MLB Mid-Season Awards
July 2, 2007 at 2:31 pm 33 comments
As we enter the halfway point of the 2007 season there is nothing more fun than picking the mid-season award winners. Some categories were tough, some were easy. Let us know what you think and where you think we went wrong, or where we got it right on the money. Here are my picks vs. Mike McGinnis’s picks.
Jonathan C. Mitchell’s Picks
AL MVP
1. Magglio Ordonez (DET – OF)
2. Alex Rodriguez (NYY – 3B)
3. Vladimir Guerrero (LAA – OF)
4. Gary Sheffield (DET – OF/DH)
5. Dan Haren (OAK – SP)
NL MVP
1. Chase Utley (PHI – 2B)
2. Prince Fielder (MIL – 1B)
3. Eric Byrnes (ARI – OF)
4. Russ Martin (LAD – C)
5. Matt Holliday (COL – OF)
AL Cy Young
1. Dan Haren (OAK – SP)
2. J.J. Putz (SEA – RP)
3. C.C. Sabathia (CLE – SP)
4. Justin Verlander (DET – SP)
5. Josh Beckett (BOS – SP)
NL Cy Young
1. Jake Peavy (SD – SP)
2. Brad Penny (LAD – SP)
3. Chris Young (SD – SP)
4. Ben Sheets (MIL – SP)
5. Takashi Saito (LAD – RP)
AL Rookie of the Year
1. Jeremy Guthrie (BAL – SP)
2. Reggie Willits (LAA – OF)
3. Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS – SP)
4. Delmon Young (TB – OF)
5. Dustin Pedroia (BOS – 2B)
NL Rookie of the Year
1. Troy Tulowitzki (COL – SS)
2. Hunter Pence (HOU – OF)
3. Josh Hamliton (CIN – OF)
4. Micah Owings (ARI – SP)
5. Chris B. Young (ARI – OF)
AL Comeback Player of Year
1. Carlos Pena (TB – 1B)
2. Jack Cust (OAK – DH/LF)
3. Eric Gagne (TEX – RP)
NL Comeback Player of Year
1. J.J. Hardy (MIL – SS)
2. Derek Lee (CHC – 1B)
3. Dimitri Young (WAS – 1B)
AL Manager of Year
1. Mike Scioscia (LAA)
2. Eric Wedge (CLE)
3. Terry Francona (BOS)
NL Manager of Year
1. Bud Black (SD)
2. Ned Yost (MIL)
3. Willie Randolph (NYM)
AL Hank Aaron Award (best hitter)
1. Alex Rodriguez (NYY – 3B)
2. Magglio Ordonez (DET – OF)
3. Vladimir Guerrero (LAA – OF)
NL Hank Aaron Award
1. Prince Fielder (MIL – 1B)
2. Chase Utley (PHI – 2B)
3. Matt Holliday (COL – OF)
World Series Prediction
Cleveland over Philadelphia (I like to stick with my pre-season predictions!)
Mike McGinnis’s Picks
AL MVP
1. A. Rodriguez (nyy)
2. V. Guerrero (laa)
3. M. Ordonez (det)
NL MVP
1. P. Fielder (mil)
2. B. Penny (lad)
3. C. Utley (phi)
AL Cy Young
1. D. Haren (oak)
2. J. Santana (min)
3. C.C. Sabathia (cle)
NL Cy Young
1. B. Penny (lad)
2. J. Peavy (sd)
3. C. Young (sd)
AL Rookie of the Year
1. R. Willits (laa)
2. D. Pedrioa (bos)
3. H. Okajima (bos)
NL Rookie of the Year
1. H. Pence (hou)
2. R. Braun (mil)
3. T. Tulowitzki (col)
AL Comeback Player of Year
1. J. Cust (oak)
2. E. Gagne (tex)
NL Comeback Player of Year
1. J. Valverde (arz)
2. J.J. Hardy (mil)
3. D. Young (wsh)
4. J. Germano (sd)
AL Manager of Year
1. T. Francona (bos)
2. M. Hargrove (sea)
NL Manager of Year
1. N. Yost (mil)
2. B. Melvin (arz)
AL Hank Aaron Award (best hitter)
1. A. Rodriguez (nyy)
2. M. Ordonez (det)
3. V. Guerrero (laa)
NL Hank Aaron Award
1. C. Utley (phi)
2. P. Fielder (mil)
3. M. Holliday (col)
World Series Prediction
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Anaheim Angels
Angels in six
-Jonathan C. Mitchell
Entry filed under: Uncategorized.
33 Comments Add your own
Leave a comment
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
Jonathan C. Mitchell
Figure Filbert 
1.
Andy | July 2, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Both missed a major competitor in the AL MVP race, Ichiro. He could be having the best season of his career and is a major reason for the M’s competing for a playoff spot.
2.
Johnny Hamer | July 2, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Cust is #1 and #2 in you fellas comeback player of the year? When did this become the late bloomer award? This award goes to once upon a time all stars who return to excel at there position. After a bad year or two. But Cust isn’t a “has been”, Cust is a “never was”.
3.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 2, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Andy – Ichiro is a fine choice but I just don’t think I can put him up with those guys. I wrestled with putting him at #4 or #5 on my list but decided on the other two instead. Good choice though, he is having a top 10 MVP type season.
4.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 2, 2007 at 3:13 pm
That’s why he’s #2 in mine. I think it’s still a comeback when from 2001-2006 he was .222-5-19 with a K/BB ratio of 23/59. Also, if your point is true then JJ Hardy can’t be considered because he wasn’t an All-Star in the past. It’s an award that goes to someone who has made a “comeback”. Define it as you will.
You do make a good point though I just don’t totally agree with it.
5.
Scott | July 2, 2007 at 6:04 pm
I think you missed out big time on a few picks. No way should Utley be MVP. Fielder and Holliday are both better choices. I dont even know if Utley is the MVP of his own team the way Rollins and Rowand have played this year. How can you both leave Griffey out of the comeback player of the year award? Please someone explain to me how the Phillies can be expected to win the NL? Have you taken a look at their pitching staff?
6.
MikeMcGinnis | July 2, 2007 at 6:09 pm
jonathan i didn’t include jeremy guthrie in the rookie balloting because i don’t think he is considered a rookie anymore because of his prior service and innnings pitched. if he is still a rookie i would have had him in my top 3.
7.
MikeMcGinnis | July 2, 2007 at 6:12 pm
andy i couldn’t argue your statement at all because i love ichirio. however, i think the voters are so obsessed with power numbers and hitters they disregard the hitters who hit for a stellar BA and swipe bases and play spectacular defense. i really based this on what i think will happen more than what i would like to see happen. although, now thinking about it since i gave brad penny an NL mvp vote perhaps i should ahve doen the same for ichirio.
8.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 2, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Mike – he is still considered a rookie. He never reached the amount of innings. Other “experts” also confirmed that he is a rookie. I had a hard time figuring it out myself.
9.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 2, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Scott – Utley is easily my MVP. While Hoard was out and Rollins stopped hitting, Utley kept it going. He is the reason the Phils still have a shot at the NL East and wild card.
Also, if Fielder is your pick then the same argument can be made because he has Hardy (better numbers than Rollins) and Hart (better numbers than Rowand). Same with Holliday. He has Hawpe and Helton.
I didn’t put Griffey on the comeback list because a guy who hits 27 homers in over 470 plate appearances doesn’t deserve to be on the list.
The Phillies will get some of the pitching back and they can be very dangerous if they reach the playoffs and go to a 3 man rotation.
I can see your argument but I don’t have to agree. I didn’t mean any of this in a mean way, just a friend talking sports to another. Thanks for the comment! Keep up the good discussion!
10.
Matt | July 3, 2007 at 12:27 am
How about some love for Bob Geren and the job he’s doing in Oakland. As banged up as they’ve been, it’s pretty impressive they’re still hanging around.
11.
BaseballWhammy | July 3, 2007 at 7:00 am
Good work fellas, I think you’ll be really close on what will actually happen. Depending on the 2nd half, especially if some of his power comes back, DLee could easily steal the Come Back of the Year with no problems. It’s good to _not_ see Albert Pujols on any of the lists though :).
12.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 3, 2007 at 8:44 am
Matt – I actually had Geren in my top 3 initially. I replaced him with Francona simply because the A’s were in 3rd place. This might/will change by the end of the season. Bu tI had to go with mid-season and I chose Francona over Geren, by a very very slim margin.
13.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 3, 2007 at 8:45 am
Whammy – No love for Pujols? He doesn’t deserve any of these spots. He chose the wrong time to have his down year (if you call what he’s doing down).
14.
MikeMcGinnis | July 3, 2007 at 9:57 am
Matt- thanks for the comments, you know i mulled bob geren in my mind i had him as a close secondd the other two i just deferred to the tother two because of their place in the AL standings.
15.
BaseballWhammy | July 3, 2007 at 10:53 am
As a Die-Hard Cubs fan, I have a natural hatred for Pujols. 🙂
16.
russell | July 3, 2007 at 11:19 am
HUNTER PENCE DESERVES TO BE #1 ON YOUR LIST!! WHAT ELSE DOES HE HAVE TO DO…DRIVE THE BUS FOR THE ASTROS!!
17.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 3, 2007 at 11:43 am
Whammy – Understood!
18.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 3, 2007 at 11:44 am
Rus Bus! I have to admit that I think Pence will end up the NL R.O.Y. but I had to go with Tulo right now. His flare for the dramatic and stellar defense put him at the top, for now.
19.
MikeMcGinnis | July 3, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Russell i feel ya’ man! hunter pence all the way he’s my choice for ROY!
20.
Johnny | July 4, 2007 at 2:27 am
I think Mags will tail off in the second half like he always does and leave the AL race open for someone else. As good as Penny has been if you put a pitcher in the NL MVP rankings why not Jake Peevy since the Padres are leading the NL West as we speak heh. I don’t think Philly will make it to the world series at all. I think that’s a reach at best.
21.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 4, 2007 at 10:24 am
I too think Mags will tail off a bit in the 2nd half, I think Penny will too, he always does. If I had a mulligan I would pick someone other than Philly but I like to stick with my predictions from Feb. until they are eliminated. Call me stubborn but It’ll look good if I’m right!
22.
Ben | July 4, 2007 at 3:32 pm
NL ROY should be Troy Tulowitzki hands down. And Matt Holliday should be higher on the NL MVP list. Maybe like 2nd or 3rd.
23.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 4, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Thanks for agreeing with me on the ROY. I do think Hunter Pence will end up with the award but if the season ended the day I made these predictions Tulo would get it. If Matt Holliday was carrying his team and they were above .500 he might be higher on my list. Thanks for the commment Ben!
24.
MikeMcGinnis | July 4, 2007 at 8:10 pm
thanks for the input johnny. while i agree with what you say about peavy being an mvp i think the thing that will hurt him is in the mvp race is that CY (chris young) is having an equally stellar year and voters will contend that penny is more valuable to his team because he doesn’t have an equal on his own team as peavy has at this point of the season.
25.
Eddie | July 5, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Hey for the most part i really agree on what you said. I love how you show the respect ordonez deserves. Right now he has to be the MVP. Without him tigers would have a hard time i believe, they would still have a good team, i feel the same way in Guerrero. Arod now thats another story, the yanks are gonna suck with or without his homers.
26.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 5, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Thanks Eddie! A lot of people think it’s all about stats but it’s not. It’s the Most Valuable Player!
27.
MikeMcGinnis | July 6, 2007 at 10:15 am
yes eddie, i agree i think the mvp should go to vlad or mags if there was any justice.
but, you know how these baseball writers are. they will give it to a-rod of he continues his pace despite the fact that he plays on a bad team.
i actually am deferring the mvp to vlad because he hits in a lineup not as potent as the tigers one he is better defensively and realize he’s the only consistent power threat in the halos lineup.
28.
Eddie | July 6, 2007 at 5:07 pm
well of corse Arod is gonna win because its AROD!! lol well i have to say theres a much better fight for mags or vlad. Vlad has half the homers of Arod but is somewhere within 5 of arod in rbi’s i want to say its 80 to 77 im not sure though. Mags is also up there. I see what you mean by Vlad would make sense to win this because being a die hard angel fan i know the angels they do not have a powerfull team next on the team is Kotchman with 9 homers and thats not too many. But one thing is the angels can hit now so can the tigers, this is the matchup im hoping for in the ALCS.
29.
MikeMcGinnis | July 6, 2007 at 6:27 pm
well, eddie if you go back to my myspace blogs back in march/april i predicted a showdown between the tigers and angels at some point and the winner would be the one to win it all. so, far it seems like that has a decent chance of happening.
i love both the angels and tigers but, i admit i like the brand of offense the halos have more because i am a fan of the speed game and not being totally reliant on the big boppers to score all the runs.
30.
Eddie | July 7, 2007 at 11:05 am
Mike, I would love to see that, I think, for me, the playoffs for the AL are going to great NO MATTER what lol.
31.
Brittney | July 7, 2007 at 6:20 pm
No love for A-Town? This news upsets me to the highest extent=/
32.
Jonathan C. Mitchell | July 7, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Bobby Cox and Edgar Renteria are possibly the only 2 that come close to our lists but they both just miss out. Sorry Brittney.
33.
Brittney | July 8, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Apology not accepted!=[ lol j/k It’s ok *sighs*