The pennant races look like duds this year, but the races for individual awards this year are as close as ever. Handicapping the major awards races:
American League
MVP: Joe Mauer of the Twins is having another terrific year. He's likely to be the batting champion, which is an incredible feat for an everyday catcher (he is the only one to ever achieve the feat, in 2006 and 2008). He also is on pace for more than 30 homers and right around 100 RBI. His competition comes from New York in Mark Teixeira, who is the likely league leader in RBI and homers, as Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena is out for the season. And there's also Derek Jeter, too, who has had one of his best seasons. Prediction - the two Yankees cancel each other out, giving the award to the very deserving Mauer.
Cy Young: Zack Greinke is a fashionable pick, with a 2.19 ERA, but only 13 wins. But considering he plays for an abysmal team in Kansas City, that 13-8 record would translate very well on a team that would give him run support. Felix Hernandez of the Mariners is right there with similar stats, and the big names on contenders are in the running with the Yankees' CC Sabathia, the Red Sox's Josh Beckett and Detroit's Justin Verlander (who should be a shoo-in for comeback player of the year). Will the voters reward a pitcher on a last-place team? This is way too close to call, but if I had to pick a guy to pitch a game for me this season, I'd go with Verlander.
Rookie of the Year: Another wide-open race. Gordon Beckham has emerged as a solid third baseman for the White Sox (.274, 11 HR, 53 RBI). Nolan Reimold of the Orioles has almost identical stats (.279 HR, 15 HR, 45 RBI in about 20 more games). Andrew Bailey (6-3, 24 saves) of the A's has been a good closer in Oakland, but would the voters pick a relief pitcher from a much-ignored, also-ran team? With no real favorite, I like a darkhorse: My vote at this point would be for Detroit's 20-year-old ace in the making, Rick Porcello, who is 13-8 for a probable division winner.
National League
MVP: Like all the division races, this one is already over. Albert Pujols will likely lead the NL in homers and RBI and finish second in hitting. For a first-place team in St. Louis. Lock this trophy down right now.
Cy Young: This is a three-way battle between last year's winner and two Cardinals. Tim Lincecum is having another great season for a surprisingly good team in San Francisco. Chris Carpenter (with an incredible WHIP of 1.00) and Adam Wainwright are both having career seasons in St. Louis, coming back from 2008 injuries. But they could steal votes from each other, so I expect Lincecum to win. But I'd vote for Wainwright.
Rookie of the Year: Another really close race. Two Pittsburgh Pirates have kept their team from being miserable since their call-ups: the dynamic Andrew McCutchen and the powerful Garrett Jones. They give the Pirates two pieces to build around. (But they'll cancel each other out.) J.A. Happ of the Phillies has won 10 games since moving into the rotation in June, and he could be a star in the postseason (maybe in the bullpen) as the Phillies will try to repeat. But my choice is Tommy Hanson of the Braves, who has also won 10 games and is finishing strong - he hasn't given up a run in his last two outings, spanning 15 innings.
Comments
Why do you pick Verlander? Is it because Greinke’s ERA is 1.15 better? Is it because Greinke’s QS% is 18% better or that he has twice as many CG or 3SHO to Verlander’s 1? Maybe it’s because Greinke’s WHIP is .10 better or that his AGS is almost 5 points better than Verlander. Of course, it could be because Grienke has a K/BB that’s a full K better. I mean it couldn’t possibly be because Verlander has more wins because he gets almost 2 runs more support could it?
What do you mean by two candidates cancelling eachother out? If Carpenter and Wanwrigt cancel eachother out, why doesn’t Matt Cain cancel out Tim Lincecum, or why doesn’t Brad Bergesen cancel out Nolan Reimold? I also think that Beckham should be a shoo-in for ROY for these reasons:
1. He was called up to the Major’s after a full two months of the season had already elapsed, and has already put up better numbers than Reimold.
2. He made his Major League Debut exactly one year after he was drafted. When was the last time a rookie made an impact that quickly?
3. In case you haven’t notcied, Rick Porcello has less than 150 innings pitches, and since the all-star break has had a 4.30 ERA. Brad Bergesen would be more deserving if you had to pick a pitcher.
What do you mean by two candidates cancelling eachother out? If Carpenter and Wanwrigt cancel eachother out, why doesn’t Matt Cain cancel out Tim Lincecum, or why doesn’t Brad Bergesen cancel out Nolan Reimold? I also think that Beckham should be a shoo-in for ROY for these reasons:
1. He was called up to the Major’s after a full two months of the season had already elapsed, and has already put up better numbers than Reimold.
2. He made his Major League Debut exactly one year after he was drafted. When was the last time a rookie made an impact that quickly?
3. In case you haven’t notcied, Rick Porcello has less than 150 innings pitches, and since the all-star break has had a 4.30 ERA. Brad Bergesen would be more deservi