The Great Zamboni’s MLB Midseason Awards 2017

The “first-half” of the baseball season has been filled with excitment in the form of a record-setting number of home runs and two teams primed for a World Series collision course. But which standout individuals are deserving of midseason hardware?

Mario Kalo
Jul 10, 2017 · 7 min read
(Image courtesy of New York Post)

The unofficial “halfway” point of the Major League Baseball season is upon us, as the game’s biggest stars have descended upon Miami for Tuesday night’s All-Star game. Rookies Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger have burst onto the scene amidst historical first halves. Meanwhile, the Houston Astros (60–29) and Los Angeles Dodgers (61–29) seem destined for a World Series clash, marking the first time since 1969 that multiple teams have reached 60 wins prior to the All-Star break.

It’s been an exciting first half with more homeruns than ever, but before the second half of the season arrives, it’s time to delve into The Great Zamboni’s midseason awards.

National League

(Image courtesy of mlb.com)

MVP: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks

If Paul Goldschmidt played for a big-market team, he very well could be the face of baseball, but playing in Arizona makes him one of the game’s most underrated stars. Goldschmidt is an integral part to the Diamondbacks and he has played a massive role in Arizona’s strong first-half showing. Goldy is batting .313 with 20 homeruns and 67 RBI, three shy of the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado, who leads baseball with 70 RBI. Goldschmidt’s first-half slash line is MVP-esque: .313/.430/.581 and by comparison, last season’s NL MVP Kris Bryant posted a .286/.384/.578 slash line at the All-Star break. Team success should also help Goldschmidt’s case. The Diamondbacks currently occupy the NL’s top Wild Card spot with a 53–36 record, which is good for second best in the senior circuit.

Cy Young: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

The NL Cy Young award to this point in the season is a tossup between Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw, but Scherzer barely gets the edge in the race. Although his 10–5 record isn’t eye-popping, Scherzer’s numbers sure are. In 18 starts, Scherzer, who has already hoisted the award twice in his career (2013, 2016), has a 2.10 ERA coupled with a NL-leading 173 strikeouts. Scherzer, the NL starting pitcher for Tuesday’s All-Star game, has thrown 128.1 innings, allowed 30 earned runs and leads the majors with a 0.78 WHIP (average number of walks and hits by a pitcher). By comparison, Kershaw — who has made one more start than Scherzer — has pitched 132. 1 innings and allowed 32 earned runs. Both pitchers have posted gaudy numbers in the first half of the 2017 season, but Scherzer has been slightly more impressive than his Dodgers counterpart.

(Image courtesy of si.com)

Rookie of the half-year: Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

This one is a no-brainer. Cody Bellinger has absolutely taken the league by storm since making his big-league debut on April 25. Bellinger, who was selected to the All-Star game, has 25 home runs, 58 RBI and is batting .264 in just 69 games. Aside from the impressive start to his young career, Bellinger is playing a crucial role in the Dodgers’ torrid start. With his home run Saturday against the Kansas City Royals, Bellinger became the second player in MLB history to hit 25 homers in fewer than 70 games, behind only José Abreu who did it in 67 games. He would later earn his first career game-winning RBI in the tenth inning of the same game when he drew a bases loaded walk to drive in the winning run. Bellinger should run away with the award even if his second half numbers hardly resemble his first half stats.

Manager of the half-year: Craig Counsell, Milwaukee Brewers

Raise your hand if you predicted the Brewers would be leading the NL Central by 5.5 games at the All-Star break during the start of the season. I’m not even sure the Brewers believed they would be atop the NL Central standings this late into the season, yet that is exactly where Craig Counsell’s team finds itself. While most predicted and expected the Chicago Cubs to sleepwalk their way to another division title, the Brewers have been the most consistent team in the NL Central and have taken advantage of the Cubs’ massive struggles to the tune of a 5.5 game lead over the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. Counsell deserves credit for earning his players’ trust and getting the most production from the lineup that takes the field daily. Of all the division leaders, the Brewers are undoubtedly the least talented, yet they have built a winning culture to this point thanks to Counsell’s leadership. While it remains to be seen if the Brewers can maintain their winning ways, there is no question that they are gaining more confidence with each day they spend in first place and buying into the sentiment that they are primed for a playoff run.

American League

MVP: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Remember when Aaron Judge hit .179 with 4 homeruns and 10 RBI in 27 games with the Yankees last season? That seems like ages ago. Judge has absolutely turned it around this season, batting .329 while leading the majors with 30 home runs through 89 games played. Playing in New York — perhaps the biggest stage in baseball — certainly helps Judge, but his numbers speak for themselves (.329/.448/.691). Judge was a swing-and-miss machine last season, yet he has become one of the most interesting players in baseball this season. Amongst all the pitches he’s seen, Judge’s highest batting average is against cutters, while he has hit the most home runs when pitchers throw a four-seam fastball his way, illustrating his evolution as a ballplayer.

(image courtesy of Boston Globe)

Cy Young: Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox

Plenty of big name acquisitions have struggled in their first season in Boston (David price, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez to name a few) and yet, the Red Sox front office must be gleaming at the acquisition of Sale with how he has proven his worth in the first half of the season. Sale is dominating American League hitting. In 18 starts, Sale is 11–4 with 2.75 ERA and a majors-best 178 strikeouts. His 0.901 WHIP tops all ptichers in the AL. Want more numbers? Sale is averaging 12.55 strikeouts per nine innings and has allowed two earned runs or less in three of his four losses. Sale will be the AL’s starting pitcher in Tuesday’s All-Star game and there’s no denying he has been phenomenal in the first half of the season.

(Image courtesy of SportingNews)

Rookie of the half-year: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Much like his NL counterpart Cody Bellinger, this award is one that Judge should run away with. He is flirting with triple crown numbers — first in home runs, second in RBI and third in batting average — and his unusually massive 6-foot-7 frame makes him a daunting force every time he steps up to the plate. There isn’t much more to add to the conversation. If it wasn’t for Judge’s outlandish season, Trey Mancini of the Baltimore Orioles could very well be the front runner for the award. Mancini has been terrific for Baltimore, playing outfield and first base while hitting .312 with a .901 OPS, 15 doubles, a triple, 14 homers and 44 RBI in 73 games.

Manager of the half year: A.J. Hinch, Houston Astros

It’s one thing to have high expectations and another to exceed those expectations, but that is exactly what the Astros have done under the guidance of A.J. Hinch. It’s no surprise the Astros are atop the AL standings, but they are proving to be a juggernaut, having led their division since Opening Day and showing zero signs of letting up. The Astros are 60–29 and have a 16.5 game lead in the AL West. That is a sign of talent — with three potential MVP candidates in George Springer, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa on the roster– and focus coming together. Hinch has also done a superb job of managing the Astros through several DL stints from four starting pitchers while grooming Chris Devenski into one of the most effective relievers in baseball. The lone challenge for the Astros in the second half of the regular season will be finding ways to stay motivated as they stroll into the postseason.

The Great Zamboni

Modern Sports Commentary From Everyday Fans, For Everyday Fans

Mario Kalo

Written by

Editor and writer — The Great Zamboni.

The Great Zamboni

Modern Sports Commentary From Everyday Fans, For Everyday Fans

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