Milwaukee Brewers: Handing Out MVP, Cy Young And Other Regular Season Awards

Unlike seasons past, 2011 has been an all-round success story for the Milwaukee Brewers.  Under the authority of rookie manager Ron Roenicke, the Brewers have taken hold of the NL Central by storm.

With the help of a few offseason acquisitions and noteworthy deadline trades, Milwaukee will, barring some epic meltdown, capture their first divisional title since making the switch to the National League back in 1998.

It's been a memorable season for the Brewers by all accounts, but which players have had the most prominent success?

Let's hand out a few noteworthy regular-season awards with just a handful of games left in the regular season.

Alec Dopp is a Milwaukee Brewers featured columnist on Bleacher Report.  Follow him on Twitter: @alecdopp, and read his Brewers blog, Brewers Rumors.

Best Player Acquired Via Free Agency or Trade: Shaun Marcum

GM Doug Melvin clearly saw something special when he sought to trade for Marcum in the offseason.

The former Toronto Blue Jay has anchored Milwaukee's refurbished 2011 rotation to the tune of a 12-6 combined record, 3.25 ERA (first among Brewers starters) and 145 SO in just 183.0 innings of work.

Marcum has been a model of consistency for the first-place Brewers, and will be key in Milwaukee's quest back to the World Series. 

Fan Favorite: Nyjer Morgan

This one isn't even close.

Throughout the course of this 2011 regular season, Milwaukee's outspoken center fielder has made a tremendous impact on the field, accounting for 4 HR, 34 RBI with a .310 BA to boot.

His performances in the clutch have left us all wanting more, however, it may be Morgan's post-game antics that will most be remembered.

Here's one example for your enjoyment.

Long live Tony Plush.

Biggest Disappointment: Casey McGehee

It's been an comprehensive struggle for McGehee this season.

In 2010, the Brewers' third baseman batted .285 with 23 HR and led the team in RBI (104).  This season, he just hasn't been able to get things going.

A .234 BA, 12 HR and just 66 RBI are enough to classify McGehee as an utter disappointment.

On the bright side of things, McGehee will have his shot at redemption in the postseason..

Most Valuable Reliever: John Axford

John Axford had his share of skeptics before the season (myself included) but with all things considered, he's been an absolute gem for the Brewers.

Milwaukee's "go-to" man in the ninth inning has accounted to 40 saves in 42 opportunities in his first full season as a big-league closer, and has amassed 78 SO in just 66.2 innings of work.  

Axford leads all Brewers pitchers with a 1.07 ERA since the All-Star break, and has allowed just three earned runs in 25.1 innings of work in the second half of the season.

It remains to be seen how well he will pitch in the postseason, but, for now, he's clearly Milwaukee's most valuable reliever of 2011.

Cy Young: Yovani Gallardo

No surprises here.

Milwaukee's team leader in wins (16), strikeouts (183), innings pitched (194.0) and quality starts (20) Gallardo is in the midst of another outstanding season with the postseason just ahead.

Ron Roenicke's 25-year-old ace set a career-high in wins in 2011, and will presumably be the Brewers' No.1 starter in a deep rotation in the playoffs.

Co-MVP: Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder

This probably seems a bit cliché, but it's simply too difficult to choose between the two.

Over the past few seasons, Braun and Fielder have staked their claim as one of baseball's most lethal offensive one-two punches, but 2011 has clearly put the two in a whole new category of greatness.

Both are making impressive cases to become this year's NL MVP, but when it comes down to what each have been able to accomplish for Milwaukee this season, it's near impossible to name a clear-cut MVP.

That being said, let's compare the two's statistics:

	R	HR	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Braun	97	27	96	.331	.398	.579	.977
Fielder	85	31	108	.293	.406	.535	.941

Which is Milwaukee's most valuable player this season?  Your guess is as good as mine.