Eat My Sports: Eat My Midseason Awards!
Posted on July 1, 2008
Filed Under Eat My Sports | |
Let’s cut the crap and get right to the chase on this one. Yeah, the Rays are a great story, they’ll be an even better story when their pitching folds in late August and September. Chicago feels great right now, but don’t bank on the Cubbies or White Sox just yet. Albert Pujols still has the funniest name in baseball, now, on with the awards.
AL
AL MVP
Josh Hamilton “Walker” Texas Rangers
Hamilton is ripping apart American League pitching like its 1999, Barry. His 19 HR and 80 RBI have put him on the map to possibly scoring as much as David Cook is right now. The problem with Hamilton is … you play for the Rangers. MVP awards usually go to a contending or playoff team. So,don’t be surprised (gulp, God I cannot believe I am about to say this) if J.D. Drew keeps up his red hot pace and comes and steals this thing.
AL Cy Young
Mike Mussina New York Yankees
The Moose has been carrying a depleted Yankees roster all year. As bad as the Yanks have been, they’re right in the thick of things in the dog fight that is the AL East. One reason and one reason only for that, Mussina. The magic numbers aren’t there (ERA 3.87 and only 58 strikeouts), but being the heart of a clubhouse that features Derek Jeter and Alex “Where’s my purse?” Rodriguez has got to count for something.
AL Rookie of the Year
Jacoby Ellsbury Boston Red Sox
Sure, 5 HR and 24 RBI aren’t exactly the numbers you’re looking for in a ROY candidate. But Ellsbury is tapping his inner Ricky Henderson and motoring around the bases like a Speed Racer movie that didn’t tank. His 34 stolen bases put him on pace to break the rookie record of 66 set in 1992 by Kenny Lofton. Plus, like Mussina, Ellsbury’s clubhouse effect cannot be measured.
AL Manager of the Year
Joe Maddon Tampa Bay Rays
There is not a single thing anyone can say to sway this in any other direction unless the Rays go 0-81 the rest of the season. Which, given their illustrious history, is entirely possible.
NL
NL MVP
Chipper Jones Atlanta Braves
Lance Berkman is having one of the best offensive seasons in recent memory. But if Jones can keep flirting with .400 well into the summer, and the Braves find a way to stay in the hunt for the Wild Card, look for Jones to run away with the MVP. Also, I would like to take this time to suggest that we start calling him “Indiana” instead of “Chipper.” This could have been the marketing strategy of the summer.
NL Cy Young
Kyle Lohse St. Louis Cardinals
The trendy pick is Arizona’s Brandon Webb. But while the D-Backs have been struggling after a hot start, Lohse and the Cardinals have been like the Kid Rock of the NL. They’re not blowing anything up by any means, but they just won’t go away. Lohse’s 10-2 record could carry him to a Cy Young worthy 20-win season, as well as being the best pitcher on a team that was compared to Kid Rock.
NL Rookie of the Year
Kosuke Fukudome Chicago Cubs
This guy gets my vote PURELY based on his name.
NL Manager of the Year
Tony La Russa St. Louis Cardinals
Fredi Gonzalez is doing a hell of a job with the Marlins, but La Russa is taking a team that was supposed to be the laughing stock of the NL Central, and making them Wild Card contenders. He gets it based on the fact that the Cards were picked by many to finish last in a division that features the Pirates.
Top five things that annoy me in sports this week (non sports edition). So basically, the top five things that annoy me:
5. Sisqo
If anyone has watched I Love the New Millenium on VH-1 and seen who he picked for his “Hotties I wanted to see in thongs” bit (which, we here at SG completely support), his picks were down right awful. Seriously, no Bee Arthur?
4. 10,000 B.C.
Finally watched it. Finally realized they made a non-manly version of 300.
3. Badgeless Shaq
No reason to take away a man’s police badge for a rap, seriously.
2. Rolling Stone
Even I give Coldplay credit where credit is due. Great record.
1. Bryan McBournie
For the ensuing Coldplay comment.
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You know how I know you’re gay? You listen to Coldplay.
yes! the moose!
Taking stock of the season at the All-Star Break: Who is leading the races for baseball’s major awards? Looking ahead at the second half, these are the leaders at the halfway mark.