MLB Midseason Awards
The first half of the baseball season has come and gone, and so we pour out some of our malt beverage and bow our heads in silence in honor of the eighty-five or so games that have passed for each team.
Or we could just pick some mid-season awards.
THE WHY-DID-THEY-WAIT-SO-LONG-TO-CALL-HIM-UP AWARD (ROOKIES)
American League: Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels
National League: Bryce Harper – Washington Nationals
Trout and Harper were by far the most hyped prospects in the game coming into this season. They have not disappointed. Harper has played fantastic defense in the field and is a leader of the first-place Washington Natinals (I mean Nashinuls). Trout leads the AL in stolen bases and batting average, while also playing mystifying defense.
THE OLD-MEN-LOOKING-SILLY-IN-UNIFORMS AWARD (MANAGERS)
American League: Mike Scioscia – Los Angeles Angels
National League – Clint Hurdle – Pittsburgh Pirates
Scioscia kept the Angels afloat during the beginning of the season when all eyes were on the struggling Albert Pujols. Now, he has his club right there in the standings with Texas and is primed for a postseason run. Hurdle has led the young Pirates team to a lead in the NL Central. It won’t last, because, it’s Pittsburgh, you know? But credit is due nonetheless.
THE JUSTIN VERLANDER AWARD (CY YOUNG)
American League: Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers
National League: R.A. Dickey – New York Mets
The story of R.A. Dickey, journeyman knuckleballer who has somehow become dominant in his late-thirties, has become popular during the break. He leads the NL in wins and had back-to-back one-hitters in the first half. As for Verlander, well, the award ain’t named after him for nothing.
THE PLAYER WHO IS THE MOST VALUABLE (MVP)
American League: Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels
National League: Joey Votto – Cincinnati Reds
Votto is hitting .348 and is up there in all the other important hitting categories as well. Trout is a phenom. He’s playing incredible defense while hitting .341 and has twenty-six stolen bases after missing most of April. Since being called up, the Angels have looked like one of the top teams in baseball. Mike Trout has been the best player in the game for the past few months.
THE THEY’LL-STILL-BE-PLAYING-IN-OCTOBER-AWARD (BEST TEAMS)
American League: New York Yankees
National League: San Francisco Giants
The Yankees have the best record in baseball and command the most potent lineup in the game. If their patchwork rotation can hold up the rest of the way, defeat seems unlikely. The Giants have turned it on in the past month and are closing in on the Dodgers in the NL West. Their pitching, even with The Freak’s struggles, has been superb.
