MLB Awards Preview
Each year baseball hands out a plethora of awards to many deserving and undeserving players. The following article will delve into each award and provide my predictions on who will be taking home the hardware at seasons end.
This was initially completed at the onset of the season, so these choices were chosen before injuries and suspensions were in effect, such as Mike Trout’s recent two month thumb injury.
AL MVP
Winner: Mike Trout: The league leader in WAR since 2012, he is somehow getting better every year, creating even more distance from the competition behind him. His average seasons equate to most players’ career years. We’re truly in the presence of a baseball god.
Runner Up: Manny Machado: Possesses all the tools to contend with Trout, with power, average, speed, and defense but still will not be enough to topple the Millville Meteor.
NL MVP
Winner: Bryce Harper: Coming off a down year last season, Harper will be out to prove he’s more of the 2015 player than the 2016 version of the hot-headed superstar. He’s still only 24 and I guarantee he will continue to improve for years to come.
Runner Up: Kris Bryant: Repeating MVP performances are tough. Bryant has the skillset, but he may be overshadowed by the total team production of the Cubs.
AL CY Young
Winner: Yu Darvish: After missing a lot of time due to Tommy John surgery, the strikeout artist is healthy once again, and will be looking to add a CY Young award to his trophy case, and what better time to play at the highest level than in a contract year.
Runner Up: Chris Sale: Now playing meaningful games for the best team in the American League, the newest Red Sox ace will be anchoring this staff to a division title, but this violent-delivery ace may have some struggles in hitter friendly Fenway Park.
NL CY Young
Winner: Clayton Kershaw: As long as he remains healthy, there is no pitcher in baseball that can come close to the talent Kershaw possesses. He has four unhittable pitches to strike you out and make your entire team look like minor leaguers.
Runner Up: Madison Bumgarner: The second best pitcher in all of baseball, and he may unfortunately never win a CY Young as long as he’s in the same conference as Kershaw. Bumgarner can dominate lineups too, but not as effortlessly as Kershaw.
AL Rookie Of The Year
Winner: Andrew Benintendi: Handed a starting spot in the Red Sox outfield, he’s surrounded by a plethora of talented veterans that will only boost his overall stats. He brings good power, decent speed, and defense to an already star-studded Sox lineup.
Runner Up: Mitch Haniger: After adjusting his swing a few years ago in the minors, he has been crushing the ball ever since. As one of the main pieces acquired in Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto’s team overhaul, he’s got an opportunity to play every day and produce.
NL Rookie Of The Year
Winner: Dansby Swanson: Drafted 1st overall in 2015, he was the centrepiece in the most lopsided deal in MLB history. Atlanta stole Swanson from Arizona and he’s now going to show the world why he will be one of the top shortstops in the league for years to come.
Runner Up: Albert Almora: Toss up between the Cubs’ Almora and Padres’ Margot, as both possess excellent speed and defense. I think Almora has a legitimate chance to contend for the Gold Glove in centre field, while putting up better offensive numbers.
AL Manager Of The Year
Winner: AJ Hinch: He’s not the best manager in the AL, as that honour goes to Terry Francona, but I predict Hinch to lead the Astros to a division crown and a lengthy playoff run with the strong team he’s able to field nightly.
Runner up: John Farrell: Although he’s not a great manager, he will be viewed as one because of how excellent his Red Sox squad will be this year. But in all honesty, Michael Scott from The Office could probably manage this talented squad to a playoff berth.
NL Manager Of The Year
Winner: Dusty Baker: The man is notorious for destroying the arms of many young prospects. He will lead the Nationals to a division crown and lengthy playoff run, while hopefully not destroying Strasburg and Scherzer’s career in the process.
Runner up: Joe Maddon: The best manager in all of baseball. He should win this. He won’t, but everyone knows the shift-master and tactician extraordinaire is the rightful owner of the title of best manager in baseball, despite what the award voters put on their ballots.
WORST AL Manager Of The Year (Not a real award):
John Gibbons: The AL is littered with inept managers. Ned Yost almost took this, but John Gibbons wins this made-up award in a landslide. His lineup making abilities are dreadful, his bullpen usage atrocious, and his one-run game records is alarmingly negative.
WORST NL Manager Of The Year:
Terry Collins: Loaded with a very talented Mets squad, he’s hardly managed to make them even relevant. With four top tier starters, several sluggers, and a powerful bullpen, he’s shown his skills of player mismanagement time and time again, congrats on the award!
AL Hank Aaron Award
Winner: Manny Machado: The home run crown in the AL is wide open, but I expect Machado to take a big leap in power this year, edging out Trout and Nelly Cruz.
Runner up: Mike Trout: The man can do everything. He will hit a bunch of home runs, and do everything else for his team, but he may come just shy of a home run crown.
NL Hank Aaron Award
Winner: Giancarlo Stanton: The man with the most power since Albert Pujols or Barry Bonds in their heyday, this goliath can hit 50 if he can stay healthy for a season, but that’s the issue, can he stay healthy?
Runner up: Nolan Arenado: Calling Coors field his home definitely helps his chances of launching bombs and claiming the crown, and he’s got all the tools to lead the NL in homers.
AL Gold Glove
C Salvador Perez, KC
1B Mitch Moreland, BOS
2B Ian Kinsler, DET
3B Manny Machado, BAL
SS Francisco Lindor, CLE
LF Alex Gordon, KC
CF Kevin Kiermaier, TB
RF Mookie Betts, BOS
P Dallas Keuchel, HOU
NL Gold Glove
C Buster Posey, SF
1B Anthony Rizzo, CUBS
2B Cesar Hernandez, PHI
3B Nolan Arenado, COL
SS Brandon Crawford, SF
LF Christian Yelich, MIA
CF Billy Hamilton, CIN
RF Jason Heyward, CUBS
P Zack Greinke, ARI
Josh is a baseball contributor for TheOcho.ca. By day he teaches in schools or works at gas stations. By night he’s watching hours of sports and brainstorming his next article.
