Guerrero wins Silver Slugger award!!!!!!!!!!!

[SlushyBOB]

Vlad is the man!!!!

http://anaheim.angels.mlb.com/NASApp..._ana&fext=.jsp

Guerrero wins Silver Slugger award
Could be prelude to American League MVP
By Doug Miller / MLB.com


Vladimir Guerrero batted .337 batting average, and led the American League with 124 runs scored.

Vladimir Guerrero's biggest award for his spectacular 2004 season might still be to come, but he picked up a pretty good one along the way Tuesday when he won a Silver Slugger award for the fourth time in his illustrious career.
Hillerich & Bradsby, the company that makes Louisville Slugger bats, instituted the Silver Slugger Award in 1980.

The award goes to the best hitter at each position in each Major League, based on a combination of hitting statistics, including batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage.

Guerrero won it three times as a member of the Montreal Expos, where he played until 2004, when he signed a five-year deal to join the Angels and the American League for the first time in his seven years in the big leagues.

2004 Silver Slugger winners
American League
Pos. Player Team
1B Mark Teixeira Rangers
2B Alfonso Soriano Rangers
SS Miguel Tejada Orioles
3B Melvin Mora Orioles
OF Manny Ramirez Red Sox
OF Gary Sheffield Yankees
OF Vladimir Guerrero Angels
C tie-Ivan Rodriguez Tigers
C tie-Victor Martinez Indians
DH David Ortiz Red Sox
National League
Pos. Player Team
1B Albert Pujols Cardinals
2B Mark Loretta Padres
SS Jack Wilson Pirates
3B Adrian Beltre Dodgers
OF Barry Bonds Giants
OF Jim Edmonds Cardinals
OF Bobby Abreu Phillies
C Johnny Estrada Braves
P Livan Hernandez Expos
Silver Slugger history

Guerrero put any questions about the health of his lower back and how he'd adjust to AL pitching to rest pretty quickly, getting off to a great start in 2004.

But he had an even better finish, posting an incredible month of September to cap his year with a .337 batting average, 39 home runs, 126 RBIs, 206 hits, an AL-leading 124 runs scored, plus a slugging percentage of .598, an on-base percentage of .391 and 39 doubles.

Also, for the first time, Guerrero was the recipient of the Gene Autry Trophy, awarded by his teammates as the Angels' MVP.

"You look at the players in our league, and Vlad has certainly come in and made a statement about the terrific talent he is," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's deserving of any accolades he gets because he's as talented as anyone in the game and more important, he works as hard as anyone in the game."

"It's a treat to watch him play and go about his business every day," Angels shortstop David Eckstein said.

"We wouldn't be nearly as good as we are without him."

Guerrero most likely clinched the award with his incredible performance in a four-game series in Texas late September and the pivotal three-game series in Oakland in which the Angels won the AL West.

Guerrero went 12-for-17 with five homers, eight RBIs and eight runs scored in Texas, then hit a two-run homer in the Angels' clincher in Oakland.

Guerrero's dominance of the Rangers inspired Texas manager Buck Showalter to say, "Guerrero ... Are we facing him tomorrow? Are we done with him? He's something. He's really something."

Guerrero is the second player in Angels history to have a season with at least 120 runs and 120 RBIs, joining Don Baylor (1979), and the second player to hit at least .300 with 30 homers and 100 RBIs, along with Tim Salmon in 1995.

"We would not be pouring champagne and drinking beer right now if it wasn't for Vladimir Guerrero and what he's meant to this team," starter Jarrod Washburn said after the Angels clinched the division title.

"There's no reason he shouldn't win the MVP award."

Guerrero and the rest of the winners receive full-sized, silver-colored Louisville Slugger bats engraved with the year, name, and position.


Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.