MLB Regular Season Awards

The 2008 MLB regular season is almost over. The White Sox will face the Tigers in a makeup game today and if Chicago wins, they will face the Twins tomorrow to determine the A.L. Central champion. The 2008 season was a great year for baseball. Coming off the the steriod scandals of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens (who, to be fair, were not the only players on the juice), baseball needed scandal-free season. Other than the debate over instant replay, baseball was rewarded with a fantastic season. Now that the playoffs are just two days away, TheBostonInsider is ready to hand out some hardware in recognition of the great individual performances of 2008. A.L. MVP Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Boston Red Sox The A.L. MVP is the hardest award to hand out. Youkilis and teammate Dustin Pedroia and Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer of the Twins are all great candidates. They produce at the plate, play good defense and are on winning teams. The reason Youk gets the nod is for his versatility at the plate and in the field. Before Manny Ramirez was traded, the Red Sox offense was based around David Ortiz and Ramirez slugging the Sox to victories. In that offense, Youkilis was all over the order, protecting Ramirez one day, hitting in front of Ortiz the next. After Ramirez was sent to the Dodgers, Youkilis slid into the cleanup spot behind Ortiz and kept the Boston offense rolling. In the field, Youkilis is a Gold Glove first baseman who slid over to third base without a hitch after Mike Lowell went down with injury. Apologies to: Dustin Pedroia, Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Quentin Preseason Choice: Manny Ramirez Midseason Choice: Josh Hamilton N.L. MVP CC Sabathia, SP, Milwaukee Brewers Even after taking into account that Sabathia was only with the Brewers for just over three months, the big lefty is my choice for N.L. MVP. However, if I were to have written this post yesterday, Ryan Howard of the Phillies would have captured the MVP. It was that type of Sunday for Sabathia, the 2007 A.L. Cy Young winner. After reading Buster Olney's blog yesterday, I was amazed to find out that Brewers general manager Doug Melvin approached Sabathia and told his rented ace that he would not allow the impending free agent to pitch on just three days rest for the third consecutive start if Sabathia could not look him in the eye and convince him that it was truly his wish to take the ball with the franchise's first playoff appearance since 1982 on the line. Melvin knows that Sabathia is likely on the way out of Milwaukee and did not want to earn his organization the reputation of burning out pitchers heading into an offseason when he will be facing the task of replacing Sabathia and Ben Sheets. Sabathia looked into his GM's eyes and said he wanted the ball. He then went out and tossed a four-hit complete game victory over the Cubs. Coupled with the Mets loss to the Marlins, the Brewers are back in the playoffs. To me, that is the true definition of valuable. Apologies to: Howard, Albert Pujols, Carlos Delgado, Manny Ramirez Preseason Choice: Prince Fielder Midseason Choice: Chase Utley A.L. Cy Young Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians Coming off a poor 2007 (5-8, 6.29 ERA), no one would have proclaimed Lee as a Cy Young candidate. Well, after posting a 22-3 season and a 2.54 ERA, Lee is the runaway winner. Lee's Cy Young makes the 2002 trade of Bartolo Colon to the Montreal Expos for Lee, Grady Sizemore, and Brandon Philips even more lopsided. Sizemore is a potential MVP and Philips has blossomed into a star with the Reds. I guess that is why the Expos are no longer in Montreal. Apologies to: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Jon Lackey, Francisco Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera Preseason Choice: Roy Halladay Midseason Choice: Francisco Rodriguez N.L. Cy Young Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants The N.L. Cy Young was another very close race. Lincecum (18-5, 2.62 ERA, 265 K's) narrowly edges out Brandon Webb (22-7) and Johan Santana (16-7). Although the Giants were out of the playoff race early, Lincecum posted a phenomenal year. Despite his small physical stature and funky delivery, Lincecum established himself as one of baseball's best young stars. Now, if the Mets had an actual major league bullpen, Santana would probably grab the trophy and be in the playoffs. Then again, if I had $1,000,000 I would be a millionaire. Apologies to: Webb, Santana, Brad Lidge, CC Sabathia Preseason Choice: Johan Santana Midseason Choice: Ben Sheets A.L. Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays Longoria is the clear choice for A.L. ROY. He not only accumulated All-Star stats (.272 BA, 27 HR, 85 RBI in 122 games) but he also was one of the key players in the Rays climb from worst to first in the A.L. East. With Longoria on the hot corner, the Rays should remain a contender for years to come. Apologies to: Jacoby Ellsbury, Denard Span, Alexi Ramirez Preseason Choice: Jacoby Ellsbury Midseason Choice: Evan Longoria N.L. Rookie of the Year Geovany Soto, C, Chicago Cubs Because the Cubs are my favorite N.L. team, I watch as many games as possible. One of the true surprises in '08 was the stellar defensive and offensive play of Soto. He is one of the main reasons the Cubs won their second consecutive N.L. Central championship and why they are considered the favorites to represent the N.L. in the World Series. Apologies to: Jay Bruce, Jair Jurrjens, Joey Votto Preseason Choice: Kosuke Fukodome Midseason Choice: Geovany Soto A.L. Manager of the Year Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays The work done by Mike Scioscia and Terry Francona is not going overlooked but anyone with a vote who does not cast it in the direction of Maddon should be checked for a brain injury. Apologies to: Mike Scioscia, Terry Francona, Ozzie Guillen, Ron Gardenhire Preseason Choice: None (picked Ozzie Guillen to be fired) Midseason Choice: Joe Maddon N.L. Manager of the Year Lou Piniella, Chicago Cubs The Cubs may have the most talent in the N.L. but they also have the darkest history and Piniella pushed all the right buttons to keep his club focused and win the second straight division title. If he can get the Cubs a World Series championship, every bar in Chicago, from Streeter's to Murphy's Bleachers, will be happy to buy Sweet Lou a drink. Apologies to: Tony La Russa, Charlie Manuel, Dale Sveum (just kidding) Preseason Choice: None (picked Tony La Russa to be fired) Midseason Choice: Tony La Russa A.L. Homerun Champion: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (Preseason Choice: Manny Ramirez) N.L. Homerun Champion: Ryan Howard, Phillies (Preseason Choice: Matt Holliday) A.L. East Champion: Tampa Bay Rays (Preseason Choice: Red Sox) A.L. Central Champion: Chicago White Sox or Minnesota Twins (Preseason Choice: Tigers) A.L. West Champion: L.A. Angels of Anaheim (Preseason Choice: Mariners) A.L. Wild Card: Boston Red Sox (Preseason Choice: Blue Jays) N.L. East Champion: Philadelphia Phillies (Preseason Choice: Mets) N.L. Central Champion: Chicago Cubs (Preseason Choice: Cubs) N.L. West Champion: L.A. Dodgers (Preseason Choice: Diamondbacks) N.L. Wild Card: Milwaukee Brewers (Preseason Choice: Brewers) Enjoy the playoffs...