The First Halfies

[Da Schwab]

I try to make this thread every season when the All-Star break rolls around so everyone can give out their completely irrelevant first half awards. I mainly make this thread so I can see you guys go toe-to-toe and start throwing e-punches.

So, without further ado, here are my winners of the First Halfie awards:

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

This man is just raking the ball this season. He's batting .347, with 21 homers and 73 RBI, plus a 1.070 OPS. He's just two homers behind the 'statistical anomaly' Jose Bautista for the lead and has a real shot at the Triple Crown this year if he continues putting up the numbers.

2nd: Paul Konerko
3rd: Justin Morneau
4th: Robinson Cano
5th: Vladimir Guerrero

NL MVP: Joey Votto

The fact that this guy had to be voted into the All-Star game is just a travesty. The Reds have a relatively commanding 3 game lead in the Central right now, and a lot of that is due to how great this guy has been playing all season. He and Mr. Pujols have nearly matching stats this season (I'm sure all the sabermetrics guys will call me out on that one), but the fact that Votto's team may win the pennant for the first time in 15 years is something that will give him the edge come September when voting happens.

2nd: Albert Pujols
3rd: Adrian Gonzalez
4th: Andre Ethier
5th: Martin Prado

AL Cy Young: David Price

He's been stellar for the Rays this year and should be good for 20-22 wins this year if his pace and health keeps up for the rest of the season. He's only allowed more than 3 earned runs in one game this season and is second in the AL with 14 quality starts. Cliff Lee is a very close second here for me and with what looks like a change of scenery to Texas, big games in Arlington will make him the obvious favorite for this award in the fall.

2nd: Cliff Lee
3rd: Jered Weaver
4th: Jon Lester
5th: Andy Pettitte

NL Cy Young: Josh Johnson

I get the chance to watch most of his games since I live in South Florida and every game I've seen of his has been purely amazing. If he had a bit stronger offense behind him and a shortstop that hustled (;)), then the Marlins would be seriously contending for the division right now. His stuff is electric and his off-speed stuff reminds me of when Johan Santana started heating up with the Twins. If Ubaldo Jimenez doesn't start another freakish streak down the stretch, this is Johnson's award to lose.

2nd: Ubaldo Jimenez
3rd: Doc
4th: Adam Wainwright
5th: Mat Latos

AL Manager of the Year: Ron 'I Only Did It Once' Washington

If you told me that the Rangers would have 50 wins by the AS break, your name would be studcrackers.

2nd: Joe Girardi
3rd: Terry Francona

NL Manager of the Year: Bud Black

What the heck has gotten into the Padres this season? This team was supposed to be fighting with the Dbacks to stay out of the basement and now they're setting the west on fire with a solid 3 game lead on the Dodgers.

2nd: Bobby Cox
3rd: Dusty Baker's toothpick

AL ROY: Neftali Feliz

This kid has been doing a great job for the Rangers, keeping them all nice and snugly at the top of the West. Young closers always strike my fancy, as it baffles me how young guys don't break down in the most pressure filled job in baseball.

2nd: Brenden Boesch
3rd: Carlos Santana

NL ROY: Jaime Garcia

If Buster Posey or Mike Stanton were eligible at this point I would flip a coin and give it to whoever it landed on. I'm not trying to take anything away from Garcia, who some might say is performing better than Chris Carpenter this year on a great Cardinals rotation, but Posey and Stanton are ridiculous.

2nd: Jason Heyward (but he's gotta pick up his AVG)
3rd: Gaby Sanchez


I'm done... time for you guys.

[Bigdog1]

very good list

the things i would disagree with you on is AL manager- I hate ron washington

and bobby cox would be my NL manager of the year

and bredan boesch would be AL rookie
the only reason why miggy is seeing better pitches and not getting pitched around

[Celtics_Champs]

Francona should be manager of the year so far, or at least a very close first. Look at all the injuries he's had to deal with so far. Never mind, that's too long of a list, look at all the replacement guys he's had up performing well, Darnell Mcdonald, Daniel Nava!! List goes on and on.

[Liqourish]

Yeah, Boesch should be AL ROY... other than that... great list.

[Sebastian]

Cano is my pick for AL MVP...Weaver for Cy Young...Boesch for ROY...Ozzie for Manager (homer pick, but my god, he's proved that he really is the ultimate player's manager, hasn't he?)

Agree on the rest.

[craig01]

I'd still have to go with Jimenez at this point.

Johnson has been great, but 15 W's speaks for itself.

[MHZ]

Based on the precedent set when Matt Holliday was denied the MVP in '07, Jimenez is the clear first half Cy Young winner. If Coors Field knocks Rockies hitter down, if this is even close, Jimenez should get the nod.

The double standard there is ridiculous. Josh Johnson pitching half his games in Denver does not have an ERA where it is now, plain and simple. Just like W/L can be overrated depending on team, I gladly admit, ERA can be grossly overrated based on home stadium. Why weren't Jake Peavy's '07 stats given an * because he pitched at PetCo?

I like Johnson a lot. He could easily be the better of the two pitchers, but after the first half, there's just no way you can give him that award when their stats are that close and Jimenez plays in as pure a hitter's park as there is in the game.

I gladly admit my Rockies bias, but I think this is pretty clear cut. 15-1 with an ERA a 2.2 is absolutely incredible for a guy pitching half his games at Coors. It is criminal to not give him the award when everybody's just as quick to dismiss offensive numbers put up by Rockies' hitters.

[studcrackers]

just lookin at schwabby's list id put hamilton in the top 3, he's playing better than ever and his june was some of the best baseball ive ever seen

ron washington might get MOTY if we make the playoffs but holy hell does he suck as an in game manager, for my sake please take him off your list

also id probably not give the roty to neftali though i do love him dearly (see avy)

[cmavswin]

just lookin at schwabby's list id put hamilton in the top 3, he's playing better than ever and his june was some of the best baseball ive ever seen

ron washington might get MOTY if we make the playoffs but holy hell does he suck as an in game manager, for my sake please take him off your list

also id probably not give the roty to neftali though i do love him dearly (see avy)

Co-sign.

Washington has cost the Rangers a half dozen games (and they are lucky not more) so far with just horrific decisions. I hope the finaciall situation is resolved soon so they can replace him.

[El Turco]

that's a good list but i have a feeling we will see another MVP candidate emerging second half.