Quarter-Season Awards

I know it's early, but I think it is time to pass on who I think has the inside track at the MLB Postseason Awards this season. I will not be picking rookie of the year in either league, just because there could be a rookie that hasn't eve played yet that could win it. Typically, these probably will not hold up come June, let alone October, but here it goes anyway:

AL MVP: Magglio Ordonez-- This guy right now has a legitimate shot at the Triple Crown: second in batting average (.358) fouth in home runs (12) and first in RBI (48). Tigers pitching has slipped a bit this year, partly due to the injuries of Kenny Rogers and Joel Zumaya, partly because there was no ungodly way that thier pitching could have another season like they did last year. They are in the thick of it because of their bats this year.

Side note: I'm sure everyone is aware of the urban legend that David Stern suspended Michael Jordan for the 1994-95 seasons for gambling problems. Does anyone think that maybe Bud Selig is doing the same thing to Kenny Rogers for the gunk on his hands in the playoffs? Just throwing it out there.
Runner up: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

AL CY Young: John Lackey, Angels: This is going to be a fun race to watch, considering that in my opinion there are at least 5 pitchcers that can lay claim to this award right now: Lackey, CC Sabathia, Dice-K, Josh Beckett and Dan Haren. Lackey is throwing the best stuff of his career, even though he let Derek jeter run on him in that Gatorade Commercial tops in Wins and in the top three in ERA, Lackey has the benefit of playing the Mariners and Rangers down the stretch to boost both of those numbers.
Runners up: Beckett, CC, Dice-K, Haren



AL Manager of the Year: Eric Wedge, Indians: This is the guy that has had to convince essentially the same team he had last year that they were better than that putrid record they posted a year ago. The Tigers added Sheff, the Bosox Dice-K. The Indians didn't add anyone near that caliber, yet they are one of the top three teams in the American League. Heck, the number Wedge and his staff did with Fausto Carmona should be award-worthy in it of itself.
Runner up: Terry Francona, Red Sox



NL MVP: Matt Holliday, Rockies-- He probably will not win this award, but he deserves it: tops in total bases, hits and runs created, top 5 in average, slugging, extra base hits, and RBI. This kid is doing it in Coors, but he is doing it in different ways you might expect. He's not mashing the ball out of the yard in the thin air, hes knocking guys in and making sure that even though people think that all numbers produced in this park should be taken with a grain of salt, his numbers will stand on thier own as solid production, not just Coors production.

Runner up: Jake Peavy, Padres


NL Cy Young: Peavy, Padres: Did I just give it away?! Peavy is finally having the season that most people were waiting for him to have. The below- .500 pitcher last year lacked a lot of run support. This year, he has taken that completely out of the equation. A 1.47 ERA, a .927 WHIP, 5 hits per nine, and 10.4 strikeouts per nine. These numbers are disgusting. You know what these numbers remind me of (besides the strikeouts)? Greg Maddux. In his prime, these are Maddux numbers. Say, where does Maddux play again? Oh yeah, San Diego. Peavy is just soaking up information from the master on his way out, and is quickly becoming the dominant pitcher that Maddux used to be, plus the strikeouts. That's just disturbing to think about, but it's true.

Runner up: Cole Hamels, Phillies


Manager of the Year: Ned Yost, Brewers: These kids are cooling off, but it is only noticable because they started off so hot. Are they the best team in the NL? No, that's the Mets, or the Braves. But, everyone expected them to play well. The Brewers will be in the playoffs thanks to an incredibly weak divison, and the combination Prince Fielder and JJ Hardy have been awesome this year. Look for this team to contend in future years, especially since it seems they have found the answer in the form of Fransisco Cordero in their bullpen.

Runner up: Bobby Cox, Braves


There you have it, your Quarter-season awards. How many do i think will hold up? Glad you aksed. I will actually rank them for you, as to my confidence that they will stand up.

6. Lackey, AL Cy Young
5. Holliday, NL MVP
4. Ordonez, AL MVP
3. Wedge, AL MOY
2. Yost, NL MOY
1. Peavy NL Cy Young

And notice how I don't have any player/manager from the AL or NL east, the "bias" divisions? You're welcome, that's just my gift to you.