MLB First Half: The NL & AL Award Winners If the Season Ended Today

The Major League Baseball season is closing in on yet another All-Star game, and there have been many surprises so far this year. The Indians were off to a hot start, while the Red Sox started out slumping to a dismal 2-9 record. Players like Matt Kemp and Jose Reyes are carrying their respective teams, and pushing them toward the post-season. 

With all that being said, it's early in the season, but it's always fun to hand out awards based on first half performance. In this article, I'll hand out MVP, Cy Young, Silver Slugger, and Gold Glove Awards. 

AL & NL MVP

AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez 

Gonzalez and his free agent buddy Carl Crawford both started off slow for the Red Sox, but have yet to look back since the 2-9 start. Fenway Park was made for hitters like Adrian Gonzalez, and his numbers will only improve as the season goes on. If that stat line doesn't say it all, then I don't know what will. 

GP	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
78	319	56	114	25	3	16	71	28	55	1	0	.357	.412	.605	1.017

NL MVP: Prince Fielder 

This was the hardest award to give out, due to the fact that there are three viable candidates. Jose Reyes and Matt Kemp are both keeping their teams afloat, and it's hard not to love what both are doing. Fielder gets the edge because of his NL-leading 68 RBI and his .306 AVG, not to mention his 21 homers. 

GP	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
80	278	49	85	19	1	21	68	51	44	0	0	.306	.425	.608	1.033

AL & NL Cy Young

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander

This was another tough award to give out, due to the fact that Jered Weaver has a 1.97 ERA to go along with nine victories. The award goes to Verlander because of his AL-leading 10 wins, 124 strikeouts, and 0.84 WHIP. Verlander has been dominant of late, and his play has helped the Tigers leap frog the Indians into first place. 

NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay 

His partner in crime Cliff Lee is making a strong case for this spot with three consecutive complete game shut outs, but it's been Doc Halladay who's been doing it all year long. Halladay has ten wins on the year and has only given up sixteen walks. The Doc also has five complete games so far this season, which is a rarity in baseball nowadays. Jair Jurrjens has been spectacular has well, but has only pitched 95 innings compared to Halladay's 127.1, which gives Roy the upper hand in my opinion. 

AL & NL SiIver Slugger Awards: Infield

American League

Catcher: Alex Avila

First Base: Adrian Gonzalez 

Second Base: Robinson Cano 

Third Base: Alex Rodriguez

Shortstop: Asdrubal Cabrera 

National League

Catcher: Brian McCann

First Base: Prince Fielder

Second Base: Ricky Weeks

Third Base: Aramis Ramirez

Shortstop: Jose Reyes

AL & NL Silver Slugger Awards: Outfield, Pitcher, and DH

American League

DH: David Ortiz

Left Field: Brennan Boesch

Center Field: Curtis Granderson

Right Field: Jose Bautista

National League

Pitcher: Carlos Zambrano

Left Field: Ryan Braun

Center Field: Matt Kemp

Right Field: Lance Berkman

AL & NL Gold Glove Awards: Infield

American League

Catcher: Matt Wieters

First Base: Mark Teixeira

Second Base: Gordon Beckham 

Third Base: Jack Hannahan 

Shortstop: Asdrubal Cabrera 

National League

Catcher: Chris Iannetta

First Base: Joey Votto

Second Base: Brandon Phillips 

Third Base: Placido Polanco 

Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki

AL & NL Gold Glove Awards: Outfield and Pitchers

American League

Pitcher: Mark Buehrle

Left Field: Sam Fuld

Center Field: Jacoby Ellsbury

Right Field: Torii Hunter

National League

Pitcher: Livan Hernandez

Left Field: Ryan Braun

Center Field: Chris Young

Right Field: Andre Either