MLB Mid-Season Review

We have reached the half way point in the 2011 baseball season and we have already seen 2 no-hitter, two members from the Defending World Series Champions lost for the year, and so much more. Lets take a look and hand out our mid season awards



American League

AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez 1B, Boston Red Sox (.361 BA 16 HR's 71 RBI's)
-The case for mid season MVP could be made for either Gonzalez or Jose Bautista (.328 BA 23 HR's) who has continued to mash HR's with ease. The main factor is Most Valuable and even though Gonzalez only has 16 HR's, he leads the AL in BA and in RBI's.

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander SP, Detroit Tigers: (10-3 2.38 ERA 124 K's 1 no-hitter)
-The AL Cy Young for the 1st half of the season goes to Justin Verlander. While Rays SP James Shields is a close second it is difficult to compete with Verlander who has been almost unhittable in the month of June going 8 IP+ in his last 5 starts. He had one no-hitter earlier in the year, and fell short of another one in the 8th.

AL Rookie of the Year: Michael Pineda SP, Seattle Mariners (7-4 2.45 ERA 94 K's)
-While there is some competition for A.L ROY it is hard to say no to 22 year old Michael Pineda. He doesn't have a great record but that can be blamed on playing for the Mariners. Even with the lack of wins he is in the Top 5 ERA leaders in the American League as a rookie. He has been great the whole year and the pairing of Felix Hernandez and Pineda sets the mariners up with a dynamic duo for the future.

AL Manager of the Year: Manny Acta Cleveland Indians (41-36)
-Even after the Indians recent collapse it is hard to ignore the impressive job Manny Acta has done this year with a young team. The young rotation the Indians had have struggled recently and the offense is only getting production from Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera. He likely won't win AL Manager of the year when the season ends but his teams early performance gets him the mid season award.

National League

NL MVP: Matt Kemp CF, Los Angeles Dodgers (.336 BA 22 HR's 62 RBI's)
-Even while playing for a bad, bankrupt team Matt Kemp continues to bring a small shining light for the Dodgers. All he has done this year has hit, for power, for average and when the game is on the line. He is 2nd only behind Jose Reyes in BA, he is 1st in the NL in HR's, and 3rd in RBI's. An outstanding season for Kemp and one that is sure to continue throughout the year.

NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay SP, Philadelphia Phillies (10-3 2.40 ERA 123 K's)
-Halladay takes the mid season award over surprise Braves SP Jair Jurrjens for two reasons he has more then 2x as many K's as Jurrjens, and he also carries a lower WHIP. They both play in the same division which makes it very likely that the NL Cy Young award winner and the second place finisher will come from the same division.

NL Rookie of the Year: Craig Kimbrel CP, Atlanta Braves (21 saves 2.77 ERA 61 K's)
- It is not very often a Closing Pitcher gets rookie of the year but it could happen for the second year in a row. Braves CP Craig Kimbrel has been dominant he is tied for 4th in all of baseball with 21 Saves and he leads all RP's with 61 K's. He really struggled earlier in the season blowing 5 saves but has learned to control his pitches better, and is becoming a dominant closer already at the age of 23.


NL Manager of the Year: Clint Hurdle Pittsburgh Pirates (39-38)
-Who would have guessed that at mid season the Pirates would have a winning record, and are only 4 games back of the NL Central. Thanks to Clint Hurdle and some good pitching the Pirates have climbed their way to a 39-38 record, and they are still playing with a 3rd string Catcher. Hurdle has been a dream come true for the Pirates helping young players develop and pushing the right buttons to get the team big wins (including a series win against the Red Sox). Kirk Gibson has been great as well this season but his team still has some young stars on it.


That wraps up the mid season awards for both the National League and the American League. Now lets look at my pick for the World Series and how the playoffs might look at the end of the season


Final Standings Prediction:

AL East: Boston Red Sox                NL East: Philadelphia Phillies
AL Central: Detroit Tigers               NL Central: Milwaukee Brewers
AL West: Texas Rangers:                NL West: San Francisco Giants
AL Wildcard: Tampa Bay Rays       NL Wildcard: Atlanta Braves

ALCS: Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox
NLCS: Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Francisco Giants


World Series Prediction: Boston Red Sox vs. Philadelphia Phillies
-I go with the popular pick in the Boston Red Sox vs. the Philadelphia Phillies to square off in the World Series. The Phillies and NL Cy Young candidate Roy Halladay will make a great match up against the Red Sox and AL MVP Adrian Gonzalez. It will also generate high ratings and prove how crucial FA in 2010 was

Notes about the 1st half:
-Derek Jeter is just 6 hits shy of 3,000 but will have to wait until mid July to get there when he comes off the DL
-Johnny Damon became just the 11th player all time with 500 doubles, 100 triples, 200 HR's and 2,500 hits
-Francisco Liriano and Justin Verlander threw a no hitter the same week. A month later they both had a no hitter through 7 until giving up a hit in the 8th, on the same day
-Madison Bumgarner gave up 8 consecutive hits (2nd pitcher ever to do so) in 1/3 of an inning. Then turned it around his next start by going 7 IP with a career high 11 K's
-Jose Reyes has a NL leading .341 BA, in a contract year when he will be traded by July 31st