ALL THE AWARDS!

The awards ballots are due before the playoffs begins so I’m taking this chance to tell you how I would have voted and who I think will actually win. I'm going to pull my best Oprah impression here: EVERYONE LOOK UNDER YOUR SEATS! YOU GET AN AWARD! YOU GET AN AWARD! ALL THE AWARDS!

AL MVP

Mike’s Vote:  Justin Verlander

Who will probably win: Jacoby Ellsbury

I know a lot of people don’t believe that a pitcher should win MVP.  Those people are wrong.  I broke down the reasons in a prior article.  The numbers have changed since then but idea stays the same.  Most people will vote for Ellsbury, however people might some people also believe that a team not in the playoffs should win MVP.  The people that don’t vote for Ellsbury will probably vote for Cabrera.

I’ve compared the two.

Ellsbury  

119 runs, 212 hits, 46 double, 5 triples, 32 HR, 105 RBI, 39 SB, .321 AVG,  .376 OBP, .928 OPS, 364 total bases.

Cabrera

111 runs, 197 hits, 48 doubles, 0 triples, 30 HR, 105 RBI, 2 SB, .344 AVG, .488 OBP, 1.033 OPS, 335 total bases.

Ellsbury leads most categories including a huge lead on stolen bases and Ellsbury offers much more in the field.  However, Cabrera’s OBP is a huge difference.  Bautista has 312 total bases and a .302 AVG, Granderson’s AVG is .262 and has 322 total bases.

NL MVP

Mike’s Pick: Matt Kemp

Who will probably win: Matt Kemp

It’s pretty much a two man race right? Kemp and Braun.  Sorry Prince, you had a nice season, but not quite as good as these two.  I’ve compared the two.

Kemp 

161 games, 115 runs, 195 hits, 33 doubles, 4 triples, 39 home runs, 126 RBI, 74 BB, 159 SO, 40 SB, 11 CS, .324 AVG, .399 OBP, .586 SLG, .986 OPS, 353 total bases

Braun

150 games, 109 runs, 187 hits, 38 doubles, 6 triples, 33 home runs, 111 RBI, 58 BB, 93 SO, 33 SB, 6 CS, .332 AVG, .397 OBP, .597 SLG, .994 OPS, 336 total bases

Kemp only missed one game all season – that’s an important stat for me.  Some people will say that Braun and Prince will split votes, I never really bought into that.  Kemp wins in the counting numbers and Braun wins in the average numbers.  The biggest thing hurting Kemp is strikeouts but I don’t think that’s enough to stop Kemp from winning.

AL CY YOUNG

Mike’s Vote:  Justin Verlander

Who will probably win: Justin Verlander

I’m not going to waste my word count on explaining this.

NL CY YOUNG

Mike’s Pick: Clayton Kershaw

Who will probably win: Clayton Kershaw

It comes down to Kershaw and Halladay – they are so close!

I broke it down.

Kershaw

21 W, 5 L, 2.28 ERA, 233.1 IP, 174 H, 59 ER, 15 HR, 54 BB, 248 SO, .207 AVG, 0.98 WHIP, 9 pickoffs (not a stat I should include but 9!), 9.57 K/9, 2.08 BB/9. 6.71 H/9, 4.59 K/BB

Halladay

19 W, 6 L, 2.35 ERA, 233.2 IP, 208 H, 61 ER, 10 HR, 35 BB, 220 SO, .239 AVG, 1.04 WHIP, 0 pickoffs, 8.47 K/9, 1.35 BB/9. 8.01 H/9, 6.29 K/BB

So W/L shouldn’t be a factor in this debate, however I'm going to say this anyway, Kershaw had a worse team and got more wins and less losses.  But in the stats that matter, Kershaw wins most of them.  The only spots were Halladay wins is with walks, and walk ratios.  When it comes to keeping runners off base, Kershaw still excels.

AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Mike’s Pick: Eric Hosmer

Who will probably win: Eric Hosmer

It comes down to the best hitter Hosmer and the best pitcher Hellickson.

Hosmer has 21 less games than Hosmer but leads AL rookies in runs, hits, second in double (27), RBI (87), & AVG (.293), third in home runs (19).

Hellickson has 13 wins, a 2.95 ERA, 189 innings, and 117 strikeouts.

Nova put up a good effort, but he’s thirds at best.

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Mike’s Pick: Craig Kimbrel

Who will probably win: Craig Kimbrel

Freeman put up respectable numbers but Kimbrel set a rookie record and has been one of the best closers in baseball this year.

AL MANGER OF THE YEAR

Mike’s Pick: Joe Maddon

Who will probably win: Joe Maddon

I think he’s the best manager in baseball and he once again lead his Rays to the playoffs.

NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Mike’s Pick: Kirk Gibson

Who will probably win: Kirk Gibson

The D-Backs lost 97 games last year, won 94 this year.

BEST FACIAL HAIR

Mike’s Pick:  John Axford

Think a pitcher shouldn't be the MVP? Tell me about it mikelavery@ thebaseballpage.com