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| Miguel Cabrera is the best player in Baseball |
It's that time of year again, the baseball season is winding down, and you can smell October baseball in the air. Many players have been very good this season, and many are deserving for each of the awards that Major League Baseball hands out each and every year, but looking at the front runners for each award shows pretty much a clear cut favorite to win each award this season, with the exception of the National League Rookie of the Year award. That being said, here are my finalists for each MLB award, and who should win each award.
American League MVP: Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Detroit Tigers
Runner-Up: Chris Davis, 1B, Baltimore Orioles
This should be a no-brainer. Chris Davis had one hell of a season with the Baltimore Orioles, hitting for a .285 average, an unbelievable 52 home runs and 137 runs batted in, but Davis's home run total is the only thing that will keep Miguel Cabrera for making history as the only player to ever win back-to-back Triple Crowns. Cabrera has a .345 average, 44 homers, and 137 RBI's. Cabrera just seems to be getting better and better each year, which is unbelievable when you look at the production that he has put up in his last couple seasons. Miggy is by far the best hitter of the decade, and it's starting to look like he may be up there as one of the best players to ever swing a bat in MLB history.
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| Pirates centerfielder Andrew McCutchen |
National League MVP: Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Runner-Up: Yadier Molina, C, St. Louis Cardinals
Andrew McCutchen is the perfect player for the National League MVP Award. The Pirates are finally back in the playoffs, and McCutchen is a big reason on why they are where they are. McCutchen is batting .317 with 20 homers, and 83 RBI's. He also is two doubles shy of becoming the second player in baseball with 40 doubles, 20 steals, and 20 homers in the same season. McCutchen is a beast in the middle of the Pirates lineup, and he plays harder than anyone else in the game. He plays center field with a motor that's always running, and he puts in the best effort day in and day out.
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| Max Scherzer is the best fit for the 2013 AL Cy Young |
American League Cy Young Award: Max Scherzer, Detroit Tigers
Runner-Up: Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers
Max Scherzer wasn't someone who I expected to come out and be a world beater in 2013, but that is exactly what he was. Back in 2011 Scherzer showed some signs of potentially becoming an ace in the Detroit Tigers rotation right behind Verlander. In 2012 he showed a high strike-out number, racking up 231 punch-outs. The big lift from 2012 to 2013 was in the win column for Max Scherzer, going from 16 wins all the way up to 21. With a 21-3 record, 240 strikeouts, and an era of 2.90, Scherzer is the clear American League Cy Young winner.
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| Liriano was a huge part of the Pirates success in 2013 |
National League Cy Young Award: Francisco Liriano, Pittsburgh Pirates
Runner-Up: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
Francisco Liriano came up huge for Pittsburgh in 2013, and he has really become his old self. I feel that Liriano would be a great winner for the 2013 National League Cy Young Award, especially because he was a pivotal part of bringing Pittsburgh back to relevancy. Francisco didn't have the most strikeouts in the National League in 2013, and he wasn't the top person in era either. Liriano was however, one of the best pitchers in baseball. Liriano won 16 games this year, and was a threat to give the bullpen short work, and gave his team a chance to win with each start. I look at him as the winner of this award, not for his stats, but for his value.
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| Wil Myers was a great pick-up for the Tampa Bay Rays |
American League Rookie of the Year: Wil Myers, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Runner-Up: Jose Iglesias, SS, Detroit Tigers
The Tampa Bay Rays are lucky to say that they made a deal that will long impact their future by trading for Wil Myers during the offseason. The trade sent Royals prospect Wil Myers to Tampa Bay for some solid pitching, but it was a risk the Rays took, and it definitely paid off for them. Myers hit .293, with 13 homers and 53 RBI's in 88 games for the Rays. Myers is a solid player offensively, and he is something that they were in need of in the middle of their line-up. He is by far the best candidate for this award, and I hope he takes it home.
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| Yasiel Puig took the league by storm in 2013 |
National League Rookie of the Year: Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Runner-Up- Jose Fernandez, SP, Marlins
Was there a bigger story in 2013 for a break out player in the National League other than Yasiel Puig? Puig took the league by storm in 2013, coming in from Cuba and performing to the highest level in Los Angeles. Yasiel plays hard and always gives it 100 percent effort, going after balls with full force into the wall, diving to make a catch, trying to take an extra base. Puig does all those little things and he has enough talent that could develop him into an All-Star for many years to come. Yasiel hit .319, 19 home runs, and drove in 42 runs for the Dodgers in 2013. Puig is a superstar in the making, and even though Jose Fernandez was unbelievable this season, I like Puig for the award.
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| Terry Francona was a big part of the Indians turn around in 2013 |
American League Manager of the Year: Terry Francona, Cleveland Indians
Runner-Up: John Farell, Boston Red Sox
The Cleveland Indians almost completely reversed their record in 2013 from how it was a year ago, and Terry Francona was one of the reasons behind the remarkable turn around. Francona was hired in the offseason to become the teams manager, and in his first year with the team he led them to a 92-70 record, after they finished 68-94 the season before. With some offseason additions, Francona was able to mold the Indians to a wild card playoff team. Francona was a great manager in Boston, and he carried over his success to Cleveland, where he deserves the honors for 2013 American League Manager of the year.
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| Hurdle brought the Pirates back to relevancy |
National League Manager of the Year: Clint Hurdle, Pittsburgh Pirates
Runner-Up: Don Mattingly, Los Angeles Dodgers
Clint Hurdle has made all the difference in Pittsburgh the last few years. Ever since he took over in 2010 and said that his goal was to electrify the city, and he has done just that. Hurdle guided the Pirates to two seasons that showed promise, but ended in big second-half collapses. This season however, he was having none of it. The Pirates seemed to be able to string together wins when they mattered the most, and the Pirates almost won their division for the first time since 1992, back when they were a part of the NL East. Clint Hurdle led Pittsburgh to a winning record, and a playoff berth, with the Pirates winning over 90 games this season. The Pirates went 94-68 this season.
Note: These are NOT the actual winners of this award as of now, these are my picks for each award. The actual winners will be announced within the near future.
Credits:
Miguel Cabrera Photo:
http://waiverwireblog.com
Second Miguel Cabrera Photo:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8631764/miguel-cabrera-mike-trout-race-al-mvp
Andrew McCutchen Photo:
http://www.thesportsfanjournal.com/columns/a-pirate-rises-andrew-mccutchen-is-saving-baseball-in-pittsburgh/attachment/andrew-mccutchen-3/
Max Scherzer Photo:
http://www.posternation.com/category/sports/baseball/major-league-baseball-mlb/american-league-al/40
Francisco Liriano Photo:
http://mlb.si.com/2013/07/29/what-is-dead-may-never-die-inside-the-resurgence-of-francisco-liriano/
Wil Myers Photo:
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/dCO0jYFAnPp/Tampa+Bay+Rays+v+Boston+Red+Sox/KzeUS1Y442z/Wil+Myers
Yasiel Puig Photo:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130614/yasiel-puig-dodgers-scours/
Terry Francona Photo:
http://onlyagame.wbur.org/2012/10/13/mlb-francona-manager
Clint Hurdle Photo:
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/ZY61-aXvajS/Colorado+Rockies+v+Pittsburgh+Pirates/O_ZkCCSXF63/Clint+Hurdle
Information taken from:
http://www.espn.com
