It’s that time of the year. After all the excitement and heart-pounding games in the playoffs, the hot-stove season has started. Like every year, before the marquee free agents sign their gigantic contracts, the seasonal awards are in the process of slowly being released. Here at KDVS Sports we thought we’d put our two cents in on who we think is deserving of the top 4 awards. We had 10 ballots entered, mostly from the KDVS Sports Department but also including some guest opinions from the California Aggie.
The Results:
NL MVP
1st- Joey Votto
2nd- Albert Pujols
3rd- Carlos Gonzalez
-The NL MVP was one of the closest race out of the awards with all 3 top candidates receiving at least 1 first place vote. Votto came away with 7 of them which made up for the difference. Votto deserves to win this award when it's announced next week but any of these three could come away with it.
AL MVP
1st- Josh Hamilton
2nd- Miguel Cabrera
3rd- Robinson Cano
- Hamilton came away with a pretty easy win, receiving 8 of the 10 first place votes. Cabrera acquired the other 2 first place votes and the majority of the second place votes. Chances are pretty good that Hamilton comes away with the award when it's announced next week.
NL CY Young
1st- Roy Halladay
2nd- Adam Wainwright
3rd- Ubaldo Jimenez
3rd- Josh Johnson
- If there was 1 award that had a clear-cut, no-brainer, with-out-a-doubt deserving candidate, it’s the NL Cy Young and Roy Halladay. One of two awards that the winner had all the 1st place votes. Josh Johnson was one of the bigger surprises, getting a 2nd and 3rd place vote to sneak into a tie for the 3rd place vote.
AL CY Young
1st- Felix Hernandez
2nd- David Price
3rd- CC Sabathia
- This vote is probably the most likely to not have the same person receive the real award. Felix Hernandez had an extremely dominant year, but unfortunately played on a terrible team and the way the award is set up his lack of wins could be held against him. Felix did receive 8 first place votes, with David Price getting one of the others and Cliff Lee surprising getting the last one
NL Rookie of the Year
1st- Buster Posey
2nd- Jason Heyward
3rd Jaime Garcia
-This award was slightly heated, but one of the stars of the post-season for the World Series Champs came away with 8 first place votes and in the end came away with the KDVS NL Rookie of the Year. Heyward was the pre-season favorite for the award but after struggling late in the year, while Posey was shining on the Giants Playoff Run it looks like Posey is the favorite at this point. The NL Rookie of the Year will be announced later today (Monday) and it could easily be either Posey or Heyward
AL Rookie of the Year
1st-Neftali Feliz
2nd- Austin Jackson
3rd- Danny Valencia
-This award could be pretty interesting. Neftali Feliz received all 10 first place votes from the Sports Department here at KDVS, but there may be some voters for the proper award that look towards Austin Jackson as a top candidate. Although with Andrew Bailey of the Oakland A’s taking the award last year over a teammate of Feliz, Elvis Andrus, so the precedent has been set for a closer taking this award. The AL Rookie of the Year will be announced today (Monday) and it should be Feliz coming away with it but Jackson could play spoiler and keep a Ranger from winning the award for a second year in a row.
NL Manager of the Year
1st- Bruce Bochy
2nd- Bud Black
3rd- Dusty Baker
-I think this award has a very good chance at being different when the MLB announces it. Bochy may receive some votes after taking the Giants all the way to a World Series Championship, but Bud Black and Dusty Baker both did amazing jobs this year. As far as the KDVS voting went, Bochy had 6 first place votes, Bud Black had 3, and Dusty Baker came away with the other. Number 4 on our list, Bobby Cox, could potentially come away with the proper award also.
AL Manager of the Year
1st- Ron Washington
2nd- Ron Gardenhire
3rd- Joe Maddon
-Ron Washington received 8 first place votes. Ron Gardenhire had 1 first place vote, and surprisingly Terry Francona came away with the last one. This award could go either way in when they announce the winner this Wednesday.
