MLB at Midseason

We've reached the midway point of the MLB season.  Which means it's time to hand out some awards for the best in the game over the season's first three months.  What's interesting about midseason awards, of course, is how often the "winners" aren't even in the discussion at the end of the season.  Some guys fall off after a great first half, while others snatch the awards away with a big second half.

But, every once in a while, the clubhouse leaders at the All*Star break hold that advantage all season.  Out of the 10 awards given out annually, I'd say one (AL Comeback Player) is already such a lock that they might as well start engraving the plaque.  As for the others, though, we'll see what changes between now and October...

AL MVP: Aaron Judge, Yankees-During the All*Star Selection Show, they said something that really bothered me.  Tim Kurkjain predicted that, since MVP has turned into "Player of the Year", he expected Shohei Ohtani to run away with it again.  He even went so far as to say Ohtani is the AL MVP right now!  Which is ridiculous.  I get that what Ohtani's doing is special, but you can't hold the fact that he also pitches against everybody else!  Especially after the first half Aaron Judge has had!  He's the best player by far on the best team by far and, oh yeah, he's on pace for 60 home runs!

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Astros-In his first two full seasons with the Astros, Verlander finished second and first in AL Cy Young voting.  This year, he looks like he could be in line for another first-place finish (and his third career Cy Young).  We've seen vintage Verlander.  The future Hall of Famer leads the American League in wins, and is second in ERA, WHIP and batting average against.

AL Rookie: Julio Rodriguez, Mariners-The American League rookie class is very strong.  So strong, in fact, that an argument could be made for any of about six different guys.  But I'm going with the only one who made the All*Star team--Seattle's Julio Rodriguez.  He was the Mariners' Opening Day center fielder and has started virtually all of their games there while leading all AL rookies in hits, home runs and stolen bases (and he's just one RBI behind Bobby Witt Jr.).

AL Manager: Aaron Boone, Yankees-Boone has made the playoffs in each of his first four seasons, yet never sniffed Manager of the Year because the Yankees are always good.  But this season has been different.  Because they aren't just good, they're record-setting good.  They have a 15-game lead in a division that currently has four playoff teams!  Say what you want about all the talent on the Yankees' roster, but he's pushed all the right buttons so far.  (And, no, it's not lost on me that I wanted him gone when his contract expired after last year.)

AL Comeback Player: Justin Verlander, Astros-This one is no contest.  Entering this season, Verlander had thrown a grand total of one inning since 2019.  This season, he's not just back, he's just as good as ever.  While pushing 40!

NL MVP: Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals-I wasn't entirely sure about NL MVP until I was watching the All*Star Selection Show and they were talking about how it's a runaway for Golschmidt right now.  Then I looked at his stats and saw that they're absolutely right!  He leads the NL in average, slugging, on base percentage and hits, and he's tied for first in doubles and runs scored.  Goldschmidt's not exactly slacking off in the homer or RBI department, either.

NL Cy Young: Sandy Alcantara, Marlins-There are so many starting pitchers having outstanding seasons!  But the Marlins' Sandy Alcantara stands out from the group!  He's second in wins, second in ERA, fourth in strikeouts, third in WHIP, third in batting average against, and, most importantly, first in innings (by a wide margin!).  In this era of starters only going five before the parade of relievers, Alcantara averages more than seven innings per outing!

NL Rookie: Brendan Donovan, Cardinals-Not surprisingly, the Cardinals have a rookie who I've never heard of tearing it up.  They have two, actually.  Donovan and Juan Yepez.  I went with Donovan, though, for a couple reasons.  First, his offensive numbers are better.  Second, he's played all over the field!  Donovan has started games at six different positions, making 14 or more starts at four of them.  When your utility guy produces, that gives you so many more options.

NL Manager: Brian Snitker, Braves-As usual, there are a number of candidates for this one.  But I'm giving Snitker the nod over Dave Roberts, Craig Counsell and Buck Showalter.  Atlanta got off to slow start and saw the Mets build a huge lead in the NL East.  Then the Braves got hot and are suddenly just 2.5 games back (while also holding a comfortable lead for the first wild card).  It looks like we might have a race in the NL East after all!

NL Comeback Player: Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves-Acuna missed the Braves' World Series run last season because of his gruesome broken leg at the All*Star break.  This year, he was the National League's leading vote-getter for the All*Star Game.  And he deserves it, too!  Acuna picked up right where he left off!

"Congratulations" as well to Least Valuable Players Joey Gallo and Robinson Cano.  It really is impressive how Gallo has been able to get away with being so bad on a team that's so good.  Cano, meanwhile, is on his third team this season (the Braves) after being released by the previous two (the Mets and Padres).  I think this is the end of the line for him.

And, last but not least, are my Cy Olds--Dallas Keuchel and Patrick Corbin.  Keuchel was also released and has since switched leagues, going from the White Sox to the Diamondbacks.  Corbin's not entirely to blame for his record because the Nationals are so bad, but still, a .310 batting average against and 5.70 ERA aren't pretty.  And they aren't a product of not getting any run support!