We have some sense of normalcy today on MLB Monday with a legitimate World Series champion, free of most PED-infused drama and deceit. That is a huge relief to us, as it is no fun sorting through the cheating and the lies to find a shred of integrity—in any sport. So, without any more preaching this week, let’s get to it! This was a crazy postseason with a wild finish to a World Series that no one could have predicted coming.

2011 World Series MVP: David Freese, 3B, St. Louis (original); Chris Carpenter, SP, St. Louis (revised)

The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers, playing in their second consecutive World Series after not reaching one for the first 49 years of their existence, in a seven-game matchup that was almost unreal to behold. The Rangers were one strike away from winning it all in Game 6, and like we’ve seen a few times over the years, it all came unraveled for them, and the Cardinals recovered to win yet another MLB title.

The MVP vote went to St. Louis third baseman David Freese (7 RBI, 5 BBs, 1.160 OPS), although both rosters are open here for us to analyze. Freese made an error in the Fall Classic, so we won’t be confirming this award—despite his Game 6 heroics. Cards right fielder Lance Berkman (5 RBI, 5 BBs, 1.093 OPS) is a good candidate, however, as is catcher Yadier Molina (9 RBI, 4 BBs, .830 OPS). Who else can we consider here?

St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter (2-0, 2.84 ERA, 13 Ks, 1.158 WHIP) was good in his three starts (Games 1, 5, and 7), as well. The Rangers don’t have any strong candidates, ironically enough, on either offense or pitching. So, it’s down to Berkman, Molina, and Carpenter. We like either Molina or Carpenter, in truth, due to the former’s defense and the latter’s gritty efforts. But defense didn’t matter as much in this series.

The Cards outscored the Rangers, 38-30, in the matchup, and Carpenter somehow started Game 7 on just 3 days’ rest, winning the game and capitalizing on the Texas demoralization. He also won Game 1, and that kind of bookend victoriousness always plays well. In the Game 5 start on the road, he surrendered just 2 runs in 7 innings of work, so the team loss went to the bullpen there. We go with Carpenter here, for sure.

2011 ALCS MVP: Nelson Cruz, RF, Texas (original); Alexi Ogando, RP, Texas (revised)

The Rangers won their second-straight AL pennant, in six games over the Detroit Tigers, thanks to voted MVP Nelson Cruz (6 HRs, 13 RBI, 1.713 OPS). But the Texas RF is a known PED user, so his impressive statistical performance doesn’t mean shit to us now. We instead grant the hardware to relief pitcher Alexi Ogando (2-0, 1.17 ERA, 10 Ks, 0.652 WHIP). He won the bookend games of the series and dominated.

2011 NLCS MVP: Freese (original, confirmed)

Freese (3 HRs, 9 RBI, .545 BA, 1.691 OPS) had a heckuva a postseason at the plate, winning this trophy as well, as the Cardinals dropped the Milwaukee Brewers in six games to win another NL pennant. But first baseman Albert Pujols (2 HRs, 9 RBI, .478 BA, 1.469 OPS) also cleaned up at the plate. And left fielder Matt Holliday (1.152 OPS) also went to town on Brewers pitching here. Seems ridiculous to pick one of them.

The Cards outscored Milwaukee, 43-26, in the matchup, so what about the St. Louis pitching? Well, no pitcher even reached 10 innings in the series, so we will have to go back to the hitters. Holliday got caught stealing once, so he’s out. Picking between Freese and Pujols is silly; yet we will confirm Freese’s vote win, and not because we took away his World Series MVP above: he had more hits and HRs than Pujols. Simple.

2011 AL MOTY: Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay (original); Jim Leyland, Detroit (revised)

While Tampa Bay Rays Manager Joe Maddon (even-0 PPP) earned the vote win here, there was only one playoff-bound skipper who posted a positive PPP mark—and it was also the highest PPP mark in the league. That would have been Detroit Manager Jim Leyland (plus-6), who helped his team to 95 victories and a 15-game edge in the AL Central Division. After three vote wins, we finally give him a trophy here.

2011 NL MOTY: Kirk Gibson, Arizona (original, confirmed)

The two best candidates here, by far, are Milwaukee Manager Ron Roenicke (plus-6 PPP) and Arizona Diamondbacks Manager Kirk Gibson (plus-6). Both won division titles, the Brewers by 6 games over the Cardinals, and the D’backs by 8 games over the cheating San Francisco Giants. That may seem to favor Roenicke, but Gibson won the vote, and we’re going to confirm that decision for some complicated reasons.

First, Gibson had to beat cheaters, and that’s never easy. Second, the Giants, with the aid of their cheating-enabling manager, got a plus-6 PPP effort there as well, where as the St. Louis skipper (multiple-time winner Tony La Russa) only managed a plus-2 PPP mark. So, Gibson, it is. It sucks that sometimes, no matter what, we cannot escape the dishonesty of the PED Era in this sport. So let it be written …