The American Association Awards
With the regular season ending on labor day and tonight the beginning of the postseason: yesterday was the start of the off-season award announcements. The AA released the leagues best players for each position. On this “all-star” list are two of your Milwaukee Milkmen, Adam Brett Walker & Myles Smith.
YOUR 2021 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION ALL-STARS ⭐️
Record breakers, flame throwers, bomb hitters, and division champions 🔥
Take a bow, boys#WePlayToWin pic.twitter.com/wtfRJ3cw28
— American Association (@AA_Baseball) September 7, 2021
Walker & Smith have been staples of the Milkmen since the clubs first season in 2019. Now the teammates of three years join in on some well deserved recognition.
But there was more hardware to be distributed.
Myles Smith
In addition to earning the all-star spot, the voting committee also announced Smith as the best starting pitcher of the league. Smith led the league in wins (13), strikeouts (134), and was top five amongst qualifying starters for earned run average (3.47).
His best start of the season came on July 16th against the Gary SouthShore Railcats where he threw a complete game shut-out while striking out 10 and yielding only 2 hits.
Will the Starting Pitcher of the Year please STAND UP 🔥@smith21wesson ✖️ @MKEMilkmen pic.twitter.com/DbrvLHwMXG
— American Association (@AA_Baseball) September 7, 2021
Before Smith was converted into a starter, the previous two seasons saw him as a reliable pitcher in relief. In 67 innings Smith struck out 97 and posted ERAs of 2.19 in 2019 & 1.87 in 2020.
One has to wonder with the success of independent pitchers making the jump to the major leagues (i.e. Jake Cousins & Anthony Bender), could we see Myles on a major league team next season? (Hint. Hint. Brewers)
Player of the Year winner to be announced Thursday
The Milkmen could also have the best player in the league for a consecutive season in Adam Brett Walker.
Walker’s case for player of the year is stronger now then his 2020 MVP season. With a slash line of .320/.369/.636, ABW broke the AA single season homerun record with 33. Add in 101 runs batted, 24 stolen bases, and several walk-off hits, Walker is certainty worthy.
But the selection committee on this award has a couple of others to chose from.
One player who should see recognition is Winnipeg’s Kyle Martin who was second to Walker in homeruns but the league leader (and single season record breaker) in runs batted in with 106. His OPS comes out to a solid .980. What may work against him is the fact that the Goldeyes did not make the postseason. Another player that could receive votes is Sioux City’s Jose Sermo who hit 29 homeruns with 86 RBI, and a total OPS of 1.115 (Walker OPS, by comparison, is 1.005). The Explorers also made the postseason as the third seed.
The announcement should be made tomorrow afternoon!
Until then, keep up to date by following the Milkmen, Wisconsin sports heroics, & myself on Twitter @WordOfThe_Weiss!
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Numbers courtesy of Pointstreak.com & the American Association.
