I expected a reaction to my last post regarding my in-depth, Gammonsesque analysis of the NL MVP race, but apparantly my readership is less inclined to sabermetric pontification than I am, so I’m just going to go ahead and tell you who should win the other major MLB awards so we can get on to other things.
AL MVP: A Rod. I’m no Yankee lover, but he’s been everything to the Bombers that Ortiz has been to the BoSox while playing Gold Glove defense at the hot corner. If he doesn’t win, it’ll be a travesty. In fact, the DH that’s meant the most to his team this season might just be Travis Hafner, not Ortiz. But I digress.
NL Cy Young: If I’d posted this a week earlier, it would’ve been Chris Carpenter. But he’s stumbled down the stretch, and Dontrelle Willis has been lights out lately. If D-Train doesn’t falter in his final two starts, it’s his to win. Realistically, Carpenter and Willis might split the vote and Clemens could win.
AL Cy Young: Again, I’m no Yankee lover, but I’d probably have to go with Mariano Rivera. Mo has been the only sure thing on that club’s pitching staff all year and there really aren’t any other contenders for the award. I suppose Bartolo Colon could get some love, but I could never in good faith vote for a guy with a haircut that bad.
NL Rookie of the Year: Willie Tavares. Some will vote for Ryan Howard in Philly, but Tavares has played a solid centerfield for the ‘Stros all season long while being productive at the top of the order.
AL Rookie of the Year: Huston Street. A dominant presence in the A’s bullpen. A close 2nd: his teammate, Nick Swisher.
That’s it, ladies and gents. My prediction is a Cards – Indians Series, Cards winning it in 6. What a sweet sayanora for Busch Stadium.
Taylor, I left a post on your page…it’s time for you to reciprocate in due fashion.
already & not yet 
NL MVP…What can I say…Andruw runs away with the vote…not that he should…but he will.AL MVP…ORTIZ!…Arod? Are you kidding me? When I think about A Rod and hitting one word comes to mind…Slapper! He slapped Varitek on his way down to first base during the season last year…then to top it off slapped the ball out of Arroyo’s hand during the ALCS…BUSH LEAGUE! Sure, he’s slapped 46 HR to date, but guess what…so has Ortiz (without the sissy sort of slapping A Rod resorts to when things don’t go his way!). RBI? A Rod has 127…Ortiz leads the MLB with 144.AL CY Young…I’ll give a reluctant nod to Rivera.NL CY Young…It’s been D-Train all along in my mind (sorry Roger! Don’t you think 7 is enough though?).NL ROY…Couldn’t even begin to tell you!AL ROY…If you read the papers or listen to the news even the slightest bit I’m not even sure there is another rookie in the AL other than Houston Street!My shot at the WS…Cards and BoSox…who else but the Sox…in 7.p.s. didn’t i leave you a post from your living in the and column?
I’ve heard a lot about Jeff Francoeur. He’s had a great year. What do you think about him in the ROY race, Jason?
Francoeur, although he was hot as blazes his first time through the league, has been exploited. He’s an extreme free-swinger with moderate power that embodied the miracle that is the Atlanta Braves farm system. I’ll admit, the Braves are probably the feel good story in baseball this year, given the influx of young talent, the nagging injuries to Chipper & the explosion of Andruw Jones. But Francoeur, although he had a hot month or so, just didn’t do enough in my eyes over a short amount of time to warrant consideration. His success is not uncommon among players of his skill set; he’s such a free swinger that he actually performs better in the big leagues than his minor league numbers b/c big league pitchers are usually around the plate. I think he’s been exposed and I’d say he needs to make some adjustments in order to have a big league career of any merit. At best, he’s Mark Carreon…at worst, Joe Charboneau.
By the way, Taylor, you did leave me an earlier comment. I was just awaiting your baseball insight with us. I’ll forgive your delusion re: Ortiz & the AL MVP. You’re right, ARod’s a chump, but he plays the field every day, unlike Ortiz, who basically pinch hits 4 times a game. I can tell your not a purist. You’re probably anti-America & apple pie, too, right?
It seems that both of us are more interested in soliciting a response than we are in discussing the merits of MVP canidates. Purist or not, Ortiz has done for his team more as “just a hitter” than most guys who are play both offense and defense…that’s all I’m saying. And by the way, apple pie is good, but I do have to admit that peach cobbler is better!
who cares–they’re all juiced.