Mid Season Awards

National League
MVP-Albert Pujols, Cardinals: .332 batting average, .456 OBP, 32 homers, 87 rbi’s
As much as I hate taking the obvious choice, there is no way to take anyone else here. Albert has been more machine than man so far this year. The guys hitting behind him are hitting a combined .225, yet teams still pitch to him and he still kills them. I wouldn’t expect Pujols to duplicate these numbers in the second half because unless the situation absolutely requires it, no mentally stable manager will pitch to this man.
Projected final numbers: .354, .487, 55 homers, 158 rbi
Cy Young-Josh Johnson, Marlins: 8-2, 2.74 era, 1.13 whip, 109 strikeouts, 35 walks, 128 innings
Johnson had Tommy John surgery less than two years ago and has been very impressive. 16 of Johnson’s 19 starts have been quality starts. Johnson has allowed more than three earned runs once in his 19 starts, which is less than Tim Lincecum’s two and Matt Cain’s three. I also give Johnson more credit for pitching in a tougher division than him NL west competitors.
Projected final numbers: 18-5, 2.67 era, 1.08 whip, 218 strikeouts, 75 walks, 248 innings
Rookie of the Year-Tommy Hanson, Braves: 5-0, 3.00 era, 1.29 whip, 36 strikeouts, 20 walks, 48 2/3 innings
Hanson hasn’t begun to pitch like he’s capable of. Despite not pitching that great, he’s already picked up wins versus the Red Sox and Yankees, and reeled off a 26 1/3 inning scoreless streak. If it wasn’t for the Braves bullpen, Hanson would be 6-0 at this point. Still, as a rookie Hanson went 3-0 with a 1.00 era against the AL East (by many accounts the toughest division in baseball). I expect the June rookie of the month, Hanson, to build on his great start and run away with this award
Projected final numbers: 13-2, 2.13 era, 1.17 whip, 114 strikeouts, 51 walks, 155 innings
Manager of the Year-Freddi Gonzalez: After an 11-1 start, the Marlins went on to go 11-27 in their next 38 games. Gonzalez has done a great job of pulling together a very young team that lost it’s closer and has been shaky at times. The Marlins have played seven games above .500 since the beginning of June and currently sit 4 games out of first. I still stand by my pick of the Marlins as NL East champs, so I expect Freddi to pull this team together and win this thing.
Projected Record: 87-75 (1st NL East)
Comeback Player of the Year-Gary Sheffield: .283, .385, 10 homers, 35 rbi
So who thought Gary Sheffield as the Mets home run leader at the break? No one? That’s what I thought. Sheffield has been playing every day lately and hitting in the middle of the Mets line-up. Sheffield is part of the reason the Mets aren’t completely finished right now. For the most part there usually isn’t much competition for this award so I think Gary walks away with this one.
Projected final numbers: .280, .378, 17 homers, 68 rbi
Biggest Bust: Oliver Perez, LHP, Mets
Although the Mets were bidding against themselves (something they enjoy), the still caved in an gave Perez a whopping 3 year, 36 million dollar contract. For their money and effort, the Mets have been rewarded with two wins, an 8.78 era, a 2.25 whip, and a lengthy DL stint. So far this year, Perez is being paid about $225,000 an inning something only Mike Hampton could fully appreciate. Perez’s Whip is higher than Tim Lincecum and Dan Haren’s ERA.
Biggest Surprise: Mark Reynolds, D-backs
Is there any such thing as a quiet 50 homer, 120 rbi, 30 steal season? Reynolds could quite possibly do it. Reynolds sits at home for the all-star break (yes, he’s not an all-star) with 24 homers, 62 rbi’s and 15 steals. If this was David Wright doing this, everyone and their mother would be naming him the MVP and calling him the greatest baseball player to grace planet earth. On the flip side, Reynolds is one pace to shatter the single season strikeout record. An out’s an out though, right?
Player to watch: Martin Prado, 2b, Atlanta Braves
Since earning the starting second base job, Prado is hitting .446, with 8 out of his last 13 games being multi-hit efforts. If the Braves are going to compete in the second half, they need someone to help out Chipper and McCann. Prado has been a platoon player his entire career and now that he’s been given a chance to start every day, I look for him to take full advantage of this opportunity.
American League
MVP-Jason Bay, LF, Boston Red Sox: .260, .380, 20 homers, 72 rbi
The former Gonzaga Bulldog is putting up great numbers on the best team in the American League. In my book the MVP is the best player on the best team, unless there is a glaring exception (see Pujols, Albert). Joe Mauer isn’t hitting .430 anymore so I can’t think of a reason why you’d give it to a guy that has the same power numbers as 20 other guys. A tremendous year hitting for average doesn’t alone win you an MVP, just ask Chipper Jones. I think it has to be Bay.
Cy Young- Felix Hernandez, RHP, Seattle Mariners: 11-3, 2.45 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 137 K’s
Beckett and Halladay were close, Beckett more so, but in terms of all-around numbers for a winning team, King Felix takes it. Yeah Grienke’s having a great year as well, but he’s starting to fall behind the other guys in terms of wins. Grienke also plays on a pretty bad team, which also plays a role in the award.
Rookie of the Year-Ricky Romero: 8-4, 3.44 ERA, 79k’s
He’s pitching fairly well and there aren’t really any other standout rookies in the AL.
Manger of the Year-Terry Francona
I couldn’t give two shits who wins this. Francona’s team has a pretty good record and are bound for the playoffs once again. Considering my pick to win the AL West BEFORE the season and all the talent the Rangers have, Ron Washington shouldn’t get as much credit as he will. The guy has former all-stars and MVP’s all over the field.
Comeback Player of the Year: Andruw Jones, OF, Texas Rangers-.227, 14 homers, 34 rbi, 5Sb
Who saw this coming? Oh wait…me. He’s playing regularly now so his average will start to rise. I picked him in March and I’m sticking to it.
Biggest Bust: Magglio Ordonez, RF, Detroit Tigers- .261, 5 homers, 32 rbi
For almost 19 million dollars, you’d expect a little more than 5 homers. Magglio is just two seasons removed from a 139 rbi season and almost winning an MVP.
Biggest Surprise-Jarrod Washburn, P, Seattle Mariners-7-6, 2.87 ERA, 1.09 WHIP
This is a pretty big surprise considering the guy has been an average pitcher basically his entire career and is coming off three 14+ loss seasons. With a little more run support his record would be much better.
Player to watch- Pat Burrell, DH, Tampa Bay
He’s usually a 2nd half player and has already started to prove that. He’s also a veteran and integral if the Rays are going to return to the playoffs. Watch out for Pat the Bat in the 2nd half.

Let Him Play

I’m not a Vick fan, a Virginia Tech far or even a Falcons fan but I think there is no question Sherriff Goodell should reinstate Mike Vick. Vick has served his time and paid dearly for the little harm that he inflicted on society. Vick made about 38 million dollars in 2005 ranking 33^rd in Forbes list of top 100 celebrities. Between 2007 and 2008 not only was Vick incarcerated but he also lost between 40 and 100 million dollars. I’d say he’s paid enough where suspending him for another four games wouldn’t be warranted. Think about how much Vick has suffered and how some other sports figures have been given a pass. The NBA didn’t lift a finger to one of its poster boys, Kobe Bryant. Kobe was allowed to play on the same days as he made court appearances. David Stern didn’t give two shits about the negative attention Kobe brought is league. Ray Lewis and Leonard Little both killed someone and either got off with nothing (Lewis) or a slap on the wrist (Little). Donte Stallworth recently was drunk and high while running over and killing a man in Florida. Since the legal system and the flawed legal system in Florida threw the book at Stallworth to the tune of 24 days in jail, Goodell has stepped up and suspended Stallworth indefinitely (which my guess is will be 8 games). Jamal Lewis and Matt Jones were each CAUGHT with cocaine; Lewis got four games and Jones got three. Last but not least, former West Virginia teammates Chris Henry and Adam Jones have been in trouble with the law a total of 20 times between them. Chris Henry was suspended a total of four games while Jones got over a year. Vick’s punishment for ONE offense has by far exceeded what all the other guys received for doing things that were much worse.

The reason so much is going into this case is because Goodell cradles his league’s image like a newborn. I think Goodell is overlooking something things that hurt the image more than Mike Vick; like putting a team out there so embarrassing they didn’t win one damn game. That’s not all the Sherriff should be concerned about. Of course there are other things that have made the league look bad, like players and teams cheating, players getting benched for not playing hard, and the best of all, players not knowing the rules. In my opinion what Vick did wasn’t as embarrassing as any of those other things. If Goodell is concerned about the PETA freaks letting loose on Vick and ruining his league then he’s got another thing coming. They already had their fun with Vick and I have a feeling they’ve moved onto more pressing issues like saving flies from flyswatters. If Vick is reinstated, and lands in a winning situation, this whole thing will be forgotten. As far as teams that would take Vick, I can think of several that should consider him including the Raiders, Cowboys, 49ers, Browns, Dolphins, Patriots, Eagles, Seahawks and Lions. Ideally he’d land in a place like San Francisco or Miami where they have already implemented the wildcat. Think of how exciting it would be for Vick to be in the Niners backfield with Frank Gore and Michael Robinson or on the same field in Miami as Pat White, Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, and Ted Ginn Jr. The creativity and possibilities are endless. In a league that thrives on attention and controversy, what’s wrong with throwing a little more wood into the fire?

Dixon, Gibbs lead U19 team

After one of the most successful seasons in Pitt history, Jamie Dixon has turned his attention towards coaching another team; no not USC. This off-season, Jamie is focusing on leading USA's Under 19 Team to a World Championship. Team USA started the tournament off with a bang by thrashing Iran by a final of 106-55. Dixon doesn't have any superstars, but a solid class of players who can work together. The team features former Liberty star Seth Curry, Butler's Gordon Hayward, Kansas Sophomore Tyshawn Taylor, Washington State Sophomore Klay Thompson, and Big East 3 point % leader Ashton Gibbs. The team showed balance in their first game with seven guys in double figures, led by Taylor with 13. Team USA has two more games in this round against France (Friday) and Egypt (Saturday). The second round begins Monday, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals from July 10th-12th. This team has talent, butit's no "Redeem Team." There is no LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, or Dwight Howard. This team is led by a great coach that doesn't whine about every call but instead preaches playing defense and limiting turnovers. If this version of Team USA adheres to Dixon's coaching strategies and plays hard team ball, then this should be a championship team.