The NL MVP race does not have all the pizazz of the AL race, which has two guys with 30-plus home runs and the chance for a second triple crown in a row.
My contenders to win it would be Allen Craig, who is hitting .333 with 74 RBIs, Paul Goldschmidt at .313 with 21 home runs and 77 RBIs, and Michael Cuddyer, hitting .330 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs.
I'd also give an honorable mention to Jean Segura, who has cooled off a bit of late, but is still hitting .325 with 121 hits and 27 stolen bases. Segura has been killing it in fantasy, so gotta give him a mention.
Without too much conviction on my pick, I'll take Goldschmidt, who is putting up the best numbers on a team that, at the moment, is leading the division.
For other midseason awards, see below:
[Editor's note: This post is by John Trifone (@JohnnyT0122), who also contributes at our NFL site: Eat, Drink and Sleep Football (see John's archives).]
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
MLB Midseason Awards: N.L. Cy Young Award
The NL Cy Young has a lot of guys in the mix for the award at this juncture, with no one really standing head and shoulders above the rest.
Depending on your personal criteria, you can easily make a case for Adam Wainwright who is 12-5 with a 2.45 ERA, Matt Harvey 7-2 with a 2.35 ERA and a league-leading 147 strikeouts, Jeff Locke who is 8-2 with a 2.15 ERA, Patrick Corbin who is 11-1 with a 2.35 ERA, or Jordan Zimmerman who is 12-4 with a 2.58 ERA.
All are great choices with excellent records and ERAs. Some people will favor strikeouts, others favor wins/losses.
Personally, I'm an ERA guy. You can't control your run support, so I don't feel that wins/losses should be held against you for an individual award. While high strikeout totals do impress, I'm also not going to hold efficiency against a pitcher if he gets ground ball outs and throws fewer pitches than a power pitcher.
All that said, I'll give my midseason award to Clayton Kershaw, who is a mere 8-6 but has a 1.98 ERA.
The Dodgers started the season off poorly, and clearly Kershaw did not get a lot of run support early on. He is the only pitcher in baseball with a sub-2.00 ERA, and he has only eight wins.
If Kershaw can remain under two runs per game, it will put him in the company of guys like Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, and Greg Maddux, and definitely makes him worthy of the midseason Cy Young.
See A.L. choices: Cy Young leader - MVP leader
[Editor's note: This post is by John Trifone (@JohnnyT0122), who also contributes at our NFL site: Eat, Drink and Sleep Football (see John's archives).]
Depending on your personal criteria, you can easily make a case for Adam Wainwright who is 12-5 with a 2.45 ERA, Matt Harvey 7-2 with a 2.35 ERA and a league-leading 147 strikeouts, Jeff Locke who is 8-2 with a 2.15 ERA, Patrick Corbin who is 11-1 with a 2.35 ERA, or Jordan Zimmerman who is 12-4 with a 2.58 ERA.
All are great choices with excellent records and ERAs. Some people will favor strikeouts, others favor wins/losses.
Personally, I'm an ERA guy. You can't control your run support, so I don't feel that wins/losses should be held against you for an individual award. While high strikeout totals do impress, I'm also not going to hold efficiency against a pitcher if he gets ground ball outs and throws fewer pitches than a power pitcher.
All that said, I'll give my midseason award to Clayton Kershaw, who is a mere 8-6 but has a 1.98 ERA.
The Dodgers started the season off poorly, and clearly Kershaw did not get a lot of run support early on. He is the only pitcher in baseball with a sub-2.00 ERA, and he has only eight wins.
If Kershaw can remain under two runs per game, it will put him in the company of guys like Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, and Greg Maddux, and definitely makes him worthy of the midseason Cy Young.
See A.L. choices: Cy Young leader - MVP leader
[Editor's note: This post is by John Trifone (@JohnnyT0122), who also contributes at our NFL site: Eat, Drink and Sleep Football (see John's archives).]
Monday, July 15, 2013
MLB Midseason Awards: A.L. MVP Award
Last year, it was a two-man race between Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout.
This year?
It's more of the same, but with one other player in the mix.
Mike Trout is not going to be mentioned in most people's midseason MVPs, but I just can't leave him out. After hitting just .261 for the month of April, Trout is up to hitting .322 with 119 hits, 15 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases.
We are slightly more than halfway through the season, but Trout is on pace to hit .322 with over 200 hits, close to 30 home runs, over 100 runs batted in, and 40 stolen bases. His season may be overshadowed by the top two contenders, but I feel Trout is worth mentioning, as a hot second half could easily put him in the discussion.
Chris Davis is leading the league in home runs with 37, and is hitting a solid .315 at the plate. He's got an OPS of 1.109, and is a huge reason why the Orioles are having the kind of success they are having. In a tough AL East, the O's are 10 games over .500, and are right in the mix, both in the division, and for a wild card spot.
Davis has been exciting to watch, and some early mutterings of 62 home runs has begun. Davis is my number two for midseason AL MVP.
Top honors has to go to Miguel Cabrera. No player in the history of baseball has ever had 30 home runs and 90 RBIs at the All Star break, until this year. Cabrera is hitting an incredible .365 with 30 home runs, 95 RBIs, and a 1.132 OPS. He is putting up video game numbers so far in the first half of the season, and has actually elevated himself after an MVP and triple-crown winning season.
If Davis cools off a bit, Cabrera may actually win back-to-back triple crowns. Color me impressed.
Also, check out: AL Midseason Cy Young Winner (Leader)
[Editor's note: This post is by John Trifone (@JohnnyT0122), who also contributes at our NFL site: Eat, Drink and Sleep Football (see John's archives).]
This year?
It's more of the same, but with one other player in the mix.
Mike Trout is not going to be mentioned in most people's midseason MVPs, but I just can't leave him out. After hitting just .261 for the month of April, Trout is up to hitting .322 with 119 hits, 15 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases.
We are slightly more than halfway through the season, but Trout is on pace to hit .322 with over 200 hits, close to 30 home runs, over 100 runs batted in, and 40 stolen bases. His season may be overshadowed by the top two contenders, but I feel Trout is worth mentioning, as a hot second half could easily put him in the discussion.
Chris Davis is leading the league in home runs with 37, and is hitting a solid .315 at the plate. He's got an OPS of 1.109, and is a huge reason why the Orioles are having the kind of success they are having. In a tough AL East, the O's are 10 games over .500, and are right in the mix, both in the division, and for a wild card spot.
Davis has been exciting to watch, and some early mutterings of 62 home runs has begun. Davis is my number two for midseason AL MVP.
Top honors has to go to Miguel Cabrera. No player in the history of baseball has ever had 30 home runs and 90 RBIs at the All Star break, until this year. Cabrera is hitting an incredible .365 with 30 home runs, 95 RBIs, and a 1.132 OPS. He is putting up video game numbers so far in the first half of the season, and has actually elevated himself after an MVP and triple-crown winning season.
If Davis cools off a bit, Cabrera may actually win back-to-back triple crowns. Color me impressed.
Also, check out: AL Midseason Cy Young Winner (Leader)
[Editor's note: This post is by John Trifone (@JohnnyT0122), who also contributes at our NFL site: Eat, Drink and Sleep Football (see John's archives).]
Sunday, July 14, 2013
MLB Midseason Awards: A.L. Cy Young Award
Now that we are at the midway point (or a little past it), I will post my choices as midseason leader for Cy Young and MVP in both leagues at the All-Star Break.
The perennial choices for AL Cy Young are either Justin Verlander or Felix Hernandez, who have consistently been two of the game's top pitchers over the last several years.
A couple of other guys like David Price (last year's winner) or Jered Weaver are usually in the discussion as well, along with a surprise or two that pop up every year. Last year, Chris Sale was the guy who emerged, and was the favorite to win the award heading into the second half of last season.
This year, Bartolo Colon makes a strong case at 12-3 with an ERA of 2.70, currently third in the AL. Colon's connection with PEDs, however, may be what largely accounts for his return to the dominance of his prime at the age of 40. Nonetheless, he has not yet been suspended, and has a legitimate claim to the midseason AL Cy Young award.
I'm going to go another way, though. Max Scherzer, who is not even the best pitcher on his own team, is leading the pack at the midway point. With an ERA just a shade over three (3.19 at the moment), Scherzer is an incredible 13-1 in 19 starts. He is averaging more than a strikeout per inning (10.55 K/9), and has a WHIP under one (0.98).
I'll take Scherzer for my midseason AL Cy Young award winner/leader.
[Editor's note: This post is by John Trifone (@JohnnyT0122), who also contributes at our NFL site: Eat, Drink and Sleep Football (see John's archives).]
The perennial choices for AL Cy Young are either Justin Verlander or Felix Hernandez, who have consistently been two of the game's top pitchers over the last several years.
A couple of other guys like David Price (last year's winner) or Jered Weaver are usually in the discussion as well, along with a surprise or two that pop up every year. Last year, Chris Sale was the guy who emerged, and was the favorite to win the award heading into the second half of last season.
This year, Bartolo Colon makes a strong case at 12-3 with an ERA of 2.70, currently third in the AL. Colon's connection with PEDs, however, may be what largely accounts for his return to the dominance of his prime at the age of 40. Nonetheless, he has not yet been suspended, and has a legitimate claim to the midseason AL Cy Young award.
I'm going to go another way, though. Max Scherzer, who is not even the best pitcher on his own team, is leading the pack at the midway point. With an ERA just a shade over three (3.19 at the moment), Scherzer is an incredible 13-1 in 19 starts. He is averaging more than a strikeout per inning (10.55 K/9), and has a WHIP under one (0.98).
I'll take Scherzer for my midseason AL Cy Young award winner/leader.
[Editor's note: This post is by John Trifone (@JohnnyT0122), who also contributes at our NFL site: Eat, Drink and Sleep Football (see John's archives).]
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Jose Altuve, Astros agree to 4-year extension
Per Brian McTaggert of the MLB.com, the Houston Astros and second baseman Jose Altuve have agreed to an extension.
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, it is a four-year deal that runs from 2014 through 2017 worth $12.5 million. In addition, the club has options for 2018 ($6 million) and 2019 ($6.5 million).
Eligible for arbitration next year, Altuve would have been eligible for free agency after the 2016 season.
Going into the season, the Astros had a payroll of approximately $22 million with starting pitcher Bud Norris its highest-paid player with a salary of $3 million.
Altuve leads the team in batting average (.280) and stolen bases (21) with 36 runs scored, three home runs and 28 runs batted in.
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, it is a four-year deal that runs from 2014 through 2017 worth $12.5 million. In addition, the club has options for 2018 ($6 million) and 2019 ($6.5 million).
Eligible for arbitration next year, Altuve would have been eligible for free agency after the 2016 season.
Going into the season, the Astros had a payroll of approximately $22 million with starting pitcher Bud Norris its highest-paid player with a salary of $3 million.
Altuve leads the team in batting average (.280) and stolen bases (21) with 36 runs scored, three home runs and 28 runs batted in.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
MLB Announces N.L. All-Stars
Major League Baseball has just announced the starters, pitchers and
reserves for both leagues for the 2013 MLB All-Star Game, which will be
played on Tuesday, July 16th.
Here are the National League starters:
Here are the NL pitchers:
[Here are the A.L. All-Stars.]
Here are the National League starters:
- C: Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
- 1B: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
- 2B: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds
- SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
- 3B: David Wright, New York Mets
- OF: Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals
- OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
- OF: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
Here are the NL pitchers:
- LHP: Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
- LHP: Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
- LHP: Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks
- RHP: Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins
- RHP: Jason Grilli, Pittsburgh Pirates
- RHP: Matt Harvey, New York Mets
- LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angleles Dodgers
- RHP: Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
- LHP: Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies
- LHP: Jeff Locke, Pittsburgh Pirates
- RHP: Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals
- LHP: Travis Wood, Chicago Cubs
- RHP: Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals
- C: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
- 1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
- 1B: Allen Craig, St. Louis Cardinals
- 2B: Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
- 2B: Marco Scutaro, San Francisco Giants
- SS: Everth Cabrera, San Diego Padres
- SS: Jean Segura, Milwaukee Brewers
- 3B: Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh Pirates
- OF: Domonic Brown, Philadelphia Phillies
- OF: Michael Cuddyer, Colorado Rockies
- OF: Carlos Gomez, Milwaukee Brewers
- OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals
- Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
- Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Hunter Pence, San Francisco Giants
- Yasiel Puig, Los Angeles Dodgers
[Here are the A.L. All-Stars.]
MLB announces A.L. All-Stars
Major League Baseball has just announced the starters, pitchers and reserves for both leagues for the 2013 MLB All-Star Game, which will be played on Tuesday, July 16th.
Here are the American League starters:
Here are the AL pitchers:
** Denotes injury replacement.
[Here are the N.L. All-Stars.]
Here are the American League starters:
- C: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
- 1B: Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles
- 2B: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees
- SS: J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles
- 3B: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
- OF: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
- OF: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
- OF: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays
- DH: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
Here are the AL pitchers:
- * RHP: Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox
- LHP: Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays
- ** RHP: Bartolo Colon, Oakland A's
- * RHP: Jesse Crain, Chicago White Sox
- RHP: Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers
- RHP: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
- RHP: Hisashi Iwakuma, Seattle Mariners
- RHP: Justin Masterson, Cleveland Indians
- RHP: Joe Nathan, Texas Rangers
- ** LHP: Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins
- RHP: Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
- LHP: Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
- RHP: Max Scherzer, Detroit Tigers
- RHP: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
** Denotes injury replacement.
- C: Jason Castro, Houston Astros
- C: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
- 1B: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers
- 2B: Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians
- 2B: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
- 2B: Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays
- SS: Jhonny Peralta: Detroit Tigers
- 3B: Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
- OF: Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers
- OF: Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals
- OF: Torii Hunter, Detroit Tigers
- DH: Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays
- Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers
- Steve Delabar, Toronto Blue Jays
- David Robertson, New York Yankees
- Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers
- Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox
[Here are the N.L. All-Stars.]
Phillies place Ryan Howard on 15-day DL
Earlier today, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was a late scratch from tonight's lineup due to soreness in his left knee.
Now the Phillies have placed Howard on the 15-day disabled list, the team announced via Twitter.
With Howard out of the lineup, Laynce Nix will play first base and hit seventh against the Braves tonight.
To take Howard's roster spot, the Phillies have called up Darren Ruf, who is expected to join the club at some point during tonight's game.
On the season, Howard is hitting .266 with 11 home runs and 43 runs batted in. Howard is tied for second on the team in homers with Chase Utley and is second in RBI, trailing Domonic Brown in both categories.
Now the Phillies have placed Howard on the 15-day disabled list, the team announced via Twitter.
With Howard out of the lineup, Laynce Nix will play first base and hit seventh against the Braves tonight.
To take Howard's roster spot, the Phillies have called up Darren Ruf, who is expected to join the club at some point during tonight's game.
On the season, Howard is hitting .266 with 11 home runs and 43 runs batted in. Howard is tied for second on the team in homers with Chase Utley and is second in RBI, trailing Domonic Brown in both categories.
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