Post Season Awards? (Predictions? Your Opinions?)

[DoctorJones24]

AL MVP
Manny's probably going to win it, and it's tough to argue against him. I think Vlad will come in second.

I'm not a fan of the whole "has to be on a contender" argument, so I'd go with Carlos Guillen of Detroit, if I had a vote.

NL MVP
Mr. Steroid again, no doubt. Bonds means so much more to his team than any other player--amazing that he keeps putting up those numbers. After all, every other All Star hitter is on the juice too! So it's not exactly an unfair advantage he has.

Beltre is a deserving 2nd place vote getter, with Rolen and Pujols splitting the St. Louis votes for 3rd/4th.

AL Cy Young
Could come down to the wire. Stupidly, the press way over emphasize "win totals," so they'll only look at guys who reach 20 wins. So it's already probably a race between Schilling and Santana.

Santana's #s across the board are better, so it's his to lose at this point. Mulder has faded recently, and I'd put Pedro a likely 3rd now.

NL Cy Young
This is where the weight of run support will really screw some guys over. Big Unit and Ben Sheets are both having monster seasons, probably the two best pitchers in the NL. But they play for losers who score no runs for them, so they won't get consideration.

That leaves is up to an also deserving Jason Schmidt, who should win it, with Carl Pavano and Roger Clemens rounding out the top three (undeservedly).

[(TxT)]

AL MVP
Manny Ramirez

NL MVP
Albert Pujols / Adrian Beltre

AL Rookie of the Year
Carl Crawford (D-Rays)

NL RotY
Johnny Estrada (Braves)

AL Cy Young
Curt Schilling

NL Cy Young
Jason Schmidt

[DoctorJones24]

AL Rookie of the Year
Carl Crawford (D-Rays)

NL RotY
Johnny Estrada (Braves)


Neither are eligible since they're not rookies.

[(TxT)]

I think this is Estrada's first year eiligible by games played standards and I was wrong about Crawford.

[otterulz]

Most Improved NL:
Edgardo Alfonzo. Back problems have kept him from reliving his 99-00 seasons when he was the most clutch player on that Mets team. He's looking like the Fonzie of old lately though with the Giants, getting clutch hits and playing good defense. I'll always love Alfonzo.

[DoctorJones24]

Estrada played in like 90 games for Philly a few years ago, with 300 ABs. I can't see him being eligible for ROY now.

ESPN only lists 6 position playing Rookies with enough ABs for the batting title this year.

1 A. Miles, Col
2 L. Ford, Min
3 C. Tracy, Ari
4 K. Matsui, NYM
5 K. Greene, SD
6 B. Crosby, Oak

I could see Ford taking the AL ROY crown, but a couple pitchers are deserving of looks:

Cabrera, Balt,
Frasor, Tor
Takatsu, CWS

In the NL, I'd go with Otsuka from SD.

[(TxT)]

I'd say Greene in the NL and Ford in the AL

I agree about Alfonzo being the comeback player of the year, he was my favorite player on the Mets back in his glory days.

[yellowbismark]

NL Rookie of the Year: Khalil Greene (or Jason Bay)

AL Cy Young: Johan Santanta

AL MVP: Manny Ramirez (though Ichiro and Vlad should get some consideration)

NL Cy Young: Jason Schmidt

NL MVP: Adrian Beltre (or Bonds, Pujols)

[BenReilly]

AL MVP
Manny's probably going to win it, and it's tough to argue against him. I think Vlad will come in second.

I'm not a fan of the whole "has to be on a contender" argument, so I'd go with Carlos Guillen of Detroit, if I had a vote.


Manny's defense is such a joke (why can't they give him errors when he does his Charlie Brown impression?!!) I'm hoping he doesn't win the MVP. It just wouldn't be fair. Carlos Guillen would be a good choice. No one really stands out this year.


NL MVP
Mr. Steroid again, no doubt. Bonds means so much more to his team than any other player--amazing that he keeps putting up those numbers. After all, every other All Star hitter is on the juice too! So it's not exactly an unfair advantage he has.

Beltre is a deserving 2nd place vote getter, with Rolen and Pujols splitting the St. Louis votes for 3rd/4th.

Hmm. Logically, Bonds should win the MVP. But I have to wonder if the voters will be reluctant to give him another. I wouldn't be surprised if Beltre wins. The Cards have three potential MVPs, but that should work to their disadvantage.


AL Cy Young
Could come down to the wire. Stupidly, the press way over emphasize "win totals," so they'll only look at guys who reach 20 wins. So it's already probably a race between Schilling and Santana.

Santana's #s across the board are better, so it's his to lose at this point. Mulder has faded recently, and I'd put Pedro a likely 3rd now.


Santana is definitely better this year, but I'm hoping that Schilling finally wins his Cy Young. Too bad they don't give out silver medals or Curt would have a closet full of them. I suspect that he'll get the voters' sympathy.

NL Cy Young
This is where the weight of run support will really screw some guys over.


No doubt. Randy Johnson is by far the best pitcher, but he has zero chance of winning the Cy Young. I can't feel sorry for him since was uncooperative in trade negotiations. Schmidt is having a great season and will likely win the Cy Young.

[ProfZodiac]

AL MVP: Ichiro Suzuki
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL CY: Johan Santana
NL CY: Randy Johnson (You don't get a perfect game and not win this.)
AL ROTY: Bobby Crosby
NL ROTY: Khalil Greene

[BlueMeanie]

AL MVP: Ichiro Suzuki
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL CY: Johan Santana
NL CY: Randy Johnson (You don't get a perfect game and not win this.)
AL ROTY: Bobby Crosby
NL ROTY: Khalil Greene
Ditto, sub "Jason Schmidt" for Randy Johnson. Sorry, a perfect game doesn't guarantee the Cy, and Schmidt's been dynamite (until very recently) on a mediocre team. Johnson's having a down year on a poor team. Clemens could be a dark horse in this category, depending on his performance down the stretch. His record at this point is better than Schmidt's (fewer losses).

Idiot roid posts aside, no player is more valuable to his team than Bonds, and every manager who faces SF basically votes that way every time they intentionally walk him.

[afgrijselijkheid]

if albert pujols doesnt win, the MVP award has become a virtual emmy

[BenReilly]

if albert pujols doesnt win, the MVP award has become a virtual emmy

I don't think Pujols is even MVP of the Cardinals (this year).

[hangthadj]

if albert pujols doesnt win, the MVP award has become a virtual emmy

that's truly an excellent point. its obvious that pujols is light years more valuable to the cardinals than bonds to the giants.

gimmee a break.

[655321]

I think Schmidt might have blown his chance for the Cy Young...he's been pretty average, if not poor, his last four starts.

[BlueMeanie]

that's truly an excellent point. its obvious that pujols is light years more valuable to the cardinals than bonds to the giants.

gimmee a break.
So true.

Rome nailed it yesterday on his radio show. He pointed out that the Cardinals would likely still be in first place without Pujols, but that the Giants would be in last (not challenging for a wild card spot) without Bonds. Hell, I think the G's would be in AAA w/o Bonds.

But we can let stats speak for themselves (from ESPN.com, 9/9/04):

Batting average: Bonds .373, Pujols .330

On-base percentage: Bonds .611, Pujols .412

Slugging percentage: Bonds .830, Pujols .666

OPS (on-base + slugging): Bonds 1.442, Pujols 1.078

Walks: Bonds 197, Pujols 72

Home runs: Pujols 43, Bonds 40

Runs: Pujols 118, Bonds 112

The latter two stats (HRs and runs) are astounding when you consider Pujols has nearly 200 more at-bats than Bonds (515 to 324).

Nothing against Pujols. He's a fine player, and I think the Cardinals have a damn good chance to win the whole thing this year.

Oh, for fun, check out the ESPN profile of Pujols (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6619). I love the suggested pronunciation of his name. ;)

[hangthadj]

So true.

Rome nailed it yesterday on his radio show. He pointed out that the Cardinals would likely still be in first place without Pujols, but that the Giants would be in last (not challenging for a wild card spot) without Bonds. Hell, I think the G's would be in AAA w/o Bonds.

But we can let stats speak for themselves (from ESPN.com, 9/9/04):

Batting average: Bonds .373, Pujols .330

On-base percentage: Bonds .611, Pujols .412

Slugging percentage: Bonds .830, Pujols .666

OPS (on-base + slugging): Bonds 1.442, Pujols 1.078

Walks: Bonds 197, Pujols 72

Home runs: Pujols 43, Bonds 40

Runs: Pujols 118, Bonds 112

The latter two stats (HRs and runs) are astounding when you consider Pujols has nearly 200 more at-bats than Bonds (515 to 324).

Nothing against Pujols. He's a fine player, and I think the Cardinals have a damn good chance to win the whole thing this year.

Oh, for fun, check out the ESPN profile of Pujols (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6619). I love the suggested pronunciation of his name. ;)


The most amazing thing about those stats is thinking how Bonds is better in nearly every category, and he gets at most 2/3 as many pitches to hit as Pujols does. He's so far above and beyond every player in the game still, its unreal.

[Glenwood Lane United]

On-base percentage: Bonds .611, )

That's unheard of.

[biggyv]

AL:

MVP: Manny
Cy: Santana
ROY: Crosby

NL:
MVP: Bonds (not sure how you can argue for anyone else)
Cy: Tough one. Johnson or Pavano
ROY: Greene

[tog]

So true.

Rome nailed it yesterday on his radio show.

I'm sorry, I stopped reading at this point.