2010 MLB Awards: Josh Hamilton, Roy Halladay, and Other Winners If I Had a Vote
The MLB year is winding down, players like Josh Hamilton, Roy Halladay, and Joey Votto are putting the finishing touches on their pushes for regular-season awards in addition to playoff berths. The latter is on the minds of most fans with September suddenly turning into October, understandable when eight teams vie for one elusive trophy.
But before that happens, there is other hardware to be handed out.
Both leagues have awards for individual success which often times parlays into postseason success come October. These men were the very best in the sport over the last six months and will now be rewarded. Here are my 2010 MLB award winners.
NL MVP: Joey Votto
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Joey Votto perfectly exemplifies the term Most Valuable Player.
Valuable in a sense that without him the Reds wouldn't have even come close to contending. The MVP is supposed to be the one who means the most to his team's success, that at least is how it's defined. Sometimes though this gets lost in the shuffle of ever-inflating offensive statistics.
Votto has been the driving force of this young team that's on the rise.
His team will see the postseason for the first time since 1995 and he's the main reason why. There is no argument that Votto has all of the qualities of an MVP and may become just the third Canadian-born player to win this distinct award.
The numbers are there for Votto even in a footrace with Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez and St. Louis' Albert Pujols.
Votto has been clutch for Cincinnati and deserves to win this award. This is a remarkable story for a man who was suffering from depression and anxiety issues last season.
AL MVP: Josh Hamilton
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Josh Hamilton's story is perhaps the best in all of sports.
Hamilton was the most highly touted amateur prospect in quite some time when Tampa Bay drafted him first overall in 1999. What they didn't know was that he would never play a game as a Devil Ray. Better yet, his career didn't officially get started until 2007 in Cincinnati.
Hamilton's drug addiction saw him in a helpless state and one that never would result in a career in baseball. His life was never going to be normal again as far as he was concerned, unless he acted instantly. Well, Hamilton was able to prove himself and all his critics wrong and provide us with one of the greatest stories in sports.
This will now come full circle in November when he's most likely announced AL MVP.
His numbers have been off-the-charts this season with a .362 AVG. to go along with 31 HRs and 97 RBI to date. While these may not seem like MVP-worthy numbers in a competitive AL, Hamilton's been Texas' most valuable player in a major pool of talent.
As far as I'm concerned, there are no candidates as worthy as Josh Hamilton this season.
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay
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If Roy Halladay hadn't already locked up the Cy Young by now, he took it for certain this past Monday night in the division-clinching victory in Washington.
Halladay has been the game's best pitcher this season and his numbers do not come close to justifying how well he pitched for Philadelphia. He proved to be the most dominant pitcher this season and should have had far better numbers than he put up.
Halladay went 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA and 219 K's this season. To those who saw him pitch every five days, this record is tainted. He honestly should have won at least 25 games. Yes, I did say that, 25!
The Phillies scored 20 runs for him in those 10 losses and he still made it look pretty damn good. He is the best in the sport because of certain things he does on the mound and how he conducts himself. His ability to get out of jams time after time puzzled me all season long. There was never a situation that Halladay couldn't pitch himself out of, this showed just how good he truly is with a baseball in his hand 60' 6" away from a batter.
Not to mention that Halladay added to the "Year of the Pitcher" campaign with perfection of his own against Florida on May 29.
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AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez
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While there have been many great pitchers this season throughout the league only one was ever dubbed "King." Many will disagree with this pick, but hear me out please.
Felix Hernandez just turned in one of the most dominant pitching seasons we've ever seen, albeit only having a so-so record.
King Felix has compiled 30 quality starts out of a possible 34. This alone is a telling and dominant statistic that shows just what kind of season he had. Keep in mind he pitches for Seattle. Hernandez received just 14 runs of support (14!) in his 12 losses.
Hernandez has made his case all season long, yet now it appears as if many are willing to listen. Hopefully, they are able to come to their senses and see just what the King has done.
NL Manager of The Year: Charlie Manuel
5 of 8Charlie Manuel may not always be the best when it comes to in-game decisions, but no manager knows his players better than Cholly.
Despite having numerous All Stars injured throughout the season, Manuel stuck to his guns and continued to preach to his team to just stay within striking distance of the Atlanta Braves. Easy for him to say now that he knew all along that his Phightins would be able to chase the Bravos down, but that's exactly what happened en route to a fourth consecutive NL East Division crown.
Manuel has pioneered this Phillie dynasty to back-to-back World Series appearances, but this 2010 season is indeed his best work yet. This too may end in a victory parade on South Broad St., though this remains to be seen.
Come back in another month to find that out, but for now, Manuel is a deserving candidate for Manager of the Year, and who knows, he may just win.
AL Manager of The Year: Ron Washington
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Ron Washington has been at the helm of one of the most surprising teams in baseball. His Texas Rangers, led by MVP candidate Josh Hamilton, have the talent to make noise in the playoffs in a tough AL.
Though they have been quiet and sometimes forgotten out in Arlington, Washington has helped maintain a level of comfort in Texas. His style of managing, paired with the talent on his roster were the driving force behind dethroning the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.
Despite his cocaine troubles back in Spring Training, Washington was able to manage the Rangers to AL supremacy. This could lead him to an AL Manager of the Year Award.
NL Rookie Of The Year: Buster Posey
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Buster Posey is currently the dark-horse candidate following fellow rookie sensation, Atlanta's Jason Heyward. But to me, Posey is in fact the clear Rookie of the Year in the NL. He's been the force behind the Giants' playoff push since his call-up in May and looks to carry them in the postseason.
Posey has gotten the attention of the baseball world this season with his great ability at the plate and behind it, too. He calls a solid game for a young catcher and helps manage one of the game's top staffs.
The NL West has been tight all season long, but it finally appears as if Posey's Giants are about to run away with the division. Posey may meet Heyward in Round 1 which starts next week.
AL Rookie of The Year: Neftali Feliz
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Neftali Feliz would give the Rangers an almost-clean sweep of individual awards in the AL (at least judging from my votes.) Feliz came into the mix in light of Frank Francisco's early demise and has been stellar for the AL West leading Rangers.
Now the question arises: Will the post-season pressure be too much for the 22-year-old Dominican to handle?
That is of course if he gets a save opportunity. Feliz moved into the upper-eschelon of closers early on and maintained that status all season long. His 38 saves in 41 opportunities were a blessing for Texas who had late-inning trouble with Francisco in early April. Feliz was able to sweep the closer role from under Francisco and now may ride that to Rookie of the Year.
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