[Ben E Lou]

2004 POST-SEASON REPORT

POTENTIAL FREE AGENTS/CONTRACT EXTENSIONS
1B James Swensen—I sign him to a 5-year deal for $6.25M per year. He looks to be entering his prime. He hit .266 with 32 homers this year.
CL Samuel Marmolejo—He’s 34, and we’ve got the rest of the bullpen all returning. Still, he’s been rock-solid as the closer. I’m able to get him to sign a 2-year deal for $5.5M per year.
2B Ryan Wiens—He was a backup and defensive replacement this year. He accepts a pay cut: 2 years @$1.9M.
LF Earl Birnbaum—Backup LF (6/3/6) signs a 3-year deal for only $900K per year. Nice!
CF Craig Regner—This guy had an .814 OPS in limited use, can play all three OF positions, and was willing to take $500K per year. I sign him.
SP/RP Harry Stickles—He can start or go in relief, and he had a decent year. He accepts $1M for 2 years.
CF Paul Eckhoff—Spent all year at AAA, and really has no hope to play in the bigs for us. He’s outta here.
CF David Martin—Ditto Eckhoff. Gone.

PLAYOFF REPORT
Detroit beats LA in 6 games to win back-to-back World Championships.

SEASON RECAP
Detroit beats Arizona 4 games to 3 to win it all.

American League Rookie Of The Year Award:
Manny Neyra (DET)!
He batted .327 in 520 AB, with 6 homers and 63 RBI.

National League Rookie Of The Year Award:
Harry Reid (MON)!
He batted .263 in 548 AB, with 24 homers and 65 RBI.

American League Cy Young Award:
Arthur Jan (OAK)!
He had a record of 16-10 with an ERA of 1.53 and 3 shutouts.
In 34 games started, he pitched 246.2 innings, fanning 241 and walking 51 batters.
That’s Jan’s 2nd Cy Young Award. The 35-year old has 199 career wins.

American League MVP Award:
Ralph Myler (CWS)!
He batted .312 in 596 AB, with 49 homers and 133 RBI.
Myler’s 27, and appears to be a mega-star in the making.

National League Cy Young Award:
Justin Ward (LA)!
He had a record of 17-4 with an ERA of 1.52 and 1 shutouts.
In 35 games started, he pitched 225.1 innings, fanning 167 and walking 40 batters.
Back-to-back Cy Young seasons or this 32-year old. He’s 50-15 over his last three seasons.

National League MVP Award:
Rodney Jolly (PHI)!
He batted .295 in 567 AB, with 32 homers and 137 RBI.
26-year-old wins the MVP in only his 3rd full season.

American League Gold Glove Award Winners:
Pitcher: Mark Harris (DET)
Catcher: Manny Neyra (DET)
First Base: Emanuel Whaley (MIN)
Second Base: Ronald Demuth (TOR) (AUGGGH!!! I traded this guy away because of his glove!!!)
Third Base: Brock Hettinger (BOS)
Shortstop: Simon Fuentes (MIN)
Leftfield: Hernan Gomez (CWS)
Centerfield: Michael Sylvain (TB)
Rightfield: Jacob Parker (TB)

National League Gold Glove Award Winners:
Pitcher: Dewey Baumer (MON)
Catcher: Filiberto Amezcua (MIL)
First Base: Peter Adams (CIN)
Second Base: Rodney Campbell (ATL)
Third Base: Richard Reel (PIT)
Shortstop: Jay Penning (FLO)
Leftfield: Keith Rosales (COL)
Centerfield: Nathan Bejarano (FLO)
Rightfield: Elmer Connors (NYM)

MANAGER UPDATE

This was a pretty good year. I think I made the owner happy. I more than met his expectation.

Yup. His mood is at 100. Jillian broke up with me. I’ll probably never have a kid in the bigs.…

THOUGHTS
Well, we had several key injuries in the year, and still finished only two games out. If SP’s Baumer and Castonguay come back full speed, we’ll likely be a serious contender once again next year.