Here's my IBWAA 2018 MLB Season Awards Ballot

Here's my 2018 Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) season awards ballot. Read more about the IBWAA at this link.

American League:

AL MVP	AL CY YOUNG	AL ROY	AL MANAGER	AL RELIEVER
Mookie Betts	Blake Snell	Shohei Ohtani	Alex Cora	Blake Treiman
Mike Trout	Chris Sale	Gleyber Torres	Bob Melvin	Edwin Diaz
Matt Chapman	Corey Kluber	Miguel Andujar	Terry Francona	Craig Kimbrel
Francisco Lindor	Justin Verlander
J.D. Martinez	Luis Severino

National League:

NL MVP	NL CY YOUNG	NL ROY	NL MANAGER	NL RELIEVER
Christian Yelich	Max Scherzer	Ronald Acuna, Jr.	Brian Snitker	Jeremy Jeffress
Freddie Freeman	Aaron Nola	Harrison Bader	Craig Counsell	Jared Hughes
Javier Baez	Jacob deGrom	Walker Buehler	Joe Maddon	Felipe Vasquez
Nolan Arenado	Kyle Freeland
Matt Carpenter	Jameson Taillon

Photo Credit: IBWAA

NY-Penn League News is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Tri-City ValleyCats are the New York-Penn League Champions!

The Tri-City ValleyCats completed a sweep of the New York-Penn Championship series, defeating the Hudson Valley Renegades 4-2 in 12 innings on Sunday night before 2,213 fans at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, New York.

Tri-City finished the regular season with a 42-33 record to win the Stedler Division and swept the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the semi-finals. They won the Championship in 2013 and reached the finals in 2014. Defending Champion Hudson Valley won the McNamara Division with 45-30 record and defeated Auburn in the semi-finals.  Box Score

Source: MiLB.com

Tri-City ValleyCats Logo: MiLB.com
 
NY-Penn League News is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Hudson Valley and Tri-City in Championship Series; Final Regular Season Attendance Numbers

Championship Series: Division Champions HudsonValley Renegades and Tri-City Valley-Cats will play for the New York-Penn League Championship beginning tonight (September 8 at 7:00pm) at Joseph L. Bruno Field in Troy, New York. Ticket information

Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) will be played at Emery and Webb Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, New York on Sunday, September 9 (4:05pm), and Monday, September 10 (6:35pm). Ticket information

Final Regular Season Attendance:

Team	Total	Openings	Average
Aberdeen IronBirds	121,907	35	3,483
Auburn Doubledays	43,343	36	1,204
Batavia Muckdogs	29,005	37	784
Brooklyn Cyclones	202,495	38	5,329
Connecticut Tigers	75,810	37	2,049
Hudson Valley Renegades	148,156	37	4,004
Lowell Spinners	118,319	35	3,381
Mahoning Valley Scrappers	97,204	36	2,700
State College Spikes	119,986	37	3,243
Staten Island Yankees	72,894	35	2,083
Tri-City ValleyCats	140,036	34	4,119
Vermont Lake Monsters	83,956	38	2,209
West Virginia Black Bears	69,430	38	1,827
Williamsport Crosscutters	68,475	36	1,902

Source: MiLB.com

New York-Penn League Logo: MiLB.com
 
NY-Penn League News is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Morning Report for September 6, 2018 - Playoff results from Wednesday night

Playoff Results from Wednesday, August 5:

Hudson Valley Renegades 11 - Auburn Doubledays 5  Attendance: 812   box score
(Hudson Valley leads series 1-0)

Tri-City ValleyCats 9 - Mahoning Valley Scrappers 6  Attendance: 1,869  box score
(Tri-City lead series 1-0)

Schedule for Thursday, August 6:

Auburn at Hudson Valley  6:35pm ET  Ticket Information
 Tri-City at Mahoning Valley  7:05pm ET  Ticket Information

Schedule for Friday, August 7 (if necessary):

Auburn at Hudson Valley  6:35pm  Ticket Information
Tri-City at Mahoning Valley 7:05  Ticket Information


Source: MiLB.com

New York-Penn League Logo: MiLB.com
 
NY-Penn League News is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

By the Numbers: Attendance continues to decline at New York-Penn League games

There is a troubling trend regarding attendance around the New York-Penn League. With the exception of the Williamsport Crosscutters, average attendance at New York-Penn League games has declined since 2015 (see table below). How many teams will be able to survive if this trend continues?

Source: MiLB.com
 
NY-Penn League News is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Tuesday Morning Update for September 4, 2018: Playoffs, Scores from Monday, Final Regular Season Attendance Numbers

First pitch of the last game of 2018 season at Monongalia County Ballpark - Granville, WV

Playoffs are set: Hudson Valley, Mahoning Valley, Tri-City, and Auburn have won spots in this season's playoffs.

Semi-finals: Wednesday, September 5, Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Tri-City ValleyCats and Hudson Valley Renegades at Auburn Doubledays.

Semi-finals:  Thursday, September 6, Tri-City ValleyCats at Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Auburn Doubledays at Hudson Valley Renegades

Semi-finals:  Friday, September 7, Tri-City ValleyCats at Mahoning Valley Scrappers (if necessary) and Auburn Doubledays at Hudson Valley Renegades (if necessary)

Finals  (schedule to be determined)

Scores from Sunday, September 3:

Lowell Spinners 5 - Connecticut Tigers 4 (10 innings) box score
Vermont Spinners 9 - Tri-City ValleyCats 6  box score
Mahoning Valley Scrappers 4 - West Virginia Black Bears 1 (10 innings)  box score
State College Spikes 1 - Williamsport Crosscutters 0  box score
Auburn Doubledays 8 - Batavia Muckdogs 5  box score
Brooklyn Cyclones 5 - Staten Island 4 (10 innings)  box score
Aberdeen IronBirds 8 - Hudson Valley Renegades 7  box score

Final Standings:

McNamara Division

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB	ELIM#	HOME	AWAY	DIV	L10	STRK
	Hudson Valley Renegades (TB)	45	30	.600	-	-	25-13	20-17	16-15	7-3	L1
	Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM)	40	35	.533	5.0	E	22-16	18-19	15-18	5-5	W2
	Staten Island Yankees (NYY)	37	36	.507	7.0	E	20-16	17-20	16-16	3-7	L2
	Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL)	38	37	.507	7.0	E	19-19	19-18	17-15	6-4	W1

Pinckney Division

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB	ELIM#	HOME	AWAY	DIV	L10	STRK
	Mahoning Valley Scrappers (CLE)	42	33	.560	-	-	19-18	23-15	37-27	5-5	W2
	Auburn Doubledays (WSH)	41	35	.539	1.5	E	18-20	23-15	36-28	6-4	W1
	Batavia Muckdogs (MIA)	36	40	.474	6.5	E	15-23	21-17	33-31	6-4	L1
	State College Spikes (STL)	36	40	.474	6.5	E	13-25	23-15	31-33	2-8	W2
	West Virginia Black Bears (PIT)	32	44	.421	10.5	E	19-19	13-25	29-35	7-3	L2
	Williamsport Crosscutters (PHI)	32	44	.421	10.5	E	17-21	15-23	26-38	4-6	L2

Stedler Divison

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB	ELIM#	HOME	AWAY	DIV	L10	STRK
	Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU)	42	33	.560	-	-	21-16	21-17	16-15	5-5	L2
	Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK)	39	37	.513	3.5	E	22-16	17-21	18-14	7-3	W2
	Lowell Spinners (BOS)	37	38	.493	5.0	E	17-20	20-18	14-19	4-6	W3
	Connecticut Tigers (DET)	29	44	.397	12.0	E	19-18	10-26	16-16	3-7	L4

Regular Season Attendance Numbers:

Team	Total	Openings	Average
Brooklyn Cyclones	202,495	38	5,329
Tri-City ValleyCats	140,036	34	4,119
Hudson Valley Renegades	148,156	37	4,004
Aberdeen IronBirds	121,907	35	3,483
Lowell Spinners	118,319	35	3,381
State College Spikes	119,986	37	3,243
Mahoning Valley Scrappers	97,204	36	2,700
Vermont Lake Monsters	83,956	38	2,209
Staten Island Yankees	72,894	35	2,083
Connecticut Tigers	75,810	37	2,049
Williamsport Crosscutters	68,475	36	1,902
West Virginia Black Bears	69,430	38	1,827
Auburn Doubledays	43,343	36	1,204
Batavia Muckdogs	29,005	37	784

Source: MiLB.com

Photo credits: NY-Penn League News
 
NY-Penn League News is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Monday Morning Report a day early: Scores from September 2 and Standings - I'm taking Labor Day Off

Monongalia County Ballpark - Home of the West Virginia Black Bears

Happy Labor Day! Hudson Valley, Mahoning Valley, and Tri-City are all Division Champions. The Auburn Doubledays lead the Brooklyn Cyclones by half a game in the Wild Card Race. Tomorrow is the last day of the regular season. See you at the ballpark!

Scores from Sunday, September 2:

Connecticut Tigers 4 at Lowell Spinners 6 - attendance: 2,475  box score
Tri-City ValleyCats 1 at Vermont Lake Monsters 2 - attendance: 1,491  box score
State College Spikes 9 at Williamsport Crosscutters 1 - attendance: 2,052  box score
Hudson Valley Renegades 19 at Aberdeen IronBirds 3 - attendance: 4,474  box score 
Mahoning Valley Scrappers 7 at West Virginia Black Bears 1 - attendance: 1,672  box score
Brooklyn Cyclones 5 at Staten Island Yankees 4 attendance: 3,250  box score
Auburn Doubledays 4 at Batavia Muckdogs 5 - attendance: 598  box score

Standings:

McNamara Divison

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB	ELIM#	HOME	AWAY	DIV	L10	STRK
	Hudson Valley Renegades (TB)	45	29	.608	-	-	25-12	20-17	16-14	8-2	W4
	Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM)	39	35	.527	6.0	E	21-16	18-19	14-18	5-5	W1
	Staten Island Yankees (NYY)	37	35	.514	7.0	E	20-16	17-19	16-15	4-6	L1
	Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL)	37	37	.500	8.0	E	19-19	18-18	16-15	6-4	L2

Pinckney Division

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB	ELIM#	HOME	AWAY	DIV	L10	STRK
	Mahoning Valley Scrappers (CLE)	41	33	.554	-	-	19-18	22-15	36-27	5-5	W1
	Auburn Doubledays (WSH)	40	35	.533	1.5	E	18-20	22-15	35-28	5-5	L1
	Batavia Muckdogs (MIA)	36	39	.480	5.5	E	15-22	21-17	33-30	6-4	W1
	State College Spikes (STL)	35	40	.467	6.5	E	13-25	22-15	30-33	2-8	W1
	West Virginia Black Bears (PIT)	32	43	.427	9.5	E	19-18	13-25	29-34	7-3	L1
	Williamsport Crosscutters (PHI)	32	43	.427	9.5	E	17-20	15-23	26-37	5-5	L1

Stedler Division

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB	ELIM#	HOME	AWAY	DIV	L10	STRK
	Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU)	42	32	.568	-	-	21-16	21-16	16-14	5-5	L1
	Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK)	38	37	.507	4.5	E	21-16	17-21	17-14	7-3	W1
	Lowell Spinners (BOS)	36	38	.486	6.0	E	16-20	20-18	13-19	3-7	W2
	Connecticut Tigers (DET)	29	43	.403	12.0	E	19-18	10-25	16-15	3-7	L3

Wild Card:

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB	ELIM#	HOME	AWAY	DIV	L10	STRK
	Auburn Doubledays (WSH)	40	35	.533	-	-	18-20	22-15	35-28	5-5	L1
	Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM)	39	35	.527	0.5	2	21-16	18-19	14-18	5-5	W1
	Staten Island Yankees (NYY)	37	35	.514	1.5	1	20-16	17-19	16-15	4-6	L1
	Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK)	38	37	.507	2.0	E	21-16	17-21	17-14	7-3	W1
	Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL)	37	37	.500	2.5	E	19-19	18-18	16-15	6-4	L2
	Lowell Spinners (BOS)	36	38	.486	3.5	E	16-20	20-18	13-19	3-7	W2
	Batavia Muckdogs (MIA)	36	39	.480	4.0	E	15-22	21-17	33-30	6-4	W1
	State College Spikes (STL)	35	40	.467	5.0	E	13-25	22-15	30-33	2-8	W1
	West Virginia Black Bears (PIT)	32	43	.427	8.0	E	19-18	13-25	29-34	7-3	L1
	Williamsport Crosscutters (PHI)	32	43	.427	8.0	E	17-20	15-23	26-37	5-5	L1
	Connecticut Tigers (DET)	29	43	.403	9.5	E	19-18	10-25	16-15	3-7	L3

Source: MiLB.com

Photo credits: NY-Penn League News
 
NY-Penn League News is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Morning Report for Sunday, September 2, 2018: Scores, Standings, Attendance Figures

September 1, 2018 - Monongalia County Ballpark - Granville, WV

Scores from Saturday, September 1:
Williamsport Crosscutters 7 - State College Spikes 3  box score
West Virginia Black Bears 5 - Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2  box score
Tri-City ValleyCats 6 - Vermont Lake Monsters 3  box score
Hudson Valley Renegades 2 - Aberdeen IronBirds 0  box score 
Staten Island Yankees 3 - Brooklyn Cyclones 1  box score
Lowell Spinners 8 - Connecticut Tigers 3  box score
Auburn Doubledays 10 - Batavia Muckdogs 5  box score 

Standings:

McNamara Division

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB	ELIM#	HOME	AWAY	DIV	L10	STRK
	Hudson Valley Renegades (TB)	44	29	.603	-	-	24-12	20-17	15-14	7-3	W3
	Staten Island Yankees (NYY)	37	34	.521	6.0	E	20-15	17-19	16-14	4-6	W1
	Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM)	38	35	.521	6.0	E	21-16	17-19	13-18	4-6	L3
	Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL)	37	36	.507	7.0	E	19-19	18-17	16-14	6-4	L1

Pinckney Division

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB	ELIM#	HOME	AWAY	DIV	L10	STRK
	Mahoning Valley Scrappers (CLE)	40	32	.556	-	-	19-18	21-14	35-26	6-4	W1
	Auburn Doubledays (WSH)	40	34	.541	1.0	2	18-20	22-14	35-27	5-5	W3
	Batavia Muckdogs (MIA)	35	39	.473	6.0	E	14-22	21-17	32-30	6-4	L2
	State College Spikes (STL)	34	40	.459	7.0	E	13-25	21-15	29-33	2-8	L8
	Williamsport Crosscutters (PHI)	32	42	.432	9.0	E	17-19	15-23	26-36	5-5	W1
	West Virginia Black Bears (PIT)	31	42	.425	9.5	E	18-17	13-25	28-33	6-4	W3

Stedler Division

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB	ELIM#	HOME	AWAY	DIV	L10	STRK
	Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU)	42	31	.575	-	-	21-16	21-15	16-13	6-4	W4
	Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK)	37	37	.500	5.5	E	20-16	17-21	16-14	7-3	L1
	Lowell Spinners (BOS)	35	38	.479	7.0	E	15-20	20-18	12-19	2-8	W1
	Connecticut Tigers (DET)	29	42	.408	12.0	E	19-18	10-24	16-14	3-7	L2

Wild Card:

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB	ELIM#	HOME	AWAY	DIV	L10	STRK
	Auburn Doubledays (WSH)	40	34	.541	-	-	18-20	22-14	35-27	5-5	W3
	Staten Island Yankees (NYY)	37	34	.521	1.5	2	20-15	17-19	16-14	4-6	W1
	Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM)	38	35	.521	1.5	2	21-16	17-19	13-18	4-6	L3
	Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL)	37	36	.507	2.5	E	19-19	18-17	16-14	6-4	L1
	Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK)	37	37	.500	3.0	E	20-16	17-21	16-14	7-3	L1
	Lowell Spinners (BOS)	35	38	.479	4.5	E	15-20	20-18	12-19	2-8	W1
	Batavia Muckdogs (MIA)	35	39	.473	5.0	E	14-22	21-17	32-30	6-4	L2
	State College Spikes (STL)	34	40	.459	6.0	E	13-25	21-15	29-33	2-8	L8
	West Virginia Black Bears (PIT)	32	42	.432	8.0	E	19-17	13-25	29-33	7-3	W4
	Williamsport Crosscutters (PHI)	32	42	.432	8.0	E	17-19	15-23	26-36	5-5	W1
	Connecticut Tigers (DET)	29	42	.408	9.5	E	19-18	10-24	16-14	3-7	L2

Attendance:

Team	Yesterday	Total	Openings	Average
Brooklyn Cyclones	7,031	198,001	37	5,351
Tri-City ValleyCats	0	140,036	34	4,119
Hudson Valley Renegades	4,589	139,587	35	3,988
Aberdeen IronBirds	0	121,907	35	3,483
Lowell Spinners	2,511	113,751	33	3,447
State College Spikes	0	119,986	37	3,243
Mahoning Valley Scrappers	0	97,204	36	2,700
Vermont Lake Monsters	2,167	80,787	36	2,244
Connecticut Tigers	0	75,810	37	2,049
Staten Island Yankees	0	69,644	34	2,048
Williamsport Crosscutters	2,041	64,667	34	1,902
West Virginia Black Bears	1,208	66,301	36	1,842
Auburn Doubledays	0	43,343	36	1,204
Batavia Muckdogs	719	27,750	35	793

Source: MiLB.com

Photo credits: NY-Penn League News
 
NY-Penn League News is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.