Week 15 of awards Wednesday:
AL MVP
1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees. 2. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers. 3. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners. Finally, the triumvirate of A-Rod, Ordonez and Vladimir Guerrero has been broken. Asked recently why the Yankeesâ defense has been better than expected in 2007, Joe Torre cited Rodriguezâs upgrade at just about every play for a third baseman over how he handled the position last year. (Previous leader: A-Rod).
AL ANTI-MVP
1. Mark Kotsay, Aâs. 2. Bobby Crosby, Aâs. 3. Craig Monroe, Tigers. Jason Kendall was a regular presence on this list, but the Aâs traded him to the Cubs this week, so now we find other Oakland underperformers to explain the Aâs poor play. (Previous leader: Julio Lugo, Red Sox).
NL MVP
1. Chase Utley, Phillies. 2. Prince Fielder, Brewers. 3. Miguel Cabrera, Marlins. The fall of Carlos Beltran and â more recently â Jose Reyes from consideration has been symptomatic of the Metsâ slipping play. (Previous leader: Utley).
NL ANTI-MVP
1. Adam Kennedy, Cardinals. 2. Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers. 3. Marcus Giles, Padres. St. Louis made a host of terrible, offseason decisions that is going to doom its repeat chances, one was giving a three-year contract to Kennedy. (Previous leader: Garciaparra).
AL CY YOUNG
1. Dan Haren, Aâs. 2. Johan Santana, Twins. 3. John Lackey, Angels. Haren has pretty much been the front-runner all season, but you get the feeling he is just keeping the spot warm for Santana. (Previous leader: Haren).
AL ANTI-CY YOUNG
1. Kei Igawa, Yankees. 2. Ervin Santana, Angels. 3. Casey Fossum, Devil Rays. Igawa has permitted 13 homers, three more homers than anyone else on the Yankees, though he has worked just 51 2-3 innings. (Previous leader: Kevin Millwood).
NL CY YOUNG
1. Brad Penny, Dodgers. 2. Chris Young, Padres. 3. Jake Peavy, Padres. (Previous leader: Penny). This trio has permitted just 10 homers combined in 358 1-3 innings.
NL ANTI-CY YOUNG
1. Kip Wells, Cardinals. 2. Dontrelle Willis, Marlins. 3. Chris Capuano, Brewers. It is possible that the Marlins have missed the chance to trade Willis at his highest value because he currently is 7-8 with a 4.81 ERA and righties are hitting .318 against him. (Previous leader: Wells).
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1. Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles. 2. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox. 3. Hideki Okajima, Red Sox. And keep an eye on Royal Rule 5 pick Joakim Soria, who had eight saves, a .204 ERA and was averaging nearly 11 strikeouts per nine innings. (Previous leader: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox).
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1. Ryan Braun, Brewers. 2. Hunter Pence, Astros. 3. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies. Among players with 200 plate appearances, Braun leads the majors in OPS at 1.062 and that is all players, not just rookies. (Previous leader: Pence, Astros).
SPECIAL AWARD OF THE WEEK
ALL-NEW TEAM AWARD
(players who are in their first season with their new organization).
C-Johnny Estrada, Brewers (8 HRs, .284 BA). 1B-Carlos Pena, Devil Rays ( 22 HRs, .627 SLG). 2B-Mark DeRosa, Cubs (7 HRs, .291 BA). SS-Brendan Harris, Devil Rays (8 HRs, .306 BA). LF-Alfonso Soriano, Cubs (16 HRs, 13 SBs). CF-Josh Hamilton, Reds (14 HRs, .543 SLG). RF-Carlos Lee, Astros (18 HRs, 77 RBIs). SP-Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles (5-3, 3.06 ERA). RP-Joe Borowski, Indians (26 SVs).
FIVE BEST TEAMS
1. Tigers. 2. Angels. 3. Red Sox. 4. Indians. 5. Dodgers. (Previous leader: Red Sox).
FIVE WORST TEAMS
1. Reds. 2. Devil Rays. 3. Nationals. 4. Astros. 5. Pirates. (Previous leader: Reds).
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