I’m stumped. With the CFL and MLB regular seasons both winding down, I find myself in an unusual frame of mind, mysteriously unable to choose MVPs. Historically, I’m a know-it-all and an opinionated SOB with a penchant for making up my mind, whether you like it or not.
This year, though, I need your assistance. I’m told there are more than a million readers of Metro newspapers in Canada these days — not even including the online dudes — and it’s become clear that many (most?) of you have opinions, and so I need help (no smart-ass remarks, please). Let me know who you consider the top player in the CFL and/or MLB for 2006.
In the CFL, is it B.C.’s Geroy Simon, Calgary’s Joffrey Reynolds or Henry Burris in the West? And is it Winnipeg’s Charles Roberts or Toronto’s Arland Bruce in the East? Or does someone else come to mind?
In baseball, is it Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard, the Mets’ Carlos Beltran or the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols in the NL? And is it the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, Boston’s David Ortiz or Minnesota’s Justin Morneau (a Canadian!) in the AL? Or does someone else come to mind?
Email me at myork@metronews.cawith your picks. Please include a brief explanation and I’ll print the results and the best one-liners in my Friday column.
• Wally Buono’s logic for ordering Paul McCallum to punt for a single point instead of attempting a field goal on what would have been a gamewinning play in overtime against Saskatchewan Sunday: “You can have trouble with the exchange, the placement, or hit the crossbar on a field goal,” the Lions’ head coach explained, and he’s right.
McCallum simply squandered the victory by failing to punt out of bounds in the end zone, and the Roughriders proceeded to win.
What may cause more problems now for Buono than his single-versus-fieldgoal strategy was his decision to use backup quarterback Buck Pierce late in the game instead of Dave Dickenson, the CFL’s highest- paid player. That’s asking for a QB controversy.
• In baseball, Baltimore plans to pursue Alfonso Soriano and — brace yourself — Barry Bonds in the off-season … Joe Girardi, will be fired as manager of Florida and will be succeeded by his third-base coach, Fredi Gonzalez, although Hall of Famer Gary Carter is lobbying for the job … Boston will dump second baseman Mark Loretta because the suddenly economic-minded Red Sox can save $4-million US by using youngster Dustin Pedroia instead … With a $1.3-million signing bonus, Seattle quietly has signed a 16-year-old phenom from the Dominican, shortstop Carlos Truinfel.
Marty York’s column appears Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Listen for Marty on The ROCK 94.9 FM, Monday and Friday at 8:40 a.m.
