Garrido Nears Third MVP Award, Triple Crown

By KYLE KEOUGH
CANSECO COURIER

Amidst a staggeringly distinguished and successful career, one of Canseco's most feared hitters is enjoying his most potent season to date.

Needless to say, that empty space next to Al Garrido's two Most Valuable Player trophies on his mantle might soon be occupied.

The 29-year-old catcher for the Cleveland Pronksters has benefited from fast-rising Teddy Spehr's breakout campaign to post career-bests in multiple categories. To date, Garrido has already blasted 69 homers, which stands as a Cleveland record and would rank second all-time, behind only Odalis Rosado's 76 home runs for Scottsdale last season.

He's also notched career bests in runs (134), hits (209), RBIs (169), walks (83), and average (.363). In doing so, Garrido has all but cemented himself as an AL Triple Crown winner.

Garrido's numbers dwarf all competitors, as he leads comfortably in all three categories. The distinction as Triple Crown winner, albeit impressive, would leave only a World Series championship on the Wisconsin native's to-do list.

At 102-56, the Pronksters have a legitimate chance to represent the American League in the World Series. To get there, they'll have to best a bevy of talented AL East squads, among them incumbant AL champ New York. And the feared Anaheim Sluggers, with perhaps baseball's best rotation all season, remain the concensus favorites.

Still, with the now-mythical bat of Garrido in tow, the Pronksters might very well slug their way to the franchise's first World Series title. For a city that has suffered through innumerable postseason disasters, their best chance lies in their MVP superstar bringing his power-hitting theatrics to October.

If things go as planned for the Pronksters, Garrido might very well need a bigger mantle.