Kemp, Ellsbury lead contenders from an action-packed season
Getty ImagesThe Dodgers' Matt Kemp, left, and Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury head the races for the MVP awards.
OPINION
By Tony DeMarco
NBCSports.com contributor
updated 3:57 p.m. ET Nov. 10, 2011
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Two pitching Triple Crowns, one offensive near-Triple Crown and the question of whether a pitcher should win an MVP award will come to the forefront next week, when the annual Baseball Writers Association of America begins announcing its awards. One opinion on the eight ballots:
National League MVP
1. Matt Kemp, Los Angeles; 2. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee; 3. Prince Fielder, Milwaukee; 4. Jose Reyes, New York; 5. Albert Pujols, St. Louis; 6. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado; 7. Joey Votto, Cincinnati; 8. Justin Upton, Arizona; 9. Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati; 10. Lance Berkman, St. Louis
The hardware should be piling up for Kemp after winning NL home run and RBI titles and missing the batting title by 13 points and a 40-homer/40-steal season by only one home run. He's already won Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards.
In very similar offensive seasons, Braun trailed Kemp by six homers, six runs scored and seven stolen bases, but topped the Dodgers slugger for the league lead in slugging percentage and OPS.
Fielder's power and presence were a huge part of the Brewers' run to the NLCS, and he admirably handled the potential controversy of playing his final season in Milwaukee.
Reyes picked the right time to stay healthy and put together a big season complete with a batting title, 16 triples and 39 steals. Now he'll get paid big in free agency.
The Cardinals' unexpected late run to the playoffs was fueled by Pujols' big finish. Tulowitzki's power and Gold Glove defense combination are unmatched at shortstop.
American League MVP
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston; 2. Jose Bautista, Toronto; 3. Adrian Gonzalez, Boston; 4. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit; 5. Justin Verlander, Detroit; 6. Robinson Cano, New York; Detroit; 7. Curtis Granderson, New York; 8. Michael Young, Texas; 9. Dustin Pedroia, Boston; 10, Paul Konerko, Chicago
In fact, the numbers of the AL's top four hitters are remarkable ? all good enough to win MVP honors in other seasons. So while Verlander will get his share of the MVP votes, and already has won one player-of-the-year award, he's not on top of this ballot.
The Red Sox's collapse could cost Ellsbury the MVP honor, but he already has won a Silver Slugger, a Gold Glove and a comeback player of the year award. He led the league with 364 total bases, batted .321 with 212 hits, stole 39 bases, hit 32 homers and drove in 105 runs. What more can a guy do?
Bautista's league leads in OPS, slugging percentage and walks were sizable, he finished at .302/43/105 and, oh by the way, is a plus defender at third base and right field.
The only significant difference between Gonzalez and Cabrera was the former's Gold Glove defense.
NL Cy Young Award
1. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles; 2. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia; 3. Cliff Lee, Philadelphia
Kershaw's Triple Crown ? 21 wins, 2.28 ERA, 248 strikeouts ? makes this a relatively easy call, even though his margins of victory were slim. And that speaks to the great seasons of Halladay and Lee, as well as Arizona's Ian Kennedy. Kershaw also led NL starters in opponents' batting average (.207) and WHIP (0.98).
Halladay led with eight complete games and walked only 35 in 233.2 innings. Lee led the majors with six complete-game shutouts. Kennedy led the NL in winning percentage (.840) and tied Kershaw's victory total.
AL Cy Young Award
1. Justin Verlander, Detroit; 2. Jered Weaver, Los Angeles; 3. James Shields, Tampa Bay
A no-brainer, as Verlander's season will earn him serious MVP consideration as well. Besides winning a Triple Crown (24 wins, 2.40 ERA, 251 IP), Verlander also led in opponents' batting average and WHIP.
Weaver's ERA was only .01 higher than Verlander's, and he was second in WHIP and fourth in opponents' batting average.
Shields' 11 complete games were six more than any other AL starter, and he tied for the league lead with four shutouts.
NL Rookie of the Year
1. Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta; 2. Freddy Freeman, Atlanta; 3. Danny Espinosa, Washington
First things first, and I say this every year: This award needs to be divided into separate hitter and pitcher honors.
Kimbrel set the rookie record with 46 saves, and did it in truly dominant fashion: 77 IP, 48 hits, 127 strikeouts. That's a crazy strikeout ratio of 14.8 per nine innings.
Freeman's line is very solid, especially without much protection in a mediocre Braves lineup: .282/.346/.448 with 21 homers, 76 RBI, 32 doubles, 161 hits.
Espinosa hit as many homers as Freeman, drove in 10 fewer runs, stole 17 bases in 23 tries, and played Gold Glove-caliber second base. The only drawback is a .236 batting average.
Others who could get a vote include Wilson Ramos, Vance Worley, Darwin Barney, Josh Collmenter, Brandon Beachy and Dillon Gee.
AL Rookie of the Year
1. Jeremy Hellickson, Tampa Bay; 2. Eric Hosmer, Kansas City; 3. Mark Trumbo, Los Angeles
Hellickson's 2.95 ERA pitching predominantly against AL East competition is quite an accomplishment. He also allowed only 146 hits in 189 innings, threw two complete games and one shutout.
Trumbo put up bigger power numbers in 149 games than Hosmer did in 128 games. But Hosmer led Trumbo in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS, hits and runs.
It's tough to leave off Jordan Walden, Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova, all of whom could receive votes.
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Christian Petersen / Getty Images Kirk Gibson is an easy call as NL Manager of the Year. |
NL Manager of the Year
1. Kirk Gibson, Arizona; 2. Ron Roenicke, Milwaukee; 3. Tony La Russa, St. Louis
Everybody knows about Gibson's toughness and football-like mentality, but he's also a stickler for fundamentals and execution, and is as prepared and numbers-knowledgeable as anybody.
Roenicke handled the challenge of winning a division title as a first-year manager with a clubhouse full of strong personalities ? no easy task.
Postseasons don't count in the BBWAA balloting, but just getting to the playoffs without his No. 1 starter, and despite key injuries and roster upheaval, made La Russa's last season one of his best.
The Pirates' late fade cost Clint Hurdle a spot here.
AL Manager of the Year
1. Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay; 2. Ron Washington, Texas; 3. Jim Leyland, Detroit
It doesn't seem to matter who Maddon has on his roster. The guy just has a knack for setting the proper tone and getting the most out of his players. Getting to the playoffs again without Carl Crawford, Matt Garza, Carlos Pena, Jason Bartlett and with an entirely rebuilt bullpen is remarkable.
Washington has become a better in-game manager, and nobody ever has questioned his ability to teach and motivate. Winning back-to-back pennants these days is no easy task, even with a stacked roster like the Rangers'.
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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45245240/ns/sports-baseball/
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