2009 MLB Awards: Year in review

Original Article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/239731-predictions-2009-mlb-awards#page/1

Back in August I wrote another article giving my predictions for the winners of the various awards in Major League Baseball. The following will compare and contrast my predictions from the final winners.

AL MVP: Joe Mauer

Prediction: Joe Mauer
Winner: Joe Mauer

This Minnesota Catcher is unbelievable. On top of this years MVP he won another Gold Glove. His Batting average nearly reached .400. He ranked first in BA, SLG,OBP and OPS in the American league.

The unfortunate thing was that he did not receive all the 1st place votes. Out of 28 writers one went against him. Hopefully he either votes with his glasses on next time or doesn't vote at all.

NL MVP: Albert Pujols

Prediction: Pujols
Winner: Pujols

He has recently been comared to Stan Musial and as one of the greatest Cardinals ever. He has had a very decorated career and is still a monster at the plate. He topped the lists in almost every hitting category. Most Notably, 1st in Home runs and OBP. At 29 the future hall of famer can only go up.

AL Cy Young: Zack Greinke

Prediction: Josh Beckett
Winner: Zack Greinke

I know what you are thinking, How did you pick Beckett over Greinke. Well Beckett was doing very well throughout the season and kind of disappeared closer to the end. He was going through a rough patch.

Greinke on the other hand was amazing. 2.16 ERA, 242 SO and he did have 16 wins and 8 losses. Which he makes up for in his great performance being on the team that he has to deal with.

NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum

Prediction: Tim Lincecum
Winner: Tim Lincecum

I'd like to start of by saying this picture made me laugh. It is what marijuana does to you folks. Did not seem to effect his pitching however.

2009 stats: 2.48 ERA, W15-L7, 261 SO.

It gave him his 2nd Cy Young in back to back years but I didn't end up thinking he was very deserving. Look at some of the other guys who had better stats like Chris Carpenter, Dan Haren or Adam Wainwright.

ROTY: AL/NL Bailey & Coghlan

AL Prediction: Rick Porcello/ NL Prediction: Andrew McCutchen
AL Winner: Andrew Bailey/ NL Winner: Chris Coghlan

I had never heard about either of these guys but when I researched them this is what I found.

OAK Reliever Andrew Bailey: 1.84 ERA, 26 SVs and 91 SO

FLA OF Chris Coghlan: .321 BA, 9 HR, 47 RBI, .360 OBP, .460 SLG %
(Coghlan ranked 6th in BA)

MLB awards: Until Next Year

Without counting the ROTY awards I went 3 for 4 in the other awards. Not bad. All of them were well deserving players. They will also be great players for years to come.

Watch the 2010 season to see which of these guys will come back for another title.