My picks 2009
I guess it's that time of year again. Time to pick my favorites for the postseason awards. I went 6 for 8 last year, missing both of the MVP awards. Not bad, I guess. This year should be different. I'm going to nail them all.
AL MVP: Derek Jeter - There are a lot of people who could potentially win this award this year, and if there's one I may miss, it may be this one. But DJ has had such a great year. He hit .334, had 66 ribbies, 18 dingers, 212 hits, and scored 107 runs. He also had 30 stolen bases. But the most telling, I think, are his.406 on base percentage, his .465 slugging percentage and his .871 OPS. This was a monster year for The Captain, who overtook Lou Gehrig as the Yankee's all-time hits leader. If he doesn't win it this year, I will consider it a robbery.
NL MVP: Albert Pujols - I gotta go with last year's winner on this one. Granted, my reason for going with Ryan Howard last year was that he had his team in the playoffs. He took them all the way to the Series and won it last year. Who knows? He might be able to duplicate that this year. I hope not, but he could. Albert, though, was super human. .327 batting average, 47 taters, 135 RBIs, and a staggering 1.011 OPS. Amazing. No doubt about this one.
AL Cy Young: Zack Greinke - A member of the Royals winning it? You bet. The man was unbelievable. Playing with a team that finished 32 games under .500 and 21 games behind the Tigers, he won 16 games with a 2.06 ERA. He also threw three shutouts and finished second in K's in the American League. I don't think this one is close, either.
NL Cy Young: Chris Carpenter - I could give this to either Carpenter or Adam Wainwright because they both deserve it. But I chose Carpenter because of the comeback aspect of it all. Making just four starts the last two years, he came back and laid waste to the NL by winning 16 games, posting a 2.30 ERA and throwing three complete games, two for 1-hitters. Don't get me wrong. Wainwright will probably win. But my sentimental vote goes to Carpenter.
AL Rookie of the Year: Rick Porcello - I could give this one to Brett Gardner or to a handful of other guys, but I think Porcello handled himself admirably down the stretch. He went 5-2 with an ERA of just north of 3.00 in his last 13 starts. In the 31 starts he had over the full season, he went 14-9 with 89 K's, pitching 170 innings and an ERA just under 4. I think his WHIP is impressive, too, at only 1.34. Not bad for a 20-year old just up from the minors. Not only that, but did you see who the Tigers pitched in that classic tiebreaker, game 163? Yea, Porcello. And he struck out 8 Twinkies.
NL Rookie of the Year: Andrew McCutchen - If Chris Coghlan had kept up his torrid April pace, this would be a no-brainer. Unfortunately for him, he cooled with rise in mercury. McCutchen just kept getting hotter and hotter. He hit .286 with 12 dingers, 54 RBIs and 74 runs. He also logged 22 steals in 27 attempts. He was on base 37 percent of the time, had a slugging average of .471 and an OPS of .836. He also had 9 triples. Can't argue with speed.
AL Manager of the Year: Mike Scioscia - I'd love to give this award to Joe Girardi, but he just has too much talent. His team was supposed to win. I'm sure he will get some consideration for molding the egos on this club into a true team, but Scioscia, as much as I hate to admit it, did a great job this year. His club won the AL West going away (10 games). They finished second to the Yankees in the American League, going 97-65. That's saying a lot, especially when you consider the death of Nick Adenhart, just after the start of the regular season. Scioscia kept the team together and honored the fallen pitcher throughout the season.
NL Manager of the Year: Jim Tracy - I like Joe Torre. I think he's the best manager in the game today. But Joe has talent on his team. Lots of it. Tracy, however, did more this year with less talent than any other manager in baseball. Sure, he's got Barmes, Giambi, Helton, Tulo and Hawpe. But they will never be mistaken for the Dodgers. All Tracy did this year was take an 18-28 team and have them go 74-42 the rest of the way, winning the NL Wild Card. Anyone who can make a team like the Rockies go 74-42 deserves this award.
Comeback Player of the Year: Chris Carpenter - Ok. I should have given the Cy Young award to Adam Wainwright since Carpenter gets my nod here, but doggone it, Carpenter deserves them both. He went 17-4 in 28 starts. He gave up only 7 home runs all year. Walked only 38 and struck out 144 batters. Opposing hitters hit a measly .226 off him. If anyone deserves this award, it's Carpenter.
AL MVP: Derek Jeter - There are a lot of people who could potentially win this award this year, and if there's one I may miss, it may be this one. But DJ has had such a great year. He hit .334, had 66 ribbies, 18 dingers, 212 hits, and scored 107 runs. He also had 30 stolen bases. But the most telling, I think, are his.406 on base percentage, his .465 slugging percentage and his .871 OPS. This was a monster year for The Captain, who overtook Lou Gehrig as the Yankee's all-time hits leader. If he doesn't win it this year, I will consider it a robbery.
NL MVP: Albert Pujols - I gotta go with last year's winner on this one. Granted, my reason for going with Ryan Howard last year was that he had his team in the playoffs. He took them all the way to the Series and won it last year. Who knows? He might be able to duplicate that this year. I hope not, but he could. Albert, though, was super human. .327 batting average, 47 taters, 135 RBIs, and a staggering 1.011 OPS. Amazing. No doubt about this one.
AL Cy Young: Zack Greinke - A member of the Royals winning it? You bet. The man was unbelievable. Playing with a team that finished 32 games under .500 and 21 games behind the Tigers, he won 16 games with a 2.06 ERA. He also threw three shutouts and finished second in K's in the American League. I don't think this one is close, either.
NL Cy Young: Chris Carpenter - I could give this to either Carpenter or Adam Wainwright because they both deserve it. But I chose Carpenter because of the comeback aspect of it all. Making just four starts the last two years, he came back and laid waste to the NL by winning 16 games, posting a 2.30 ERA and throwing three complete games, two for 1-hitters. Don't get me wrong. Wainwright will probably win. But my sentimental vote goes to Carpenter.
AL Rookie of the Year: Rick Porcello - I could give this one to Brett Gardner or to a handful of other guys, but I think Porcello handled himself admirably down the stretch. He went 5-2 with an ERA of just north of 3.00 in his last 13 starts. In the 31 starts he had over the full season, he went 14-9 with 89 K's, pitching 170 innings and an ERA just under 4. I think his WHIP is impressive, too, at only 1.34. Not bad for a 20-year old just up from the minors. Not only that, but did you see who the Tigers pitched in that classic tiebreaker, game 163? Yea, Porcello. And he struck out 8 Twinkies.
NL Rookie of the Year: Andrew McCutchen - If Chris Coghlan had kept up his torrid April pace, this would be a no-brainer. Unfortunately for him, he cooled with rise in mercury. McCutchen just kept getting hotter and hotter. He hit .286 with 12 dingers, 54 RBIs and 74 runs. He also logged 22 steals in 27 attempts. He was on base 37 percent of the time, had a slugging average of .471 and an OPS of .836. He also had 9 triples. Can't argue with speed.
AL Manager of the Year: Mike Scioscia - I'd love to give this award to Joe Girardi, but he just has too much talent. His team was supposed to win. I'm sure he will get some consideration for molding the egos on this club into a true team, but Scioscia, as much as I hate to admit it, did a great job this year. His club won the AL West going away (10 games). They finished second to the Yankees in the American League, going 97-65. That's saying a lot, especially when you consider the death of Nick Adenhart, just after the start of the regular season. Scioscia kept the team together and honored the fallen pitcher throughout the season.
NL Manager of the Year: Jim Tracy - I like Joe Torre. I think he's the best manager in the game today. But Joe has talent on his team. Lots of it. Tracy, however, did more this year with less talent than any other manager in baseball. Sure, he's got Barmes, Giambi, Helton, Tulo and Hawpe. But they will never be mistaken for the Dodgers. All Tracy did this year was take an 18-28 team and have them go 74-42 the rest of the way, winning the NL Wild Card. Anyone who can make a team like the Rockies go 74-42 deserves this award.
Comeback Player of the Year: Chris Carpenter - Ok. I should have given the Cy Young award to Adam Wainwright since Carpenter gets my nod here, but doggone it, Carpenter deserves them both. He went 17-4 in 28 starts. He gave up only 7 home runs all year. Walked only 38 and struck out 144 batters. Opposing hitters hit a measly .226 off him. If anyone deserves this award, it's Carpenter.
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