2010 MLB Award Predictions: Will Albert Pujols Win Third-Straight MVP?

The 2010 Major League Baseball season is coming to a close, and the candidates for the season awards are becoming more defined by the day.

Here are the predictions for the Manager of the Year, Cy Young, MVP, and Rookie of the Year Awards in both the National and American Leagues.

AL Manager of the Year: Ron Washington

Ron Washington has had the Texas Rangers playing great baseball all season. They have had a large lead for most of the season, and his managerial style can be given credit for their excellent play

Washington edges out Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays to take home the prize.

AL Cy Young: Cliff Lee

Cliff Lee has been nothing short of spectacular this entire season. It doesn’t matter what uniform this guy is wearing; he pitches extremely well wherever he goes.

The Rangers made a splash in acquiring him, and he has done nothing but pitch them closer to the postseason. Having only a 10-7 record, Lee has pitched extremely well and has an out of this world strikeout to walk ratio of 151:11.

Cliff Lee wins the Cy Young ahead of former teammate CC Sabathia.

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera is a threat to be the first Triple Crown winner since 1967. He has put the Tigers on his back and kept them in playoff contention for most of the season.

He has recovered well from his mishaps toward the end of last season, and he should win the MVP.

He wins the award over Josh Hamilton by a close margin.

AL Rookie of the Year: Neftali Feliz

The Texas Rangers have dominated this season, and that shows in the awards. Neftali Feliz has been rock solid at the back end of the bullpen, converting 31 of 34 saves. 

The young flamethrower wins the award over Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch.

NL Manager of the Year: Bud Black

The San Diego Padres have played excellent baseball this season, and it all begins with their manager, Bud Black.

His team was given low expectations for this season, and it is a vast understatement to say that his team has exceeded expectations in 2010.

The Padres have been in control of the NL West this whole season and seem intent on winning the division. Black has kept this team focused and edges Dusty Baker for Manager of the Year.

NL Cy Young: Adam Wainwright

Adam Wainwright has been as steady as they come for 2010. He has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the National League, and he only seems to get stronger as the season goes on. He sports a record of 17-7 with a minuscule ERA of 2.06.

He has kept the Cardinals in contention all season with his superb pitching, and he beats out Ubaldo Jimenez for the NL Cy Young.

NL MVP: Albert Pujols

What else is there to say about this guy? Albert Pujols seems to do this year in and year out.

Although Joey Votto has been having a great season for Cincinnati, Pujols has been up to his usual antics and has turned it on as of late to return himself to the Triple Crown talk. Pujols currently leads the National League in home runs and RBI and is fourth in batting average.

Although Votto is also having a season to remember, Pujols is the best player in the National League and brings home the MVP Award for the fourth time in 2010.

NL Rookie of the Year: Jaime Garcia

Whenever National League rookies are discussed, people tend to think of Jason Heyward and Stephen Strasburg. In reality, the rookie that has stood out from the rest of the pack in 2010 is Jaime Garcia.

He has helped hold down the pitching rotation in St. Louis. He has a record of 10-6 with an ERA of 2.58.

Garcia has been good all year with minimal experience and is the National League Rookie of the Year in 2010 over the preseason favorite Heyward.