MLB's Six-Week Awards: The Best and Worst of the Baseball Season So Far

Contributor Written on May 21, 2009

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NEW YORK - JULY 13: Tim Raines with his MVP trophy during the 2008 MLB All-Star Week Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game at Yankee Stadium on July 13, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

(Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

So far this year, there have been amazing plays, unbelievable performances, and huge disappointments. But through all the twists and turns of the 2009 MLB season so far, who are the MVPs, ROYs, and Cy Youngs of the season thus far?

This slide show will give you my opinion of the best (and worst) MLB performances six weeks into the MLB 2009 season.

AL MVP: Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 30: Infielder Evan Longoria #3 of the Tampa Bay Rays bats against the Boston Red Sox April 30, 2009 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

So far this season, Longoria is hitting .333 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI. He is following his ROY 2008 season with an even better 2009 one.

Honorable Mention: Carlos Pena, 1B, Rays; Jason Bay, OF, Red Sox; Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers; Torii Hunter, OF, Angels

NL MVP: Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis

CHICAGO - APRIL 17: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats against the Chicago Cubs on April 17, 2009 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Pujols is also having a terrific 2009 season. He is the main reason the Cardinals got out to such a great start. So far this year he already has 13 home runs and 37 RBI.

Honorable Mention: Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Padres and Raul Ibanez, OF, Phillies

AL Cy Young: Zack Greinke, Kansas City

SURPRISE, AZ - FEBRUARY 22: Zack Greinke #23 of the Kansas City Royals poses during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 22, 2009 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

How can it not be Greinke? He has a 0.60 ERA and is 7-1. Oh, and by the way, that one loss was a complete game in which he lost 1-0. He is off to one of the greatest pitching starts of all time.

Honorable Mention: Roy Halladay, Blue Jays

NL Cy Young: Johan Santana, New York

SAN FRANCISCO - MAY 16: Johan Santana #57 of the New York Mets pitches to the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on May 16, 2009 in San Francisco, California. The Mets won 9-6. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Santana is also out to a great start; it is just overshadowed by Greinke. He has 67 strikeouts and a 1.36 ERA. That is the second best in the major leagues. Johan has also been a great pitcher, and he is proving it again this year.

Honorable Mention: Chad Billingsley, Dodgers

AL Rookie of the Year: Andrew Bailey, RP, Oakland

NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Andrew Bailey #40 of The Oakland Athletics in action against The New York Yankees during their game on April 22, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx Borough of New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

He has never played in AAA, yet somehow Bailey is amazing. Through Tuesday he had a 3-0 record with a 1.42 ERA. In 25.1 innings he has 31 strikeouts and only 11 walks.

Honorable Mention: Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays

NL Rookie of the Year: Colby Rasmus, OF, St. Louis

CHICAGO - APRIL 17: Colby Rasmus #28 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats against the Chicago Cubs on April 17, 2009 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Even though Rasmus' numbers so far are not amazing, I still think he has had the biggest impact of any NL rookie. Besides, let's face it, there are not many NL rookies tearing up the league right now.

Rasmus has had a big effect on the Cards thus far, and I expect that to continue down the stretch.

Honorable mention: Dexter Fowler, OF, Rockies

AL Surprise Player: Marco Scutaro, SS, Blue Jays

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 09: Marco Scutaro #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays stands in the dugout before their game against the Oakland Athletics on May 9, 2009 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Scutaro, a career backup, is out to the greatest start of his life. He is tied for the league lead in walks and leads the MLB in runs scored—not to mention he is hitting .283 with five home runs.

He is the catalyst for the MLB's best offense, and he is showing no signs of slowing down.

Honorable Mention: Nick Swisher, OF, Yankees and Torii Hunter, OF, Angels

NL Surprise Player: Orlando Hudson, 2B, Dodgers

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 09: Orlando Hudson #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 9, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

What a pickup for LA. Not only is a he a Gold Glove defender, but he is getting it done with the bat as well. He is hitting .341 and has an OBP of .411.

The Dodgers never could have expected this kind of production from Hudson. Hopefully for LA he will keep it up all year.

Honorable mention: Johnny Cueto, SP, Reds and Jorge Cantu, 1B, Marlins

AL Biggest Disappointment (player): David Ortiz, DH, Boston

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 14: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox walks in the dugout after grounding out for the final out with the bases loaded in the 12th inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on May 14, 2009 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Califor

It was a close one between Ortiz and Chien-Ming Wang for this "award." But in the end, Ortiz came out on top. How can he not win? He STILL HAS NOT HOMERED. Come on Ortiz; you've had 133 ABs.

He also only has 15 RBI and is hitting .203—and this is coming from a cleanup-hitting DH. These numbers would be pathetic even for a backup second baseman.

Dishonorable mention: Chien-Ming Wang

NL Biggest Disappointment (player): Oliver Perez, SP, Mets

NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Oliver Perez #46 of the New York Mets reacts in the dugout after he was taken out of their game against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning on April 26, 2009 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough o

Another huge disappointment. Just a few months ago he signed a three-year, $36 million contact. He must just not be trying any more.

After his first five starts he was 1-2 with a 9.97 ERA. He had also walked 21 batters in 21.2 innings. Then he refused to get sent down to AAA, so he had to be put on the DL. It's just sad watching guys with talent fade away.

Dishonorable mention: Manny Ramirez, OF, Dodgers and Ricky Nolasco, SP, Marlins

Begin Slideshow

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