MLB Mid-Season Recap
With the Major League Baseball All-Star Game coming up next week and most teams reaching the midway point of their season, I figured I would do a mid-season recap. As always there have been some surprise teams as well as some extremely disappointing performances.
Biggest Surprise - American League
This is an easy choice. The Detroit Tigers with their Major League-leading record of 56 wins and 26 defeats have shocked the baseball world. With the addition of manager Jim Leyland, I expected the Tigers to merely continue their growth from last year; however the results of this season have been extraordinary.
Biggest Surprise - National League
There are a couple of options here. The young Marlins are playing above and beyond expectations and the Cincinnati Reds are holding strong in the Central. However the biggest surprise to me is the Colorado Rockies. The boys from Coors Field are a half game out of first in the very competitive Western Division and this is without their star Todd Helton producing much in the way of power.
Biggest Disappointment - American League
The Cleveland Indians, who were coming off a season in which they missed the playoffs by one game, were expected to compete with the World Champion Chicago White Sox for the Division title. However, this young team is floundering along at 6 games below .500.
Biggest Disappointment - National League
The Atlanta Braves have to take the prize for this category. The 14-time division champions are now 13.5 games behind the New York Mets. It looks as if Bobby Cox may have lost that magic touch...or Leo Mazzone might have been a much bigger factor in the Braves success then we expected.
Most Valuable Player - American League
This is an extremely competitive award at the moment; we have seen some great first halves from Jim Thome, Vernon Wells, Troy Glaus and Manny Ramirez. However the MVP goes to Boston Red Sox Designated Hitter David Ortiz. Big Papi has continued his clutch hitting and now has 26 Home runs and 75 RBI’s, which are both leading or near the top of their respective category.
Most Valuable Player - National League
The NL MVP goes to Albert Pujols, narrowly beating out New York Mets teammates Carlos Beltran and David Wright. Despite missing a few weeks with a injury, Albert is still second in home runs and first in RBIs in the National League. The St. Louis Cardinals also posted a 7-10 record in his absence, further proof of his value.
CyYoung Award - American League
This award once again goes to Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana. Santana has lead the once struggling Twins to an incredible turn around in the first half. He is once again dominating batters while compiling a 9-4 record, with a 2.59 era, 0.96 whip and an American League leading 124 strikeouts in 118.1 innings pitched.
Cy Young Award - National League
In a narrow win, I would give this award to former Red Sox fifth starter Bronson Arroyo. Bronson faces some stiff competition from the suddenly born again Tom Glavine. I give Arroyo the win due to his 9-4 record and National League leading 2.58 Era, all the while pitching in a bandbox ballpark.
Playoff Predictions
American League:
Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Oakland A’s, Detroit Tigers (wild card).
National League:
New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros (wild card).
World Series Prediction
The Boston Red Sox will face the New York Mets in a rematch of the 1986 World Series, only this time, the Sox get their revenge.
Biggest Surprise - American League
This is an easy choice. The Detroit Tigers with their Major League-leading record of 56 wins and 26 defeats have shocked the baseball world. With the addition of manager Jim Leyland, I expected the Tigers to merely continue their growth from last year; however the results of this season have been extraordinary.
Biggest Surprise - National League
There are a couple of options here. The young Marlins are playing above and beyond expectations and the Cincinnati Reds are holding strong in the Central. However the biggest surprise to me is the Colorado Rockies. The boys from Coors Field are a half game out of first in the very competitive Western Division and this is without their star Todd Helton producing much in the way of power.
Biggest Disappointment - American League
The Cleveland Indians, who were coming off a season in which they missed the playoffs by one game, were expected to compete with the World Champion Chicago White Sox for the Division title. However, this young team is floundering along at 6 games below .500.
Biggest Disappointment - National League
The Atlanta Braves have to take the prize for this category. The 14-time division champions are now 13.5 games behind the New York Mets. It looks as if Bobby Cox may have lost that magic touch...or Leo Mazzone might have been a much bigger factor in the Braves success then we expected.
Most Valuable Player - American League
This is an extremely competitive award at the moment; we have seen some great first halves from Jim Thome, Vernon Wells, Troy Glaus and Manny Ramirez. However the MVP goes to Boston Red Sox Designated Hitter David Ortiz. Big Papi has continued his clutch hitting and now has 26 Home runs and 75 RBI’s, which are both leading or near the top of their respective category.
Most Valuable Player - National League
The NL MVP goes to Albert Pujols, narrowly beating out New York Mets teammates Carlos Beltran and David Wright. Despite missing a few weeks with a injury, Albert is still second in home runs and first in RBIs in the National League. The St. Louis Cardinals also posted a 7-10 record in his absence, further proof of his value.
CyYoung Award - American League
This award once again goes to Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana. Santana has lead the once struggling Twins to an incredible turn around in the first half. He is once again dominating batters while compiling a 9-4 record, with a 2.59 era, 0.96 whip and an American League leading 124 strikeouts in 118.1 innings pitched.
Cy Young Award - National League
In a narrow win, I would give this award to former Red Sox fifth starter Bronson Arroyo. Bronson faces some stiff competition from the suddenly born again Tom Glavine. I give Arroyo the win due to his 9-4 record and National League leading 2.58 Era, all the while pitching in a bandbox ballpark.
Playoff Predictions
American League:
Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Oakland A’s, Detroit Tigers (wild card).
National League:
New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros (wild card).
World Series Prediction
The Boston Red Sox will face the New York Mets in a rematch of the 1986 World Series, only this time, the Sox get their revenge.
posted by marinjos at 12:32 PM
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