Awards Show:

The first presentation of the night will be the AL Rookie of the Year.

And the Nominees are:
1. Kenji Johjima - 18 HR 76 RBI .291 AVG
2. Franciso Liriano - 12-3 2.16 ERA 10.71 K/9 1.00 WHIP 1 SV
3. Justin Verlander - 17-9 3.63 ERA 6 K/9 1.33 WHIP
4. Jered Weaver - 11-2 2.56 ERA 7.68 K/9 1.03 WHIP

If it was Rookie of Half-a-Year, it would come down to Liriano or Weaver with my choice being Liriano. The numbers were amazing and projected to a full year, would have been the top contender for AL Cy Young. Johjima had a great year as a rookie catcher, but Verlander was the top pitcher for the best rotation all year. He went out there just about every fifth day and did his job as good as just about anyone.

Now the nominees for the NL ROTY.

1. Hanley Ramirez - .292 17 HR 59 RBI 51 SB .353 OBP 119 R
2. Dan Uggla - .282 27 HR 90 RBI 6SB .339 OBP 105 R
3. Ryan Zimmerman - .287 20 HR 110 RBI 11 SB .351 OBP 84R

Three great, deserving years for all three, but frankly it's an easy choice for me. Hanley was a great all around contributor and Uggla had a great year especially for a second baseman. I'm not sure why everyone is in love with Uggla as the choice here. Zimmerman does just a little bit more. He's my choice.

AL Cy Young

1. Johan Santana 19-6 2.77 ERA 9.44 K/9 1.00 WHIP
2. Everyone Else stats don't matter

Next.

NL Cy Young

1. Chris Carpenter 15-8 3.09 ERA 7.49 K/9 1.07 ERA
2. Trevor Hoffman 46 SV 2.14 ERA 7.14 K/9 .97 WHIP
3. Billy Wagner 40 SV 2.24 ERA 11.7 K/9 1.11 WHIP
4. Wins leaders(avg's) 16-9 3.64 ERA 7.4 K/9 1.25 WHIP
*Smoltz/Lowe/Penny/Zambrano/Harang/Webb had nearly identical stats and you could plug anyone as a 4th nominee.

If a reliever was going to win the Cy Young it would have to be Hoffman over Wagner, but unless it's a completely dominating year(Gagne) I prefer starters. Carpenters stats were barely better with exception to the 1 less win. He was also last years Cy Young. As in boxing tie goes to the champion and Carpenter retains the Cy Young.

AL MVP

1. Jermaine Dye - .315 44 HR 120 RBI 7 SB .385 OBP 103 R
2. Derek Jeter - .343 14 HR 97 RBI 34 SB .429 OBP 118 R
3. Justin Morneau - .321 34 HR 130 RBI 3 SB .375 OBP 97 R
4. David Ortiz - .287 54 HR 137 RBI 1 SB .413 OBP 115 R

If Indians would have been in playoff contention a lot more people woudl be talking about Hafner and Sizemore. A LOT.

Strictly by the numbers I would go with Ortiz. I don't care if he's the DH, that wouldn't stop me from picking him. Morneau carried the team for a while which enabled them to stay in the race and eventually won the division. I also don't care that Dye's team didnt' make the playoffs. MVP means most valuable player.

Derek Jeter is the most valuable player in the league. Contributes well above average in every aspect of the game. Gold Glove caliber at the most important position. Hits for power when he needs/wants to, 2nd in the league in batting, 2nd in runs scored, 7th in SB's, 4th in OBP. The only reason he doesn't have more SB's is he doesn't need to run. He had Giambi, Arod, and Abreu batting behind him. (Sheff and Matsui before injuries.) He only got caught 5 times. Only Ichiro had a better rate 45sb-2cs.

If he makes a sensational play nobody bats an eye. It is expected. It's only when he DOESN'T make a sensational play that we are surprised. This along with the way he held together the leauges best team when it could have easily fallen apart is why he's MVP.

NL MVP

1. Ryan Howard - .313 58 HR 149 RBI 0 SB 104 R .425 OBP
2. Albert Pujols - .331 49 HR 137 RBI 7 SB 119 R .431 OBP
3. Jose Reyes - .300 19 RBI 81 RBI 64 SB 122 R .354 17 3B

If reyes had gotten to the 20 HR and 20 3b mark I would give it to him. He was the catalyst for the best team in the NL. Played great defense and put up numbers in every catergory as good as any other leadoff man.

Howard and Pujols are tremendously close. The slight edge goes to Pujols. The Power numbers aren't that far off only 9 HR and 12 RBI less. Avg was 18 points better, he scored 15 more runs. I think the edge goes to Pujols because he struck out 50 times in 535 at-bats (10.7 at-bats/k) compared to Howard 181 K's in 581 at-bats (3.21 at-bats/k).

I know it seems like a small thing to base an MVP award on, but the other numbers were so similar and they both are equally impressive, there has to be something. Pujols outs were more productive. When you put the ball in play anything can happen by moving baserunners up and Strike outs are rally/momentum killers.

Super-quick super-early predictions for 2007

AL Cy Young - Francisco Liriano
AL MVP - Grady Sizemore

NL Cy Young - Roy Oswalt
NL MVP - Jose Reyes