Hey Leatherheads,
Just calling out to everyone for what their picks (not predictions for the Baseball Writers Association of America . . . screw anyone who says that Jimmy Rollins was MVP last year!) for some of the major awards for this year are.
There's always a ton written about the MVP and Cy Young awards, and we can cover those, for sure (and sort of did a couple weeks ago), but how about the less talked-about awards like Manager of the Year (my guess: Willie Randolph!) and Comeback Player of the Year. While we're at it, why not pick the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards as well? If you'd like to take this opportunity to combine the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards to create All-Star Teams at the end of the season, then that's cool, too. Up to y'all.
I'll wait on you all to see what you've got to say, but it's probably pretty obvious (based on my last post) who I'd pick for AL Comeback.
Here's your chance to be heard (at least by us)!
Finally, post title brought to us by the Dan Bern song "Cy Young" -- a great folk tune.
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8 comments:
AL Cy Young: As much as I want to see Halladay win it, Cliff Lee's earned it.
NL Cy Young: Lincecum. easy.
AL MVP: A little tougher than the Cy Young, I have it between Josh Hamilton and Dustin Pedroia. If Hamilton steps it up over the remaining games and adds to his numbers, he gets it, if not Dustin probably does. Too bad Ian Kinsler and Carlos Quentin got injured...
NL MVP: Probably Pujols. He hasn't done anything too spectacular but that's more of a testament to what he's done in the past because it's pretty difficult to bat .350 and not have it stand out as a completely amazing season. I don't see anyone else really as clearly all around deserving of it. Berkman really tailed off hard, Delgado gets talked about but that's laughable. Ryan Howard has some pretty sick numbers (RBI, HR) but some other numbers are horrible (k's, BA). David Wright, Matt Holliday and Hanley Ramirez should all get votes but I'd still say Pujols... unless we want to base the MVP voting on the last 55 games of the season, then it's probably Manny lolzz.
AL Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon.
NL Manager of the Year: Probably Manuel, maybe Fredi Gonzalez if the Mets flop again.
Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award: Mariano Rivera.
I'm not really sure what the criteria is for Comeback Player of the Year and I'm not sure Baldelli has done enough to warrant it and he'd still be eligible for it next year in my book. A few names I will throw out there are Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora, Jorge Cantu, Carlos Delgado and Kerry Wood. Kerry Wood probably wins it in the NL because ESPN, the BBWAA and America loves him so so much, but I think Huff and Cantu would be mine.
AL ROY: Evan Longoria
NL ROY: Geovany Soto
Oh and sorry for vanishing lately. My PhD program started and I've been pretty busy
Paul --
your picks seem pretty in-line here. i will just note where i think you might be off.
AL CY: Can't say I disagree with you here. Halladay is actually a lot closer to Cliff Lee than most people credit him for (and certainly the BBWAA).
AL MVP: Sizemore
Rolaids Relief Man: I am actually pretty sure that this award is given by a formula? I probably should have noted that in the original post, but whatever. I guess it has to go to K-Rod, but you're probably right, Rivera should win it, although (as much as it pains me to admit it) Papelbon is basically right there with him. Lidge is doing it with Smoke-and-Mirrors, but would carry it for the NL.
Yea, Halladay is extremely close to Lee, and looking at their numbers I honestly don't even know what to base the decision off of. It will go to Lee because of the wins and I suppose it is worth mentioning that Lee only has 2 losses compared to Halladay's 11 which is the only substantive difference between the two (despite the fact that wins and losses really contain no substance). I love Halladay but I'd probably give it to Lee just because the Indians were a joke and to get 22 wins with their bullpen is amazing.
Yea I contemplated Sizemore winning MVP and if he did, I wouldn't be upset. Not to start any batting average vs obp debates but I just think a .300 batting average is sexy. I'm also a sucker for Josh Hamilton's story, and happy endings and crap like that.
Yea I have no clue about the Rolaids award, I just thought it was funny and threw it in there. Although before Papelbon (but after Rivera) I'd suggest Joakim Soria as deserving. And yea, Lidge although I don't see what's so smoke and mirrorish about his stat line.
Is it just me or do you also feel lame for picking the recipients of these awards with like a week left? We should be hardcore and pick the winners for the '09 season
AL Cy Young: Yeah, gotta give it to Cliff Lee
NL CY Young: Sabathia has been amazing, but I have to concede to Tim Lincecum. I know it doesn't matter what he did in the AL but Sabathia was having a mediocre year at best before he went to the Brewers.
AL MVP: I would have to say Dustin Pedroia. He is a great all around hitter and packs some punch. He covered the clean-up spot very efficiently when David Ortiz was injured and has pretty much remained there since Manny Ramirez's departure. Not bad for a guy who's 5'9 180 lbs. It's hard to put him in the same breath as Chase Utley with 2nd baseman, but more years like this, he'll be there in no time.
NL MVP: Well Paul, here's someone who's hit a very quiet .350+ season. It will never happen because how awful and injury-plagued the Braves have been this year but Chipper Jones' numbers (.362 AVG, 21 HRS, 72 RBI) have gone largely unnoticed. If only the Braves were in the playoff hunt (I'm of course glad their not) and he hadn't gotten injured, he would be right in the discussion right now. But Albert Pujols has put up spectacular numbers, with the Cardinals being in contention or not, this guy is the undisputed NL MVP.
AL Manager of the Year: Without a shadow of a doubt, Joe Maddon
NL Manager of the Year: Lou Pinella. The Cubs were supposed to be good, but the second best team in baseball? Pinella has done a great job. Though I gotta say if the Mets win the NL East, it would be hard to not give it to Jerry Manuel. The Mets bullpen is the worst in baseball, yes, even the Cleveland Indians have Rafael Perez and Jensen Lewis to look forward to. But navigating that mess to a playoff birth is truly something amazing.
Relief Man of the Year NL: Brad Lidge. ZERO blown saves in 40 attempts. ZERO! The Phillies bullpen has been okay this year, but without Lidge, they might be behind the Marlins right now.
AL: Yeah, you can't not give it to K-Rod. But I like Joakim Soria. Having zero support but still having 41 saves and a 1.63 ERA is quite amazing and should be recognized.
I wonder what that formula is.
AL Comeback Player of the Year: Aubrey Huff.
NL Comeback Player of the year: Jorge Cantu. This guy was left for dead. If you search Cantu's name in MLB.com, it still says he's the second baseman of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He's having a dynamite year (.279 AVG, 29 HRs, and 93 RBIS) and no one cares.
I can't think of anyone that could unseat Evan Longoria and Geovanny Soto as the rookies of the year.
I dunno Brancat, I thought about Piniella but I figure the performance Fredi Gonzalez is getting out of the Marlins and the 22mil payroll is better than Piniella and however much the Cubs payroll is, although I did hear that it was his decision to put Dempster back in the rotation, have Wood close and some other things which are all looking like pretty sound moves but still, I dunno...
And yea Chipper is batting .360 but won't get 500 at bats this year which hurt him a little, but man when he's healthy he's still just as good as anyone in the game
Soria has been awesome, you guys are right about that.
As far as me thinking Lidge is smoke-and-mirrors, for me, it comes down to his BB/9. I know he strikes out a bunch, which helps him out, but to say he is in a class of the top closers is stupid (which is what he has basically entered).
Tell me if it looks like Lidge is actually pitching all that much better this year than he has the past few? He's stiking out a marginal number more, but also walking an extra half batter. He's increased his infield-flies, which is good (though not necessarily reproducible) and as such as drastically reduced his HR-rate. If his HR-rate and Strand (or LOB as HardballTimes calls it) normalize . . .
As far as Chipper, I hate the guy, he's a great hitter, but he's still not my MVP. An interesting NL MVP discussion here, for those at all interested.
Oh, and by the way, Paul, as far as predicting awards for '09, have at it, Hoss!
AL Cy: Lackey, Halladay
NL Cy: Santana, Lincecum
AL MVP: Mauer, Longoria
NL MVP: Wright, Pujols
What about you guys?
-wal
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