As we approach the MLB All-Star Game and the unofficial midway point of the season, the LWOS baseball staff decided to hand out some mid-season hardware. Not surprisingly, some awards were easier to pick than others. Here’s what happens when nineteen different writers get to together to decide the MVP, Cy Young, ROY and Manager of the Year awards for each league.
American League
MVP
1. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros: .352/.423/.564, 14 HR, 49 RBI, 165 OPS+, 4.4 WAR (6/19 votes)
Jose Altuve had already shown he could hit for a high average and be a threat on the bases. This season, however, he has added some power as well. Altuve is on pace to blow past his previous career high of 15 home runs and 66 RBIs by the start of August. Couple that with 22 steals he has already amassed and his usual stellar defense at a premium position and you can see that Altuve has brought his game to another level this year.
2. David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox: .337/.429/.670, 19 HR, 66 RBI, 183 OPS+, 3.3 WAR (4/19 votes)
Looks like someone forgot to tell David Ortiz that you’re not supposed to put up these types of numbers right before you retire. After producing his usually excellent numbers the last few years, Big Papi decided to hang up his cleats following the 2016 season. So far this season, he’s put up video game type numbers and has the highest OPS+ in all of baseball. Ortiz’s WAR is hurt by the fact he primarily serves as the team’s DH, but if he continues to put up these types of numbers – he may win his first MVP award in his final season.
3. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: .324/.426/.569, 17 HR, 54 RBI, 170 OPS+, 5.1 WAR (4/19 votes)
Mike Trout is continuing to do Mike Trout things, while playing in obscurity this season with the struggling Angels. It’s kind of become easy to take Trout for granted because he makes everything look so effortless. While his team may be a disappointment, Trout is once again leading position players in WAR and doing his part to keep the Angels relevant.
Cy Young
1. Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox: 14-2, 2.93 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, 140 ERA+, 2.9 WAR (10/19 votes)
While the White Sox may be struggling to stay in the AL Central race, Chris Sale is continuing to pitch like the ace he is. Sale already has three complete games this season and has one of the best WHIPs in baseball. Combine that with his spiffy ERA and his superior win/loss record, and there is little argument that Sale has put the Sox on his back this season. Sale has been regarded as an elite pitcher the past few seasons, but he has been even better in 2016, and it’s little wonder LWOS picked him as the midseason AL Cy Young winner.
2. Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians: 10-3, 2.36 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 10.3 K/9, 197 ERA+, 2.4 WAR (7/19 votes)
After an up and down start to his career, Danny Salazar has emerged as the ace of the best rotation in baseball. Salazar has been downright dominant so far this season, posting a 2.36 ERA and one of the highest ERA+ in all of baseball. The scary thing is, Salazar is only 26 and should just be entering the prime of his career. The rest of Major League Baseball is on notice.
Rookie of the Year
1. Nomar Mazara, Texas Rangers: .284/.332/.426, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 97 OPS+, 1.3 WAR (12/19 votes)
Although he’s slowed down a bit over the last few weeks, there’s no denying the impact that Nomar Mazara has had on the Rangers this season. When Shin-soo Choo went down early in the season, the team relied on Mazara, and he has not disappointed. Mazara is the youngest position player in baseball this season, and he is already playing like a seasoned veteran. As the Rangers continue to position themselves for the postseason, expect Mazara to continue to be a focal point in the lineup.
2. Michael Fulmer, Detroit Tigers: 8-2, 2.17 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, 195 ERA+, 1.4 WAR (5/19 votes)
Based on the early returns, the Tigers have to be thrilled with what they’ve gotten out of the Yoenis Cespedes trade from last year. Michael Fulmer has stepped into the rotation this year and has not looked back. The ERA is sparkling and he has a very good strikeout per nine inning rate as well. The one thing the Tigers may be leery about is Fulmer’s command. While his WHIP is not bad by any means, it has been climbing his last few starts. Regardless, Fulmer has given the Tigers rotation a much needed shot in the arm this season.
Manager of the Year
1. Terry Francona, Cleveland Indians (12/19 votes)
The Indians just recently reeled off fourteen straight wins and surged into first place in the AL Central. Obviously the rotation is outstanding, but Terry Francona deserves a ton of credit for the team’s play. At the start of the season, there were some questions about how the Indians would perform given that most of their starting outfield was banged up. Star outfielder Michael Brantley has missed the majority of the season, yet the team hasn’t skipped a beat. Francona has been able to keep the Indians pointed in the right direction as the team has emerged as one of the best in the American League.
2. Jeff Bannister, Texas Rangers (6/19 votes)
Texas is another team that played an impressive stretch of baseball in June and now has a comfortable lead in the AL West. Jeff Bannister established himself last season when he guided the Rangers to a division title. Amazingly, he may be doing an even better job this year. Injuries to Yu Darvish, Josh Hamilton and Shin-soo Choo could have derailed the Rangers in April. However, Bannister has the team playing some of its best baseball in years.
National League
MVP
1. Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies: .290/.365/.579, 23 HR, 69 RBI, 128 OPS+, 3.4 WAR (6/19 votes)
Just because he won’t be starting in the All-Star game doesn’t mean Nolan Arenado isn’t deserving of being the MVP in National League thus far. Arenado is perhaps the best fielding third baseman in all of MLB, but he’s also been a force at the plate this year. Arenado leads the league in RBIs and total bases and trails Kris Bryant by only two home runs. Arenado is the total package and he has put the Rockies on his back this year.
2. Daniel Murphy , Washington Nationals: .349/.388/.581, 14 HR, 56 RBI, 152 OPS+, 3.4 WAR (5/19 votes)
Daniel Murphy could always hit for a high average, but no one really noticed how good of a player he was until last season. Murphy has continued to build on that momentum from last year, as he currently leads the league in hits and batting average. Also worth noting is that Murphy has already matched his career high in home runs only halfway through the season. It certainly helps having Bryce Harper in the lineup, but make no mistake, Murphy has carried the Nats offense this season.
Cy Young
1. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers: 11-2, 1.79 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, 219 ERA+, 5.5 WAR (17/19 votes)
It’s almost hard to believe that the three time Cy Young Award winner and former MVP could be pitching any better, but here we are. Clayton Kershaw is nearly tied with his career low ERA, has the lowest WHIP in baseball and the highest ERA+. And just for fun, he has three complete game shutouts. He’s pretty good at this baseball thing. Unfortunately injuries have sidelined Kershaw for the time being, but expect him to be back with a vengeance after the All-Star break.
2. Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins: 10-4, 2.69 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 13.1 K/9, 149 ERA+, 3.6 WAR (1/19 votes)
As mentioned above, Keshaw was not the unanimous choice, however. Jose Fernandez got off to a slow start this season, but has been gangbusters the last several weeks. He has a dominant ERA and sports the highest strikeout per nine inning ratio in the league. Fernandez trails only Kershaw and Noah Syndergaard in terms of WAR. While Kershaw has been in another galaxy this season, his injury has left the door slightly open, and it looks like Jose Fernandez is ready to kick it wide open.
Rookie of the Year
1. Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers: .304/.362/.539, 17 HR, 41 RBI, 142 OPS+, 3.9 WAR (12/19 votes)
The highly touted Corey Seager was the No. 1 rated prospect in all of baseball last year, and he is proving to be worth the hype so far in his rookie year. Seager’s slash line ranks right along with some of the best players in baseball. His 3.9 WAR rank seventh out of all position players in the majors. The kid is just scratching the surface of how good he can become and has already become the best position player in the Dodgers lineup. Seager will earn a much deserved trip to San Diego to play in the All-Star game, where he honestly should be the starting shortstop of the NL squad.
2. Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies: .259/.327/.535, 19 HR, 50 RBI, 108 OPS+, 1.5 WAR (4/19 votes)
Trevor Story had one of the most remarkable to starts to a big league career you could ever imagine. After setting the world on fire the first few weeks of the season, Story came back to earth a bit. While his start might not have been sustainable, the promising rookie has maintained steady production at the shortstop position for the Rockies. Troy Tulowitzki left some pretty big shoes to fill out in Denver, but so far Story has been up to the task.
Manager of the Year
1. Joe Maddon, Chicago Cubs (9/19 votes)
The Chicago Cubs started the season like a house on fire, and quickly established themselves as one of the favorites to win the World Series this year. Unfortunately, someone went ahead and jinxed them. All kidding aside, Joe Maddon is overseeing one of the best teams in baseball and is doing a masterful job of handling all of young talent on the roster. How the Cubs handle their most recent dry spell will go a long in determining if they can finally get over the hump this year. If anyone can do it, Joe Maddon can.
2. Don Mattingly, Miami Marlins (5/19 votes)
There was never any questioning the young talent on the Marlins roster, but it seemed they players needed the right person to get through to them. Don Mattingly brings big league experience as a player as well as a manager and has helped shape the Marlins from afterthought to contender. Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich are both realizing their potential, and are just a few pieces of a lineup where every player has an OPS+ of at least 100. The scary thought is the Marlins have done this while star slugger Giancarlo Stanton has struggled most of the year. If he starts to heat up, look out.
So there you have it. Love our picks? Hate our picks? Feel free to comment and let us know who your picks would be!
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