Blog Entry

MLB Awards Projections

Posted on: September 19, 2008 12:57 am
Edited on: September 19, 2008 12:58 am
The following are my projected winners of the 2008 MLB awards:

National League
1. Tim Lincecum, Giants
2. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks
3. Brad Lidge, Phillies
1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals
2. Ryan Howard, Phillies
3. Brad Lidge, Phillies
1. Geovany Soto, Cubs
2. Jair Jurrjens, Braves
3. Jay Bruce, Reds
1. Tony LaRussa, Cardinals
2. Fredi Gonzalez, Marlins
3. Lou Pinella, Cubs
1. Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks
2. Jorge Cantu, Marlins
3. Fernando Tatis, Mets

American League
1. Cliff Lee, Indians
2. Fransisco Rodriguez, Angels
3. Roy Halladay, Jays
1. Carlos Quentin, White Sox
2. Fransisco Rodriguez, Angels
3. Justin Morneau, Twins
1. Evan Longoria, Rays
2. Alexei Ramirez, White Sox
3. David Murphy, Rangers
1. Joe Maddon, Rays
2. Ron Gardenhire, Twins
3. Mike Scioscia, Angels
1. Cliff Lee, Indians
2. Milton Bradley, Rangers
3. Carlos Quentin, White Sox

A few notes about my projections:
1. I have put Brad Lidge into the top three for NL Cy Young AND MVP because he is 38-for-38 in saves with a 1.93 ERA this season.  Without him closing games, I don't see the Phillies on top of the NL East.  He's finally returned to his "lights-out" form from Houston three seasons ago.  He has a chance to finish this season without a blown save, a very difficult accomplishment.
2. The Cardinals won't make the playoffs this season, but Tony LaRussa has done an excellent job keeping the team above water and in contention this season.  On paper in spring training, they not only had an awful bullpen, but a jumbled starting rotation.  It also didn't look like they had much in the lineup outside of Albert Pujols.  The Cards' bullpen has still been bad and is the reason why they won't reach October, but that rotation has exceeded expectations, and Ryan Ludwick has emerged as a dangerous hitter in the lineup.  I didn't envision this team being above .500 or even in third place for as long as they were.  Fredi Gonzalez has also done a tremendous job keeping a young Marlins team who was expected to be terrible in contention all season long.

3. Randy Johnson is my pick for NL Comeback Player of the Year because he hs managed to win 10 games with a 3.99 ERA during a season in which he turned 45 years old.  He has had a couple of back surgeries over the last few years, and, with as badly as he pitched just after he came off the disabled list earlier this season, I thought that he should have retired.  But, he has been brilliant for about three months now, and he would have passed 300 wins in July if the Diamondbacks offense and bullpen didn't let him down so much.  I didn't expect the future Hall of Famer to pitch nearly as well as he has this season.

4. Brandon Webb has won 21 games, but Tim Lincecum is my Cy Young winner in the National League because his ERA (2.43) and strikeouts (237) are the highest totals in the NL, and his wins (17) are the second-best.  The Giants are 68-85 and have been mired in fourth place all season long.  A 17-4 record for one pitcher on a team this bad is very impressive.  If you put him on any of the playoff- contending teams in the NL, Lincecum is probably over 20 wins.  Webb has been on a contending team all season long and his three bad outings at the start of September really hurt his chances.  It doesn't seem like Lincecum has had a terrible outing this season.  Victories aren't everything with the Cy Young.   

Since: Nov 7, 2006
Posted on: September 20, 2008 8:45 pm

MLB Awards Projections

Cy Young- Tim Lincecum
MVP- Ryan Howard
Rookie of the year- Geovany Soto
Manager of the Year- Jerry Manuel
Comeback player of the year- Jorge Cantu
Cy Young- Cliff Lee..Unbelievable how good he has been.
MVP- Dustin Pedrioa
Rookie of the Year- Evan Longoria
Manager of the Year- Joe Maddon
Comeback player of the Year- Carlos Quentin
Great blog...Nice choices as well.

Since: Sep 17, 2007
Posted on: September 19, 2008 11:01 pm

MLB Awards Projections

1. I took that into account with Lidge, maybe a better comeback award candidate for a player who was almost forgotten about.

2. Gonzalez: Second year manager of a lowly/semi lowly team and as of today has them in contention/somewhat contention for league leader. That doesn't say much for 1 of 2 newest MLB teams that have won 1 more WS than the team that came in the same year as the Marlins. I don't know the fact and I won't google it, but the Marlins/Diamondbacks have 3 in them right now, could be... probably is more than any 2 expansion teams in the same time realm have combined in the same amount of years. Gonzalez deserves it.

3. Johnson goes with Lidge as you have stated about Johnson...from a few years ago. Cantu hasn't carried the Marlins but he has held them up.

4. You may have persuaded me here, I don't see either on T.V. I live on the East. I would have rather picked up Webb in a draft for this year than Linecum. I hear the raves about him and Webb fell off. Webb either comes on or falls of but gets you 18 wins, he is a Cy Young win regardless.

Since: Sep 17, 2007
Posted on: September 19, 2008 10:42 pm

MLB Awards Projections

Cy: Webb >Linecum

MVP: Howard>Pujols

Rookie: Soto

Manager: Gonzalez

Comeback: It's a real toss up, but I'd go with Cantu



Cy: Lee>Halladay

MVP: Quentin>Rodriquez

Rookie: Tough call, but Murphy comes in third

Manager: Maddon>Scioscia

Comeback: You have to be there to comeback... take that how you wanna.
