2010 Baseball Awards Prediction: MVPs
The 2010 MLB baseball season has about one month to go, and I know, while people all over the world are hyped up about football season, as am I, baseball is about to get very, very good. Races for divisions and the Wild Cards are heating up, and so are award races. There are three or four guys who could make a case for each of the awards. First we will take a look at the MVP Candidates in each league.
Most Valuable Player: NL
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Who is the Most Valuable Player in the National League?
See the next 4 slides to find out!
Joey Votto
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The Reds Joey Votto has absolutely dominated all competition this year and is a surprise candidate for MVP 2010. No one would have predicted that the Reds or Joey would have lit it up the way they have so far. He is currently holds these stats:
BA .325 (2nd)
HR 32 (3rd)
97 RBI (1st)
.424 OBP (1st)
To me that looks like a fantastic season and that is why he is currently my front-runner for NL MVP
Albert Pujols
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Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols has had an absolutely phenomenal year. He also belted his 400th career home-run in the process. Pujols is the heart and soul of the Cardinals, who, even though they are slumping, are still deep in the NL Central or Wild Card race. Pujols current stats look like this:
BA .313 (5th)
35 HR (1st)
95 RBI (2nd)
.407 OBP (2nd)
Another fantastic year for Pujols, and while he is generally considered to be a much better player than Votto, and he will continue to be one of the best in baseball for many years, his stats just fall slightly behind Votto's he may mean a little more to his team that Joey does to the Reds but Votto has just had a better year, with Pujols a close 2nd.
Carlos Gonzalez
4 of 11Carlos Gonzalez is kind of the sleeper pick for the 2010 NL MVP award but if you look at his stats and what he has done for this team you wonder why? He has absolutely mashed almost every ball that has come his way and has taken over the Colorado Rockies. His fantasy as well as his real-life values have skyrocketed. He hit for the cycle this year, including a walk-off solo shot in the bottom of the 9th to complete it which he hit into the third deck at Coors Park. His stats look like this:
BA .329 (1st)
30 HR (5th)
92 RBI (3rd)
.364 OBP (16th)
While those stats are extraordinary, they might not win the MVP award but when you consider he has more stolen bases (20) than the other candidates and he has the highest Slugging Pct. in the National League, he should at least compete, if not win the MVP award
Adrian Gonzalez
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I do not see Gonzo winning the MVP award, but I do feel he is one of the most deserving. He leads the Padres in Batting Average, Home Runs, Hits, RBIs, OBP, SLG, and OPS. The Padres are one of the most pitcher-centered teams in the Majors, and their run-scoring abilities have faltered. They are currently slumping but Gonzalez has been the shining star of this offense, a way above average guy and an average offense. The Padres have looked great this year thanks to a fantastic rotation, a lights-out bullpen, a "mopping up" closer, and mainly, Adrian Gonzalez. Take a look at his stats:
BA .299 (10th)
27 HR (8th)
87 RBI (5th)
.388 OBP (8th)
Maybe not the best rankings for one of the best 1st Basemen in baseball, but still very solid stats for a guy that an entire offense is completely centered around, with no other weapons to help him out. The Padres have soared to new heights this year, largely thanks to Gonzo, this years 4th and final NL MVP candidate.
Most Valuable Player: AL
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Who is the Most Valuable Player in the National League?
See the next 4 slides to find out!
Miguel Cabrera
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Miguel Cabrera heads a fierce group of guys looking to take home the hardware in the AL. He has done it all for the Tigers, hit ridiculously well, fielded like a champ, and led the team emotionally as well. He has looked like a guy who has something to prove, with he and his Tigers falling short for the past few years. The former Marlins and current Tigers 1st Baseman has put on a show racking up these outstanding stats:
BA .338 (2nd)
33 HR (t2nd)
107 RBI (1st)
.433 OBP (1st)
Cabrera has raked it in this season and in the four hitting categories I am grading on he sits no further out than 2nd. While the Tigers don't look like a playoff team, Miggy sure looks like an MVP. The question I find myself asking is how would he fair on a team not in need of a superstar, maybe as the Rays 1B? My very own answer, just as well. He is a phenomenal player and is the current front-runner for the 2010 AL MVP award.
Josh Hamilton
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Josh Hamilton was my close, and I mean very close second to Miguel Cabrera for the MVP in the AL. He has come back from an average 2009 to completely wow in 2010. The surprise likely-winners of the AL West have been next to unstoppable this season, and even with a slumping Cliff Lee, the other starting pitchers and mainly the offense have stepped up. Hamilton seems to be the center of this team and has proved he can handle that this season so far having put up these kind of numbers:
BA .361 (1st)
31 HR (4th)
97 RBI (t6th)
.413 OBP (2nd)
Hamilton also leads the league in hits. He has proved he is an elite outfielder this season and I expect him to make a nice run at the MVP award for the rest of the year and maybe even a push next year. For now however, just keep those hits coming.
Robinson Cano
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While maybe not the superstar of the Yankees, he has played a superstar thus far. Cano has gone off time and again, racking up several 4+ hit games. He has been the power central for the Yankees along with fellow right side infielder Mark Teixeira. When the Yankees need clutch power, or just someone to spray line drives to all corners of the diamond, look no further than Robinson Cano, who has put up these stats on the year so far:
BA .321 (5th)
26 HR (t7th)
90 RBI (10th)
.385 OBP (10th)
While only 10th in those categories, consider the fact that Cano plays on the Yankees, the most power packed team in the Majors. And trust me, it's very hard to hit back-to-back-to-back blasts. The Yankees are great in the late innings of games when they need to be. Cano has been one of the most clutch guys they've got, he provides that late spark to lead them to victory. He is becoming an emotional leader in the clubhouse, and is already a stats leader on the field. Cano will continue to dominate and definitely make case for 2010 AL MVP
Adrian Beltre
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The "Oh-So-Fine" pose in the picture above of Adrian Beltre only begins to cover the kind of year he has had. It has been clearly equivalent to the sheer dominance we saw from him in 2004 and much better than just Oh-So-Fine. He has been a bright spot on a Red Sox team filled with injuries and struggles. With Pedroia out for a while, Youkilis having a very good year but missing games, and insecurity at the middle infield positions, the Red Sox have need Beltre to step up to even give them hope of making the postseason. He has done that and more producing this:
BA .321 (4th)
25 HR (t10th)
92 RBI (9th)
.362 OBP (18th)
While those stats don't really WOW anyone, he is 4th in hits, and 7th in both doubles and Slugging %. The Red Sox power has mainly come from him and David Ortiz, but you can also trust that Beltre will put the ball in play frequently. He has been very clutch this year for the Red Sox and has come through in late game, close situations several times on the year. If the Red Sox are healthy next year and the 31 year old Beltre comes back as hot as he is now, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
And The Winners Are...
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And the 2010 NL MVP Winner is:
Joey Votto!
The 2010 AL MVP Winner is:
Miguel Cabrera!
Those are my two predictions for the 2010 MVP Awards. Stay tuned for Cy Young!
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