The season is nearing the end and after the postseason is the annual awards given out to the most influential players in the majors. Below are my predictions about who will win each award and why. This is who I think would deserve it if the season ended today.
Cy Young: NL, Zack Greinke: He isn't quite as great of a pick as he was at the all-star break but Greinke's ERA is 1.68 compared to 2.03 as the next best in the majors. It also would be the best single season ERA since Greg Maddux in 1995. Jake Arrieta is the obvious second pick but he allows about 121% as many runs per nine innings. AL, Dallas Keuchel: I'm picking both of the all-star starters because for the most part they have kept up what they had done in the first half. They have both also led their teams to the top of their divisions. and Keuchel also has a 2.29 ERA. I want to point out though to all the people who think that this is a phenomenal breakout season that last year he had a 2.93 ERA and was 11th in WAR among pitchers in the majors, so while this year was an improvement, it may not have been quite as much better than you thought. |
MVP: NL, Bryce Harper The Nationals are looking pretty unlikely for the postseason but Bryce Harper is simply impossible to not consider. He lead the league in the three slash line stats with a .336/.467/.657 which means that using the runs per inning simulation program that I created a lineup of nine Harper's could average 1.2 runs per inning or put in other words, the MLB average ERA would be 10.98! AL, Josh Donaldson This one is tough it's between Donaldson and a repeat for Mike Trout. They're OPS are almost identical, Donaldson had the slight edge .966 to .963, but the real edge he has over Trout come from Donaldson's defense and the fact that he has lead the Blue Jays to what will probably be their first playoff appearance in 20 years. |
Gold Glove: NL: P: Jake Arrieta C: Wilson Ramos 1B: Brandon Belt 2B: DJ LeMahieu 3B: Nolan Arenado SS: Andrelton Simmons OF: Yoenis Cespedes OF: Billy Hamilton OF: Nick Markakis AL: P: Dallas Keuchel C: Russell Martin 1B: Eric Hosmer 2B: Brian Dozier 3B: Manny Machado SS: Elvis Andrus OF: Alex Gordon OF: Kevin Kiermaier OF: Kole Calhoun | Silver Slugger: NL: P: Madison Bumgarner C: Buster Posey 1B: Joey Votto 2B: Joe Panik 3B: Kris Bryant SS: Jung Ho Kang OF: Justin Upton OF: Andrew McCutchen OF: Bryce Harper AL: DH: Nelson Cruz C: Stephen Vogt 1B: Miguel Cabrera 2B: Ian Kinsler 3B: Josh Donaldson SS: Carlos Correa OF: Michael Brantley OF: Mike Trout OF: Jose Bautista |