MLB: Handing Out Some First Half Awards

Now that the first half of the baseball season has officially come to a close, I think it’s time to hand out some hardware for the first half. Let’s look at the MVP’s, the Cy Young award winners, and Rookie of the Year’s for the first half of the baseball season.

American League MVP

Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers.

My preseason pick – Evan Longoria

Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero, and Robinson Cano are all having great years, but Miguel Cabrera is the first half MVP of the American League. Cabrera is leading the AL in RBI (77) and OPS (1.074) and is tied for the league lead in HR’s (22) and average (.346).

Cabrera is trying to become the first player since Carl Yastrzemski in 67′ to win the AL triple crown.

National League MVP

Scott Rolen, Cincinnati Reds

My preseason pick – Hanley Ramirez

The first half NL MVP award comes down to a couple of Cincinnati Reds. I have Rolen as the NL MVP, but his teammate Joey Votto could just as easily win the award.

It just depends on your preference. Do you go with the numbers guy in Votto or the slightly less numbers, but intangible guy in Rolen. I went with the intangible guy in Rolen.

Rolen is the MVP like Kirk Gibson was in 88′ and  Terry Pendleton was in 91′. It’s not the guy with the best numbers that always wins the award.

American League Cy Young

Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox

My preseason pick – Jon Lester

Lester got off to a rough start on the season going 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in his first three starts. However since then, he has gone 11-1 with a 1.90 ERA in his last 15 starts.

On the season, Lester is 11-3 with a 2.48 ERA. He is in the top ten in the AL in wins, ERA, K’s, and WHIP. I give Lester the slight edge in voting over David Price.

National League Cy Young

Josh Johnson, Florida Marlins

My preseason pick – Roy Halladay

This is a real tough call here between Johnson and Ubaldo Jimenez, but I went with Johnson because he leads the NL in ERA (1.70) and WHIP (0.96). Over his last ten games, he has given up a total of six runs. Six!!!

It’s hard not to give the first half Cy Young to a guy who is 15-1 on the year, but record aside, I think Johnson overall is having the better season.

American League Rookie Of the Year

Brennan Boesch, Detroit Tigers

My preseason pick – Brian Matusz

Another tough call. This is a decision between Rangers’ closer Neftali Feliz and Tigers’ OF Brennan Boesch. I went with Boesch because he is having an all world first half.

Boesch ended the first half with a .346 average with 12 HR’s and a .990 OPS. Boesch’s .990 OPS ranks second amongst all AL OF’s.

National League Rookie Of the Year

Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals

My preseason pick – Stephen Strasburg

Strasburg and Jason Heyward have gotten all the hype, but Garcia is very quietly having the best year amongst NL rookies. Garcia is 8-4 and his 2.17 ERA ranks second in the NL.

Other players who were considered for this award were Mike Leake, Ike Davis, and Gaby Sanchez.

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