Schmidt Pleased To Be Honored By Peers
11/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 5, 2004
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Jason Schmidt figures he probably lost his chance at the NL Cy Young Award when he strained his groin covering first base back in August.
But the San Francisco Giants' ace won another coveted honor Thursday, chosen by his peers as the league's outstanding pitcher as part of baseball's 2004 Players Choice Awards.
"Oh, gosh, I don't know," the humble right-hander said. "I was definitely surprised to win the award. There are guys as deserving or more deserving. When you're selected by your peers, it's one of the greatest honors you can have as a player."
Teammate Barry Bonds was named player of the year in the National League, his record seventh Players Choice Award since their inception in 1992.
Bonds finished his 19th major league season with 703 homers, pulling within 11 of Babe Ruth for second place on the career list. He's expected to reach that mark early next season, then start shooting for home run king Hank Aaron and No. 755.
Bonds had 45 homers and 101 RBIs this season. He won the NL batting title with a .362 average and walked a record 232 times.
"I am deeply honored to have been selected by my fellow players as the recipient of these Players Choice Awards," Bonds said in a statement. "Any time you are honored by your peers, (it) makes an award extra special."
Schmidt went 18-7 with a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts and a team-high 225 innings last season, finishing two wins behind league leader Roy Oswalt of the Houston Astros.
Schmidt, an NL All-Star the past two years, was hurt when he hustled to cover first base on a double play to end the eighth inning against the Montreal Expos on Aug. 17. But the bullpen blew his chance to become the first pitcher in the majors to reach 16 wins, and he won just three times in his final eight outings.
"Definitely at the end of the year I was out of gas, out of energy," said Schmidt, who had the same groin injury during spring training in 2002 and started that year on the disabled list. He also began last season on the DL with shoulder discomfort, unrelated to his offseason elbow surgery.
"It was a battle to make the last two starts, no doubt about it," he said. "Now, I'm getting the rest I need. I'm looking forward to coming back 100 percent at spring training."
In other awards, Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who broke baseball's single-season hits record with 262, was selected as the AL player of the year. Minnesota lefty Johan Santana was the league's outstanding pitcher.
Oakland Athletics shortstop Bobby Crosby was the top AL rookie, while Jason Bay of the Pittsburgh Pirates took the NL award.
New York Yankees pitcher Orlando Hernandez was the comeback player of the year in the AL, and St. Louis right-hander Chris Carpenter won the NL honor.
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Jim Thome won the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award for inspirational performance on the field and in the community. The award is named in honor of the first executive director of the players' association.
