Mid-Season Award Predictions
This is something that I like to do every year. Last year I did not fare well. Ozzie Guillen as MOY was my only correct pick. I was close on the NL CY Young. Dontrell Willis finished second. This year there are a lot more close races in my mind. Only one award at this point is a guarantee in my mind. Let’s kick this off.
AL MVP: Jason Giambi-NYA: Now don’t rush to kill me all at once. Hear me out. Ortiz will get snubbed again! Papi will have slightly better numbers in HRs and RBIs. Giambi will have a better AVG and OBP. But the biggest difference will be that Ortiz is a DH. Do I agree…no, but I’m not a voting sports writer. But speaking on behalf of Giambi and this award, at the pace he’s going he’ll hit 50 HR (20+ short porchers’) and 130 RBI with Damon and Jeter setting the plate. You can also include Vernon Wells, Jon Papelbon and Joe Mauer in this tight race.
AL CY: Francisco Lariano-MIN: This guy is the next big thing. If facing Johan Santana is bad enough, in short series you may face Lariano too! Un-hittable is the word. He has a .203 Batting AVG against in 81.1 innings. He also sports a 10.4 k/9. With no signs of slowing down, he’s on pace for 18 wins and 190 Ks. This race could also make for an interesting one. Papelbon, Curt Schilling, Jose Contreras and Santana may have a say.
AL ROY: Jon Papelbon-BOS: The number of awards Papelbon gets this year will depend on how far he carries the Sox. He could be the first player to win the MVP, Cy Young and ROY if the Sox win the AL East and he saves 50+ while keeping a sub .075 ERA. I don’t think that the writers will don Papelbon the next Dennis Eckersley, but they may give him the ROY. This, again, another tight race with Lariano and Justin Verlander. I think that Verlander will slow down in the second half making it mostly a two man race.
AL MOY: Jim Leyland-DET: Finally, an easy pick for me. The only way that this falls thru, is if the Tigers take a 60 game swing in the loss coloumb. Leyland has been good wherever he has been. He had few heartbreak years with the Pirates in the early 90’s, but gave the Marlins their first WS win. Could he do the same for Detroit? I would say no just yet. After all he’s making the Tigers look awfully good. (One year late from my 05′ prediction)
NL MVP: Albert Pujols-STL: How can a player go on the DL for 15 days and come back, still leading the majors in HRs? Fat Albert is the breath of fresh air we all need. He’s steroid free, not grossly overpaid and overall a good guy. This award will be his to lose for the next decade. He will emerge as the one of the games greatest players.
NL CY: Bronson Arroyo-CIN: Why not? We’ve all said it. Give the NL a second look at BA and they’ll smack that looping curve all over Citizens Ballpark. Well…most teams have had that second look and BA has 9-4 record and a 2.58 ERA. Playing with a huge chip on his shoulder he might just make the Reds a division winner again.
NL ROY: Matt Kemp-LAD: Kemp is hitting .300 after being called up when the injury bug hit the Dodgers early. Kemp heads a pretty weak NL rookie class compared to the AL.
NL MOY: Jerry Narron-CIN: The Mets will win more games in a weaker division. But the Reds will win the central, fighting off a season long war with the Cardinals. Narron has done a good job with his starting pitching and definitely has the offensive power with Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr. and Felipe Lopez. If the bullpen can piece together, Narron will have completed a harder job that Willie Randolph will have done with the Mets.
Well there you have it. If I get one right again this year it will be a miracle.
S.