The 2008 Pittie Awards

by Jim McLennan on Sep 30, 2008 11:17 AM EDT Comment 56 comments

Well, the baseball season is over for the Diamondbacks, isn't it? I know this, because we finally were able to start getting caught up on the mountain of unwatched DVDs and Tivo'd television last night - we watched the three-hour Heroes special from last week, the first we'd seen of the show, having had it highly-recommended to us by more than one source. It was ok, but we felt somewhat lost: we may bump into it again, but it won't be added to perma-Tivo status. We have enough there already, between Fringe, Primeval and Dexter.

But it's now time to start looking forward to the off-season - and we start by looking back at the 2008 season, as I work on the end of season awards, known as the Pitties. I'm looking for nominations, particularly for Play, Performance, Game and Unsung Hero of the Year, so please throw your suggestions into the comments over the next week or so. If you don't, then I expect to hear no grumbling when your favorite is omitted from the final list of nominees! As a reminder, here are the categories and the reigning champions:

Play of the year: Brandon Lyon, June 5 vs. SFG
Performance of the year: Micah Owings, August 18 vs. ATL
Game of the year: May 19, comeback vs. PIT
Unsung hero of the year: Chris Snyder
Rookie of the year: Chris Young
Cy Young: Brandon Webb
Most Valuable Player: Brandon Webb

There is also a poll over on the sidebar, to decide the last Player of the Month, so don't forget to vote on that one.

0 recs | Comment 56 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Off the top of my head and completely subjective

1.) Game of the year: July 3rd against the Brewers, scoring 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th to win it.

2.) Unsung hero: Still gotta go with Chris Snyder.

3.) Rookie of the year; Mad Max

4.) Cy Young: Brandon Webb

5.) MVP: Drew

"So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish!"

by unnamedDBacksfan on Sep 30, 2008 2:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I second all these picks

As to “Performance” of the Year, it’s a tie between Daron Sutton & Derrick Hall, blowing away Eric Byrnes on facetime and barely edging Jessica Simpson in authenticity ;-)

by Diamondhacks on Sep 30, 2008 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

See how well I recall

Play of the year: No idea whatsoever

Performance of the year: Stephen Drew against St. Louis, cycle + extra double
This one was close with CoJacks over-cycle but I think having the full cycle kinda makes it a dealbreaker. Plus it had the extra double.

Game of the year: 9th Inning comeback against the Brewers
Nothing makes you forget about your team’s offensive futility for a day like a major ninth inning rally.

Unsung hero of the year: Chris Snyder
Not a lot of heroes to speak of, but Snyder’s ability to jack the ball is appreciated

Rookie of the year: Max Scherzer
Not too many rookies worth mentioning, and Scherzer’s debut against the Stros still stands out as a memorable outing.

Cy Young: Brandon Webb
He might win the league Cy Young, and he’s easily the best on the team.

Most Valuable Player: Brandon Webb
Stephen Drew gets the honorable mention for his offensive breakout this year, but Webbie’s 22 wins are invaluable to a team that had to work for every victory it got.

Gravity Says: Re-sign Adam Dunn

by Gravity on Sep 30, 2008 2:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For play of the year

I’d go with the moment Co-Jack gave up a cycle to put himself on third base. That was very impressive.

"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson

by Scrbl on Sep 30, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like it

by Diamondhacks on Sep 30, 2008 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can we vote for a Cy Yuck?

Cy Yuck: Jon Rauch. While Pena, Qualls and Lyon all had their struggles, nobody sucked more at the most inopportune times than Jon Rauch

by TwinnerA on Sep 30, 2008 3:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like the idea of a 'Least Valuable Player'

Several contenders there, I think…though might that be a bit snarky?

by Jim McLennan on Sep 30, 2008 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Burke?

(C’mon. You were all thinking it.)

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll agree with three of the letters

And it starts with the same sound…

(Burke was crap at the plate, but wasn’t bad on defense and didn’t cost us a lot of money. And didn’t get injured halfway through the season.)

"Now, this is the dumbest thing I've ever heard [Hank Steinbrenner] say, and this is the third time I've said that this season."

by kishi on Sep 30, 2008 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crap is putting it mildly

Only three others players among the 387 with Burke’s PA’s hit below the Uecker Line and also slugged below .300: Tony Pena, Andruw Jones and Adam LaRoche. Of course, only one of those was earning eight figures for doing it. :-)

by Jim McLennan on Sep 30, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oops, that's three of the 346 players with Burke's PAs.

by Jim McLennan on Sep 30, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm.....

Burke, Medders, Clark, Eckstein, Rauch — those would be my nominees for LVP.

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oooooh.

I completely forgot about him. Yeah, that guy. :-(

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not on my immediate list

Three other names came to mind first, but he likely deserves a nomination.

by Jim McLennan on Sep 30, 2008 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Player, Player.....blast!

And here I wanted to pick Melvin.

Bob Melvin: Black Denarian in disguise.

by nargel on Sep 30, 2008 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Chip 'The Windmill' Hale

I may have to make it ‘Least Valuable Person’.

by Jim McLennan on Sep 30, 2008 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eric Byrnes.

Do I really need to explain?

-Sent by a Blackberry
(invented by John McCain)

by Zephon on Sep 30, 2008 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What is

“most overused SnakePit joke?” for $500?

We are gonna get drunk with Adam Dunn and we're gonna head-butt some damn kangaroos.

by soco on Sep 30, 2008 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That Eric

should take his lame flipper routine to cirque du solie?

just guessing here

"So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish!"

by unnamedDBacksfan on Sep 30, 2008 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, sorry

that’s actually under the category “things people whine about incessantly.”

We are gonna get drunk with Adam Dunn and we're gonna head-butt some damn kangaroos.

by soco on Sep 30, 2008 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One way to shut up his critics though

is for him to perform. And I do not mean his flipper routine or the flying nun routine we all have come to ‘love’.

He had the power to shut us up and he failed,

"So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish!"

by unnamedDBacksfan on Sep 30, 2008 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

More like

“What is the most overused SnakePit joke?” for $30 million?

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who said I was joking?

-Sent by a Blackberry
(invented by John McCain)

by Zephon on Oct 1, 2008 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eric Byrnes

isn’t a joke?

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Oct 1, 2008 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Max Scherzer

is the only credible ROTY, although I guess Ichiromero, and…. errrr…… D’Antona and Whitesell? Also qualify.

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why is it called the Pittie Awards?

I witness.

by damdrs1717 on Sep 30, 2008 3:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, the full name

Would be the AZ SnakePit Academy Honors, but that’s a bit of a mouthful, so we just call them the ’Pitties. :-)

by Jim McLennan on Sep 30, 2008 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kinda like

calling the group outing “Snakepitfestapaloozathon08” every time?
:-)

The fundamentals of the economy are strong. Mmmhm.

by emilylovesthedbacks on Sep 30, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The scary part?

“Snakepitfestapaloozathon08” is really an acronym!

"Now, this is the dumbest thing I've ever heard [Hank Steinbrenner] say, and this is the third time I've said that this season."

by kishi on Sep 30, 2008 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Snakepitfestapaloozathonabrationivalareegala 2008?

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey.

There’s no 08 on there when I do that. How dare you. You have sullied my good name.

by Azreous on Oct 1, 2008 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My nominations

Play of the year: Alex Romero’s catch in San Diego
Performance of the year: Drew hitting for the cycle
Game of the year: Comeback against the Brewers
Unsung hero of the year: Conor Jackson
Rookie of the year: Max Scherzer- really the only option, right?
Cy Young: Brandon Webb
Most Valuable Player: Brandon Webb

"Now, this is the dumbest thing I've ever heard [Hank Steinbrenner] say, and this is the third time I've said that this season."

by kishi on Sep 30, 2008 4:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My picks:

Kishi, I pretty much agree with your’s except for performance of the year.
There I’m going with Cojack’s overcycle for what it says about the character of the man.

Bob Melvin: Black Denarian in disguise.

by nargel on Sep 30, 2008 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As much as I would like to be original,

I have to completely agree with Kishi down the entire ballot.

My LVP nomination goes to The Windmill

I have an irrational mancrush on Stephen Drew.

by Snakebitten on Sep 30, 2008 5:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Some more thoughts

I am surprised nobody has yet mentioned DD’s last start before surgery for Performance of the Year. Yes, a sentimental pick, but it has a lot of game merit too. Also CoJack’s almost-cycle.

Is Webb going to be the only pitcher on the ballot for CY? LOL. I vote we throw in Haren too, and sure RJ.

MVP – Drew, CoJack, Webb.

Game of the Year – in Houston, August 15th, where everyone named Chris hit a home run.

by snakecharmer on Sep 30, 2008 6:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

CoJack-MVP talk certainly, but

Once he moved to left, I’d add another catagory for “The Most Improved” player.

as far as Cy Young, I look at it totally in a subjective eye right now. Webb was our first home grown star, so I’ll probably stick with that.

Comeback player? RJ perhaps… Did anyone really expect him to have the year he did?

"So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish!"

by unnamedDBacksfan on Sep 30, 2008 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ooh, Comeback player...

I don’t think we really had very many of those this year, but RJ would certainly top the list!

by snakecharmer on Sep 30, 2008 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Double D

should also be nominated for Comeback Player.

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if you're going coming back from cancer on us

definitely his 7 innings of perfect ball. That’s a memory stuck in my mind

Proud supporter of Randy going for 300, even next year.

by AJforAZ on Oct 1, 2008 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like

your new signature, AJ.

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Oct 1, 2008 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've had it for a bit

but it probably wasn’t noticed since my recent posting hiatus. Things have been pretty crazy.

Proud supporter of Randy going for 300, even next year.

by AJforAZ on Oct 1, 2008 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about

SnakePit Poster of the Year?

I nominate Zephon, for his feature pieces on our minor leaguers and his continued and increased participation as this season went on.

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 7:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I nominate

srdmad.

Ha ha ha no.

by Azreous on Oct 1, 2008 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.. increased participation...

-Sent by a Blackberry
(invented by John McCain)

by Zephon on Oct 1, 2008 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also

nominate mrssoco, because IIRC, she’s the first spouse to join (even if she wasn’t a spouse yet) and because she’s scared us all straight by leaving a fearsome path of destruction in her wake.

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Oct 1, 2008 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about

separate categories for pitching performances and hitting performances?

Pitching performances —

Haren’s 4 hit shutout

Double D’s final game before surgery

RJ’s season finale complete game

More?

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 7:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I do see the benefits of splitting pitching/hitting performances

but I’m afraid the categories will then get diluted if we do that. I personally think we’re okay to keep them combined…

by snakecharmer on Sep 30, 2008 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't really mind diluting categories.

That way we get to recognize more performances this year. It’s pretty tough to genuinely dilute a “performance of the year” award, when it only means you’re selecting TWO performances rather than ONE out of 162 games. Plus, it’s tough to judge a hitting performance vs. a pitching performance. They’re totally different skills.

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At this rate

The awards show will run longer than the Oscars. :-)

by Jim McLennan on Sep 30, 2008 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nah.

It’ll be short, like the Golden Globes “show” during the writers’ strike.

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And how many people actually watched that?

Yeah, like 3.

We do want people to vote and not feel daunted by the ballot. :P Also, since I recall that they aren’t all held on the same day, we need them to want to come back and not get annoyed! LOL.

by snakecharmer on Sep 30, 2008 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, c'mon now.

It’s not like I’m proposing a Cy Young Award for Relievers or a Defensive Player of the Year or a Most Valuable Bench Player. I just think that Best Single Game Performance should be broken up between pitchers and hitters. It’s only one extra award.

The Zorn Star just got his first Cowboys victory for the "maroon and black".

by DbacksSkins on Sep 30, 2008 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well yes, and like I said,

I do see the merits, but I also see the merits of breaking down Play of the Year to Defensive and Offensive, and other things that could also work. Personally, I wouldn’t want to bloat the categories too much or dilute the choices, but it’s not my choice.

by snakecharmer on Sep 30, 2008 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs