The 1999 MWWL Awards are now official. For a list of all the 1999 MWWL Awards please check out the Awards Voting Page.

Southlake’s Jeff Bagwell won the Most Valuable Player in the American League & Chipper Jones of the Baltimore Blue Crabs won the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award.

Fort Worth’s Kevin Brown won his 3rd American League Cy Young & second in a row.  Randy Johnson of Blarney Drive wins his 4th National Leagues Cy Young Award.

Houghton’s Geoff Jenkins won the American League Rookie of the Year & Preston Wilson of the Baltimore Blue Crabs won the National League Rookie of the Year.

Scott Williamson won the American League Rolaids Reliever of the Year for Fort Worth & Steve Karsay of Santa Rosa won the National League Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award.

Managers Jarl Jackson of the World Series Champion Fort Worth Panthers took home the Manager of the Year Award in the American League & Patrick Vukelich of the Blarney Drive Bandits took the honors in the National League.

Written by Jim Craddock 11/11/2022 – 9:00 AM ET

The AL Champion Fort Worth Panthers, winners of the West Division with a 115-47 record, take on the NL Champion Manhattan Gas Hornets, who took the NL East with a 102-60 record. Fort Worth’s road to the Classic went through Castle Rock (a sweep in the ALDS) and Chicago (six games in the ALCS, two of which went extras). Manhattan took six games to knock off Newark in the NLDS, and five games against Winnipeg in the NLCS. Both teams have experience in the Fall Classic, with Fort Worth taking three straight titles in the Eighties (’82-’84), while Manhattan has split their two previous Series appearances, beating Chicago in seven games in 1987, and losing to Corktown four games to two last year.  

CATCHER—Big Advantage to FWP

Ivan Rodriguez (FWP: 144 G, .332 BA, .917 OPS, 199 hits, 35 HR, 113 RBI, 116 runs, 25 SB) combines dynamic offensive production with excellent defense and a shutdown arm. He was the MVP of the ALCS.  Jason Kendall (MAN: .338 BA in 78 games) and Paul Bako form an adequate platoon on a team with plenty of firepower elsewhere.

FIRST BASE—slight Advantage FWP

Fred McGriff (FWP: 144 G, 164 hits, .310 BA, .959 OPS,32 HR, 104 RBI, 30 doubles) anchors the infield with requisite corner production and solid defense, while Tino Martinez (MAN: 152 G, 152 hits, .266 BA,.802 OPS, 34 HR, 121 RBI) supplies elite defense along with plenty of power and RBI. Both are centerpieces, but Martinez is coming off an NLCS in which he had a 1.158 OPS and.350 batting average, almost enough to beat out Jeter for the MVP.

SECOND BASE—Advantage MAN

Homer Bush (FWP:  113 G, 129 hits, .330 BA, .783 OPS, 24 doubles, 32 SB) is a solid starter who provides good defense but can’t match the top-of-the-order spark that Ray Durham (MAN: 150 G, 194 hits, .299 BA, .822 OPS, 133 runs, 32 doubles, 100 RBI, 14 HR, 41 SB) provides for the Gas Hornets.

SHORTSTOP—Advantage MAN

Derek Jeter’s (MAN) season (155 G, 219 hits, .366BA, 1.031 OPS, 153 runs, 109 RBI, 18 HR, 26 SB) would give him the advantage over just about anyone. Plus, he’s coming off an MVP performance in the NLCS. Rich Aurilia (FWP: 136G, .284 BA, .799 OPS, 22 doubles, 20 HR, 80 HR) put up a season that would stack up well against just about anyone else.

THIRD BASE—Slight Advantage FWP

MAN’s tandem of Craig Wilson and Andy Fox are adequate at best with the bat, but provides a steady defense. Wade Boggs (FWP) only played half the season (82 G, .271 BA) but came up with some clutch hits in the ALCS.

OUTFIELD—Slight Advantage FWP

Garrett Anderson (154 G, 196 hits, .325 BA, .908OPS, 99 runs, 28 HR, 119 RBI, 47doubles) is the star of MAN’s outfield squad, followed by Matt Stairs (141 G, 127hits, .813 OPS, 33 HR, 104 RBI). Dave Martinez (136 G, 151 hits, .302BA, .775 OPS, 68 runs, and 68 RBI) rounds out the starting squad. FWP features a top four whose numbers somewhat mirror the MAN group: Gary Sheffield (140 G, 140 hits, 28 HR, 100runs, 103 RBI, .284 BA, .823 OPS); Rondell White (113 G, 121 hits, 25 doubles, 16 HR, 71 RBI, .303 BA, .879 OPS); Doug Glanville (134 G, 171 hits, 36 doubles, 11 HR, 105 runs, 80RBI, 25 SB, .337 BA). The difference may be FWP’s fourth outfielder Tony Gwynn (101 G, 24 doubles, .823 OPS, .331 BA, 51 runs, 58 RBI). 

STARTING ROTATION—Big Advantage to FWP

MAN went with regular season wins leader Sterling Hitchcock (16-10, 3.55 ERA, 30 GS 207.2 IP, 146 K), Juan Guzman (12-11, 4.66 ERA, 32 GS, 199.1 IP, 140 K), and late-season acquisition Todd Stottlemyre (8-4, 3.87 ERA, 18 GS, 120 IP, 66 K) in the NLCS, and it worked out pretty well (although the offense and bullpen may be able to claim more credit), despite pedestrian numbers in the regular season. If they decide to shake things up, John Halama (10-8, 3.46 ERA, 27 GS, 195 IP, 96 K) or Rick Reed (12-8, 5.46 ERA, 28 GS, 160 IP, 109 K) could be viable options. If not, they will add depth to the bullpen. FWP has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the starting rotation. None of the four had more than six regular season losses, and all surpassed 15 wins. Kevin Brown (28-5, 2.38 ERA, 33 GS,238.2 IP, 221 K) is the clear ace, backed by Jose Lima (16-4, 3.08 ERA, 31 GS, 219.1 IP, 144 K), Hideo Nomo(19-5, 4.20 ERA, 29GS, 182.1 IP 118 K), and Todd Ritchie (16-6, 4.79 ERA, 30 GS, 178.2 IP, 107 K). Fifth starter Terry Mulholland (9-4, 3.56 ERA, 24GS, 156.2 IP, 83 K) will deepen a relatively thin bullpen. The numbers indicate a mismatch. 

BULLPEN—Advantage FWP

It’s a good thing FWP has a surplus of starters because it’s a mixed bag getting to lockdown closer Scott Williamson (3-3, 2.18 ERA, 40 SV, 107 K, 70.1 IP, 58 G). Scott Sauerbeck (5-6, 5.86 ERA, 65 G, 66 IP, 5 SV, 55 K) and Mike Jackson (5-5, 4.26 ERA, 60 G, 69.2 IP, 3 SV,38 K) took the lion’s share of the innings, with mixed results. The choices and depth are a little better on the MAN side, with former closers John Wetteland (5-1, 2.90 ERA, 7 SV, 51 K, 46 G, 62 IP) and Norm Charlton (4-0, 4.83 ERA, 54 K, 48 G, 59.2 IP) providing key high-leverage outs, but their top two leaders in saves, Matt Mantei (6-1, 2.89 ERA, 52 K, 14 SV, 56 IP, 46G) and Donne Wall (2-4, 3.01 ERA, 10 SV, 43 K, 56 G, 71.2 IP), are still 16 saves behind Williamson. FWP’s edge at the back end is probably enough to get by if their rotation performs as expected.

OVERALL PREDICTION—FWP in 5 Games

Derek Jeter, Ray Durham, and Tino Martinez will have to work some major top-of-the-order magic to stave off a quick exit against FWP. The Panther rotation can dominate, and the Gas Hornet lineup doesn’t seem deep enough to overcome the Fort Worth pitching advantage.