For those who don't know what this is, it's just a thread for your first half award winners and a place to make some bold predictions (like how last year I predicted the A's would make a run and win the division... and they did
) Anywho...NL MVP - Joey Votto: This is a tough one, especially with a few teams and big name players underachieving thus far. I think this will come down to Votto, Yady Molina and Troy Tulowitzki at season's end.
AL MVP - Miguel Cabrera: I mean, c'mon. Chris Davis is doing something almost equally insane this season, but Miggy is the clear-cut guy for me right now. I could see guys like Trout and Cano making a second half run to try and challenge, but barring injury, I don't see Miggy letting up.
NL Cy Young - Matt Harvey: I could probably flip a coin on this one for about four different guys (Harvey, Cliff Lee, Adam Wainwright and Clayton Kershaw), but he's is basically filling RA Dickey's role in Queens in a way that doesn't have him rely on a gimmick pitch. I would really like to see Jose Fernandez keep pitching his heart out and become the darkhorse, but playing in Miami will not help his cause one bit.
AL Cy Young - Felix Hernandez: Can we all go ahead and imagine the type of numbers he could possibly put up if the Mariners gave him any sort of run support? If Clay Buchholz could stay healthy, then it would probably be his, but alas. It'd be cool to see Bartolo Colon keep putting up big performances and slide into the Top 5 of voting.
NL Rookie of the Year - Yaisel Puig: He's gotta cool down at some point, right? I think it'll be a three horse race between him, Shelby Miller and Julio Teheran, especially with the playoffs at stake. I wish El Oso Blanco would get back on the horse.
AL Rookie of the Year - Oswaldo Arcia: The AL's been pretty weak so far. Maybe Jurickson Profar can turn it on, or Jose Iglesias can keep his average up.
NL Manager of the Year - Clint Hurdle: Unless the Pirates fall apart, and they probably will since they're the Pirates, this is his to lose.
AL Manager of the Year - John Farrell: (see: Clint Hurdle)
NL Comeback Player of the Year - Troy Tulowitzki: Hopefully he stays healthy once he gets off the DL again.
AL Comeback Player of the Year - Mariano Rivera: Call this a homer pick, or whatever. Everyone knows he'll get handed this award if he stays off the DL.
Bold Prediction: I think the Phillies go on a run and make the NL East a three horse race. They have the pitching, and I think Roy Halladay can comeback in late August/September and make the rotation deadly again.
