Week 17 of awards Wednesday:
AL MVP
1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees. 2. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers. 3. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners. In his game story in Wednesdayâs New York Times, Tyler Kepner used the perfect word to describe the current state of A-Rodâs quest for 500 homers: Excruciating. It only became more so when his team hit eight homers Tuesday and none were by Rodriguez, though everyone in the park and, of course, A-Rod himself is desperately trying to get to the milestone. Of course, he will soon get there, but he is pressing and here is the question I wonder about watching him press: If the Yanks make the playoffs will A-Rod feel the same stress he is feeling now and succumb to it and soil this absolutely brilliant season? (Previous leader: A-Rod).
AL ANTI-MVP
1. Trot Nixon, Indians. 2. Richie Sexson, Mariners. 3. Dioner Navarro, Devil Rays. Nixon was bad enough that, for a lefty bat, Cleveland felt compelled to obtain Kenny Lofton. (Previous leader: Navarro).
NL MVP
1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals. 2. Matt Holliday, Rockies. 3. Ryan Howard, Phillies. This race was scrambled when frontrunner Chase Utley had his hand broken by a pitch. The best seasons arguably belong to the left side of the Marlin infield, Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera. But Florida is a non-contender. Beware the Cardinals, which means beware of Albert Pujols. (Previous leader: Utley, Phillies).
NL ANTI-MVP
1. Marcus Giles, Padres. 2. Adam Kennedy, Cardinals. 3. Jack Wilson, Pirates. San Diego obtained three minor pieces on July 31 (Morgan Ensberg, Wil Ledezma and Rob Mackowiak). None gets Giles off of second base, so it was a bad day. (Previous leader: Giles).
AL CY YOUNG
1. Dan Haren, Aâs. 2. Erik Bedard, Orioles. 3. Johan Santana, Twins. Bedard has struck out 25 more batters than anyone in the majors. (Previous leader: Haren).
AL ANTI-CY YOUNG
1. Jose Contreras, White Sox. 2. Kevin Millwood, Rangers. 3. Steve Trachsel, Orioles. Now that Kei Igawa is rightfully back in the minors, a former Yankee import gone bad has ascended to the top of the ranks. (Previous leader: Igawa, Yankees).
NL CY YOUNG
1. Brad Penny, Dodgers. 2. Jake Peavy, Padres. 3. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs. John Maine is hanging on the periphery. (Previous leader: Penny).
NL ANTI-CY YOUNG
1. Kip Wells, Cardinals. 2. Jason Jennings, Astros. 3. Barry Zito, Giants. Zito is the most disappointing Barry in San Francisco. The Giants invested $126 million in Zito and he has become Shawn Estes. (Previous leader: Wells).
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1. Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles. 2. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox. 3. Hideki Okajima, Red Sox. No Red Sox pitcher has ever finished with an ERA of less than 1.00 in a season of at least 50 innings. Okajimaâs ERA is 0.87 after 51 2-3 innings pitched. (Previous leader: Matsuzaka).
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1. Ryan Braun, Brewers. 2. James Loney, Dodgers. 3. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies. The Dodgers did not land Mark Teixeira or any other big run producer, so there is pressure on Loney to stay hot. (Previous leader: Braun, Brewers).
SPECIAL AWARD OF THE WEEK
FIVE TRADE DEADLINE WINNERS
1. Braves. 2. Red Sox. 3. Phillies. 4. Padres. 5. Cardinals. Real quick, Atlanta GM John Schuerholz has created a system so deep in talent that when his team has a chance to win, he goes for it. And he is going for it, transforming his club from good to perhaps best in the NL with the additions of Mark Teixeira, Octavio Dotel and Ron Mahay. Boston was all but a lock to make the playoffs, now they have what every team needs in the playoffs, a deeper bullpen with Eric Gagne joining Jonathan Papelbon and Hideki Okajima. What I admire about the Phillies is that they are trying. They did not have much of a farm system and they lost their most important player, Chase Utley, for a month, but rather than surrender they did what they could by adding Tadahito Iguchi, Kyle Lohse and Julio Mateo. It is not great, but consider all the teams that simply do nothing. Over the last month, the Padres have added Michael Barrett, Milton Bradley, Scott Hairston, Rob Mackowiak and Morgan Ensberg for very little return to try and enliven their dead offense. The Cards were not busy (they picked up Joel Pineiro), but the key for St. Louis was that the Cubs and Brewers did not improve either. And suddenly St. Louis is stalking the NL Central leaders and has the DNA in knowing how to win this division.
FIVE BEST TEAMS
1. Red Sox. 2. Tigers. 3. Angels. 4. Yankees. 5. Indians. No NL teams. The five best are in the AL and one is not making the playoffs. (Previous leader: Red Sox).
FIVE WORST TEAMS
1. Pirates. 2. Nationals. 3. Devil Rays. 4. Astros. 5. White Sox. How does a team with no hope and no immediate future add a dimming veteran starter with $10 million due him next year, as well? You are the Pirates, a joke of a team that decided it just had to have Matt Morris. (Previous leader: Reds).
