Everyone likes an awards show, especially without Seth MacFarlane.
Going into Saturday’s games, here’s the envelope for the postseason awards, plus a few that MLB forgot:
NL Most Valuable Player: The
Dodgers were 23-4 when Clayton Kershaw started. If they went 14-13 in
those games, they wouldn’t be in the playoffs. Arguments against
starting pitchers are based on their perceived inactivity. They ignore
the fact that Kershaw’s total of batters faced exceeds the total of any
N.L. hitter’s plate appearances.
AL Most Valuable Player:
Mike Trout finished second in MVP voting the past two years. This year
he became a power producer and carried the Angels through early
difficulties. He probably will win unanimously, and should.
NL Player of the Year:
There’s no such award, but there should be. It would consider all
players regardless of pennant contention. Still, the Pirates are in the
wild-card because of Andrew McCutchen, last year’s MVP who led the N.L.
in OPS and on-base percentage this year.
AL Player of the Year: Victor Martinez struck out only 42 times all year and hit .337.
NL Cy Young Award: Kershaw, obviously.
AL Cy Young Award:
Cleveland’s Corey Kluber was the best pitcher in the second half, and
Seattle’s Felix Hernandez faltered when needed most. But Hernandez was
second in the league in innings and first in OPS, and he went 14-6 with a
bad offense. He wins in a photo finish.
NL Rookie:
In a skimpy field, Cincinnati’s Billy Hamilton was the only rookie to
have a yearlong impact, with 56 steals and outstanding defense. But the
Mets’ Jacob DeGrom and the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks deserve votes.
AL Rookie: Chicago’s Jose Abreu never hit the rookie wall, but he almost knocked it down with 35 home runs, 105 RBIs and a .956 OPS.
NL Manager:
Clint Hurdle of the Pirates kept hope alive even when they trailed
Milwaukee by nine games. They wound up roaring into the playoffs.
AL Manager:
Buck Showalter, once derided as a micro-manager, dredged the Orioles
out of the Chesapeake. Unbalanced and injured, they ran away with the
A.L. East.
NL Mis-Manager: Lots of candidates, but Kirk Gibson’s act wore thin in Arizona, and he was fired Friday.
AL Mis-Manager: A long, distinguished run by Ron Gardenhire appears to have run its course in Minnesota.
NL Executive:
Long-term, it’s probably the Cubs’ Theo Epstein for stockpiling some
eye-popping talent. Short-term, go with Washington’s Mike Rizzo, for
assembling a team that needed only health to win the East.
AL Executive:
No midseason trade meant more than the Angels’ procurement of closer
Huston Street. Jerry Dipoto cleaned up some of his own messes this year.
NL Execu-stiff: The Phillies could have replaced Pat Gillick with Mike Arbuckle or Ruben Amaro. They chose Amaro. They’re still paying for it.
AL Execu-stiff: The Yankees’ Brian Cashman hasn’t done much to brighten the post-Jeter landscape.
NL Breakthrough Player: The Cubs swiped Jake Arrieta from the Orioles and he was 10-5 on a bad team, with a 0.989 WHIP.
AL Breakthrough Player: Cleveland’s Michael Brantley had 199 hits and improved his slugging percentage from .396 to .510.
NL Comeback Player:
The Reds’ Johnny Cueto would be a landslide Cy Young winner in normal
years. He’ll settle for this award after coming back from injury to lead
the N,L. in innings pitched.
AL Comeback Player: Cast aside by the Yankees, Phil Hughes was 16-10 for the Twins and, amazingly, struck out 186 with only 16 walks.
NL Reliever:
The Dodgers’ J.P. Howell gave up one homer in 67 innings. He also
inherited 35 runners and stranded 33 of them, a rare knack in an era
when even setup men habitually start innings.
AL Reliever: Kansas City closer Greg Holland is a viable Cy Young candidate. He had 47 saves in 49 chances.
NL Pyromaniac:
Bryan Morris was 0-for-7 in save situations and allowed 17 of 26
inherited runners to score. Not surprisingly, the Pirates shuffled him
off to Florida.
AL Pyromaniac:
Unfortunately, Ernesto Frieri did not spend enough time in either league
to qualify. The Tigers’ Joe Nathan blew seven of 41 saves.
NL Wind Farm:
Goes to the player who strikes out the most with the least
justification. For instance, Chris Johnson of Atlanta fanned 154 times
and hit only nine home runs. Not that you don’t need a nice breeze in
Atlanta.
AL Wind Farm: Austin Jackson proved he
could stir the air in two cities. Dealt from Detroit to Seattle, Jackson
was a punchout victim 141 times and managed four home runs.
NL Distinguished Service Award:
At 24, Anthony Rizzo slammed 31 home runs for the Cubs, second in the
league to Giancarlo Stanton. He is the first brick in the wall the Cubs
are building.
AL Distinguished Service Award:
Houston’s amazing Jose Altuve cranked out an MLB-leading 223 hits, won
the A.L. batting title, and had more steals (56) than strikeouts (53).
All 5-foot-6 of him. It is hoped he won’t drown in coastal flooding
before the Astros actually get good.
