Week 19 of awards Wednesday:
AL MVP
1. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers. 2. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees. 3. Vladimir Guerrero, Angels. Ordonez has opened August hitting .451 with 20 RBIs in 13 games to help keep the struggling Tigers from plummeting too far. (Previous leader: A-Rod).
AL ANTI-MVP
1. Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers. 2. Julio Lugo, Red Sox. 3. Nick Punto, Twins. Rodriguez has managed to draw five â yes, five â walks all season against 70 strikeouts. (Previous leader: Lugo).
NL MVP
1. Prince Fielder, Brewers. 2. Chipper Jones, Braves. 3. David Wright, Mets. Throughout this season, we figured if a Met contended for the MVP it would be Jose Reyes. But Wright, slow and steady, has crept, crept, crept into this picture. (Previous leader: Matt Holliday, Rockies).
NL ANTI-MVP
1. Marcus Giles, Padres. 2. Stephen Drew, Diamondbacks. 3. Juan Pierre, Dodgers. The Dodgers are slowly falling out of the NL West race because they just donât score, and one reason they donât is because Pierre failed to be an engine atop the order. (Previous leader: Giles).
AL CY YOUNG
1. Erik Bedard, Orioles. 2. Dan Haren, Aâs. 3. Josh Beckett, Red Sox. The franchise single-season record for the Orioles since they moved to Baltimore is 218 strikeouts by Mike Mussina in 1997. Bedard entered his start Wednesday with 199 already. (Previous leader: Haren).
AL ANTI-CY YOUNG
1. Horacio Ramirez, Mariners. 2. Jose Contreras, White Sox. 3. Odalis Perez, Royals. Despite being 7-4, Ramirez has a 7.38 ERA and a .341 batting average against, and now has clearly passed Jeff Weaver as the Marinersâ worst starter. (Previous leader: Jose Contreras, White Sox).
NL CY YOUNG
1. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks. 2. Jake Peavy, Padres. 3. Brad Penny, Dodgers. Webb is now up to 33 straight shutout innings. (Previous leader: Penny).
NL ANTI-CY YOUNG
1. Adam Eaton, Phillies. 2. Barry Zito, Giants. 3. Dontrelle Willis, Marlins. The two worst ERAs for NL starters who are active and qualify for the ERA title are Zito (5.13) and Willis (4.93). (Previous leader: Eaton).
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox. 2. Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles. 3. Hideki Okajima, Red Sox. If Guthrie continues a late-season swoon, it is possible Dustin Pedroia could sneak in and make this a clean Red Sox sweep. (Previous leader: Guthrie).
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1. Ryan Braun, Brewers. 2. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies. 3. Tim Lincecum, Giants. Atlantaâs Peter Moylan and San Diegoâs Kevin Cameron remain valuable rookie set-up men in a pennant race. (Previous leader: Braun).
SPECIAL AWARD OF THE WEEK
FIVE EX-MET PITCHERS HAVING THE BEST SEASONS
1. Scott Kazmir, Devil Rays. 2. Brian Bannister, Royals. 3. Jason Isringhausen, Cardinals. 4. Heath Bell, Padres. 5. David Weathers, Reds. For a last-place team in the AL, Kazmir is 9-7 with a 3.44 ERA and 168 strikeouts. And here is something easy to forget: Kazmir is 10 days younger than Mike Pelfrey.
FIVE BEST TEAMS
Red Sox. 2. Angels. 3. Yankees. 4. Mets. 5. Tigers. The Red Sox and Angels play four at Fenway starting on Thursday. (Previous leader: Angels).
FIVE WORST TEAMS
1. Devil Rays. 2. Pirates. 3. Nationals. 4. Reds. 5. White Sox. The Rays are the Red Soxâs best friend, having gone 1-7 against them so far with 10 still to play. (Previous leader: Devil Rays).
