First Half MLB Awards

By Mike Rifkin

We have reached the halfway point of the Major League Baseball season and it has been quite eventful. Here is how I would vote for the awards at the halfway point of the season. 

AMERICAN LEAGUE

MVP : Aaron Judge, Yankees : Judge has 34 home runs, which is a Yankee record before the All-Star break and 85 RBI, along with a 306/.433/.613 slash line. Judge, has been the constant of a Yankee offense that has been inconsistent most of the first half, it makes you wonder if teams will stop pitching to him in the second half. Other candidates : Juan Soto (Yankees), Gunnar Henderson (Orioles),  Bobby Witt Jr (Royals), Jose Ramirez (Guardians), Rafael Devers (Red Sox) 

CY YOUNG : Tarik Skubal, Tigers : Skubal is 10-3 with a 2.41 ERA, which is second in all of Major League Baseball. Skubal is in the top five in wins, ERA, Strikeouts, and WHIP. He has a 6.7 strikeout to walk ratio as well. Other candidates : Seth Lugo (Royals), Corbin Burnes (Orioles)

Manager Of The Year : Stephen Vogt, Guardians : Vogt replaced a legend in Terry Francona, and the Guardians have been exceptional. They’re up 4.5 games in the AL Central and have done all of this without their ace Shane Bieber, who underwent Tommy John Surgery. The Guardians enter the break with the second best record in all of Baseball and the best record in the American League. Other candidates : Alex Cora (Red Sox), Matt Quatraro (Royals)

BIGGEST SURPRISE : Boston Red Sox : The Red Sox enter the break as the third wild card team and are only 4.5 games out in the AL East. In a year where most people thought the Red Sox would not be competitive, they’re in the thick of things. Led by Alex Cora the Red Sox have gotten contributions throughout their roster. Rafael Devers is a superstar, who also is having an MVP-esque season. The Red Sox are in the top five in team batting average and ERA. 

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT : TORONTO BLUE JAYS : The Toronto Blue Jays enter the break eight games under .500 and are 9.5 games out of the wild card. To make it sound worse there are three teams in the AL with a worse record than the Blue Jays (Angels, Athletics and White Sox.) Things have gotten so bad for the Jays that people are talking about them selling at the trade deadline (they should). But for a team I dubbed a sleeping giant in the AL, I don’t think they’ll be able to get themselves out of the hole they dug. 

NATIONAL LEAGUE

MVP : SHOHEI OHTANI, Dodgers : Ohtani has lived up to the hype in his first year in Dodger Blue. He has 29 homers and 69 RBI’s along with a slash line of .316/.400/.635. The most impressive part about Ohtani’s season isn’t the distraction he faced early in the season, but what he’s done since Mookie Betts got hurt and Ohtani has had to hit leadoff. Other Candidates : Freddie Freeman (Dodgers), Bryce Harper (Phillies), Marcell Ozuna (Braves), Christian Yelich (Brewers) 

CY YOUNG : Chris Sale, Braves : Sale has had an injury riddled last few seasons, but this season he’s been healthy and a big part of the Braves success. Sale is the MLB leader in wins with 13.He is also in the top 10 in ERA, Strikeouts and WHIP. The Braves have needed Sale to revert back into the ace he was in the absence of Spencer Strider. Other Candidates :  Zack Wheeler (Phillies), Ranger Suarez (Phillies), Tyler Glasnow (Dodgers) 

Manager Of The Year : Pat Murphy, Brewers : After Craig Counsell left and trading Corbin Burnes, most people thought the Milwaukee Brewers would take a step back. After Counsell left they decided to promote Pat Murphy form Bench Coach to Manager and the Brewers haven’t missed a step. The Brewers are 55-42, which is the third best record in the National League and lead the Central by 4.5 games. Other Candidates Rob Thompson (Phillies), Brian Snitker (Braves)

BIGGEST SURPRISE : NEW YORK METS : This sounds weird because they’re only three games over .500. But the Mets were 11 games under .500 and most people were discussing what they sell at the deadline, but the last few weeks the Mets have turned it around and currently occupy the final Wild Card spot. With the impending return of Kodai Senga, the Mets can be a dangerous team in the second half. 

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT : SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS/ CHICAGO CUBS : Yes, both of these teams are in the thick of the wildcard race in the NL. But in reality everyone is minus the Rockies and Marlins. The Giants and Cubs spent a lot of money this past winter and both find themselves on the outside looking in at the break. If things go sour over the next week or so both teams can find themselves as sellers at the trade deadline.