After handing out awards for the top first half performers in the National League, Bleeding Sports does the same for the American League.
Biggest Surprise: Ben Zobrist, Rays
Zobrist emerged as valuable utility man for Tampa Bay last season playing all over the field during the franchise’s unbelievable run to the World Series. This season the Rays haven’t been able to take Zobrist out of the lineup and have found him a steady position at 2B filling in for injured Akinori Iwamura. Zobrist is now a fixture in the five spot of the Rays’ lineup while finishing the first half 2nd in slugging and OPS while on pace to hit over 30 home runs for the season.
Biggest Disappointment: Joba Chamberlain, Yankees
There have been a quite a few household names in the AL that haven’t lived up to expectations this season. It took Boston slugger over a month to hit his first home run, but he was showing signs of decline at the end of last season so many observers saw it coming. Alex Rodriguez continues to disappoint on and off the field between steroid admissions, hip injuries, and tabloid fodder all while opposing pitchers no longer fear pitching to him. Arod’s Yankee teammate, Joba Chamberlain, has been a whole lot of hype with little to show for it as a starting pitcher. Yankee fan sure expected for than four victories in the first half while being among the top ten in the league in walks allowed.
Breakout Performer: Zack Grienke, Royals
Grienke began the season by putting together a historic string of pitching performances. Grienke was a staggering 8-1 with a 0.84 ERA on May 26th and his ERA didn’t surpass 1.00 until the last day of May. Grienke cooled off a bit for the remainder of the first half, but still leads the league ERA and has become a household name in baseball. He has been the best comeback in story this season after overcoming past battles with depression.
Cy Young: Josh Beckett, Red Sox
The complete antithesis of Grienke this year, Beckett started the year extremely slow. For the last two months, however, Beckett has been a ball of fire. He finished the first half tied for the league lead in victories with an 11-3 record and 3.35 ERA while reminding everyone in baseball that he’s still the best pitcher on the AL’s best team.
AL MVP: Joe Mauer, Twins
Picking an AL MVP is a tough one because nobody has really stood out, but nobody could argue against Minnesota’s All-World catcher. Despite missing the first month of the season, Mauer didn’t miss a beat and put up MVP numbers in the first half. Mauer finished the first half batting a league leading .373 with 15 HRs and 49 RBIs and also leads the AL in slugging and OPS.
Smart. Original. Sports Discussion + Analysis.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
NL First Half Awards
Before the second half of the Major League Baseball season gets underway, Bleeding Sports hands out some awards for the first half of the 2009 season. We'll start with the National League.
Biggest Surprise: Raul Ibanez, Phillies
Ibanez was a solid player who flew under the radar in Kansas City and Seattle, but even hardcore baseball fans couldn’t have seen this type of season coming. The 37 year old outfielder signed with Philadelphia in the offseason and jacked 22 home runs by June 13th before a groin injury put his on the DL. Ibanez has returned, and despite the missed time, is on pace to hit 48 long balls in 140 games played.
Biggest Disappointment: David Wright, Mets
Sure, Wright batted .324 in the first half, but, much like the rest of his teammates, the All-Star third baseman has been a major disappointment and it can’t all be blamed on spacious Citi Field. Wright is on pace to have the worst offensive season of his career after hitting an inexplicable 5 home runs and driving in just 44 runs before the All-Star break.
Breakout Performer: Heath Bell, Padres & Pablo Sandoval, Giants
It’s a tie between a couple of the NL West rivals. Bell has stepped into the closer role in San Diego, replacing all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman, and hasn’t missed a beat. The former Met leads the league with 23 saves while posting a 1.69 era and striking out more than a hitter per inning. Sandoval, meanwhile, has come out of nowhere hitting .333 while belting 15 homers and driving in 55 runs for offensively challenged San Francisco. The hefty third baseman’s big bat and stellar pitching have keyed the Giants’ surprise lead in the NL wild car race.
NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum, Giants
Speaking of that San Francisco pitching, it would be hard to vote against last year’s Cy Young award winner so far this season. The young ace is 10-2 with a 2.33 era and a ridiculous 149 strikeouts in 127.2 innings pitched out by the bay. Is there any wonder why he was picked as the NL starter in the All-Star Game?
NL MVP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
This couldn’t anymore obvious as the reigning NL MVP is on the verge of triple crown status. Actually, forget about the Triple Crown because, other than batting average where is currently ranked 4th, Pujols leads in every other offensive category known to man. Pujols’ first half reads like a career season for most major leaguers - .332, 32 HRs, 87 RBIs in only 90 games while leading the league in walks. There isn’t a better, more feared offensive player in the game today.
Biggest Surprise: Raul Ibanez, Phillies
Ibanez was a solid player who flew under the radar in Kansas City and Seattle, but even hardcore baseball fans couldn’t have seen this type of season coming. The 37 year old outfielder signed with Philadelphia in the offseason and jacked 22 home runs by June 13th before a groin injury put his on the DL. Ibanez has returned, and despite the missed time, is on pace to hit 48 long balls in 140 games played.
Biggest Disappointment: David Wright, Mets
Sure, Wright batted .324 in the first half, but, much like the rest of his teammates, the All-Star third baseman has been a major disappointment and it can’t all be blamed on spacious Citi Field. Wright is on pace to have the worst offensive season of his career after hitting an inexplicable 5 home runs and driving in just 44 runs before the All-Star break.
Breakout Performer: Heath Bell, Padres & Pablo Sandoval, Giants
It’s a tie between a couple of the NL West rivals. Bell has stepped into the closer role in San Diego, replacing all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman, and hasn’t missed a beat. The former Met leads the league with 23 saves while posting a 1.69 era and striking out more than a hitter per inning. Sandoval, meanwhile, has come out of nowhere hitting .333 while belting 15 homers and driving in 55 runs for offensively challenged San Francisco. The hefty third baseman’s big bat and stellar pitching have keyed the Giants’ surprise lead in the NL wild car race.
NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum, Giants
Speaking of that San Francisco pitching, it would be hard to vote against last year’s Cy Young award winner so far this season. The young ace is 10-2 with a 2.33 era and a ridiculous 149 strikeouts in 127.2 innings pitched out by the bay. Is there any wonder why he was picked as the NL starter in the All-Star Game?
NL MVP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
This couldn’t anymore obvious as the reigning NL MVP is on the verge of triple crown status. Actually, forget about the Triple Crown because, other than batting average where is currently ranked 4th, Pujols leads in every other offensive category known to man. Pujols’ first half reads like a career season for most major leaguers - .332, 32 HRs, 87 RBIs in only 90 games while leading the league in walks. There isn’t a better, more feared offensive player in the game today.
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