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Most Improved Writer Knows His Stuff
I
am, hands down, the Most Improved Writer of this illustrious site.
Close the ballots, turn out the lights.
This
is the Doctor, signing off.
Okay,
I'm not really signing off, but I have to make the point that as
the Most Improved Writer, it is my honor and right to declare this
year's Most Improved Player for the 2002 season. Sure, it's not
"official" but you may as well consider it so. Who else
are you going to believe? Cliff Rancho? One movie review hardly
constitutes a successful "season" on the net and hardly
maintains any credibility you may have earned over the years.
Oh...who
is the Most Improved Player?
Ian
Byrd.
For
a few minutes, or however long this takes you to read, try to forget
that Ian recently pulled his groin and ended his season two wins
away from his second title with the Holy Whites. However, know that
the only reason I feel compelled to write this is because Ian's
season is now officially over. That and the fact that the Commish
demanded, and I quote, "some crap about Ian or something"
a few hours earlier via e-mail.
It
was a season with only a few perks and a whole mess of forgettable
events. Ian stood out like a lighthouse in a foggy shore. His inspiring
play and gaudy numbers took the form of the red mark on an idiot's
history test; you can't help but notice them. Who would have guessed
that this kid, a child, would finish second in the league
in hitting? He hit .374! Sure, it's a lot easier to hit in front
of someone like Scott Carmichael (just ask Jeff Kent), but with
Scott's sub-par season from the plate, .374 was just what the doctor
ordered. It kept the flat-lining Whites above water and in the playoff
hunt when forfeits threatened to keep them at the bottom of the
sea. His .320 batting average in the playoffs also stands out, especially
when a certain teammate is only hitting .273. Might just be a reason
the Whites are yet to lose a game in this year's post-season.
Dean
Evans was a good contender for the title. I repeat the word "was".
He had an admirable season, hitting .349 (3rd in league) alongside
teammates who all of the sudden lost the ability to hit a low and
in pitch, and he improved his pitching tenfold. He was, after all,
the main reason Wiffolution actually BETTERED their won-loss record
from 2001 despite Morrison and Sylvester combining to hit only .245.
If someone told you those two would combine to do that, would ANYONE
have bet on them finishing over .500? No, but they did, because
of Dean Evans.
But
Ian has proved time and time again this season that sometimes it's
not WHAT you hit, it's WHEN you hit it. Key hits in key situations.
Singles, doubles, opposite-way GW homeruns, Ian kept the Whites
not only in the playoff hunt all year, but he kept them in every
single game. The game is not officially over until you get the 3rd
out. Last year, the game was over when you got Scott out for the
last time. Not so anymore. You can't say that about Dean Evans.
So
three cheers for Little Byrd. If the Whites do end up winning this
title, one man will stand out, like that stupid lighthouse, as being
the main reason why.
This
is the Doctor, signing off.
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