MLB Midseason Awards - AL Version

I know we're not at the "official" midway point of the season. That is what the All-Star break is, but with most team having played 83 or 84 games, that's enough for me. With further ado, here are my picks for the hardware. Let's get this stuff handed out to the American League.

1. MVP - Nominees are: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers; Josh Hamilton, Texas: Justin Morneau, Minnesota
All are more than worthy of the trophy, but I can only pick one and that's a tough choice. No one has been hotter than Hamilton. In June, Hamilton drilled 9 homers, added 31 RBI while hitting an astounding .454. Morneau won the award in 2006 and got off to a torrid start to the 2010 season. June wasn't as kind to him as it was Hamilton, but Morneau managed a .299 average with 5 HR and 16 RBI. That's the trademark of Morneau, consistency. The .299 represents his lowest batting average for any full month this season. He doesn't run too hot or too cold.

But I have to go with Cabrera here. A lot of experts thought the Tigers had a chance in the AL Central, but doom and gloom was also predicted with the losses of Curtis Granderson and Fernando Rodney. Just insert Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Jackson and free agent signing and AL All-Star Jose Valverde into those slots plus a little leadership from Johnny Damon and the Tigers haven't really missed those guys, if at all. But Cabrera is the heartbeat of this team. It also doesn't hurt that as of right now, he's got the AL Triple Crown! He leads in average (.343) and RBI (73) and he's tied in HR with Hamilton and Toronto's Jose Batista (21).

2. Cy Young - Nominees are: Jon Lester, Boston: Andy Pettitte, New York; David Price, Tampa Bay
Just to get this one down to three was difficult enough. I could have also has Cliff Lee, Clay Buchholz, Phil Hughes, Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia in the mix, but these three stand out because all three have ERA under 3.00 and double-digit wins. Price is 11-4 with a 2.42 ERA. Pettitte, 10-2 with a 2.82 ERA and Lester is 10-3 with a 2.76 ERA. Yes, Buchholz falls under those categories, too, but I eliminated him only because he has the highest WHIP.

Price is my pick because he has the most wins of the three and the lowest ERA. I know it's trendy and I know I'll hear it because he has the highest WHIP among the three (a reason I eliminated Buchholz), but Price is also showing us the promise he displayed to Tampa Bay scouts when they selected him #1 overall in 2007. His "worst" month was May when his ERA was 2.84, the highest for a month all season. I know awards aren't based on promise or "upside" either, but Price is the new stopper in the Rays rotation.

3. Rookie of the Year - Nominees are: Brennan Boesch, Detroit; Austin Jackson, Detroit; Mitch Talbot, Cleveland
Go ahead. Laugh at the Talbot nominee, but he is 8-7 with a 3.86 ERA on a bad team and that tells me plenty. Imagine if Talbot had an offense. Boesch and Jackson are no-brainers to nominate. Both are hitting over .300 and Jackson has started in center from day 1. Boesch was a gem to find and has been more than willing to assist Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez keep the Tigers on course for another playoff run.

But for me, I got to go with Jackson. He was the replacement for Granderson and Curtis was loved in the Motor City. He is over .300 both at Comerica and on the road. That proves to me that this kid knows how to hit. No, he won't hit 20+ HR like Granderson, but his speed could warrant close to 10 triples (he has 4). Toss in 13 steals and this kid is action on the basepaths.

4. Manager of the Year - Nominees are: Terry Francona, Boston: Jim Leyland, Detroit; Ron Washington, Texas
Did anyone seriously think the Rangers would be holding down first place in the AL West? Even with the Angels losing John Lackey? Did you? I didn't either. And look what Leyland is doing in Detroit. He touted last season as the year for the Tigers to win it all. So much for that. The Tigers are atop the AL Central.

But I got to hand it to Francona in Boston. The DL is almost a starting team in itself (Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez, Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz, Jason Varitek, Manny Delcarmen, Jeremy Hermida, Josh Beckett). Don't forget that he had to also deal with Mike Cameron and Daisuke Matsuzaka already having stints on the DL. No, the Sawx aren't currently sitting in a playoff spot, but this could be Francona's best managing job yet.

OK, the serious stuff is out of the way. Now, for the "other" awards...

"How Can I Get Benched?" Award - B.J Upton, Tampa Bay.
You would think this guy would get it through his head that you must play hard if you want in Joe Maddon's lineup. He hasn't learned and now there are reports that Tampa is willing to part with Upton. A first round, can't miss prospect as a shortstop, the Rays have afforded Upton every conceivable chance to play by moving him to different positions. Hasn't all gone wrong...except that lack of hustle that creeps into his game.

"I Got My 15 Minutes of Fame...Twice" Award - Dallas Braden, Oakland
Braden is known for only two things this season: his verbal bout with A-Rod and hurling a perfect game. The A's even printed T-shirts that say "Get Off My Mound". Braden and the MBLPA aren't thrilled with the ploy, but shouldn't Braden milk it for all it's worth? He may not get this type of notoriety again...or will he?

"Where Am I Now?" Award - Zack Greinke, Kansas City
Last year, Greinke won the AL Cy Young going 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA on an atrocious Royals team. Reality check. You really are in Kansas (City), Zack and you're on the Royals roster. This season: 5-8 with a 3.71 ERA. Before a current run of winning his last four outings, Greinke was 1-8 and the owner of a 4.05 ERA. Ouch!

"We Were Overhyped" Award - Seattle Mariners
This is a well deserved honor and that's hard for a Mariner fan to admit. With Lackey departing from the Angels and the Rangers seemingly focused on Rich Harden as their #1 starter, the Mariners were poised to reclaim the AL West. I mean they added Chone Figgins, Cliff Lee and Milton Bradley. What can go wrong? Everything, maybe? Lee has been his sensational self. King Felix has struggled. The "experiment" of moving Figgins to second and Jose Lopez to third hasn't worked. Figgins hasn't hit a lick (he's raised his average to .236 after spending a lot of time below the Mendoza line). It just hasn't worked as planned for Don Wakamatsu and Company in the Emerald City.

There you have it.