Eastern Conference Most Valuable Player Award
Pujols led his Phantoms team to the playoffs but because of his overusage during the regular season he did not play in the Conference Division series against the Tampa Bay Storm nor did he play against the North Shore Lobsters in the Conference Championship series. The Phantoms defeated the Storm four games to two in the first round but fell, possibly due to Pujols' absence, to the Lobsters in the second round of the playoffs. Despite the playoff series loss to North Shore the Phantoms fans were pleased to watch this spectacular player perform all season and his numbers are nothing less than extraordinary and worthy of the Eastern Conference MVP Award. Western Conference Most Valuable Player Award
Ortiz once again led his team into the American Association playoffs but the Regina Cyclones took out their hopes of reaching the Dauvray Cup finals for the first time. The Crabs managed just one victory in the five game first round series against the Cyclones where Ortiz was somewhat disappointing batting only .211 though he did hit 2 home runs in the series while driving in six runs to lead the Crabs in both offensive categories. The Eureka Crabs downfall in the playoffs was possibly due to their pitching staff but with the offense performing so poorly against the Cyclones the reason for the series loss will continue to be debated. For the regular season, though, David Ortiz was definitely the most valuable player in the Western Conference. Eastern Conference Cy Young Award
Saito was among the league leaders with 11.7 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. He also struck out nearly twice as many batters as got a hit against him. Saito finished 59 of the 63 games that he appeared in and saved 89% of the games in which he had an opportunity to earn the save. Though he blew five save opportunities he did win six games in relief for the Lobsters and posted a 2.70 ERA in his 73 innings pitched. Western Conference Cy Young Award
Papelbon's microscopic ERA of 0.95 was the best in the league among closers and he was lights out when coming into the game with his team in the lead. Papelbon also posted a 5-1 record in relief and struckout twice as many batters as got a hit against him. He was among the league leaders in Inherited Runners Scored allowing just 11.5% against. Jonathan Papelbon had one of the best seasons for a closer in American Association history and his Cy Young Award for 2007 is very well deserved. Manager of the YearDoug Crandall has been the manager of the Omaha Royals since the league began in 2003 and his team has amassed more wins than any other in league history, but this year was a little different as his team won a franchise record 119 times winning the Central Division by 32 games. Doug has always been a terrific manager in the league but this year was special as his team seemed to do no wrong. Only two other teams in league history have put away the second place team in their division by more than 30 games. Those teams were the 2004 Eureka Crabs and the 2005 Regina Cyclones who won 123 games and 118 games respectively. |
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Albert Pujols of the Philadelphia Phantoms had perhaps the greatest season of any player in American Association history. Pujols is also the first player in league history to be awarded a Triple Crown. He batted .336, hit 65 home runs and drove in 163 runs all to lead the Eastern Conference. Pujols also led the conference with runs scored and hits. He finished second behind Carlos Delgado of the Algonquin Indians in runs created and total average. 
David Ortiz of the Eureka Crabs led the Western Conference with 59 home runs and 121 runs batted in. Though he did not lead the conference in hitting, he still had an outstanding batting average hitting .309. Ortiz' total batting average of 1.279 was second only to Travis Hafner of the Syrup City Biscuits who tallied a whopping 1.350 total average. 
Takashi Saito was awarded the Eastern Conference Cy Young Award for the 2007 season. Saito recorded a league leading 44 saves for the North Shore Lobsters and helped the Lobsters to win their division and make it through the playoffs all the way to the Dauvray Cup finals against the Regina Cyclones.
Jonathan Papelbon was awarded the Western Conference Cy Young Award for the 2007 season. Papelbon plays with a lot of emotion and his antics are well known in the Biscuits locker room but the way he pitched in 2007 was no joke at all. Papelbon recorded a perfect 40 for 40 save record for the season and finished every game he appeared in for the Syrup City Biscuits.