Pennant Winner: Anthony Rizzo

The Chicago first baseman claims his long overdue award as my MLBoyfriend as the Cubs head to the World Series for the first time since 1945.

There were several times during the regular season Rizzo that I considered giving Rizzo the title. He put up some impressive numbers with a very good .292 batting average and an even more impressive .928 OPS including 43 doubles, 4 triples, and 32 home runs. Also, he plays for one of my family's favorite teams, the long-suffering and now powerful Cubs.  With all that and some other qualities I look for in MLBoyfriends, Rizzo seemed like a lock to win it sooner or later.

I took it for granted that he would win in the postseason, so I delayed almost too long. To say Rizzo's October got off to a shaky start is an understatement. In the National League Division Series, he had a pathetic .067 batting average and a sad .176 on base percentage. Then, things went from bad to worse as the Conference Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers began. In the first two games he went 0 for 8, and the only reason his on base for those two games wasn't .000 is that he managed to draw one walk. He didn't get his first hit of the series until Game 3, but still underperformend in the game. Things were looking bad for the Cubs and for Rizzo's chances of becoming my MLBoyfriend.

Then came Game 4. Rizzo and the rest of the Cubs bats not only woke up, but dominated. Rizzo batted in 3 three of the Cubs 10 runs with a solo homer and well-placed single with the bases loaded. In a nice bit of baseball lore, Rizzo broke his slump and hit the homer by borrowing a teammate's bat.

Rizzo started off strong in Game 5 with an RBI double in the first inning. A bunt in the seventh gave him another hit.

NLDS: Conor Gillapsie

My newest MLBoyfriend's season has ended, but as I looked back over the National League's playoffs so far, it was clear that Conor Gillapsie was the one who found a spot in my heart.

Like many baseball fans, Gillapsie caught my attention in the NL Wild Card Game. While past MLBoyfriend winner Madison Baumgarner pitched a humdinger of a game that night--giving up just four hits and no runs in nine full innings--it was Gillapsie's three-run home run in the top of the ninth that scored the winning runs for the Giants.

Current and former MLBoyfriends Gillapsie and Bumgarner bond
after their Wild Card Game win. Also, gratuitous gun show.

It was, as they say, a Cinderella story. Gillapsie was not a star player for the Giants. In fact, he was only in the line up because heavy-hitter Eduardo Núñez (another MLBoyfriend) was injured. In October, anything can happen, and a bench player ended the Mets season in one at bat.

Gillapsie's homer that gave the Giants the Wild Card slot.

ALDS: Josh Donaldson

Congratulations to Josh Donaldson. He has the double honor of being my first postseason MLBoyfriend and the first repeat winner of the title.

Josh Donaldson is clearly happy with his second go-round as my MLBoyfriend.

Even though I have not once but twice named Texas Rangers as my MLBoyfriend, they are my second-most hated team in baseball. (FYI: The Boston Red Sox are clearly the my #1 most hated team, I am a big enough man to give one of them the title.) I was clearly rooting for the delightful Blue Jays to beat the Rangers. Naturally, I was thrilled when Toronto swept Texas in three games--especially because it was Donaldson who delivered the walk-off run in a dramatic fashion.


There were many Blue Jays who contributed to the sweep of the Ranger and that I as candidates for my MLBoyfriend. José Bautista had one home run, scored three runs and had four RBIs in the series. He also showed some class after his home run with a subdued bat drop as opposed to his epic bat flip that sparked a massive brawl between the Blue Jays and the Rangers early in the season. Also, Bautista is definitely looks handsome on the field.

José Bautista

Some might say that Edwin Encarnación was Toronto's MVP in the series--and there is a good case to be made for him with his two home runs, four runs and six RBIs. He showed a bit more bravado after his home runs than Bautista did, and that's okay with me.

Edwin Encarnación celebrates his homer.

Josh Donaldson had a very good series as well even if he didn't hit any of the Blue Jays ten home runs in the three games. He went 4 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs in the first game. The double he hit to get himself into scoring position in the 10th inning of the final game was awfully impressive. Then, he clinched his place as my MLBoyfriend when he dove home to clinch the series win.

Misters October

Fifteen of my MLBoyfriends made it into the postseason. This gives us a great opportunity to take another look at them.

Week 2: Eduardo Núñez, San Francisco Giants
The first entry on this list is bittersweet. I chose Eduardo Núñez as my MLBoyfriend when he was with the Minnesota Twins. As a Twin, he was the best player on a terrible team--but it's my hometown team and they have a special place in my heart. In July, he was traded to the Giants where he has been a very good player on a very good team. Even though he's not on San Francisco's wild card play-in game roster, the move definitely gave Núñez a shot at some postseason play.

Week 3: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
Here's hoping Bryce Harper will be bringing his best hair game to the postseason.

Week 4: Michael Conforto, New York Mets
Michael Conforto's season has been a bit of a roller coaster, but his towards the end earned him a spot on the Mets playoff roster.

Week 6: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
Max Scherzer is the Nats' go-to starter--as witnessed by the fact that he will be pitching in their first game of the postseason.

Week 7: Jackie Bradley Jr., Boston Red Sox
The fact that I chose Jackie Bradley Jr. as my MLBoyfriend despite my longstanding hatred of the Boston Red Sox is a testament to his talent. However, my personal good feelings towards him have a limit, and I hope not to see him on the field for very long in October. Of course, I'd be more than happy to see him elsewhere.

Week 8: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
Congratulations, to Buster Posey for joining the 1,000 Hits Club on September 27th--and doing it in style with a home run.

Week 9: Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
It's no surprise Madison Bumgarner is pitching in the Giants Wild Card play-in game against the Mets. His pitching has outstanding in October.

Week 12: Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
Since I'm a posting after the playoffs have begun, we've already gotten to see Josh Donaldson perform in the postseason--and he was a key contributor to the Blue Jays 11th inning defeat of the Orioles.

Week 13: Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals
Another player with an inconsistent season at the plate, veteran Danny Espinosa comes into the postseason having just broken a cold streak--and is hoping to keep the hitting going in October.

Week 15: Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
Unfortunately, Jacob deGrom underwent surgery in September and will not be able to pitch for the Mets in the playoffs. We look forward to seeing his famous locks back on the mound in 2017.

Week 19: Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers
Yu Darvish won the last game of the regular season in an impressive showing--a quality start with twelve strikeouts and giving up only one run in six innings. Unfortunately, I simply cannot route for his team, the hateful Texas Rangers. Sorry, Boo.

Week 20: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
It's been 112 years since the Cubs win a World Series--which is a really long time--but they are the favorites to win this year. Kris Bryant--a very strong candidate for the National League MVP--is a key player in the Cubs quest to break The Curse of the Billy Goat.

Week 23: Trea Turner, Washington Nationals
Trea Turner inspired my favorite sports headline of the past week: Nobody puts baby-faced Trea Turner in a corner. Not anymore. Could he be the missing piece the Nationals needed to make it into their first World Series? Quite possibly.

Week 24: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
Unfortunately, Baltimore is already eliminated, so we won't be seeing any more of Adam Jones in October. After the game, he showed his heart in calling out a Toronto fan who threw a full beer at fellow Oriole, Hyun Soo Kim, saying "That's as pathetic as it gets." He's a class act.

Week 25: Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers
Elvis Andrus just had the best season of his career; however, I'm hoping his postseason is a repeat of last year (see Yu Darvish, above). While my hatred of the Rangers may be somewhat irrational, I also can't help still liking Elvis.

Thanks to all my MLBoyfriends for a great inaugural season of this blog. Congratulations to the fourteen who made it into the playoffs. Keep an eye out as I will be naming more MLBoyfriends as -the postseason progresses--culminating with my very own Mr. October.

Week 26: Dee Gordon

Dee Gordon secured the title of my MLBoyfriend Monday night when he hit a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first inning.



Gordon's teammate, pitcher José Fernández, had died just the day before in a boating accident. 

Dee Gordon with José Fernández

The Florida Marlins held a tribut to Fernández prior to the game, and then Gordon honored him in the best way possible. Gordon said of the home run:

“I ain’t never hit a ball that far, even in BP. I told the boys, ‘If you all don’t believe in God, you better start.’ For that to happen today, we had some help.”