Pitchers statistics

It's Barry's World

Let's just give Barry Bonds his first-ever Mitchell Award and be done with it. In fact, we should rename it the Barry Bonds Award, because his 2002 season will be the standard that future candidates are measured against.

Bonds was the first player in league history to win the Triple Crown (.346 batting average, 176 RBIs and 72 HRs). He also was the first to claim the "Sabermetric Triple Crown" of batting average, on-base percentage (.520) and slugging percentage (.890). He also led the league in runs (163), walks (170), intentional walks (38), extra-base hits (111), total bases (422) and OPS (1.410), as well as more esoteric categories like runs created (238.2), runs created/27 outs (20.0), isolated power (.544), total average (1.927), secondary average (.916) and AB/HR (6.6). He set league records in OBP, SLG and OPS, shattering the old marks set during the high-scoring days of the Microleague Era (1991-1996), and tied the league record for runs, matching Chuck Knoblauch's 163 in 1997. He came within six walks of Mark McGwire's 176 BBs in 1996, and nearly tied the modern (DMB-era) marks for HRs and RBIs, just one homer and 5 RBIs shy of Sammy Sosa's 73 and 181 in 1999. He won six OmahaSteaks.com Batter of the Week Awards -- the only other player to win more than one was Alex Rodriguez (two). It's your world, Barry, we're just living in it.

Once we get past Bonds's awesome season, it's practically a dead-heat for the other MVB candidates. We turned to our local sportswriters to ask them who they would vote for.

Arkansas Golden Falcons
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee
Bonds had one of the greatest seasons in DMBL history, but he alone wasn't responsible for the league's second-best offense -- three other batters in Arkansas's lineup also deserve consideration, though it remains to be seen if the voters will even look at another name on the Golden Falcons' roster. Phil Nevin (.295, 47 HR, 145 RBI) was by sabermetric measures the team's second-best batter, posting a .933 OPS and 131.6 RC. Among all DMBL batters, Nevin finished second in RBIs, sixth in HRs, eighth in runs created and 10th in slugging percentage (.566). But Nevin shouldn't get extra points for playing a demanding defensive position: Though he did start all 162 games at third base, he was one of the league's worst defenders, making 27 errors (.927 fielding percentage) with no range... Veteran Larry Walker (.297, 33 HR, 97 RBI, .909 OPS), who won the award two years ago, was third in runs (127), 10th in runs created (131.2) and tied for 10th in doubles (42)... Lance Berkman (.299, 24 HR, 88 RBI, .388 OBP, 50 2B, 111 R) had a strong sophomore campaign.

Hoboken Cutters
Mike Vaccaro, The Star-Ledger

Honolulu Sharks
Bob Krauss, The Honolulu Advertiser
This team came up one game short of their first-ever playoff spot, despite another amazing season from Jason Giambi (.312, 43 HR, 128 RBI). If it wasn't for that guy in Arkansas, he might be taking home the Mitchell after leading the league in doubles (65) and finishing second in OPS (1.082), on-base percentage (.438), extra-base hits (109), walks (127), runs created (174.5), total average (1.228) and secondary average (.549). He was also third in slugging percentage (.644), tied for fourth in runs batted in (128) and total bases (380), fifth in runs (123) and tied for fifth in batting average... Shawn Green (.268, 46 HR, 127 RBI, .848 OPS, 110.6 RC) also had a strong season.

Newark Sugar Bears
Monica Pellegrini, Channel 9 Sports
For the second straight season, the Sugar Bears rode the league's best offense to a World Series title. The team was built around the dynamic duo of Chipper Jones and Manny Ramirez, but production was spread throughout the lineup. Jones (.308, 39 HR, 118 RBI) was second in runs (129), sixth in hits (193), tied for sixth in OBP (.396) and walks (93), seventh in runs created (143.7), tied for seventh in batting average, eighth in OPS (.955) and total average (1.013), tied for ninth in total bases (351) and was 10th in RBIs, had a 16-game hitting streak and proved a capable defender at third base, finishing in the top 10 in total chances (2.50) and fielding percentage (.957)... Ramirez (.290, 44 HR, 110 RBI) was seventh in slugging percentage (.596) and AB/HR (12.8), tied for eighth in HRs, ninth in OPS (.953) and extra-base hits (83), and 10th in total average (.964)... Jim Thome (.260, 44 HR, 100 RBI, .980 OPS, 107.4 RC) and Mark McLemore (.299, 16 3B, 96 R, 22 SB, .398 OBP) also were among the league leaders.

Philadelphia Endzone Animals
Big Daddy Graham, WIP Sports (610 AM)
All-Star rookie Albert Pujols (.318, 29 HR, 108 RBI) exploded onto the scene in 2002. Philly's first baseman was second in hits (204), tied for third in doubles (50), fourth in batting average, eighth in extra-base hits (84), ninth in runs created (131.5) and tied for ninth in total bases (351)... Carlos Beltran (.302, 25 HR, 81 RBI, 20 SB, 113 R, .853 OPS, 121.0 RC), J.D. Drew (.281, 32 HR, 101 RBI, 99 R, .915 OPS, 116.1 RC) and Troy Glaus (.238, 43 HR, 113 RBI, .852 OPS, 103.1 RC) also had huge numbers.

Phoenix Dragons
Fred Kabotie, Grand Canyon artist
The Dragons had the league's third-worst offense, despite the contributions of Luis Gonzalez (.301, 55 HR, 127 RBI), who was second in slugging percentage (.651), intentional walks (35) and isolated power (.349); third in OPS (1.048), runs created (155.2), total average (1.156) and AB/HR (10.6); fourth in secondary average (.502); tied for fourth in on-base percentage (.397) and total bases (380); sixth in runs (116) and extra-base hits (87); tied for sixth in RBIs; and tied for eighth in walks (87). He also was one of the league's top defensive left fielders... Rookie Ichiro (.320, 99 R, 31 SB, .751 OPS, 103.4 RC) led the league in hits (229), stolen bases (31), at-bats (716) and plate appearances (748), was third in batting average and steal percentage (.886), and had a 17-game hitting streak.

Stanhope Mighty Men
Ricardo Villarini, Noticiero 47 (WNJU)
Although the Mighty Men finished 22 games under .500 and had the league's fifth-worst offense, they did have some stars in their lineup, led by Todd Helton (.292, 44 HR, 119 RBI), who finished third in walks (102), tied for fourth in extra-base hits (89), fifth in secondary average (.461), tied for fifth in OPS (.982), sixth in runs created (144.3) and total average (1.043), tied for sixth in OBP (.396), eighth in total bases (357), tied for eighth in HRs, and was ninth in RBIs, doubles (43) and SLG (.586). He also led the league in fielding percentage as a 1B (.999), making just 1 error in 1,302 total chances... Bernie Williams (.324, 29 HR, 108 RBI, 97 R, .928 OPS, 129.3 RC) finished second in batting average, fourth in hits (201), tied for fifth in on-base percentage (.397) and tied for 10th in doubles (42), and was one of the league's top defensive center fielders, leading the league in baserunner kills (27) and ranking fifth in fielding percentage (.995) and sixth in total chances (2.65).

Vancouver Iron Fist
John McGourty, NHL.com
Sammy Sosa (.303, 54 HR, 138 RBI), who won the Mitchell Award in '99 after setting DMB-era records in HRs (73) and RBIs (181), had a monster season, finishing second in total bases (394); third in RBIs, extra-base hits (92) and intentional walks (23); fourth in OPS (1.015), runs created (149.6), home runs, runs (124), SLG (.632), total average (1.065) and AB/HR (11.5); sixth in secondary average (.453); tied for eighth in hits (189); 10th in batting average (.303); and he had a 20-game hitting streak, tied for fourth-longest this season, and was tied for third in assists (24)... 1B Jeff Bagwell (.271, 33 HR, 95 RBI, 111 R, 37 2B, .849 OPS, 113.2 RC) had solid numbers and has the league's longest consecutive games played streak, dating back to the 1999 season.

Wanaque Wolverines
Adrian Wojnarowski, The Record
Superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez (.299, 55 HR, 128 RBI) had another remarkable season, tying for second in HRs and finishing third in total bases (392); tied for fourth in RBIs and extra-base hits (89); fifth in runs created (144.5), OPS (.982) and slugging percentage (.611); tied for fifth in OPS (.982) and AB/HR (11.7); seventh in hits (192), runs (114) and total average (1.021); and 10th in secondary average (.419). He played a fine defensive shortstop and led all non-1B/OF in HR, RBI, OPS and runs created... Last year's winner, Carlos Delgado, hit just .240 with an .813 OPS, but did crank 39 HR with 113 R, 96 RBI.

Other Candidates

Brooklyn 1B Mark Grace (.284, 14 HR, 73 RBI, 70 R, 35 2B, .777 OPS, 95.4 RC) and DH Ruben Sierra (.259, 39 HR, 86 RBI, 82 R, .770 OPS, 85.5 RC)... Carolina 3B Aramis Ramirez (.288, 37 HR, 86 RBI, .862 OPS, 109.1 RC)... Columbia OF Magglio Ordonez (.271, 30 HR, 93 RBI, .823 OPS, 102.6 RC)... Harrison 1B Mike Sweeney (.297, 22 HR, 80 R, .867 OPS, 90.4 RC)... Tijuana 1B Sean Casey (.312, 10 HR, 61 RBI, 83 R, .795 OPS, 94.6 RC) and 2B Bret Boone (.288, 30 HR, 98 RBI, 92 R, .811 OPS, 97.7 RC).

Previous McDonald Award Winners
year	player	team	BA	SLG	OBP	OPS	AB	R	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB
1991	Bobby Bonilla	AUS	.274	.487	.328	.815	636	???	28	3	34	142	51	142	0
1992	Danny Tartabull	AUS	.299	.562	.389	.951	648	???	41	3	41	136	95	215	0
1993	Deion Sanders	CHE	.384	.638	.417	1.055	768	???	11	62	20	164	44	124	12
1994	Juan Gonzalez	ARK	.330	.638	.376	1.014	719	???	39	0	61	209	53	174	0
1996	Ryan Klesko	NWK	.378	.757	.464	1.221	688	???	67	1	64	225	110	181	0
1997	Juan Gonzalez	ARK	.317	.649	.363	1.012	678	133	39	3	60	177	49	108	2
1998	Mark McGwire	NWK	.262	.655	.369	1.024	611	151	28	1	70	167	104	194	0
1999	Sammy Sosa	VAN	.322	.689	.383	1.072	652	135	20	0	73	181	64	201	13
2000	Larry Walker	ARK	.339	.646	.418	1.064	664	152	35	2	55	134	90	72	23
2001	Carlos Delgado	VAT	.345	.653	.455	1.108	603	153	59	2	41	138	122	115	1