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Ramirez, Darvish named 2009 MVPs
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TOKYO, Nov. 18 (19:38) Kyodo
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Yomiuri Giants outfielder Alex Ramirez and Nippon Ham Fighters
right-hander Yu Darvish were named the 2009 MVPs on Wednesday for
their respective leagues.
Ramirez was voted the Central League MVP for the second year in
a row after hitting a league-high .322 with 31 homers and 103 RBIs in
144 games in Yomiuri's run to its third consecutive CL title.
The Venezuelan slugger became the first winner of back-to-back
CL MVP awards since legendary home run king Sadaharu Oh did it from
1976-1977.
Darvish won his second Pacific League MVP award in three seasons.
He had a 15-5 record with a league-best 1.73 ERA in 23 starts
before shoulder and back problems caused him to miss the final three
weeks of the season.
''I was surprised to hear I became the MVP because I couldn't do
anything late in the season,'' Darvish said. ''But overall, I learned
a lot this year through playing in the World Baseball Classic and for
Nippon Ham.''
The Rookie of the Year awards went to Yomiuri outfielder Tetsuya
Matsumoto and Softbank Hawks reliever Tadashi Settsu.
Matsumoto became the second winner of the award, following
teammate Tetsuya Yamaguchi, from players who started their careers on
deals that place them below the official 70-man list of players at
each team under the so-called player development system.
Matsumoto hit .293 with no homers, 15 RBIs and 16 steals in 129
games.
Settsu posted a 1.47 ERA in a PL-high 70 appearances on the
mound.
Meanwhile, five Yomiuri players were named to the CL ''Best
Nine'' season-ending all-star team -- Dicky Gonzales (pitcher),
Shinnosuke Abe (catcher), Michihiro Ogasawara (third base), Hayato
Sakamoto (shortstop) and Ramirez (outfield).
Tony Blanco of the Chunichi Dragons was picked as the best first
baseman after leading the CL with 39 home runs and 110 RBIs.
Nippon Ham also had five players on the Best Nine list --
Darvish (pitcher), Shinji Takahashi (first base), Kensuke Tanaka
(second base), Yoshio Itoi (outfield) and Atsunori Inaba (outfield). |
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