Awards Predictions

The season's three final major awards will be announced later this week and the start of next. Here are my predictions for the outcomes of these honors:

National League Cy Young-Thurs., Nov. 19

The field: Atlanta's Jair Jurrjens (14-10, 2.60, 152) and Javier Vazquez (15-10, 2.87, 238), San Francisco's Tim Lincecum (15-7, 2.48, 261), St. Louis' Chris Carpenter (17-4, 2.24, 144) and Adam Wainwright (19-8, 2.63, 212).

Winner: Wainwright.

Wainwright likely takes this one home over his teammate Carpenter and last year’s winner Lincecum. Wainwright led the majors with his 19 wins and also went over 200 K’s and had a sub-3.00 ERA. Hard to argue with those numbers. Lincecum is hurt by his low win total, despite Zack Greinke being the AL winner today. Carpenter in any other year would be the winner, but Wainwright takes this one.

Vazquez and Jurrjens formed a dynamic pair in Atlanta, but they bring up the rear of these five. To think, if the Braves had never traded their former first-round pick Wainwright to the Cardinals, they would have a staff with three of the possible top five finishers in the voting.

Top five: Wainwright, Carpenter, Lincecum, Vazquez, and Jurrjens.


American League MVP-Mon., Nov. 23

The field: Detroit's Miguel Cabrera (324, 34, 103), Minnesota's Joe Mauer (.365, 28, 96), New York's Derek Jeter (.334, 18, 66) and Mark Teixeira (.292, 39, 122).

Winner: Mauer.

This one is a tight race to call. I think Mauer takes it over Cabrera because his team beat out Cabrera's for the AL Central, just as the final clincher. Mauer wins another batting title, as a catcher, and hitting an amazing .365. Playing the toughest defensive position in the game always earns points and this one is no different. The Twins fans get what they wanted with Mauer as MVP.

Top ten: Boston's Jason Bay, Kansas City's Zack Greinke, Los Angeles' Kendry Morales and Torii Hunter, Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford, and Toronto's Aaron Hill.


National League MVP-Tues., Nov. 24

The field: Florida's Hanley Ramirez (.342, 24, 106), Milwaukee's Prince Fielder (.299, 41, 141), Philadelphia's Ryan Howard (.279, 45, 141), and St. Louis' Albert Pujols (.327, 47, 135).

Winner: Pujols.

Pujols had the most complete year of any of the top candidates, of which there are few in the National League. The homer and RBI numbers for Fielder and Howard are impressive, of course, but Howard had too low of an average and Fielder finished just under the .300 mark. Ramirez is the runner-up most likely as he had an overall solid season, winning the batting title for the NL and also stealing 27 bases.

None can compete with Pujols however, as he likely runs away with this one.

Top ten: Chicago’s Derrek Lee, Cincinnati’s Joey Votto, Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki, Los Angeles’ Andre Ethier, Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun, San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez.