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Current leaders (after 94,000 votes):

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Albert Pujols
AL Cy Young: Roy Halladay
NL Cy Young: Eric Gagne
AL Rookie: Rocco Baldelli
NL Rookie: Dontrelle Willis

(I voted for: Delgado, Pujols, Halladay, Gagne, Baldelli, Webb)

[ September 23, 2003, 10:58 AM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Thanks for the link canmark.

I know I'm extremely Royal-centric in my baseball postings, but hopefully that will change next year as I have been learning more and following all of the other teams and players more closely. But until then, here is why Angel Berroa of the Royals should win AL Rookie of the Year (starting in the fourth paragraph of the column). It's amazing to watch the speed Angel has running the bases. I've seen him make it to first on infield plays that would have been an easy out with most runners, and he makes stealing bases look easy.

The only other player I feel strongly about in this poll is Albert Pujols who should win NL MVP. I'm also jealous of the Cards for having him, and a bit irked that he could have been a Royal.

[ September 23, 2003, 09:02 AM: Message edited by: maxallen ]

I wish they had a space for write-ins--I would have voted the NL MVP to Eric Gagne. That way the folks who don't think a closer deserves the Cy Young could have a way to acknowledge Gagne's remarkable season. As it is, I voted Gagne the Cy Young over Schmitt.

~Adam

Under what ludicrous standard is Dontrelle Willis having a better rookie year than Brandon Webb of Arizona? (wins, naturally) *bangs head* Look 'em up.

I voted for A-Rod, Bonds, Loaiza, Schmidt, Berroa and Webb. Loaiza is the shakiest of those, but I still think Hudson and Pedro are at least as deserving as Halladay.

I voted:
Delgado (AL MVP)
Pujols (NL MVP)
Halliday (AL CY YOUNG)
Gagne (NL CY YOUNG)
Matsui (AL ROOKIE)
Willis (NL ROOKIE)

Incidentally, if Lou Piniella wants to bitch about Matsui getting the Rookie of the Year at Matsui's age, then he better take a second look at Ichiro and Sasaki, whom won it consecutive years while he was the manager of Seattle. I do believe baseball should institute an age limit like they do in the NHL with the Calder Cup (cannot be over age 26), but after this season. I think this is retribution for an old Ichiro getting the nod over young Soriano a few years back!

Really guys, who's better?

Pitcher A: 2.50 ERA, 173 innings, 62 BB, 165 K, 10 HR allowed, 1.10 WHIP (walks+hits per inning)

Pitcher B: 3.37 ERA, 150 innings, 53 BB, 133 K, 13 HR, 1.29 WHIP

A is Brandon Webb, B is Dontrelle Willis. So why are you guys voting for Willis? Seen more highlights of his wacky motion? Cuz he's better looking? Cuz Karl Ravech chirps in that monstrously annoying way about him?

On the merits -- and I believe Matsui should be fully considered, he is a first-year player in MLB -- a SS who hits like Angel Berroa is a better player than an outfielder who hits like Matsui.

The guy with the nicest ass

Seriously, my votes went to A-rod, Pujols, Halliday, Gagne, Berroa and Webb.

Here are my votes:

AL MVP: Carlos Delgado, Toronto Blue Jays.
If this were a vote for the BEST PLAYER in the A.L., I'd probably vote for Alex Rodriguez. However, this is a vote for the MOST VALUABLE PLAYER. I consider the MVP to be the player who is most valuable to his team. With Rodriguez, the Rangers are a last place team. Without him, they would be unwatchable.

NL MVP: Jim Thome, Philadelphia Phillies.
The team has been battling all season for the NL wild card, and in the process has helped to illustrate why the NL East may be the best division in baseball. Thome's bat has helped keep the Phillies in contention despite Pat Burrell's flirtation with the Mendoza line. This was a close one to call because I could have easily picked Albert Pujols, but the Cardinals aren't in contention at this point.

AL Cy Young Award: Roy Halladay, Blue Jays.
Yes, the Blue Jays aren't in contention. Yes, Esteban Loaiza is having a great year. Yes, Jamie Moyer has been outstanding. But Halladay inspires the kind of fear in an opposing team that a Cy Young winner should. The other guys either don't (Moyer) or are likely one year flukes (Loaiza).

NL Cy Young Award: Mark Prior, Chicago Cubs.
This is a tough race, with outstanding pitchers for outstanding teams all around. I give the edge to Prior because of his outstanding stuff and the fact that he is one of the aces of a Chicago Cubs staff that is right up there for the lead in the NL Comedy Central. Of the rest, the other one I considered was Eric Gagne.

AL Rookie: Rocco Baldelli, Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Sure, the Deviled Eggs are out of contention as usual. They're more fun to watch this year and are showing signs of improvement they haven't shown before. Baldelli is a sparkplug at the top of that Devil Rays lineup and with Lou Piniella beginning to show that he can overachieve a little bit, he may bedevil opposing pitching staffs for years to come.

NL Rookie: Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks.
Dontrelle Willis has captured the imagination of the nation with his wacky motion and his spectacular first half numbers. But Webb has been the better pitcher this year. When the Diamondbacks were without both the Big Unit and Curt Schilling, many figured they would fold. Instead, they played their way back into contention, in large part because of Webb. That gives him the edge over Willis, whose numbers cooled off in the second half of the season.

I don't get the rationale for a Delgado vote... his production level is around the same as A-Rod's, he plays a MUCH less vital position, and the Blue Jays are a non-factor in the playoff race just like Texas, even if they're above .500.

Thome is certainly in the top ten, maybe even five, but again he has been outproduced by Bonds, Pujols, Lopez, etc, all of whom have more active defensive roles than 1B. I think I'd put Edgar Renteria ahead of Thome on my list right now....

Baldelli doesn't have NEARLY enough power to justify being voted ROY; Matsui is more legit, but Berroa is far more multi-dimensional.