MLB AwardWatch Week 18

Editorials and reviews for the modern human

12 August 2009 14 views No Comment

And now to your AwardWatch! Not much has changed, except for the new idea of not making the NL MVP contender the lead photo every week. Albert Pujols's photo was getting worn out. Now you can enjoy J.A. Happ's smiling face!

NL:

MVP: Albert Pujols… Nothing new here. Everyone knows that he has been the MVP of the first half and continues to play well. In fact, one of the only other players worth mentioning in this race has been his new teammate, Matt Holliday, who has been unstoppable since returning to the NL. The Cardinals are first in the NL Central thanks to Pujols's power and patience and defense and a host of other machine-like attributes, but Holliday has sure been a good pickup.

Cy Young: Tim Lincecum… The Dodgers looked like the unquestionable choice to win the NL West in the beginning of the season. They still look good, but thanks to some terrific pitching from Tim Lincecum and the rather unheralded Matt Cain, the Giants are making progress. It could be back to back Cy Young for the NL's leader in strikeouts. He gets it done, and its also fun to watch, a key ingredient in winning these sorts of awards. Interestly enough, Lincecum's first inning troubles in the All-Star game were pretty much the fault of the aforementioned first-half MVP.

ROY: J.A. Happ… Colby Rasmus and Randy Wells are also locked in what is starting to look like a three-horse race for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Happ continues to deliver quality starts thanks to his ability to get out of sticky situations (opponents are posting only a .115 batting average with runners on), and if he continues to do so, he may outdistance a slumping Rasmus and Wells.

AL:

MVP: Mark Teixeira… The best player on the best team in baseball has a major claim to this title. He hits a lot of long balls, and his slugging percentage and RBI numbers have been just what the doctor ordered in New York.

Cy Young: Zack Greinke… Greinke has been far and away the best pitcher in the AL this year. His ERA and strikeout totals are off the charts, and he has simply been the most effective player to take the mound for any team on the Junior Circuit. If you were a smart fan, you wouldn't care about that win total.

ROY: Ricky Romero… He barely leads Jeff Niemann and Brad Bergesen, so this could change relatively quickly. Keep an eye on all of these guys. The AL East is loaded with young talent.