American League First Half Awards And Predictions

American League: First half awards

With about two weeks until Major League Baseball breaks for its annual All-Star festivities (this year to be held in St. Louis), it’s time to evaluate each league’s performances both from individual and team standpoints.

This piece, highlighting the American League in particular, will offer the traditional MLB awards, and will finish by predicting how each division race/playoffs will play out.

American League MVP: Miguel Cabrera/1B/Detroit Tigers

.331 BA, 16 HR, 47 RBI, .395 OBP

It’s tough to ignore the rapid pace of production out of Minnesota’s Joe Mauer following his return to the Twins’ lineup, but similar to the beginning of the 2009 season, it is my opinion that Cabrera will eventually go on to win the American League’s most prestigious annual award.

As long as the Tigers go on to win the Central division over the Twins, Cabrera should do enough to out-vote Mauer. According to ESPN.com, Cabrera is on pace for 197 hits, 31 home runs, and 103 RBI. These may not be staggering statistics, but when you consider the lack of production surrounding Cabrera, they are actually remarkable.

Normally dependable hitters like Placido Polanco, Curtis Granderson, and Magglio Ordonez have been anything but their normal selves. Detroit finds itself in the division lead because of surprisingly strong starting pitching, but it’s been Cabrera’s consistent bat that has complimented that beautifully.

The Tigers would be a surprising AL Central champion, making Cabrera a slight favorite for the league’s Most Valuable Player.

American League Cy Young: Roy Halladay/SP/Toronto Blue Jays

10-1, 2.53 ERA, 88 SO

The 2009 AL Cy Young race will be one of the closest since 2007 when C.C. Sabathia narrowly bested Josh Beckett.

With pitchers like Zach Greinke, Josh Beckett, Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez, and a few others having some of the best years of their careers, it’s tough for any pitcher to stand out of the crowd, however Roy Halladay is doing just that.

The 32-year-old is again providing Toronto with one of the most statistically dominating performances from a starting pitcher in recent years, something he seems to do annually. On pace for a record of 21-2 and 188 strikeouts, Halladay is widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best pitchers in the game today.

While it’s a shame that this guy is on a team that plays in the toughest division in baseball, making it improbable that he will appear in the playoffs, it just makes his dominance year in and year out that much more impressive.

American League Rookie of the Year: Rick Porcello/SP/Detroit Tigers

8-4, 3.55 ERA, 44 SO

Porcello has been a pleasant surprise for the Detroit Tigers in 2009 who have had plenty of questions regarding their starting rotation, especially following the initial struggles of ace Justin Verlander.

Porcello is on pace for 18 wins in his rookie campaign, and is currently holding opposing hitters to a .266 batting average. As I stated earlier, the Tigers are where they are because of starting pitching, and Porcello has been one of the main reasons for the rotation’s success.

Rick is 7-1 in his last 10 games, with his only loss coming to the league’s best team: the Boston Red Sox.

American League Manager of the Year: Terry Francona/Boston Red Sox

Terry Francona can sometimes be overlooked simply based on the amount of talent on his roster, but also commonly overlooked is the way he goes about utilizing that talent.

Francona has tip-toed his way around injuries to shortstops Jed Lowrie and Julio Lugo, as well as inconsistent play from normally reliable players such as David Ortiz, Jason Varitek, and Daisuke Matsuzaka. He has led his team to the American League’s best record, and a place atop the league’s toughest division, the AL East.

Using players like Nick Green, Mark Kotsay, and the entire bullpen to perfection, Francona has found a way to get the best out of his players, and has once again put his team in prime position for a World Series run.

Breakout performance of 2009: Adam Jones/CF/Baltimore Orioles

.309 BA, 12 HR, 44 RBI, .362 OBP

If you haven’t seen this guy play, it’s about time you found your local team’s schedule and circled the Oriole’s next visit, because this guy’s worth the price of admission. Adam Jones is going to be a star.

The Oriole’s organization is beginning to resemble the Rays club prior to their explosion onto the MLB scene in 2008 in the number of young impact players featured on that roster.

Although only in his third season with Baltimore, and at the ripe age of 23, Adam Jones is already one of the most feared hitters highlighted in scouting reports prepared by opposing clubs.

On pace for 27 home runs and 100 RBIs in 2009, Jones is certainly on his way to being the most recognizable “Adam Jones” in sports.

Watch out “Pac-man.”

Division Finishes-

AL East
1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles

AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Indians

AL West
1. Texas Rangers (in one game playoff over LAA)
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland Athletics

ALDS Results

Boston Red Sox over Detroit Tigers (3-1)
New York Yankees over Texas Rangers (3-2)

ALCS Results

Boston Red Sox over New York Yankees (4-2)