2014 MLB Season Awards

The regular season has (effectively) come to a close, and it is awards time. These are not my predictions for the winners, but who I believe should win.

American League MVP
1. Mike Trout, Angels. Should finally win after deserving the award the last two years.
2. Jose Abreu, White Sox. A batting beast. Could be the best Cuban import ever.
3. Nelson Cruz, Orioles. Dominating power tipped the Orioles over the top and made them a force.

National League MVP
1. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers. Yes, sp's are players. Guaranteed LA a win and a CG almost every start.
2. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates. The NL Trout and the league's best player. The Bucs, undoubted leader.
3. Buster Posey, Giants. Tremendous second half led the Giants out of horrid slump and into postseason.

American League Cy Young
1. Corey Kluber, Indians. Breakout season and best all-around pitching performance. The Padres want him back.
2. Felix Hernandez, Mariners. Another icily efficient season from the King. Still no support.
3. Jon Lester, Red Sox-Athletics. Best season yet from AL's toughest lefty.

National League Cy Young
1. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers. Bet everything you own on this one.
2. Johnny Cueto, Reds
3. Adam Wainwright, Cardinals

American League Rookie-of-the Year
1. Jose Abreu, White Sox. See Kershaw above.
2. Matt Shoemaker, Angels.
3. Dellin Betances, Yankees. He should replace Robertson as closer soon.

National League Rookie-of-the-Year (Worst year ever in the history of the competition)
1. Jake Degrom, Mets
2. Jeurys Familia, Mets
3. Joe Panik, Giants

American League Manager-of-the-Year
1. Lloyd McClendon, Mariners. Wove together youngsters and a few vets around Cano for impressive results.
2, Ned Yost, Royals. Integrated Duffy, Ventura, and Davis into successfully potent positions in the staff.
3. Buck Showalter, Orioles. Completely re-vamped the O's previous losing culture. Handled pitching staff brilliantly.

National League Manager-of-the-Year
1. Bruce Bochy, Giants. Handled Cain's injury, Lincecum's fall, and team's major slump with aplomb. The best.
2. Clint Hurdle, Pirates. Again managed Cutch and his supporting parts to the playoffs. Made a star out of Harrison.
3. Matt Williams, Nationals. Winning player becomes first year winning manager. His class showed through.

American Leauge Comeback-player-of-the Year
Albert Pujols, Angels. Return to (almost) former form made huge difference for Halos

National league Comeback-player-of-the-year
Starlin Castro, Cubs. Returned to form from an off-year. May still be his last full year at SS for Cubs.

American League Breakthrough Players
1. Corey Kluber, SP, Indians
2. Zack Britton, Closer, Orioles
3. Rick Porcello, SP, Tigers

National League Breakthrough Players
1. Jake Arrieta, SP, Cubs
2. Hector Rondon, Closer, Cubs
3. Alfredo Simon, SP, Reds

American League Executive-of-the-Year
Dan Duquette, Orioles. Additions Cruz, Young, Miller, Pearce, and De Aza all contributed to their title.

National League Executive-of-the-year
Mike Rizzo, Nationals. Absolutely stole Fister from Detroit. Hiring of Williams as manager was brilliant.

Can't argue with any of those picks, except maybe NL comeback player. I think it could easily go to Anthony Rizzo, put up big numbers after an awful 2013...or Dee Gordan, who finally came into his own (of course only after I dumped him in a keeper league to start this year!)

Can't really argue with any.

I'd say Panik wins the NL ROY though cause he solidified that 2B for the Giants and they made the playoffs.

I really love Panik. He has a smooth, short lefty stroke and he really started to click with Crawford at the end of the year. I'm a little disgusted with the Giants as a whole right now because of their childish, unprofessional "boycott" of beat writer Andy Baggarly. However, considering Panik is a a rookie, I'm not faulting him for their actions.

I hope he wins the award, and he's definitely deserving. I do think, though, that DeGrom's longer time up and his awesome finish will win him the award.

Hard to argue with any with one exception: AL manager
My Mariner fan friends believe to a man that with a better manager the M's would be in the playoffs. I agree with them.

Hard to argue with any with one exception: AL manager
My Mariner fan friends believe to a man that with a better manager the M's would be in the playoffs. I agree with them.

Really? I'm not debating here, but what are their main complaints with McClendon's managing? I did pick them to come in third and be a dark horse factor in the race, but even I didn't see them finishing as well as they did.

1. Overworking the bullpen. Used front line relievers many times in 'blow out" situations. If they didn't lead the majors in "meaningless warm ups" they must have been darn close. figured it might take a toll on the arms next year, but it appeared to already have a negative impact down the stretch this season.
2. Lineup selection. Endy Chavez never had any business being anywhere near the leadoff spot. Before his injury, Saunders should have been playing every day.
3. Home field disadvantage. Lloyd oblivious to "small ball" in game strategies which take on larger meaning in Safeco.

On the plus side, seemed to be genuinly liked and respected by the players.

Thanks for the info. It looks like I may have to reconsider my AL MOTY award. Ned Yost or Buck Showalter would both be fine choices for the #1 spot.

MOY is always a tough one for me. Seems the definition of this award managing a team that out-performs their pre-season evaluation. In that case, I'd go with Showalter, as I sure didn't foresee the O's playing this well

Well, I haven't tooted my own horn in a bit. So, I will proudly note that I actually predicted Baltimore would do quite well in my forum predictions this year. Although, I had no idea how much of an impact Cruz would make. Here was my analysis of and prediction for their team, whom I picked for the Wild Card:

Baltimore's pitching is quite solid. They may not, as you note, be well known, but they're solid. As to their starters, they signed Ubaldo Jimenez, who had an excellent year last year and may finally have added command and maturity to his excellent stuff. Chris Tillman won 16 games and had an ERA in the 3's. Miguel Gonzalez also had an ERA in the 3's and a sub 1.3 WHIP. Wei-Yin Chen was not as effective as he was in his rookie year, but he's a crafty lefty who should bounce back. So that's a solid front four, and even if Jason Hammell doesn't come back, the O's have an outstanding prospect in Kevin Gausman, whose fastball sits in the mid-90's and touches 99. He didn't pitch that bad in his initial cup of coffee last year, and he could very well win 13+ games for the O's en route to becoming their eventual ace.

As to their bullpen, Tommy Hunter and Darren O'Day were both outstanding right handed specialists/middle relievers last year, and Hunter (who had a sub 1 Whip last year) should be a very good (if not excellent) replacement for Jim Johnson as the closer. Brian Matusz has finally come in to his own as a left-handed reliever and had a sub 1.2 WHIP last year. T.J. McFarland was dependable against lefties last year as a loogy, and Troy Patton had another solid if not spectacular year.

So, as you see, the O's definitely have them some pitching. They may not be well-known (as you noted), but they're solid and should help their strong offense and outstanding defense form a winning and competitive team this year.