Congratulations to the Hanshin Tigers for winning the 2003 Central League pennant. It took a while to wrap it up, but it's always better when a team clinches the flag at home as the Tigers did on Sept. 15, a full one month and three days prior to the Oct. 18 start of the only post-season play in this country, the Japan Series.
One of the most interesting results of the season will be the selection of the CL Most Valuable Player. He will come from the Tigers, of course, but due to injuries and several key men missing portions of the schedule, there is not really one outstanding performer who you would call a "shoo-in" as was Randy Bass when he achieved his first of two batting Triple Crowns the last time the Tigers won in 1985.
There appear to be as many as eight viable MVP candidates, all of whom would be deserving of the honor. Let's take a look at each, with stats listed as those through that pennant-deciding game on the 15th: