It’s time for my NL first half awards rundown. Unlike the AL, where I thought the choices were clear cut, only the NL MVP is a cinch. The other three selections required lots of thought and analysis, and compelling arguments can be made for players other then the ones I went with. Here’s the rundown.
MVP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals. Simply stated, Pujols is the best player in the game, and that’s a declaration that can’t even be debated. He’s on his way to a possible Triple Crown run, and even by Pujols standards, this is a remarkable performance. Pujols has a chance to eclipse Roger Maris as the single season HR leader outside of the steroid era, he’s driving in runs at a phenomenal clip, and he’s even stealing bases. Plus, Pujols has played outstanding defense for the Redbirds. It’s a privilege to be able to watch one of the best players ever on a daily basis.
Cy Young: Dan Haren, Diamondbacks. Actually, this one is so close it may come down to Haren’s start tonight against the Marlins. There are several NL starters having tremendous campaigns, with Haren and Tim Lincecum at the top of the heap. Lincecum is the more spectacular pitcher. It seems only a matter of time before he throws a no-hitter. But I feel Haren has had the best first half this year. He has an amazing 16 quality starts already, he leads the league in ERA and WHIP and Haren is permitting a phenomenally low .194 average thus far. So I’m going with Haren for my first half Cy by the slimmest of margins over Lincecum, and if Haren has a bad game tonight, I might change my mind.
NL Position Rookie of the Year: Colby Rasmus, Cardinals. Another tough choice, but a strong surge over the past month gets Rasmus to the top of the list. No question he’s benefiting from hitting ahead of Pujols, but Rasmus is also taking advantage of the opportunity. He’s still got work to do against lefties, but Rasmus has a huge ceiling and really looks as though he’s heading for stardom.
NL Rookie of the Year Pitcher: Randy Wells, Cubs. Unquestionably a shocker. Wells was basically brought up to the big club as an emergency starter and figured to back in Iowa before long. Instead, he’s sitting at 4-3 and could just as easily be 10-1. Wells has been that good. He’s not blessed with great stuff, but Wells really knows how to grind and is extremely efficient. It’s been a lousy first half for the Cubs, but Wells has been their silver lining, and he’s very possibly the main reason the team is still in the hunt in the NL Central.
———
The Blue Jays appear to be toast at this point. Management has sent the message they don’t think the team can win and are ready to break them up, and the result is a team that’s got very little focus right now. The Orioles have been capable at home and I like their chances of grabbing a win tonight.
I’m taking my personal All-Star hiatus and won’t be blogging until next Thursday. The free plays will remain up on a daily basis, however. Just call 1-888-567-7660 for those opinions. Meanwhile, enjoy the break!
