It’s awesome that this MLB Monday miniseries will finish up just in time to add the current postseason to the end of it. We didn’t plan it that way, of course, but we’re pleased nonetheless. We have another sad year to tackle, since the Houston Trashstros and their cheating enabler of a manager won the World Series. So, we will sift through the garbage below as best we can. It really is a shame this sport has lost so much soul.

2022 World Series MVP: Jeremy Peña, SS, Houston (original); Framber Valdez, SP, Houston (revised)

Houston beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games to win its second World Series title in six seasons, all under a cloud of ongoing suspicion. The voted MVP was Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, who was a rookie in 2022, and through the 2024 season, he has been a less-than-average hitter. We will take his achievements here in this Fall Classic at face value, even though he was surrounded by cheaters in 2022 on the roster.

However, since he committed an error and got caught stealing, he wouldn’t be our MVP pick, anyway. And there’s no other batter here to choose, really, as one top player was a 2017 Trashstro, and another player provided such bad defense (despite not making an error) that his WPA was negative in spite of good hitting statistics. So, we have to look at the pitchers: Framber Valdez is our pick for the MVP, and we are surprised.

We’re not sure why he wasn’t the original pick, in truth: 2-0, 1.46 ERA, 12 1/3 IP, 18 Ks, 0.892 WHIP. After the Phillies stole Game 1 in Houston over extra innings, he won Game 2 in a must-have situation. Then, with his team up 3-2 in the matchup, he won Game 6 at home, to shut the door on Philadelphia. His dominant efforts weren’t long outings, but they did the trick. We’re righting a historical wrong here, with pleasure.

2022 ALCS MVP: Peña (original, confirmed)

Someone had himself a heckuva postseason, as Houston swept the New York Yankees in the ALCS, and Peña (.353 BA, 2 HRs, 4 RBI, 1.176 OPS) was named the MVP here. We confirm this vote, readily, as no one else on the roster was better, and his defense/base running was clean. No pitcher got two starts, either.

2022 NLCS MVP: Bryce Harper, DH, Philadelphia (original); Kyle Schwarber, LF, Philadelphia (revised)

The Phillies dropped the San Diego Padres in five games to win their first NL pennant since 2009, and designated hitter Bryce Harper (5 RBI, .400 BA) won the MVP vote. But we like left fielder Kyle Schwarber better, since he topped the roster in HRs, walks, OPS, and stolen bases. Oddly, Harper didn’t draw a single walk in this matchup, while Schwarber drew six of them. That’s a big disparity, in addition to the other.

We also could go with SP Zack Wheeler (1-0, 1.38 ERA, 0.385 WHIP, 13 IP, 16 Ks), who won Game 1 on the road and started the decisive Game 5 at home, despite not earning the victory. His seven shutout innings in the opener were followed up by six innings of two-run ball in the last game. If he had gone more innings in the second start, we’d be more inclined to give him the hardware. We will go with Schwarber here.

2022 AL MOTY: Terry Francona, Cleveland (original, confirmed)

The highest PPP mark by the skipper of a playoff-bound team was put up by Cleveland Guardians Manager Terry Francona (plus-4). Even with the team’s 11-game cushion in the AL Central Division, we stick with him as the only other contenders logged mere plus-1 PPP marks. That’s just not enough to win the award. Francona won the vote at the time, his third vote win (2013, 2016). But this is the first time we’ve agreed.

2022 NL MOTY: Buck Showalter, New York (original); Bob Melvin, San Diego (revised)

New York Mets Manager Buck Showalter won his fourth MOTY vote (1994, 2004, 2014) with a plus-2 PPP effort for the co-division champs of the NL East. We assume he won the vote simply because the Atlanta Braves were the defending World Series champs. However, Showalter was outdone by Padres Manager Bob Melvin (plus-3), who managed a tighter line on the way to the postseason. We give Melvin the nod, therefore.

San Diego won only 89 games, with just a few wins to spare for the playoff berth. The Mets won 101 games and could have finished much lower and still reached the postseason. That makes a difference, plus the small edge in direct PPP comparison. Melvin previously won MOTY votes in 2007, 2012, and 2018. Both these guys are great managers, historically speaking, though. Remember that, because it’s important.

Editorial Note: We remember this shoutout to Phillies Manager Rob Thomson in 2022. He may have been the real deserving winner here, but overall, Philadelphia finished right where it was supposed to finish.