The season is winding down so let's start discussing some awards for the 2005 season.

American League

MVP
Cy Young
Manager
Comeback Player
Disappointing Player
Surprise Team
Disappointing Team


National League

MVP
Cy Young
Manager
Comeback Player
Disappointing Player
Surprise Team
Disappointing Team

American League

MVP
Cy Young--Colon
Manager--Ozzie
Comeback Player
Disappointing Player--Ichiro
Surprise Team--Chicago White Sox
Disappointing Team--Twinkies


National League

MVP--Pujols
Cy Young--Dontrelle Willis
Manager--Frank Robinson
Comeback Player--
Disappointing Player--Mike Lowell
Surprise Team--Washington Nationals
Disappointing Team--San Diego Padres

American League

MVP -- (holding my nose) Ortiz or Rodriguez, it's a toss-up
Cy Young - Probably Colon (even if he looks like the Hindenburg eek! ), but Garland and Cliff Lee deserve some consideration.
Manager -- Eric Wedge, Cleveland
Comeback Player -- Bob Wickman
Disappointing Player -- Ichiro
Surprise Team -- Cleveland
Disappointing Team -- Twinkies!


National League

MVP -- Pujols (Derek Lee would have the MVP and maybe the triple crown if the Cubbies lineup had more depth)
Cy Young -- Carpenter
Manager -- Frank Robinson
Comeback Player -- Cliff Floyd (I'm a homer )
Disappointing Player -- Cristian Guzman of course!
Surprise Team -- Milwaukee (might be 20 games back, but they ARE at .500 unlike the "divison leader" below!)
Disappointing Team -- San Diego

[ September 14, 2005, 10:21 AM: Message edited by: BPT336 ]

My NL MVP vote at this point would go to Andruw Jones.

American League
MVP: Alex Rodriguez (NYY)
CY YOUNG: Bartolo Colon (LAA)
MANAGER: John Gibbons (TOR)/Eric Wedge (CLE)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Shea Hillenbrand (TOR)/Jason Giambi (NYY)
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Carl Pavano (NYY)
SURPRISE TEAM: Toronto Blue Jays
DISAPPOINTING TEAM: Minnesota Twins

NATIONAL LEAGUE
MVP: Andruw Jones (ATL)
CY YOUNG: Dontrelle Willis (FLA)
MANAGER: Bobby Cox (ATL)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Pat Burrell (PHI)/Troy Glaus (ARZ)
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Carlos Beltran (NYM)
SURPRISE TEAM: Washington Nationals
DISAPPOINTING TEAM: Cincinnati Reds

American League
MVP: David Ortiz (BOS)
CY YOUNG: Jon Garland(CWS)
MANAGER: Ken Macha(OAK)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Jason Giambi (NYY)
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Carl Pavano (NYY)
SURPRISE TEAM: Cleveland Indians
DISAPPOINTING TEAM: New York Yankees

NATIONAL LEAGUE
MVP: Andruw Jones (ATL)
CY YOUNG: Roger Clemens (HOU)
MANAGER: Bobby Cox (ATL)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Ken Griffey Jr.(CIN)
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Starting Pitching Staff (CHC)
SURPRISE TEAM: Washington Nationals
DISAPPOINTING TEAM: Chicago Cubs

AMERICAN LEAGUE
MVP: David Ortiz (BOS)
CY YOUNG: Jon Garland (CWS)
MANAGER: Ozzie Guillen (CWS)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Bob Wickman (CLE)
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Raphael Palmeiro (BAL)
SURPRISE TEAM: Cleveland Indians
DISAPPOINTING TEAM: Seattle Mariners

NATIONAL LEAGUE
MVP: Andruw Jones (ATL)
CY YOUNG: Chris Carpenter (STL)/Dontrelle Willis (FLA)
MANAGER: Frank Robinson (WAS)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Ken Griffey Jr. (CIN)
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Carlos Beltran (NYM)
SURPRISE TEAM: Washington Nationals
DISAPPOINTING TEAM: New York Mets

National League

MVP: Andruw Jones
Cy Young: Dontrelle Willis
Manager: Frank Robinson
Comeback (Little Sheba) Player: Ken Griffey, Jr.
Disappointing Player: Milton Bradley, for all sorts of reasons both on- and off-field
Surprising Team: Nationals
Disappointing Team: My Dodgers

American League:

MVP: Alex Rodriquez
Cy Young: Bartolo Colon
Manager: Ozzie Guillen
Comeback (Little Sheba) Player: Jason Giambi
Disappointing Player: The Suddenly Aged Steve Finley
Surprising Team: Indians
Disappointing Team: Yankees

~Adam

Too soon to say, esp in the razor-thin Cy races... but I don't think Andruw's production is up to Pujols' and Lee's. (don't overvalue HRs, and ignore team-contextual RBI)

National League

MVP - Jones; he has meant more for ATL than Pujols has for STL, and Lee is playing for a loser

Cy Young - Carpenter; I just don't understand how there could be any questions on this

Manager - Cox; the man has played 3-4 rookies for 2/3 of the season

Comeback Player - Griffey

Disappointing Player - Too many to name a clear cut choice, although CHI starting pitchers and ATL's bullpen are up for "squad award" on this. Also, I wonder if Bonds "injury" is a sham. I suspect he knows he cannot compete at this level without the roids, and fears being tested.

Surprise Team - Philly; I gave them no chance this year, yet they are in the thick of the WC

Disappointing Team - "Meet the Mets, Greet the Mets, Come on out and BEAT the Mets!" And who hasn't?

NATIONAL LEAGUE

MVP -- Andruw Jones....any other year Pujols would win this award hands down but Jones' power numbers are too phenomenal to overlook.
CY YOUNG -- Chris Carpenter
MANAGER -- Frank Robinson
COMEBACK PLAYER -- Ken Griffey
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER -- Mike Lowell/Christian Guzman (hopefully Guzman's dreadful performance won't single-handedly cost the Nats a playoff berth).
SURPRISE TEAM -- Nationals
DISAPPOINTING TEAM -- Cubs....despite being decimated by injuries (Nomar, Prior, Wood, etc) Dusty Baker has proven his mediocrity as a manager once again.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (thought I'd add this category to the poll) -- Jeff Francoeur....I know Francoeur didn't join the Braves until July 7th but no other rookie can match his production.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

MVP -- David Ortiz....as much as I hate the DH, Ortiz gets the nod over A-Rod for his late inning clutch hits.
CY YOUNG -- Bartolo Colon
MANAGER -- Ken Macha
COMEBACK PLAYER -- Richie Sexson....36 HR, 107 RBI's with such limited protection around him in the M's lineup deserves recognition
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER -- Sammy Sosa
SURPRISE TEAM -- A's
DISAPPOINTING TEAM -- Rangers....I know their pitching staff is less than stellar but I expected Texas to stay in the race far longer than they did.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR -- Huston Street....since I presume Grady Sizemore isn't eligible after appearing in 43 games (138 AB's) last year.

~Joe

[ September 16, 2005, 02:49 PM: Message edited by: gamecock ]

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

MVP: Andruw Jones. Earning yet another Gold Glove while he happens to lead the National League in RBI and Homeruns will keep the focus off of that average(.272). He stepped up when his team needed him.
CY YOUNG: Chris Carpenter. I want to give it to Clemens. I really do. And he would have it, if he could learn that he needs to pitch more than 6 or 7 innings every game.
MANAGER: Bobby Cox. Basically, his whole team went down. Think about the starting outfield. Brian Jordan, Andruw Jones and Raul Mondesi. Both of his catchers went down...Bobby Cox is amazing.
COMEBACK PLAYER: Could you really give it to anyone else besides Ken Griffey Jr.?
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Could you really give it to anyone else besides Carlos Beltran?
SURPRISE TEAM: Nationals. Everyone, including myself, thought they would finish dead last in the competitive NL East. Dead wrong.
DISAPPOINTING TEAM: Can we just give that award away to the NL West as a whole?

AMERICAN LEAGUE

MVP: Probably David Ortiz. Without him, the Sox are 3 games behind the Yankees right now.
CY YOUNG: Johan Santana. It's weird thinking that a guy who really has taken a nose dive since last year could win the award but when you look at his stats compared with Colon's, his are much better: more innings, more strikeouts, lower ERA. Unfortunately, Santana doesn't have the Angels lineup behind him. He has to make due with the Twins.
MANAGER: Personally, I think Lee Mazzilli kind of deserves it. But since you can't give it to a guy with no job, I guess you can give the award to Eric Wedge for keeping his club in the race after that awful first few months and with the possible chance of winning the AL Central.
COMEBACK PLAYER: Jason Giambi. I don't care what he came back from. He did. And strong. He deserves the award heads above anyone else. Hell, a good argument could be made for Giambi winning the MVP Award as well.
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Pavano wins this one easy, injury or no.
SURPRISE TEAM: White Sox. Although they are in the middle of one of the most historic collapes in recent memory, many people picked the Twins to repeat or the Indians to take the division. The White Sox were supposed to rebuild this season.
DISAPPOINTING TEAM: I would like to see one good argument made about how this award could possibly go to a team like the Twins when the New York Yankees and their 200 plus million dollar payroll may just have to watch the playoffs from home for the first time in over ten years.

American League

MVP: Alex Rodriguez (NYY)/David Ortiz (BOS)
Cy Young: Bartolo Colon (LAA) /Johan Santana (MIN)
Manager: Ozzie Guillén (CHW) /Eric Wedge (CLE)
Comeback Player: Jason Giambi (NYM)
Disappointing Player: Sammy Sosa (BAL) (It's over, Sammy)
Surprise Team: Chicago White Sox
Disappointing Team: Baltimore Orioles (They just collapsed)


National League

MVP: Albert Pujols (STL)
Cy Young: Chris Carpenter (STL) (Though I love me some Dontrelle Willis, but Carpenter has been a shade better)
Manager: Frank Robinson (WAS)
Comeback Player: Andruw Jones (ATL); Ken Griffey Jr. (CIN)
Disappointing Player: Carlos Beltrán (NYM)
Surprise Team: Washington Nationals
Disappointing Team: Los Angeles Dodgers/New York Mets

American League
MVP: Alex Rodriguez (NYY)
CY YOUNG: Mariano Rivera (NYY)*
MANAGER: John Gibbons (TOR)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Jason Giambi (NYY)
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Carl Pavano/Jaret Wright (NYY)
SURPRISE TEAM: Cleveland Indians
DISAPPOINTING TEAM: Baltimore Orioles**

*IMO, the Cy Yound Award winner should have an ERA less than 3. But if Bartolo Colon wins his 20th, he will win the award.
**The Chicago White Sox, if they don't make the playoffs.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
MVP: Albert Pujols (STL)
CY YOUNG: Cris Carpenter (STL)
MANAGER: Bobby Cox (ATL)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Ken Griffey, Jr. (CIN)
DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Carlos Beltran (NYM)
SURPRISE TEAM: Washington Nationals
DISAPPOINTING TEAM: Cincinnati Reds

[ September 19, 2005, 07:15 AM: Message edited by: pat125 ]

How phenomenal if he trails Lee and Pujols in slugging pct?

Did anyone really expect Cristian Guzman to be good?

AL:
MVP David Ortiz
Cy Young Johan Santana
Manager Ken Macha
Comeback player Mark Ellis (missed all of last year, would be 2nd in batting average this year had he had enough AB's but will be just short)
Surprising team: White Soc
Disappointing team: Orioles (good start, then collapsed)
Disappointing player: Ichiro

NL
MVP Andruw Jones
Cy Young Dontrelle Willis
Manager Tony LaRussa (did not expect Cards to run away with it)
Surprising team: Phillies
Disappointing team: the whole NL West
Comeback player: not sure
Disappointing player: Barry Bonds

thank you Ms De B, for mentioning Ellis -- he is more than deserving. If one more person nominates Giambi I may go postal.

American League

MVP - Ortiz
Cy Young - Colon
Manager - Eric Wedge
Comeback Player - Wickman
Disappointing Player -
Surprise Team - Cleveland
Disappointing Team - Texas
Breakthrough player - Crisp

National League

MVP - A. Jones
Cy Young - Carpenter
Manager - Frank Robinson
Comeback Player - Griffey
Disappointing Player - Beltran
Surprise Team - Washington (honorable mention to Colorado, who woulda been in the thick of the West race had Barmes & Hawpe not went down)
Disappointing Team - Cubs
Breakthrough player - Ensberg

Now that all of you 'early birds' can ponder your awarding Mgr of the Year to cellar-dwelling Frank Robinson...

American League

MVP - Alex Rodriguez
Cy Young - Santana
Manager - Guillen
Comeback Player - Giambi (you have ISSUES if you demur)
Disappointing Player - Pavano, yukyuk
Surprise Team - White Sox
Disappointing Team - Twins


National League

MVP - Pujols (by a whisker over Derek Lee)
Cy Young - Clemens (he pitched the best; W-L depends on run support, means little)
Manager - Garner
Comeback Player - Griffey
Disappointing Player - Lowell
Surprise Team - Astros
Disappointing Team - Dodgers

I always stay away from these types of predictions until the divisional races have played themselves out. Too much can change in the final weeks of the season, and this year it impacts several of my choices. So, here goes:

AMERICAN LEAGUE
MVP - Alex Rodriguez
Cy Young - Mariano Rivera
Manager - Eric Wedge (he's a hottie, too!)
Comeback Player - Bob Wickman *
Disappointing Player - Carl Pavano and Kevin Frown
Surprise Team - Cleveland
Diappointing Team - Minnesota

NATIONAL LEAGUE
MVP - Andruw Jones
Cy Young - Cris Carpenter
Manager - Bobby Cox and Phil Garner
Comeback Player - Ken Griffey, Jr.
Disappointing Player - Carlos Beltran
Surprise Team - Atlanta (I thought they'd finish 3rd this year)
Disappointing Team - Florida

* As happy as I am for Jason Giambi, I really see awarding him a comeback player award as a reward for persevering over a situation that was largely of his own making and due to his own poor judgement.

Is there a Tigers thread?

Anyhoo... Alan Trammell has been given the boot as Manager of the Detroit Tigers.

Rookies of the Year? My choices are Oakland's Joe Blanton and Philly's Ryan Howard.

How is it possible to maintain that Clemens wasn't the best NL pitcher? A 1.87 ERA at age 43, in this hitters' era?? And that 7-inning performance this weekend?

Is he responsible for the Astros failing to score when he pitches?

#2 for Cy, btw, should be Pettitte.

[ October 05, 2005, 06:35 AM: Message edited by: Bill W ]