First Half Awards/Thoughts
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 4:17 am
AL Awards
*MVP: Vladimir Guerrero
The Angels strength is pitching but since this is an offensive award, Guerrero is the most valuable offensive player to a contending team. A-Rod would the runaway winner of this if the Yankees were a little higher in the standings. Ordonez has been amazing but he's just one cog in a well-oiled offensive machine. Can't really pick one guy off the Tigers or Indians and credit them with their success. The Twins are getting big years out of both Hunter and Morneau. For the Red Sox, Lowell could be argued as their first half MVP with Ortiz and Ramirez having below average years for their standards.
*Cy Young: Dan Haren
2.30 ERA, leads the AL; 17 quality starts (19 starts total, 89% quality starts), leads the AL and the Majors; WHIP of 1.00, 2nd in the AL. My runner-up would be Sabathia...having a very strong year numbers-wise.
*Manager of the Year: Mike Hargrove
Can this award go to a guy that doesn't finish the season? Regardless, the Mariners are the biggest surprise in the AL so far. Of the active managers, Eric Wedge would get my vote...the Tribe have improved by 12 games from last year when they were at the All-Star Break.
*Rookie of the Year: Daisuke Matsuzaka
10 wins in the first half of the season, tied for 4th most in the AL. He lost today but has the 3rd most strikeouts in the AL, has a sub 4.00 ERA and has a strikeout to walk ratio of more than 3:1.
NL Awards
*MVP: Prince Fielder
Like father, like son...could Prince repeat what Cecil did by hitting 50 home runs in a season? He's currently on pace for 54 home runs and 130 RBI...Cecil hit 51 homers and drove in 132 runs in 1990 with the Tigers. The Brewers will stay near the top of Central as long as he continues to carry the offense. Matt Holliday is a trendy pick for MVP but Brad Hawpe has similar numbers...less RBI and lower batting average but the same number of home runs.
*Cy Young: Jake Peavy
Leads the NL in strikeouts and is tied with Penny for most quality starts. He's got a better ERA, strikeout to walk ratio, WHIP and opposing batting average than Penny. Chris Young and John Maine are also having underrated starts their season...both could Cy Young contenders down the stretch if they continue with their success.
*Manager of the Year: Ned Yost
The Brewers were a trendy pick to have a breakout year and so far they've lived up to the hype. Their lead in the division is shrinking with the surging Cubs on their tail. Lou Piniella deserve some consideration as well...the Cubs have 9 more wins than they had at this point in the season last year.
*Rookie of the Year: Hunter Pence
The Astros may be having a down season but they may one of the more entertaining young players in baseball on their team. Pence is tied with Holliday for the NL lead in batting average. He's 8th in the NL in OPS.
Second Half Predictions
*The same teams that currently hold the 4 AL playoffs spots will make the playoffs. The Indians will be the Wild Card while the Tigers win the Central Division.
*The NL Wild Card will not come out of the West Division even though three teams occupy the top 5 spots in the standings right now.
*The Yankees will finish with only 85 wins.
*Jake Peavy will win the NL pitching Triple Crown and the Padres will win the West Division.
*World Series Prediction: Tigers over Padres
*MVP: Vladimir Guerrero
The Angels strength is pitching but since this is an offensive award, Guerrero is the most valuable offensive player to a contending team. A-Rod would the runaway winner of this if the Yankees were a little higher in the standings. Ordonez has been amazing but he's just one cog in a well-oiled offensive machine. Can't really pick one guy off the Tigers or Indians and credit them with their success. The Twins are getting big years out of both Hunter and Morneau. For the Red Sox, Lowell could be argued as their first half MVP with Ortiz and Ramirez having below average years for their standards.
*Cy Young: Dan Haren
2.30 ERA, leads the AL; 17 quality starts (19 starts total, 89% quality starts), leads the AL and the Majors; WHIP of 1.00, 2nd in the AL. My runner-up would be Sabathia...having a very strong year numbers-wise.
*Manager of the Year: Mike Hargrove
Can this award go to a guy that doesn't finish the season? Regardless, the Mariners are the biggest surprise in the AL so far. Of the active managers, Eric Wedge would get my vote...the Tribe have improved by 12 games from last year when they were at the All-Star Break.
*Rookie of the Year: Daisuke Matsuzaka
10 wins in the first half of the season, tied for 4th most in the AL. He lost today but has the 3rd most strikeouts in the AL, has a sub 4.00 ERA and has a strikeout to walk ratio of more than 3:1.
NL Awards
*MVP: Prince Fielder
Like father, like son...could Prince repeat what Cecil did by hitting 50 home runs in a season? He's currently on pace for 54 home runs and 130 RBI...Cecil hit 51 homers and drove in 132 runs in 1990 with the Tigers. The Brewers will stay near the top of Central as long as he continues to carry the offense. Matt Holliday is a trendy pick for MVP but Brad Hawpe has similar numbers...less RBI and lower batting average but the same number of home runs.
*Cy Young: Jake Peavy
Leads the NL in strikeouts and is tied with Penny for most quality starts. He's got a better ERA, strikeout to walk ratio, WHIP and opposing batting average than Penny. Chris Young and John Maine are also having underrated starts their season...both could Cy Young contenders down the stretch if they continue with their success.
*Manager of the Year: Ned Yost
The Brewers were a trendy pick to have a breakout year and so far they've lived up to the hype. Their lead in the division is shrinking with the surging Cubs on their tail. Lou Piniella deserve some consideration as well...the Cubs have 9 more wins than they had at this point in the season last year.
*Rookie of the Year: Hunter Pence
The Astros may be having a down season but they may one of the more entertaining young players in baseball on their team. Pence is tied with Holliday for the NL lead in batting average. He's 8th in the NL in OPS.
Second Half Predictions
*The same teams that currently hold the 4 AL playoffs spots will make the playoffs. The Indians will be the Wild Card while the Tigers win the Central Division.
*The NL Wild Card will not come out of the West Division even though three teams occupy the top 5 spots in the standings right now.
*The Yankees will finish with only 85 wins.
*Jake Peavy will win the NL pitching Triple Crown and the Padres will win the West Division.
*World Series Prediction: Tigers over Padres