Topes Honor Award Winners Berkman, Sabathia

Springfield (AP) - The Springfield Isotopes held a gala dinner on Monday to honor two home-grown talents. Commissioner Beard announced last month that Lance Berkman was the recipient of the Tastes Great NASBL MVP award and C.C. Sabathia won the Tastes Great Cy Young award. This is the first MVP or Cy Young that an Isotope has received and only the 2nd MVP and 1st Cy Young award given to a player outside of New Jersey or Georgia in the past seven seasons.

Berkman came to the Topes as a first round draft pick in 2001 and has been, along with Eric Chavez, the Topes offensive leader since that time. In his seven years with the Topes, Berkman has hit .306 while averaging 100 runs scored, 31 home runs and 106 runs batted in. However, 2007 was a really special one for Berkman. Berkman hit .351 with 110 runs scored, 53 home runs, and 137 runs batted in. "We're just really happy for Lance. He's done everything that we've asked of him since we drafted him, be it playing centerfield, right field, left field, designated hitter, or first base. We've platooned him in some seasons and I think that may be the only reason this is only his first MVP," said Topes GM Doug Sherlag.

"It's a nice honor and I'm glad that the NASBL media finally realizes that they play baseball outside of New Jersey and Georgia, but I still have a sour taste in my mouth from the World Series. I'd give this award back if the cold October wind wouldn't have blown my shot back in the yard versus K-Rod. We've averaged 95 wins since I've been here, and I still haven't won a title. That hurts," quipped Berkman.

Sabathia was the Topes first round draft pick in the following season. Unlike Berkman, C.C. has struggled to be a consistent all-star caliber player. Going into the 2006 season, Sabathia was 44-37 with a career ERA of 5.08. In 2006, Sabathia won 14 games with an ERA a half a run below leage average and in 2007 he had a season for the ages. C.C. went 19-6 with an other-worldly 2.43 ERA, which over two and a half runs better than league average and was the 2nd lowest ERA of any NASBL starting pitcher on record. "This is the C.C. Sabathia that we always knew would show himself one day. He has really turned the corner and as long as the banquet circuit doesn't hurt his weight too badly, C.C. should be able to mirror this succes going forward," quipped Sherlag. "That being said, C.C. has been beat up a little too much by the national NASBL media, especially in New York. This is a guy who was won 77 games in the NASBL and is still only 27 years old."

C.C. also was still smarting from the Topes 2nd defeat to the Spurs in the World Series during his tenure. "Next year, not only will I be celebrating another Cy Young Award, but I believe my teammates will be here with me, celebrating a World Series victory."