2008 CDBL MVP AWARD 2nd Runner Up - Jermaine Dye, OF, Concord Minutemen AVG OBP SPC PA AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI HBP BB K SB CS .311 .352 .565 691 637 198 52 4 34 94 153 3 42 115 2 0 Dye was brought in to do one thing for Concord, drive in runs. And drive in runs he did, with a league leading 153 RBI. Dye also was top 6 in hits, 3rd in doubles, and 3rd in extra base hits. His 17 game winning RBI was 2nd best in the majors, and helped Concord win 98 games and the GT Conference Wildcard ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st Runner Up - Mark Teixeira, 1B, Half Moon Bay Dragons AVG OBP SPC PA AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI HBP BB K SB CS .316 .402 .605 759 656 207 50 1 46 146 112 6 92 94 0 0 Traded by the Minutemen prior to the start of the season, Teixeira had a banner year for the Dragons. Teixeira was the epitome of slugging, leading the league at .605. He could hit for average, placing 10th in the league at .316. His 46 home runs were tied for 2nd most in the league, and his 50 doubles was 6th best in the league. Teixeira also had 207 hits, 4th best in the majors. His 160.1 runs created was 2nd best in the majors, and was a workhorse at the plate, logging a league best 759 plate appearances. While Teixeira's performance didn't really help the Dragons' season (they won only 76 games), he had one of the best seasons of anyone at the plate. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2008 CDBL MVP - Hanley Ramirez, SS, Alphaville Caution AVG OBP SPC PA AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI HBP BB K SB CS .319 .385 .579 745 662 211 42 2 42 131 142 10 66 153 19 8 The young shortstop had his best season yet for the Caution, who posted a league best 108 wins and captured the Tiant division. Ramirez had 211 hits, 2nd best in the majors, his 142 RBI was 2nd best, and his 131 runs scored was 5th best. Ramirez connected for 42 home runs, 6th best in the league. Ramirez was responsible for 144.6 runs created, 3rd best in the majors. Hanley Ramirez was also clutch, hitting a league leading 20 game winning RBI. All this while anchoring the defense at shortstop, who no doubt helped the pitching staff to an better than average 3.81 team ERA. ******************************************************************* 2008 CDBL CY YOUNG AWARD 2nd Runner Up - Mike Pelfrey, SP, Springfield Isotopes ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 3.70 .694 23 5 0 33 33 1 1 219.0 197 91 90 73 129 20 26 The Springfield Isotopes returned to glory this year, winning 106 games and the Paige division pennant. Staff ace Mike Pelfrey led the league in wins with 23, and his 82.1% winning percentage was 4th best in the majors. Pelfrey also put up quality starts, posting a 2nd best 75.8% quality start percentage. Pelfrey was also a workhorse, logging a 10th best 219 innings and faced 27.24 batters per game, 5th best in the majors. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st Runner Up - Cliff Lee, SP, Dedham Destroyers ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 2.76 .669 20 4 0 33 33 1 0 215.1 219 77 66 32 192 17 20 Lee posted one of the better statistical seasons in the majors, sporting a 2nd-best 2.76 ERA. Lee won 20 games and his 83.3% winning percentage was 2nd best in the league. Lee allowed a league low 1.3 walks per 9 innings, and his 72.7% quality start percentage was 5th best in the majors. Lee's efforts helped bring Dedham to the precipice of the playoffs, finishing just out with 95 wins. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2008 CDBL CY YOUNG - Scott Baker, SP, Point Lomas Friars ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 2.55 .604 13 7 0 31 31 2 1 205.0 170 66 58 44 176 16 5 The Friars eeked into the Aaron division pennant with 98 victories, and did it with an offense that was below average in runs scored. They won it with pitching, with a league best 3.43 ERA. Baker was the ace of the staff, winning the ERA title at 2.55. Baker was 8th in batting average against, 3rd in on base average against and 4th in slugging percentage against, and his 9.4 runners per 9 innings was 3rd best in the majors. His 80.6% quality start percentage was best in the majors. While Scott Baker won just 13 games, in the games where Baker received no decision his team went an incredible 9-2. ******************************************************************* 2008 CDBL FIREMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD 2nd Runner Up - Grant Balfour, RP, Manhatten Beach Mashers ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 1.99 .465 3 4 40 60 0 0 0 68.0 33 15 15 27 95 4 3 Balfour was a top notch closer for the 97 win Mashers, who earned a league wildcard spot. Balfour saved 40 games, 2nd best in the majors with a 88.9% save percentage, 4th best in the majors. Balfour also finished with a 1.99 ERA and a .465 OPS against. Not much more you can ask of a closr. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st Runner Up - J.P. Howell, RP, Dedham Destroyers ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 1.69 .595 4 5 43 74 0 0 0 85.1 66 17 16 34 96 6 6 The saves crown in 2008 belonged to J.P. Howell of the Dedham Destroyers, who saved 43 games for the 95-game winning Destroyers. Howell logged a workhorse-like 85 1/3 innings with a 1.69 ERA, appearing in 74 games. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2008 CDBL CY YOUNG - Mariano Rivera, RP, Hong Kong Cavaliers ERA OPS W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP 0.79 .400 7 2 35 68 0 0 0 80.0 43 7 7 8 79 4 2 The Venerable Mariano Rivera has logged 268 career saves, 2nd most saves by anyone in league history. In 2008 Rivera saved 35 games, 4th best in the majors for the Hong Kong Cavaliers, who won 101 games and the Gehrig division title. Nobody beat Rivera's 92.1% save percentage. Rivera's 0.79 ERA was best among all relievers with at least 20 innings, and his .400 OPS against was 4th best among the same group (and best of all relievers with at least 60 innings pitched). All that and a 7-2 record in relief.