Galena, IL--Galena Hamsters shortstop Kevin Stocker, who enjoyed a career
year in 2000, has won the Enterprise League most valuable player award.
Stocker put up incredible numbers for a shortstop, batting .304 with 26 HR
and 121 RBI. He obtained these lofty power numbers despite hitting second in
the order and spending two weeks on the disabled list with a broken wrist.
Most scouts believe moving Stocker from 9th to 2nd in the order was key to
his breakthrough season.
"I definitely saw more pitches to hit batting second," noted Stocker,
"pitchers don't want to walk me, because Chipper [Jones] and Bernie
[Williams] are behind me, so they challenge me and give me something to
hit...and I'd win the battle occasionally."
Stocker also benefited from hitting behind premier leadoff hitter Kenny
Lofton. Notes Lofton, "If I get on base, that's as good as a double or
triple, and it doesn't take much to get me home. Kevin was great at getting
me home and helping us put up early 1st inning leads, and definitely helped
me get 138 runs scored."
Stocker may have been motiviated to have a good season not only for the
chance to win another pennant and world series (which the Hamsters failed to
do this year) but to win a huge contract--Stocker is an unrestricted free
agent this offseason. It's expected Stocker could land a contract in the
$6-7 million/year range, making him one of the highest paid shortstops in
the game, "We know that the market value for Kevin is quite high," noted
Matthew Peck, owner of the Hamsters, "we'd like to have him back. He's a
career Hamster. We're in negotiations right now, but neither side is quite
happy yet." Stocker is reportedly discussing deals with other teams as well.
If Stocker signed with another team, it would be the first MVP free agent
not to re-sign with his old ball club.
"Don't worry," Peck stated to Hamster fans in a press conference, "if
Stocker doesn't return in 2001, we have young Miguel Tejada to take his
place, and don't forget about veterns Noberto Martin and Orlando Miller. We
have a deep club, both at the major league and minor league level. We can
afford to lose a few players."
Peck also hinted at the press conference that other Hamsters may be
available for trade, including leadoff hitter Kenny Lofton, and possibly RHP
Scott Erickson or RHP Carl Pavano, "It all depends on who we lose to free
agency," admitted Peck, "We may have to trade to fill some holes, and quite
frankly, we have a surplus of pitching."
