It’s getting closer to daylight here on MLB Monday, and we have a tricky bit today that we didn’t expect. However, the front-office architect of the Fenway Frauds was running the Chicago Cubs this season, so we had to take a closer look at some of the award winners in this entry. Better safe than sorry, right? Either way, we do what we do, regardless, so hopefully you will enjoy this next add in our long-running series.

2016 World Series MVP: Ben Zobrist, UTL, Chicago (NL) (original); Jake Arrieta, SP, Chicago (NL) (revised)

The Chicago Cubs won their first Fall Classic in forever, doing it in crazy fashion: extra innings in Game 7 on the road in Cleveland. Super-utility man Ben Zobrist (2 RBI, .919 OPS) won the MVP vote, winning his second consecutive championship ring. But he wasn’t even the best hitter on his own team: that honor goes to first baseman Anthony Rizzo (1 HR, 5 RBI, 1.084 OPS, 1 SB), although there are other candidates as well.

Cubs starter Jake Arrieta (2-0, 2.38 ERA, 15 Ks) pitched very well in winning Games 2 and 6—both being must-win matchups on the road for Chicago, especially Game 6 which was an elimination game. Arrieta has been suspected for a long time in PED whisper circles, but we decided against that assessment a long time ago. He gave up just five hits in two starts, and that makes him more valuable than either hitter above here.

But what about the Indians? The Cubs overcame a 3-1 deficit to win this Series, but Cleveland obviously was doing something right. SP Corey Kluber (2-0, 2.81, 15 Ks) won Games 1 and 4 for the Indians, and he started Game 7 (4 IP, 4 ER). He didn’t factor into the decision, but Cleveland would not have been in the position it was to possibly win it all without his two victories. Alas, though, the extra Game 7 innings hurt his cause.

That doesn’t seem fair, but it is a high-risk, high-reward spot for a guy on his home field. And he didn’t come through with the dominance shown earlier in the matchup. So, we will go with Arrieta here, because after losing Game 1, the Cubs had to win Game 2; and down 3-1, they had to win Game 6 as well. He was dominant in both starts, and there’s not much more you can ask out of a starter in these situations.

2016 ALCS MVP: Andrew Miller, RP, Cleveland (original, confirmed)

Cleveland defeated Toronto in five games to win its first pennant since 1997. We have to remember, too, that the Fenway Frauds first found success with the same manager, so that means skepticism when warranted here. Relief pitcher Andrew Miller (1 save, 0.00 ERA, 14 Ks, 0.391 WHIP) won the MVP vote; his unique pitching capabilities were in their prime here still (at age 31), and we have no reason to doubt his integrity.

No Indians hitter stood out from the pack in this matchup, either, as Cleveland outscored the Blue Jays, 12-8, in this series, holding Toronto to just three runs combined in the four victories. So, we confirm Miller’s vote win, which is quite uncommon in terms of a middle reliever, basically, winning an award like this.

2016 NLCS MVP: Javier Báez, UTL, Chicago & Jon Lester, SP, Chicago (original, tie); Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago (revised)

The Cubs dropped the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games after falling behind 2-1 in the series; we were in Vegas during this matchup, and we remember more money being bet on Chicago after L.A. took the lead in the NLCS. That faith was rewarded with a tie vote for the MVP between UTL Javier Báez and SP Jon Lester. The latter has been pegged already as a probable PED user, so he won’t be under consideration here at all.

And Báez (5 RBI, .833 OPS) made two errors in the field while also being outperformed at the plate by … Rizzo (2 HRs, 5 RBI, 1.010 OPS, 1 SB). No pitcher won two games, and no hitter did any better than Rizzo, so we’re completely re-assigning this award with full confidence. Funny how the voters could have been so off here.

2016 AL MOTY: Terry Francona, Cleveland (original); Jeff Banister, Texas (revised)

Indians Manager Terry Francona (plus-3 PPP) won the vote here, just like he did in 2013. Despite his guilt by association with the Fenway Frauds, we don’t see any real “evidence” of that shite with his Cleveland years. His team won the AL Central by 8 games over the Detroit Tigers, but we have to re-assign this trophy to Texas Rangers Manager Jeff Banister (plus-13), the winner from 2015. That mark won a division title, too.

2016 NL MOTY: Dave Roberts, Los Angeles (original, confirmed)

The only skipper of a postseason qualifier to finish with a positive PPP mark was Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts (plus-1). He won the vote, but was he outdone by any manager of a winning team?! No, which is absolutely shocking. New York Mets Manager Terry Collins (even-0) was the only other skipper of a winning team to not suck in the dugout this season. That’s just crazy when you think about it.