Here are my picks for this year's baseball awards. These are not predictions, mind you. These are the actual awards given by me to this years best. The players don't know about them, and the press doesn't know about them. The only people that know are me and the one other dude that might read this post.
Emerging Superstar of the Year (AL)
Michael Young, TEX: Lost in the shuffle of Ichiro's record breaking year is the fact that Young finished with a beyond respectable 216 hits on the year. In addition, he hit 22 home runs and 99 RBI's, most of them out the lead-of spot. He made a flawless transition from second base to short stop and was the primary reason the Rangers stayed in the hunt all year long.
Emerging Superstar of the Year (NL)
Mark Loretta, SDP: Like Young, Loretta also topped 200 hits (208). He hit .335 (2nd in NL), with 16 homers, 76 RBI's and more walks than strikeouts. And like Young, he was the primary reason for his team staying in the postseason hunt. He was the #1 offensive producers among second basemen in 2004.
Comback Player of the Year (AL)
Mark Kotsay, OAK: At the end of the 2002 season, Kotsay had emerged as a very respectable all-round centerfielder - kind of a poor man's Steve Finley. Then for no apparent reason in 2003 his numbers dipped to .266/7/38. He rebounded nicely this year to finish with career high .314 average to go with 15 homers and 63 RBI's (also a career high).
Comback Player of the Year (NL)
Jimmy Rollins, PHI: When Rollins emerged in 2001, he looked like the likely torch bearer as the NL's best shortstop for the next ten years. The next two years, he wasn't bad, but he just wasn't anything special. This year he set of tied career highs in every hitting category, and added 30 stolen bases as well. The most significant change for Rollins in 2004 was going from a player that always struckout twice as much as he walked (his best year before this he had 54 BB to 103K), while this year he walked 57 times to only 73 strikeouts.
Manager of the Year (AL)
Buck Showalter, TEX: The Rangers weren't even supposed to finish over .500, let alone contend into the final week of the season. This is a no brainer. Honorable Mention: Ron Gardenhire (MIN).
Manager of the Year (NL)
Bobby Cox, ATL: Tony LaRussa led the best team in baseball this year, but the Braves were supposed to be done and their division rivals (Florida and Philadelphia) were supposed to be stiff competition. At this point I just have to pick the Braves every year until they're unseated. Honorable Mention: Tony LaRussa (STL).
Rookie of the Year (AL)
Bobby Crosby, OAK: This really a default selection. His numbers are okay, but there just isn't another compelling candidate. Combine Crosby's .246 with 21 homers and the fact that he played a crucial position on a contending team and it's enough to put him ahead of his nearest rival, pitcher Daniel Cabrera (BAL).
Rookie of the Year (NL)
Jason Bay, PIT: A lot of prognosticators are picking Khalil Greene of the Padres, making essentially the same "crucial position on a contending team" argument that I made for Crosby. The difference for Greene is that he does have legitimate competition. Bay hit .282 with 26 home runs and 82 RBI's despite not getting the call-up until mid-May.
Most Impressive Season (AL)
Ichiro Suzuki, SEA: .372 average, most hits in a season ever (262), and he led the AL with 19 intentional walks, which says a lot for how the league respects what he does. No other player in the AL is even close.
Most Impressive Season (NL)
Barry Bonds, SFG: Batting title with .362, 45 home runs, 101 RBI's, 129 runs scored, and of course there's the .609 OBP, .812 SLG, and a a new record with 232 walks (120 intentional). Again, no other player is close.
Cy Young Award (AL)
Johan Santana, MIN: 20-6, league leading 2.61 ERA, league leading 265 strikeouts. 13-0 with 1.21 ERA after the break. Second: Curt Schilling (BOS), Third: Mariano Rivera (NYY).
Cy Young Award (NL)
Roger Clemens, HOU: 7th award overall, 4th since Red Sox GM Dan Duquette said he was washed up. Clemens was really the only NL pitcher to be consistent from start to finish - 18-4, 2.98, 218. Second: Roy Oswalt (HOU), Third: Jason Schmidt (SFG).
The Barry Bonds Award (AL)
Vladimir Guerrero, ANA: Until the last two weeks of the season, there was not a clear-cut choice for MVP in the AL. The Guerrero stepped up, put his team on his shoulders, and put the Angels in the playoffs. .337 average, 39 homers, 126 RBI, 15 stolen bases. Second: Manny Ramirez (BOS), Third: Miguel Tejada )BAL).
The Barry Bonds Award (NL)
Adrian Beltre, LAD: Major league leading 48 home runs, .334 average, 121 RBI's, excellent defense (although he's no Rolen), and the only real threat in a largely anemic Dodger offense. There's no way the Dodgers win the division without him. Second: Albert Pujols (STL0, Third: Scott Rolen (STL).
How about the "Went Ahead and Wrapped up the Season Early" award?
And the winner is - Sammy Sosa.
I'm so happy to see the Cubs watching the playoffs from a bar.
Posted by: Duane at October 8, 2004 01:35 PMHey Duane, A lot of teams could have contended for the prize you gave to Sosa. Say, for example...my Mariners? I agree though, I'm happy the Cubs are watching the playoffs from a bar though. Now, we just need those Red Sox to suck.
Posted by: mike aman at October 8, 2004 02:37 PMMike, you seem like the type of guy who would be smarter than to buy Mr. Greydanus' argument that the curse is the last great thing in baseball.
Posted by: Deacon Blues at October 14, 2004 11:06 AMWell Deacon, it's like this; I like more of the players on the Yankees Roster than I do the Red Sox. But if the Yankees were playing any other team than Boston, I would be for the other team. I do kind of like the idea of the Curse, too.
Posted by: Mike Aman at October 14, 2004 03:55 PMEven if the curse ends, I'll still hate the Yankees.
Posted by: the booth at October 15, 2004 08:36 AMWhen they're playing anyone else but the Sox, I agree.
Posted by: Mike Aman at October 15, 2004 01:50 PMIf you hate the Yanks, but only root for them when they're playing the Sox, there's really no point to hating the Yankkes at all. Even Matt would agree with that.
Posted by: the booth at October 18, 2004 09:14 AMYeah, that sounds kinda funny.
Posted by: Deacon Blues at October 18, 2004 12:53 PMI apologize for not making sense. It is hard in this day and age to make sense. I admit I didn't try hard enough. I latched onto the first false logical idea I could and ran with it. Let me rephrase; I dislike the Red Sox more than I dislike the Yankees. Therefore when the Red Sox are playing the Yankees; I root for the pinstripes. In every other circumstance, Devil Rays included; I would prefer the Yankees have their pants beaten off. Figuratively, of course.
Posted by: Mike Aman at October 18, 2004 10:30 PMI apologize for not making sense. It is hard in this day and age to make sense. I admit I didn't try hard enough. I latched onto the first false logical idea I could and ran with it. Let me rephrase; I dislike the Red Sox more than I dislike the Yankees. Therefore when the Red Sox are playing the Yankees; I root for the pinstripes. In every other circumstance, Devil Rays included; I would prefer the Yankees have their pants beaten off. Figuratively, of course.
Posted by: Mike Aman at October 18, 2004 10:30 PMI apologize for not making sense. It is hard in this day and age to make sense. I admit I didn't try hard enough. I latched onto the first false logical idea I could and ran with it. Let me rephrase; I dislike the Red Sox more than I dislike the Yankees. Therefore when the Red Sox are playing the Yankees; I root for the pinstripes. In every other circumstance, Devil Rays included; I would prefer the Yankees have their pants beaten off. Figuratively, of course.
Posted by: Mike Aman at October 18, 2004 10:30 PMSorry for the multiple comments; the server was acting slowly so I was cancelling and resubmitting.
Posted by: Mike Aman at October 18, 2004 10:32 PMSure, but no Yankee-hater worth his salt could pull for the Yankees only when playing Red Sox. Their history and rivalry is too wrapped up together. To hate the Yankees is to want them to beaten, especially when they are playing the Red Sox.
Posted by: Deacon Blues at October 20, 2004 05:52 PM