NL Award Winners

MVP: One of the most under appreciated nicknames for Albert Pujols is ‘The Machine.’ It so aptly describes what he is; a complete hitter who is at the same time feared and respected by pitchers. How he was beat out for second place by (choke) Adrian Beltre in ’04 will never cease to amaze me. If it weren’t for Barry Bonds, Pujols may have already accumulated four MVP awards in just five major league seasons. There is just no stopping him. Apologies to Carlos Lee and Chipper Jones.

Cy Young: In 2005 Andy Pettitte had what I call a stealth year. He was arguably just as good as the Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter, but somehow managed to get only one third place vote for the award. He had a lower ERA than Carpenter, just as many quality starts to lead the league as Carpenter, he gave up fewer walks and hits per 9 innings than Carpenter did, and had virtually the same K/BB ratio. So why then did he get only one third place vote? Perhaps it was because he was overshadowed by his own teammates, Clemens and Oswalt. Perhaps it was because his run support was a whole run less than Carpenter’s, and he therefore came up short in that all important wins category. Look for him to continue the dominance he displayed in the second half of last year and pick up the Cy Young which has long eluded him. Apologies to Pedro Martinez and Ben Sheets.

Rookie of the Year: It may take Prince Fielder a month or two to adjust the big leagues, but the Brewers, by trading Lyle Overbay, have given the first base job to him outright. Look out for the big kid in the second half of the season as he mashes he way to the ROY with the help of the friendly hitting confines of Miller Park.
Apologies to Jeremy Hermida and Ryan Zimmerman

Comeback Player of the Year Award presented by Viagra: He’ll come back and he’ll be Barry. He’ll complain and tell the media to stay out of his business in that disconcertingly effeminate voice. But there is no doubt that Barry Bonds will, at some point next year, make us all remember what baseball armor on an elbow, cocked and hung out over the plate can do. Apologies to Ben Sheets and Nomar Garciaparra

Manager of the Year: I can’t pick a team like the Brewers to win the Wild Card and not give the craftiest skipper award to their manager Ned Yost. Cut from the Bobby Cox ilk, Yost’s patience and persistence in support of his players will finally be recognized and rewarded. Apologies to Bobby Cox and Grady Little