Cole garners postseason MVP honors

The Livingston Lords of Swing claimed their 3rd DMBL title, becoming the first team in 15 years to win go back-to-back, Gerrit Cole added to his trophy case, and after a lengthy, stellar career Albert Pujols finally got his DMBL ring.

Cole, the 2019 Ben McDonald Award winner, was named postseason MVP, going 3-0 in 5 starts, with wins in each round of the postseason, including the Game 5 clincher in the finals versus Hoboken.

It was a special postseason for a number of reasons. Livingston became the first team to win consecutive since Newark in 2006-2007. It's the 3rd title for the Lords of Swing, who also defeated Hoboken in 2019 sweep. Pujols, the career leader in games played and at-bats and one of only 3 players to win back-to-back McDonald Awards, finally took home a championship ring. The 43-year-old launched his first home run of the 2023 postseason in the 1st inning of the clinching Game 5.

Livingston dispatched Vancouver in first round sweep before taking out Hopatcong in 5 games in the semifinals and then Hoboken in another 4-1 series. Hoboken reached the final by sweeping Sardine City in Round 1 before advancing in 6 games against Arkansas.

Despite 6 shutout innings in a 3-2 Game 1 win against Vancouver, Cole got the no-decision in his first 2023 postseason start. He went 6 innings again in Game 1 of Round 2 against Hopatcong, allowing 2 runs with 7 strikeouts and no walks in a 4-3 victory. In his next start, Cole failed to register a quality start (barely), notching the win while allowing 2 runs over 5 2/3 innings in a Game 4 triumph, 7-4, over Hopatcong. He struck out 9 without walking a batter.

In his 3rd Game 1 start of the playoffs, and 2nd no-decision, Cole allowed 2 runs while walking 4 and striking out 6 over 7 innings in the finals. Livingston pulled out a 3-2 win over Hoboken thanks to an 8th inning single by Pujols that drove in Carlos Correa who earlier tripled. In the Game 5 clincher, Cole tossed 7 1/3 innings, yield just 1 run with 9 strikeouts in the 5-2 win.

Cole finished with a 1.97 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 5 postseason starts (falling 1 out short of 5 quality starts). He finished with 38 strikeouts (2nd to Clayton Kershaw's 39) in 32 innings pitched, which was 1/3 more than Kershaw to lead all pitchers. Kershaw was the only other pitcher with 3 postseason wins (against 2 losses).

Teammate Jacob deGrom had the better WHIP (0.46), ERA (1.13) and absurd 30:1 K/BB ratio but was 2-1 in 3 quality starts. Dylan Cease claimed 1 win in 2 starts while compiling a 0.73 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. Out of the bullpen, Edwin Diaz, acquired in a deadline deal from Blue Ridge, saved 6 of Livingston's 11 postseason victories.

Paul Goldschmidt led all batters with 22 hits -- 7 more than Hoboken's Adley Rutschman -- 9 extra base hits and 35 total bases across 13 games. He slashed .393/.443/.625 thanks to 7 doubles and 2 HRs. He also had the longest hit streak (10), most at-bats (56) and plate appearances (61) - thanks to regularly batting leadoff or 2nd in the Lords of Swing lineup - as well as most Runs Created (15.4).

Juan Soto, the 2019 playoff MVP, led all batters with 11 walks - good thing because he was a woeful 4-for-43 in the postseason (.093/.278/.163). Mookie Betts was tops with 10 runs scored. Driving in runs was a collective effort in Livingston, with Vlad Guerrero, Jr. and Justin Turner leading the team with 8 RBI, followed closely by Goldschmidt and Cedric Mullins, with 7.

Hoboken's Willy Adames led all batters with 12 postseason RBI and tied with rookie teammate Jack Suwinski with a league-high 5 HRs.