Winner: Jacoby Ellsbury, Outfielder, Boston Red Sox
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| Jacoby Ellsbury http://www.iayork.com/Images/2009/12-17-09/EllsburyDive.png |
Close 2nds: Curtis Granderson, Outfielder, New York Yankees; Adrian Gonzalez, 1st Base, Boston Red Sox; Justin Verlander, Pitcher, Detroit Tigers; Jose Bautista, Outfielder, Toronto Blue Jays.
NL MVP
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| Ryan Braun http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/203/017/ryan- braun_display_image.jpg?1271674339 |
While the Brewers were rolling this year, no one payed much attention to Ryan Braun. Well, he has been having one of the best seasons in a while. He has a .332 average, 33 HRs, 111 RBIs, 33 SBs, .397 OBP, .597 Slugging, .994 OPS, 187 hits, 109 runs, and 38 doubles. He is in the top 10 in all of those categories. Braun also has a 8.92 Runs Created per 27 outs. Hitting isn't Braun's only case. He has a fielding percentage of .996. Braun's only compition is Dodgers Matt Kemp who is having a similar type season. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers are 82-79 and were never in playoff contention. Braun, however, led the Brewers to the playoffs with 96 wins.
Close 2nds: Matt Kemp, Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
AL Cy Young
Winner: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
When you win 24 games and only 5 losses, it is hard not to win the Cy Young Award, but stats aren't every thing for Verlander. He has not pitched less then 6 innings all year, the highest amount of runs he has given up is 6, and the highest batting average for one of the games is .200. His stats just back up his record. A 2.40 ERA (1st in AL), 250 strikeouts (1st in AL), and 0.92 WHIP (1st in AL). Sabermetrics back Verlander up too. He has a 8.96 Strikeouts per 9 innings, 7.0 Wins Above Replacement Player, 62.6 Value Over Replacement Players, and 3.03 Fielding Independent Pitching.
NL Cy Young
Winner: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
There are 5 viable options for the NL Cy Young. The player who I think will win is the only one of the five who isn't in the playoffs. Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers has played like his team was in the playoffs every game. He led the NL with 21 wins, 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 248 strikeouts. Sabermetrics also helps Kershaw's case. He has a 2.01 component ERA, 9.57 Strikeouts per 9 innings, and a .260 batting average on balls in play. His 2.63 defensive independent ERA proves he has the defense factor on his side.
AL Rookie of the Year
Winner: Jeremy Hellickson, Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
This is one of the toughest choices of the award season. There are two players I believe can win the award, Tampa Bay Rays Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson and New York Yankees Pitcher Ivan Nova. After looking more in depth at both players stats and performances, I picked Hellickson to win it. He is 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 2 complete games and 117 strikeouts. Hellickson also has a .217 ERA on balls in play, 5.57 strikeouts per 9 innings, and a 2.95 component ERA.
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| Craig Kimbrel http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/4Bglz5b2z64/F lorida+Marlins+v+Atlanta+Braves/GipGMAV 9Zz2/Crag+Kimbrel |
Winner: Craig Kimbrel, Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
After losing Billy Wagner to retirement, the Atlanta Braves needed to find their next closer. Craig Kimbrel was chosen to take the 9th inning role. Then, from day 1, Kinbrel showed he was the man for the job. He set records as a rookie in saves with 46, breaking Neftali Feliz's record set last year. The 46 saves is also tied for the league lead. He also has 126 strikeouts in 79 games. Even though he floundered in the last game of the season, there is no one else who comes close to him.
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| Joe Maddon http://angels.ocregister.com/files/2008/11/joemaddon.jpg |
Winner: Joe Maddon, 6th Full Season as Tampa Bay Rays Manager
Only one manager today could convince a team in September they can make the playoffs after being down by 9 games in the Wild Card. Only one manager today can convince his team that even though they are down by 7 in the 8th inning of the last game where they need to win to make the playoffs there is hope. That man, Joe Maddon, did all that this year. I can't think off anyone else who can win this award.
NL Manager of the Year
Winner: Kirk Gibson, 1st Full Season as Arizona Diamondbacks Manager
The Arizona Diamondbacks were expected to win less then 70 games this year. Flash-forward to August, they are in the playoff hunt. Now look at them today. NL West Champions with a 94-68 and 8 games ahead of defending NL west and World Series champs, the Giants. There is no other team that had the turn around the Arizona Diamondbacks this year.
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| Vogelsong in Japan http://wiki-images.enotes.com/thumb/b/ ba/OB-Ryan-Vogelsong.jpg/200px-OB- Ryan-Vogelsong.jpg |
Winner: Ryan Volgelsong, Pitcher, San Francisco
After not playing in the majors for 4 years, no one thought Ryan Vogelsong at age 34 would amount to any thing this year. However, he shined in one of the best rotations in baseball. It all started on April 28th when Barry Zito was scratched from his start. San Fransisco manager Bruce Bochy decided to give Vogelsong the start. He pitched 5 and 2/3s and gave up only 2 runs. After that he never looked back. He finished the year 13-7 with a 2.71 ERA and was an NL All-Star. He never had more the 6 wins a season before this. There is no one else who comes close to Vogelsong in this category.
