MLB Midseason Awards - NL Version

Yesterday, I posted my midseason accolades for the American League. If you didn't catch it, it's just below this post or click here.

The National League awards are as follows:

1. MVP - The nominees are: Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego; Joey Votto, Cincinnati; David Wright, New York
I know eyebrows will be raised by omitting one Albert Pujols, but he's got his share. All three of my nominees are first timers here. No question that Gonzalez has had the aid of the Padres pitching staff, but he is the hub of their offense. Same can be said about Wright and what he brings to the Mets offense. All the talk in the offseason revolved Jason Bay's signing and the absence of Carlos Beltran. Hasn't phased right.

But where would the Cincinnati Reds be without Votto? Sure, Scott Rolen has rediscovered himself, Brandon Phillips is having his prototypical season. Jonny Gomes has emerged a the left fielder. It's Votto that has made the Reds, dare I say, an offensive power in the NL. He is ahead of Pujols, whom all first basemen are measured against, in every major offensive category. Not bad with the glove either as Votto has committed only 2 errors and a .997 fielding percentage.

2. Cy Young - The nominees are: Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado; Josh Johnson, Florida; Adam Wainwright, St. Louis
This was tougher than the MVP race for me. Jimenez may be the pick to many due to his fantastic start. The last three outings have been less than stellar. Josh Johnson has been the hot hurler as of late. He leads the NL in ERA (1.70) and pitches in a non-baseball friendly market. If Johnson were in almost any other NL city, he'd be the choice...easily.Wainwright picked up where he left off in 2009. He's just consistent.

Like I said, this was tough. I found great arguments for all three. Hard to go against the guy that already has 15 wins...and I'm not. Yes, it's Jimenez for me. Sure he's struggled as of late, but 15 wins before the All-Star break? One of those wins was a no-hitter.

3. Rookie of the Year -Nominees are: Jaime Garcia, St. Louis; Jason Heyward, Atlanta; Gaby Sanchez, Florida
Believe it or not, narrowing my list of nominees to three was harder than selecting the winner. You have Mike Leake in Cincinnati. Drew Storen and Stephen Strasburg in D.C.  Heyward had the impressive debut by homering in his first AB. Imagine how close he'd be to the NL lead if had not been injured. Scary. Sanchez, like Josh Johnson, needs to be with another organization that has attendance.Strasburg could claim this at the end of the regular season...and he should only if one of my nominees should fall.

And to me that's Garcia. 8-4 with a 2.17 ERA on a Cardinals staff that is depleted due to injuries (Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse). Garcia has more than carried his share of the load. Carpenter, Wainwright and Garcia could be the best 1-2-3 in the National League. Wait. There are. I hope the kid can stay fresh as 16 wins is a real possibility.

4. Manager of the Year - Nominees are: Dusty Baker, Cincinnati; Bud Black, San Diego; Bobby Cox, Atlanta
Cox is in his final year and there would be no better way to send him out than with a World Series ring and a MOY award. Early in the season, many Reds fans were already exasperated with Baker and wanted him out. His players just played hard and a current position of first in the NL Central will earn you more time.

But how can you not give this to Black? Almost every expert had the Padres at the bottom of the NL West in their predictions. No offense and no pitching. I said it myself...and now, I take it all back. The Padres have the lowest ERA of any staff in the NL and Black, a former pitcher, has to be the cog in that engine.

Now, the fun begins...

"We Don't Need Carlos Beltran" Award - Angel Pagan, New York Mets
Pagan won't give you the power numbers Beltran is capable of producing, but he has more than held his own as the Mets center fielder. He could be an All-Star with the season he's had: .303 average, 40 RBI. 16 steals, .363 on-base percentage and has played well defensively. Carlos Beltran? Who's that?

"Thanks, Guys. I Still Have a Job" Award - Jerry Manuel, New York Mets
Before the 2010 season even began, Manuel was on the hot seat. That seat was even hotter after a slow start to the Mets season (6-9 after 15 games). Then, something happened at Citi Field. Then, it cooled again as the Mets fell to 20-23 on May 21. Since then, the Mets have not spent a day under .500. And Manuel better than his guys every day that he's still employed.

"Damn That Testing" Award - Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers
After spending 50 games serving a suspension for violating MLB's drug policy, all Manny has done much about nothing. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier ave emerged as the feared hitters in LA's starting lineup. Since his return from that suspension, Ramirez has only hit 27 homers wit only 8 this season. The batting average is there (.322) but the power is gone. Hmm. Has Mannywood deteriorated?

"Who Wants to Be a Manager?" - Arizona Diamondbacks
For the second season in a row, the D-backs axed their manager midway thought the season with the GM following him out the door this time. Last year, Bob Melvin was sent pecking only 29 games into the season. This year, A.J. Hinch lasted a bit longer. The issue: Arizona was supposed to contend. The problem: No Brandon Webb. That will be an extended problem, too.

There's my midseason hardware.