Mid-Season Awards, Reflections, and Predictions

[New Orleans GM]

The time has already come to look back at the first half, and like a philosophy student on acid, try to figure out what it all means. I can hear some snarky comments about the half way mark being the all-star break or the 81 game mark, but shut the hell up annoying voices in my inner monologue.


I may need to get that checked out. Anywho, most teams will hit the 81 game mark early this week and I plan to be a great deal inebriated celebrating this country's freedom red coated assholes, hippies, and Canadians so I thought now is as good a time as any to look back at the first 3 months of season and give my analysis.


All Star Game

The 83rd All Star Game take place next week in Kansas City and this batch of fan voting once again confirms my belief that fans are idiots. If I were in charge, these would be my choices to play and I even included a member from every team. First player listed would be the starter.

AL

C

A.J. Pierzynski CWS
Joe Mauer MIN

1B

Prince Fielder DET
Paul Konerko CWS

2B

Robinson Cano NYY
Jason Kipnis CLE

SS

Elvis Andrus TEX
Asdrubal Cabrera CLE
Derek Jeter NYY

3B

Adrian Beltre TEX
Miguel Cabrera DET

OF

Josh Hamilton TEX
Adam Jones BAL
Mark Trumbo LAA
Jose Bautista TOR
Curtis Granderson NYY
Mike Trout LAA
Josh Reddick OAK

DH

David Ortiz BOS
Edwin Encarnacion TOR

SP

Chris Sale CWS
Jered Weaver LAA
David Price TB
Felix Hernandez SEA
Justin Verlander DET
C.J. Wilson LAA
Brandon McCarthy OAK
Jake Peavy CWS

RP

Johnathan Broxton KC
Chris Perez CLE
Jim Johnson BAL
Fernando Rodney TB
Ernesto Frieri LAA


NL

C

Carlos Ruiz PHI
Yadier Molina STL

1B

Joseph Votto CIN (I refuse to call anyone over the age of 14 Joey)
Paul Goldschmidt ARI (NL is really weak at first)

2B

Aaron Hill ARI
Jose Altuve HOU

SS

Jed Lowrie HOU
Starlin Castro CHC

3B

David Wright NYM
Chase Headley SD

OF

Melky Cabrera SF
Andrew McCutchen PIT
Carlos Beltran STL
Matt Kemp LAD
Carlos Gonzalez COL
Martin Prado ATL
Giancarlo Stanton MIA
Andre Ethier LAD

SP

R.A. Dickey NYM
Matt Cain SF
James McDonald PIT
Madison Baumgarner SF
Stephen Strasburg WAS
Wade Miley ARI
Gio Gonzalez WAS
Johan Santana NYM
A.J. Burnett PIT


RP

Craig Kimbrel ATL
Santiago Casilla SF
Joel Hanrahan PIT
Jonathan Papelbon PHI
Tyler Clippard WAS

U mad Reds Fans?


Mid Season Awards

Since both of my preseason MVP picks have been on the DL for over a month I think some revised predictions for the major awards are in order.


AL Manager of the Year

5. Ron Washington TEX

4. Mike Scioscia LAA

3. Joe Girardi NYY

2. Buck Showalter BAL

1. Robin Ventura CWS


NL Manager

5. Bruce Bochy SF

4. Don Mattingly LAD

3. Terry Collins NYM

2. Clint Hurdle PIT

1. Davy Johnson WAS



AL Rookie of the Year

5. Matt Moore TB

4. Tommy Milone OAK

3. Jesus Montero SEA

2. Yu Darvish TEX

1. Mike Trout LAA


NL Rookie of the Year

5. Anthony Rizzo CHC

4. Trevor Bauer ARI

3. Zack Cozart CIN

2. Kirk Niewenhuis NYM

1. Bryce Harper WAS



AL Cy Young

6. C.J. Wilson LAA

5. Felix Hernandez SEA

4. Jered Weaver LAA

3. David Price TB

2. Justin Verlander TB

1. Chris Sale CWS


NL CY Young

6. James McDonald PIT

5. Stephen Strasburg WAS

4. Matt Cain SF

3. Madison Baumgarner SF

2. R.A. Dickey NYM

1. Gio Gonzalez WAS


AL MVP

5. Jose Bautista TOR

4. Miguel Cabrera DET

3. Adam Jones BAL

2. Mark Trumbo LAA

1. Josh Hamilton TEX


NL MVP

6. Ryan Braun MIL

5. Carlos Gonzalez COL

4. Melky Cabrera SF

3. Carlos Beltran STL

2. J. Votto CIN

1. Andrew McCutchen PIT


Second Half Predictions

Teams Least Likely To Repeat First Half Success

5. Oakland A's

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

3. Cleveland Indians

2. Baltimore Orioles

1. New York Mets


Teams Most Likely to Turn it Around

5. Philadelphia Phillies

4. Kansas City Royals

3. Boston Red Sox

2. Detroit Tigers

1. Arizona Diamondbacks


Final Standings Predictions

* denotes Wild Card

AL

East

1. New York Yankees -

2. * Tampa Bay Rays 3 GB

3. Boston Red Sox 7 GB

4. Toronto Blue Jays 8 GB

5. Baltimore Orioles 12 GB

I think it stays close all season long as the O's and Jays are still very competitive. The Rays will get Longoria and Farnsworth back and stay in the race. The Red Sox have shown signs of life but I don't think their pitching will hold up without a big move. The Jays have been too banged up in the pitching staff to hang around.


Central

1. Detroit Tigers -

2. Chicago White Sox 6 GB

3. Kansas City Royals 7 GB

4. Cleveland Indians 12 GB

5. Minnesota Twins 16 GB

The Tigers have too much firepower to stay down and they have shown signs of turning it on. I think the Royals have one big run where they win like 16 out of 20. The Indians will begin to fade but the Sox have enough pitching to stay in it for a while. The Twins can hang for a while but their pitching is very thin.


West

1. Texas Rangers -

2. * Los Angeles Angels 2GB

3. Oakland A's 15 GB

4. Seattle Mariners 22 GB

The Rangers have enough in the tank to hold off a late charge by the Halos. Oakland can't keep playing at this level and the Mariners might as well be hitting with water noodles.



NL


East

1. Washington Nationals -

2. *Atlanta Braves 4 GB

3. Philadelphia Phillies 6 GB

4. New York Mets 10 GB

5. Miami Marlins 12 GB

The Nationals pitching will keep them above the rest of the division. Losing Beachy hurt the Braves but I think they will make a move at the deadline to solidify their roster. The Phillies are about to get Howard and Halladay back but I don't think they can leap over 4 teams. The Mets and Marlins will slowly fade and settle at the bottom.

Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals -

2. Cincinnati Reds 3 GB

3. Pittsburgh Pirates 4 GB

4. Millwaukee Brewers 11 GB

5. Chicago Cubs 20 GB

6. Houston Astros 22 GB


I think the Pirates are legit this year. Their pitching is very good. St. Louis will catch a hot streak and they will eventually get Carpenter and Berkman back. The Brewers seem to not really care this year. The Cubs are likely gonna move half the roster in the next few weeks but they have played better as of late and Rizzo has brought some energy that will hopefully be repeated when Jackson gets called up. The Astros have fought admirably but their roster is the ultimate handicap. It won't get any better when they move Wandy Rodriguez and Carlos Lee.


West

1. Arizona Diamondbacks -

2. San Francisco Giants 2 GB

3. Los Angeles Dodgers 9 GB

4. Colorado Rockies 21 GB

5. San Diego Padres 24 GB

The snakes are finally getting healthy and Hudson getting hurt may actually help them if they call up Skaggs. The Giants arms will keep them in the hunt but unless Crawford or Belt pick up the slack big time, they are a bat short. The Dodgers are already fading and the Rockies pitching situation won't help at all. The Padres are just awful.


Playoffs

AL Wild Card

Rays over Angels -I like Price in a winner take all game.


NL Wild Card

Braves over Giants- I give the Braves bullpen a slight edge in a close game.


AL Divisional Round

Rays over Yankees in 6- The Rays pitching will have an advantage in chilly games in New York.

Rangers over Tiger in 7- Rangers offense is just too deep.


NL Divisional Round

Nationals over Braves in 5- Strasburg, Gonzalez, and Zimmermann take the first 3 games of the series.

Diamondbacks over Cardinals in 6- Upton, Young, Goldschmidt, Montero and Kubel just too much offense in the late innings against the Cards bullpen.


AL Championship Round

Rays over Rangers in 7- Third time is the charm as the Rays don't have to face Cliff Lee or C.J. Wilson this time around.


NL Championship

Diamondbacks over Nationals in 6- Miley, Cahill and Bauer match the Washington staff pitch for pitch as the D'Backs offense clinches a thrilling game six in the late innings.


World Series

Rays over D'Backs in 6- Price gives up 1 run in 16 innings on his way to a World Series MVP.

[Milwaukee GM]

I expected to see a Reds playoff snub on this list so I won't even bitch about it.. I would just like to add a few things..
1st: FUCK JOSE BAUTISTA! The dude is hitting below .240. I would much rather see David Ortiz in the MVP Candidate running. Even maybe a Josh Willingham even though he's on an awful team... Don't dismiss Trout either, with a full 2nd half he could put up some ridiculous numbers.

2nd: While I do like Melky I don't see his numbers as anything that will awe us. He's solid and reliable yes, but an MVP I don't believe so.. I would exchange him with Giancarlo, dudes a fucking monster

[New Orleans GM]

I see where you are coming from on the Bautista but I think he has turned it on in June and I'm projecting out for the rest of the season and I think he may end up hitting around .270 to .275. I agree Trout is an absolute monster, but when I think about an MVP I'm thinking of somebody who puts a whole team on his back and I think Trumbo is that guy on the Angels right now. That's the same reason I have Melky in the NL conversation. Posey hasn't done shit, Sandoval was out for a while, and the rest of the roster is shit offensively, and there the Giants are in first place. Without Melky I don't think they are anywhere near as good.


P.S. I also love Giancarlo