Who Should Win the Awards

                    Cabrera and Verlander: Hitting and Pitching Triple Crown Winners

There should be plenty of debate who should win the awards this year. In the American League, there has been quite a discussion who should be the MVP between Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout. Both players are having terrific seasons. Cabrera is on the verge of becoming the first player since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 to win the Triple Crown. Trout is having a historically great rookie season, and great year regardless. Trout is a five tool player who has made some great home run robbing catches this year. In the National League, there isn't a clear cut MVP candidate. There are numerous guys who could win. Here's who I would vote for.

Gold Gloves
C-Yadier Molina, Matt Weiters
1B-Adam LaRoche, Mark Teixiera
2B-Darwin Barney, Ian Kinsler
SS-Brandon Crawford, Elvis Andrus
3B-Ryan Zimmerman, Adrian Beltre
OF-Jon Jay, Austin Jackson
OF-Michael Bourn, Mike Trout
OF-Andrew McCutchen, Adam Jones
P-Mark Buehrle, David Price

Silver Sluggers
C-Buster Posey, Joe Mauer
1B-Allen Craig, Prince Fielder
2B-Aaron Hill, Robinson Cano
SS-Ian Desmond, Derek Jeter
3B-Chase Headley, Miguel Cabrera
OF-Ryan Braun, Josh Hamilton
OF-Andrew McCutchen, Mike Trout
OF-Giancarlo Stanton, Adam Jones
P(DH)-Mike Leake, Edwin Encarnacion

Rookie of the Year

National League
1) Wade Miley
2) Bryce Harper
3) Todd Frazier
4) Anthony Rizzo
5) Matt Carpenter

American League
1) Mike Trout
2) Yoenis Cespedes
3) Jarrod Parker
4) Tommy Milone
5) Wei-Yei Chen

Wade Miley has had a terrific rookie year and has won 16 games with a 3.36 ERA. Bryce Harper has been key for the Nats rise this year, but I think Miley has had the best rookie year. Todd Frazier has been a important player for the Reds, who dealt with some injuries this year. His teammate Zack Cozart has had a good year defensively, but he just missed my list. Matt Carpenter has also been a valuable utility guy for the Cardinals. In the American League, Mike Trout is the clear cut winner. He's had a historic rookie year, rating up there with Joe DiMaggio's 1936 season, Fred Lynn's 1975 season, and Albert Pujols' 2001 season. I selected threee A's players, and could of easily selected All Star reliever Ryan Cook as well.

Cy Young Award

National League

1) RA Dickey
2) Gio Gonzalez
3) Johnny Cueto
4) Clayton Kershaw
5) Matt Cain

Clayton Kershaw still has a start left on the season's finale, and he currently leads the NL in ERA and WHIP, and has an outside chance of leading in strikeouts(currently 9 back of RA Dickey). I feel that Dickey has had the best all around year of NL pitchers this year. He won 20 games on a mediocre Mets club, and ranks among the top in all major pitching categories. There are quite a few more worthy candidates I didn't list like relievers Aroldis Chapman and Craig Kimbrel, who have been dominant this year. Kyle Lohse, Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmerman, and Cole Hamels also had really good years.

American League

1) David Price
2) Justin Verlander
3) Jered Weaver
4) Chris Sale
5) Felix Hernandez

Justin Verlander has had an excellent follow up season to his 2011 campaign in which he won the pitching Triple Crown, Cy Young Award, and MVP.  However, I think David Price had a slightly better year. Price led the AL in ERA and Wins, and is in the top ten in every major pitching category. King Felix had another great year pitching for a bad team, and threw a perfect game earlier this year.

Most Valuable Player

National League

1) Ryan Braun
2) Andrew McCutchen
3) Buster Posey
4) Yadier Molina
5) Chase Headley
6) Matt Holliday
7) David Wright
8) Adam LaRoche
9) Craig Kimbrel
10) Aroldis Chapman

There isn't really a clear cut winner in the National League, and reluctantly I put Ryan Braun #1. While there is a feeling that Braun shouldn't win because he got out of his PED suspension on a technicality, he is having the best all around year. He's had a 30/30 year, and leads the NL in home runs and OPS. I thought Andrew McCutchen was a lock for the MVP a month ago, but the Pirates faded. Buster Posey deserves some MVP consideration because's he's carried that team offensively. If Posey's a candidate, then Yadier Molina is as well since he's had a great year with the bat, and is baseball's best defensive catcher. I left off Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman from my Cy Young ballot but included them on the MVP. They have been lights out this year, and there is a reason why both of their teams are making the playoffs. They shut the door in the 9th inning.

American League

1) Miguel Cabrera
2) Mike Trout
3) Josh Hamilton
4) Adrian Beltre
5) Adam Jones
6) Robinson Cano
7) Edwin Encarnacion
8) David Price
9) Justin Verlander
10) Prince Fielder

There are a lot of people who think that Mike Trout should be the MVP this year. He's having a banner year, hitting for average, power, steals bases, and plays outstanding defense. Most years, he would be the MVP. Not this year, though. With a game to go, Miguel Cabrera is likely to become the first Triple Crown winner in 45 years. He has a comfortable lead in average and RBIs and has a one HR lead over Josh Hamilton. He also leads the AL in slugging and total bases. Cabrera also lost weight and got in better shape to make the move from first to third base to accomodate Prince Fielder. He isn't going to win a Gold Glove over there, but has been respectable. Cabrera also came on strong in September, helping the Tigers come back to win the AL Central. Trout cooled off a bit in the season's last month, and the Angels just missed out of the playoffs. However, the Angels didn't click until Trout came up. They were scuffling before that, and Albert Pujols was off to the worst start of his career. Still, it would be a travesty not to give the MVP to a Triple Crown winner.