ability, James Loney's picture perfect swing or Russell Martin's startling maturity.  But there's much to be said for consistency, which Ethier offers.  He hit .282 before the All-Star Break and .286 after, with most stats following in rock steady suit.  Except for a ridiculous July, where he batted .383 with a gaudy .471 OBP.  He's also the team's best outfielder, and by a long shot.  While perusing Ethier's stats, however, one thing surprised me.  While I don't necessarily think of him as a base path burner, I assumed he stole at least one base this season.  Apparently, he didn't.  Who knew?

4th Place - James Loney (.331 BA, 15 HR, 67 RBI, 47 Runs)
Even before he put on a September show of epic proportions (.382 BA, 9 jacks and 32 ribbies), James Loney made his presence felt after a June call up.  Frequently lauded for a gorgeous stroke and gold glove potential, it was often debated whether he could hit for power.  Debate hath ended.  I still get the pure logic behind him starting out in Vegas, in that if fear of injury upon moving Nomar Garciaparra to third would keep him at first and Loney on the bench, a young player is better off playing every day.  But given how it would've been worth Nomar ending up in a wheelchair to have Loney up for an entire season, safe to say I (and the organization) was dead wrong in weighing the pros and cons.

3rd Place - Brad Penny (16-4, 3.03 ERA, 135 K, 1.31 WHIP, All-Star team)
Deja Vu all over again.  The big righty starts the season absolutely en fuego, then loses his momentum as things wind down.  This year's second half drop wasn't nearly as drastic (a 1.45 ERA bump after the All-Star break vs. 3.34 in 2006) nor unwarranted, considering the ab strain Penny was pitching through.  And if there's a way to get injured trying (and succeeding) to pitch outside your comfort zone, such would be a reasonable diagnosis in Penny's case.  After years of overpowering opponents, Penny began finessing batters, which preserved his stamina and helped him go an extra nineteen innings in 2007, despite one fewer start.  He also kept his frequently explosive temper in check, which I'm betting also played a sizable role in his success.      

Runner Up - Russell Martin (.293 BA, 19 HR, 87 RBI, 21 SB, All-Star team)
Heading into the All-Star break, Martin not only looked like he'd wind up the Blue MVP, but in the running for NL MVP as well.  .306 BA.  60 RBI.  11 HR.  Squatting behind the dish darn near every day and controlling a continually changing pitching staff with ease.  Martin wouldn't admit it, but the pace clearly got to him as the season wore down (most notably with a .259 September clip and the overall drop in RBI production).  But he still batted .300 in July and August and found himself on base to score runs, if not necessarily generate them.  In the meantime, he remains among the club's most stand up guys, a model of professionalism for teammates in his age range (and even a few older ones, too).

Blue MVP - Takashi Saito (2-1, 1.40 ERA, 39 Saves, 78 Strikes, 13 Walks, All-Star team)   
When Saito surrendered that walk off jack in the second loss of a fateful double header against Colorado, I knew the season was over.  Not because of magic numbers or me foreseeing that series triggering a "young v. old" split.  I just took this cat coming up short as a sign of a team's luck run dead.  But can you blame me for thinking of Saito as the invincible cure-all?  When a 2007 includes 39 saves (with more possible had the team not gone into the crapper), 15 consecutive appearances without a run (and only two hits allowed), only ten runs allowed all season, L.A.'s most iconic fist pump and a computer-animated revival of George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone," it's pretty easy to assume Saito is bullet proof.  As it turns out, he's merely superhuman.  And the Blue MVP.    

Other Noteworthy Awards:

The "Most Seamless Replacement for Brett Tomko" Award - Esteban Loaiza
Think about everything Tomko did as a Dodger, then ask if Loaiza did the same.  Pitch horribly as a fifth starter?  Check.  Typically struggle to go semi-deep into games?  Check.  Often make claims of throwing better than the results would indicate?  Check.  Prompt fans to wonder how the hell this guy's huge salary was on the Dodger payroll?  Check.  If it turns out Loazia is also an artist, I'm gonna start wondering if he and Tomko have ever been seen in the same place at the same time.

The "Retroactively Making Me Look Smart for my 2006 Blue MVP" Award - Rafael Furcal
Not that I'm selfish enough to hope the Dodgers suffer just so I look slightly less hackish, but good gravy, did this year's squad demonstrate my notion that as Furcal goes, more often than not, so go the Dodgers.  I wouldn't put all of the Dodgers' offensive inconsistency on the effects of Raffy's bum ankle but I don't think it requires a baseball genius to conclude that him at considerably less than 100% equals a serious spark missing for this particular club.

The "Paiper Mache Arm" Award - Yhency Brazoban
Seems like whenever this guy throws a ball, it results in injury.  So unless he learns to become one hell of a pinch hitter, I'm growing concerned about his future in baseball, much less as a Dodger.

The "Only Guy You'd Allow Playing at Half Speed to Slide" Award - Jason Repko
Similar to Brazoban's award, except instead of ailments caused by throwing, Repko keeps getting hurt due to aggressively balls out play.  He's like Eric Byrnes, were Byrnes a physical therapist's office regular instead of an All-Star.  Very nice guy, so it would be cool to see him put together a healthy 2008.  I'm just not convinced it'll happen.

The "Fruit Gone Bad" Award - Olmedo Saenz
Tomatoes may get lumped in with the vegetable community, but they're technically fruit.  And the Killer Tomato's 2007 was like biting into your favorite produce from your favorite grocer, then coming up with a mouthful of mold.  Whether age, weight, fewer at-bats, or all of the above have finally caught up with Saenz, it's pretty clear his days as a clutch pinch-hitter (and thus his role in Blue) are done.  I'll miss hearing "Panama" crank on the loudspeakers, but I won't miss cringing as I watch this fan favorite (and one of my favorite Dodgers) struggle at the dish.

The "Tupac Shakur" Award - Matt Kemp
Why a prize named after the late rapper?  Because like the talented and controversial artist, it will be "All Eyez on Me" for Kemp next season.  Most speculate (and I agree) that the lion's share of elder spokesman criticism regarding the "kids" was lobbed in Kemp's direction.  On one hand, he's an incredible athlete with raw talent to burn.  On the other, he's undeniably a little immature (as are most 22-year olds) and developing something of a "tough to coach" rep.  After so much attention swirling around him, it will be interesting to see how Kemp responds next season as- save an unforeseen development- an everyday outfielder.

The "Nice Work if You Can Get it" Award - Mike Lieberthal
Does this one even need to be explained? 

The "Be Careful What You Wish For" Award - Jeff Kent
Here's the deal.  To the best of my knowledge and recollection of your own words, you've gone out of your way not to serve as a mentor to any of the kids.  And that's cool.  If you prefer a relationship of casual nodding while heading to your corner locker, have at it, because you've legitimately earned that right.  But don't complain if they haven't learned what you haven't bothered teaching.  If it's so crucial that these whippersnappers know certain things that will help you get a ring, go out of your way (and out of your comfort zone) to share the lessons.  Otherwise, accept what you receive.

-AK