Happy the Rangers Won?

I am...but I don't say that because I'm a Yankee hater. While I'm not a fan of the Yankees, I do believe that you sincerely have to respect them. I'm also not a Rangers fan, but I've learned to enjoy watching this team. I've also learned to appreciate all that has happened during this 2010 season for Texas.

Now that the Texas Rangers will be playing in their first World Series, there are a few people I am extremely happy for that are associated with the franchise.

First, I am happy for their fans. If you've followed this franchise from its beginnings, you encompass not only almost 50 years of never playing in the Fall Classic, you also encompass the franchise's start in D.C. when they were called the Washington Senators. Of course, the original Senators are now the Minnesota Twins.

Ryan hoists AL Trophy

I'm also happy for Nolan Ryan. His name has been attached to the franchise for quite a while now. As part of a new ownership group, Ryan has every reason in the world to smile. The Rangers have held a stigma of not being a winning team. One off-season doesn't necessarily change that tune, but it's always a positive step in the right direction.

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...

MLB Manager of the Year candidates

Yesterday, we took a peek at my candidates for Rookie of the Year in both leagues. Today, I'll reveal my nominees for Manager of the Year.

Let's start in the National League. I have four managers that I feel could win the award. Here's my list in no particular order.

First, Tony LaRussa of the St. Louis Cardinals. A lot of people had the Chicago Cubs winning this division and the Cards wouldn't be that competitive. As usual, LaRussa gets the last laugh. What's scary is that right now the Cards are the best team in the National League because they are so balanced. With the acquisitions of Matt Holliday, Mark DeRosa, and Julio Lugo, it's not so easy to pitch around Albert Pujols. And LaRussa almost always pushes the right buttons.

Next, Joe Torre of the Los Angeles Dodgers. I know the Dodgers have struggled recently but people may forget the job Torre did while Manny Ramirez was serving his 50 game suspension for trying to get pregnant. His starting pitching collapsed for a bit but the front office got Torre a couple of pitchers for the stretch run and the Dodgers should win the NL West...all because of Torre.

Another NL West manager is Jim Tracy of the Colorado Rockies. He wasn;t even the manager in Colorado when the season began. But shortly after the season started, Clint Hurdle's agic had runs its course and Tracy was given the job. And what a job he's done. This season is a little bit reminiscent of the run the Rockies made a couple of years ago when the were in the World Series. At one time, the Rockies were 15 1/2 gaes behind the Dodgers. They're right behind them now and Tracy's laid back attitude compared to Hurdle's in-your-face style has been the difference.

Fianlly, I look at Bruce Bochy of the San Francisco Giants. Like the Rockies, the Giants were under the radar this season. We knew they had pitching with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Randy Johnson, but we didn't think we'd see the re-emergence of Barry Zito or the coming out party of the Kung Fu Panda, Pablo Sandoval. Throw in a career offensive year from Bengie Molina, and it makes for a good season in the Bay Area.

This isn't really a race in my mind.
1. Tracy
2. Bochy
3. LaRussa
4. Torre

I only see two legit candidates in the American League with a dark horse.

You can't have an American League Manager of the Year discussion without talking about Ron Washington of the Texas Rangers. The only people that might have even had the Rangers alive for a playoff spot were those in the Arlington area. The Rangers have surprised everyone and have battled the Boston Red Sox for the Wild Card for the last two months. At one point, the Rangers were challanging the Angels for first place and actually held first place for a period of time this year. Washington is sure to garner some votes.

The manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Mike Scioscia is also in the mix. Early in the season, the Angels had evey reason in the world to throw it all in after the tragic death of Nick Adenhart. But the Angels decided to rally around their fallen teammate. The one thing that stands out is when Scioscia was at a press conference and he admitted he didn't exactly know what he was going to do until he talked to his players. Whatever the result, the Angels have become a threat to take not only the American League title, but the World Series along with it.

The dark horse...Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees. Washington and Scioscia will get most of the votes for first but Girardi could sneak in and win. I say that because his players respond to him and that's what makes a good manager a great manager, respect from your players. The Yankees are now able to just play baseball because Girardi will let them. And there's really no pressure for the Yankees players.

This could be a lot closer than people think, but I like Scioscia.
1. Scioscia
2. Washington
3. Girardi