If the Major League Baseball season was only 81 games long, who would be the award winners in 2010? An early look at the major award races in the American League and National League at the midpoint of the season. (Stats as of July 8, 2010.)
American League MVP: Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers
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Stats: .347 batting average, 21 HR, 73 RBI in 80 games
He's doing it all for a team that's surged into first place in the American League Central, and most importantly, doing it sober. He cleaned up his act after a disastrous turn of events in September 2009 showed he had a problem. And the impressive power numbers are there despite playing in a pitcher's park. As of July 8, he led the league in batting and RBI and was second in home runs, a true Triple Crown candidate.
The next four: Josh Hamilton, Rangers (.340, 21 HR, 63 RBI); Justin Morneau, Twins (.345, 18 HR, 56 RBI); Vladimir Guerrero, Rangers (.330, 19 HR, 72 RBI); Carl Crawford, Rays (.318, 8 HR, 44 RBI, 29 SB).
National League MVP: Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
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Stats: .303 batting average, 20 HR, 61 RBI in 83 games
By Pujols' standards, this hasn't been his best season. But in a year in which no NL hitter has jumped out and taken the MVP race by storm, he's been the same solid run-producer he always seems to be. He's going for his third consecutive MVP award, something that's only been done by Barry Bonds (2001-04). A fourth MVP award would put him second all-time behind Bonds.
The next four: Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies (14-1, 2.27 ERA); Andre Ethier, Dodgers (.323, 14 HR, 50 RBI); Joey Votto, Reds (.313, 21 HR, 59 RBI); David Wright, Mets (.316, 14 HR, 64 RBI)
American League Cy Young: Cliff Lee, Mariners
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Stats: 8-3, 2.34 ERA, 89 Ks, 6 BBs in 103.2 IP
Lee might be rendered ineligible for this award before too long because he could be headed back to the National League, depending upon which team comes up with the right package to trade with the Mariners. He's been perhaps the lone bright spot in his only season in Seattle for a team came into the season with great expectations but has fizzled. He has just six walks in his first 13 starts - that's two fewer than Edwin Jackson had in throwing a no-hitter against the Rays in June.
The next four: Jon Lester, Red Sox (10-3, 2.76 ERA); David Price, Rays (12-4, 2.42 ERA); Andy Pettitte, Yankees (10-2, 2.82 ERA); Jered Weaver, Angels (8-4, 2.97 ERA, 130 Ks)
National League Cy Young: Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies
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Stats: 14-1, 2.27 ERA, 119 IP, 107 Ks, 84 hits
Jimenez has become a true ace this season, throwing the season's first no-hitter and winning 14 of his first 16 starts for a team that has been just so-so in the first half. His ERA took a leap at the end of June, but he's still on a great pace.
The next four: Josh Johnson, Marlins (9-3, 1.70 ERA); Adam Wainwright, Cardinals (12-5, 2.24 ERA); Roy Halladay, Phillies (10-7, 2.33 ERA); Mat Latos, Padres (9-4, 2.62 ERA)
American League Rookie of the Half-Year: Brennan Boesch, Tigers
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Stats: .341 batting average, 12 HR, 47 RBI in 62 games
Boesch didn't even start the season in the majors, but he's hit like an MVP ever since he was called up in late April. His emergence allowed the Tigers to move Carlos Guillen to plug a hole at second base, and the Tigers are a pennant contender.
The next four: Neftali Feliz, Rangers (1-2, 2.92 ERA, 23 saves); Austin Jackson, Tigers (.306, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 13 SB); Mitch Talbot, Indians (8-7, 3.86 ERA); John Jaso, Rays (.274, 3 HR, 29 RBI)
National League Rookie of the Half-Year: Jaime Garcia, Cardinals
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Stats: 8-4, 2.10 ERA, 94.1 IP, 77 Ks
The Mexico-born Garcia, a great addition to the 1-2 combination of Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, could make the Cardinals a dangerous team down the stretch and in the playoffs if they can find their way into the postseason. Strasburg could make this an interesting Rookie of the Year race in the second half, and might be the favorite if Garcia slips at all.
The next four: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (2-2, 2.45 ERA, 53 Ks in 36.2 IP), Mike Leake, Reds (6-1, 3.38 ERA), Jason Heyward, Braves (.251, 11 HR, 45 RBI); Gaby Sanchez (.301, 9 HR, 38 RBI)
American League Manager of the Half-Year: Ron Washington, Rangers
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It was a rough spring for the Rangers manager, who admitted to using cocaine during the 2009 season. The Rangers, in the midst of owner upheaval (the team's sale is languishing in bankruptcy court) stuck by Washington, a former big-league shortstop, and he has Texas on top of the AL West with a patchwork pitching staff and perhaps the best lineup in the AL, led by the resurgence of Vladimir Guerrero and Josh Hamilton.
National League Manager of the Half-Year: Bud Black, Padres
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The small-market Padres were picked to finish last in the NL West by some, and instead are leading four teams that all have a higher payroll. Black, a former pitcher, has the youngest and perhaps best pitching staff in the league and a lineup that's come through just often enough to hold off the Dodgers, Rockies and Giants so far.
