Welcome to awards season at Bus Leagues! Once again, we will have nine to hand out: Full-season, Short-season and Independent League Player, Starter and Reliever of the Year. These players are the best of the best of minor league baseball, except for the short-season starter I forgot to put on the ballot and didn’t realize until it was too late. Voting works like the college football polls. Voters selected five players from a list of 12, with a first place vote being worth five points, a second place vote being worth four and so on. Ties were broken by most first place votes. If neither had a first place vote, I look at who had the most second place votes and that continues down the line. If somehow ties still aren’t broken, I give Brian’s vote extra weight. Players not in the top five will not have ties broken.
The voters in the 4th edition of the Bus Leagues Awards include four experts: Chris Fee, Brian Moynahan and Andrew Rosin of Bus Leagues and Craig Forde of the Boston Globe. I also voted. Here is a recap of the winners so far:
Indy League RP of the Year: Tom Boleska
Indy League SP of the Year: Jeff Duda
Independent League Player of the Year
FIRST
Chris Nowak, 29, York (Atlantic League)
118 G, 427 AB, .286 BA, 32 HR, 97 RBI, 74 RS, .386/.571/.958
13 points (1 first place vote, 3rd on Brian’s ballot)
There were a few guys who hit a lot of homeruns in independent ball this season, but I liked that Nowak hit for a decent average and stole a few bases to go with his power numbers. -Brian
This former Devil Rays farmhand is a surprisingly adept base stealer for a player who has spent most of his career at first base. -Scott
SECOND
Chad Cregar, 25, Windy City (Frontier League)
96 G, 374 AB, .291 BA, 31 HR, 93 RBI, 64 RS, .363/.599/.962
13 points (1 first place vote, 4th on Brian’s ballot)
Did I really just vote the lead single of Nickelback as the best player in Indy ball this year? Hmmmmm -Craig
The lead singer of Nickelback AND he plays baseball too… quite the talent. -Chris
THIRD
Blake Gailen, 27, Lancaster (Atlantic League)
123 G, 462 AB, .338 BA, 21 HR, 83 RBI, 84 RS, 23 SB, .416/.541/.957
12 points (1 first place vote)
Gailen used to pitch and hit early in his Indy League career, and 2012 was his best season yet. He set a career high in homers and steals with a 20-20 season. -Scott
FOURTH
Angel Berroa, 32, New Jersey (Canadian-American Association)
88 G, 342 AB, .310 BA, 18 HR, 62 RBI, 63 RS, .398/.544/.942
8 points
Most shocking thing – Berroa is playing in Indy ball or that he is somehow only 32? Can we see a birth certificate? -Craig
Because ghosts. -Andrew
FIFTH
Fehlandt Lentini, 35, Lancaster (Atlantic League)
125 G, 498 AB, .333 BA, 18 HR, 89 RBI, 95 RS, 32 SB, .374/.520/.894
7 points (1 second place vote, Brian’s)
Did I pick this guy based solely on him name? You’re catching on! -Craig
I remembered Lentini from a post I did earlier this year about players who scored more runs than games played. When I saw that he had a solid season, I knew he needed to be on my ballot, if only for his name and the fact that he’s an Indy ball lifer. -Brian
SIXTH
Brian Myrow, 36, Grand Prairie (American Association)
92 G, 316 AB, .364 BA, 12 HR, 63 RBI, 65 RS, .490/.608/1.098
7 points (1 second place vote, 4th on Brian’s ballot)
Because age. -Andrew
T-SEVENTH
Steve Rinaudo, 24, Las Cruces (Pecos League)
67 G, 284 AB, .391 BA, 18 HR, 86 RBI, 100 RS, 23 SB, .467/.732/1.199
5 points (1 first place vote)
T-SEVENTH
Chris Brown, 25, Santa Fe (Pecos League)
44 G, 174 AB, .391 BA, 22 HR, 57 RBI, 59 RS, .476/.810/1.286
5 points (1 first place vote)
OPS so hard! -Andrew
NINTH
Jose Vargas, 24, Traverse City (Frontier League)
96 G, 410 AB, .290 BA, 29 HR, 100 RBI, 78 RS, .346/.576/.922
4 points
TENTH
Adam Buschini, 25, Amarillo (American Association)
96 G, 395 AB, .354 BA, 14 HR, 70 RBI, 87 RS, .410/.562/.972
1 point
After two ineffective seasons in the Phillies organization, Buschini broke out as one of the best infielders in Independent baseball. He’s a great baserunner and hit a career high in home runs. -Scott
T-ELEVENTH
Evan Kohli, 24, Santa Fe (Pecos League)
65 G, 256 AB, .398 BA, 20 HR, 68 RBI, 80 RS, .492/.707/1.199
0 points
T-ELEVENTH
Joe Weik, 24, Edinburgh/Abilene (North American League)
91 G, 356 AB, .340 BA, 12 HR, 67 RBI, 67 RS, .403/.520/.923
0 points
Please join us tomorrow for the Short-Season Reliever of the Year.
