It's that time of year again. The leaves are starting to change colors and I am consumed with pennant races.
As the baseball season comes to an end, it's time to start handing out some proverbial hardware (since I don't actually have any real hardware to present). My personal write-in ballot looks a little something like this.
National League MVP
Who Should Win: Barry Bonds
Who Will Win: Barry Bonds
Although Cardinals do-it-all man Albert Pujols made history with another terrific year in only his third in the big leagues, Bonds is in a stratosphere of his own.
As of yesterday, he led the league in home runs, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. He's third in batting average and fifth in runs scored. He gets on base over half of the time he strolls to the plate and strikes fear in every pitcher forced to take the mound against him.
Whereas other offensive weapons surround Pujols, Bonds is batting in a lineup where his best protection has come from Jose Cruz, Jr. The only reason Pujols could have won the award is due to an anti-Barry vote for Bonds' icy attitude when it comes to the media. But with the emotional death of his father and the Cardinals' fade from playoff contention, it looks like Bonds can add one more MVP to his trophy case.
American League MVP
Who Should Win: Alex Rodriguez
Who Will Win: Alex Rodriguez
The standard debate when selecting an MVP is whether the award should go to the "best" player or to the "most valuable." Since there is no clear-cut "most valuable" this season, the balance of the ballots shift toward selecting the best player, and that is undoubtedly Alex Rodriguez. Although his Texas Rangers will finish in last place again, one can argue that their record would have been even worse without him -- a plausible plea for those stuck on the M and V portion of the MVP.
The better argument, however, lies in the numbers. Rodriquez is first or second in slugging percentage, OPS, RBIs, homeruns and runs scored. He is also in the top 10 for on-base percentage, walks and hits.
With the votes given to players on playoff-contending clubs being split many ways, Rodriguez should benefit in what is sure to be a close race.
National League Cy Young
Who Should Win: Jason Schmidt
Who Will Win: Eric Gagne
I think this is the closest race of all. Any of the top three candidates -- Schmidt, Gagne or Mark Prior -- could win it, and that short list does not include the league's leader in wins, Russ Ortiz. Although Gagne's numbers are more than sick, Schmidt has been just as dominant and pitched three times the number of innings as Gagne.
Schmidt leads all starters in ERA (an anemic 2.33) and batting average against. He also is in the top four for wins and strikeouts. Prior has made a late push with his numerous impressive performances since the Midsummer Classic, but the National League's All-Star starter --- Schmidt -- has been more consistent and led the Giants to the NL's best record.
Speaking of the All-Star game, Gagne should be up for most valuable to the American League, since it was he who gave up the All-Star game and home field advantage in the World Series to the American League.
American League Cy Young
Who Should Win: Pedro Martinez
Who Will Win: Roy Halladay
Halladay is certainly a deserving candidate. He leads the league in wins and innings pitched and is in the top six in ERA and strikeouts. He also set an American League record with 15 consecutive victories.
But this award should go to Pedro. He leads the league in strikeouts and the majors in ERA (2.25). If not for a terrible bullpen, he would have more than just 14 victories. In none of his 10 no decisions did he give up more than three runs and in seven of them he gave up one or zero runs.
In his last 15 starts, he has allowed more than three earned runs only once. In September he is 4-0 with an ERA of 0.90.
When healthy, Pedro is regarded as the best pitcher in the league, as evidenced by this humorous, but true, anecdote from a few years ago.
A reporter informed Martinez that in a poll conducted by a sports magazine of American League players, Pedro was voted as having the best fastball, best changeup and best slider.
Martinez's response?
"That's real flattering, but I don't throw a slider."
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