The Big Maple is going to need a bigger trophy case, and Sugar now needs to get one.
Mariners lefty James Paxton, a.k.a. the Big Maple, was picked Wednesday as the American League’s pitcher of the month for July after going 6-0 and compiling a 1.37 ERA in his six starts.
Closer Edwin "Sugar" Diaz was chosen as the AL reliever of the month after going 0-1 with eight saves and compiling a 1.98 ERA in 13 appearances. He limited opponents to a .163 batting average.
For Paxton, the award comes two days after he was chosen as the AL’s co-player of the week for July 24-30 after winning his two starts and pitching a combined 13 scoreless innings against Boston and the New York Mets.