MLB Awards for 2014
AL Manager of the Year: Ned Yost (KC Royals): What Ned has been able to do with a very young team there isn’t a lot of managers that could do it.
This award has been a couple of years in the making for Ned. This team has been on the brink of making the playoffs for the past couple of seasons and this time they were able to break through for the first time in 29 seasons. Yost has brought small ball and stealing bases back to the forefront of the game. He and his team create havoc on the base paths that hasn’t been seen in this way for decades. Ever since the 90’s rolled around, teams have made the long ball along with pitching as the way to win games. Ned has shown that creating opportunities for your team can be overwhelming to the opponent and a way to win as well.
NL Manager of the Year: Mike Matheny (STL Cardinals): This was a hard choice this year between Mike and Bruce Bochy of the San Francisco Giants. I think Matheny has just preformed a little better this year than Bochy for the award. Matheny led his team to another division title as well as their fourth straight NLCS (even though playoffs aren’t supposed to be considered). He dealt with injuries to Molina and Wacha as well as dealing with the trades of Kelly and Craig. He and his team didn’t panic when the Brewers shot themselves out of a cannon in the beginning of the year. With all that, they still win 90 games and get the division title.
NL Cy Young Award: Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodgers): There was really no contest….no wait….absolutely no contest to this award this season. Clayton had this wrapped up by July. His stats and dominance speak for themselves. 21 wins in his 27 starts (led the MLB), 1.77 ERA (led the MLB), 0.86 WHIP (led the MLB), 3 losses (fewest in the MLB) 39 earned runs allowed (fewest in MLB) 139 hits allowed (fewest in the MLB). Now, if he could only figure out the playoffs that would make him and Dodger fans happy.
AL Cy Young Award: Felix Hernandez (SEA Mariners): This was close between King Felix and Corey Kluber of the Indians. Felix was able to squeak this one out in my mind. Hernandez led the AL in ERA (2.14) and WHIP (0.92). he also out dueled Kluber by giving up less hits (170 to 207), walks (46 to 51), and runs (68 to 72) Oh, and they were virtually mirror images in starts (both with 34) and innings pitched (236.0 for Hernandez and 235.2 for Kluber) Sale of the White Sox was knocking on the door this season but not quite good enough this time. Look out next year though.
NL MVP Award: Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodgers): As much as I don’t believe in pitchers winning the MVP Award (the Cy Young is the MVP for pitchers), Clayton was really the only consistent one to stand out all season long. He was helped out by the injury bug as well with injuries to McCutchen (PIT) during the season. Buster Posey (SF) came on late in the year putting his name in for consideration but again the consistent dominance of Kershaw outweighs that in my opinion.
AL MVP Award: Mike Trout (LA Angels): This award is a big toss-up this year. I am basically covering my eyes, turning away, and taking a shot in the dark on this. Trout was able to lead the AL in RBI (111), runs scored (115), and WAR (7.9). He was also able to place in the top 5 with home runs (36) and lead his team to a division crown, best record in the MLB, and a playoff appearance. Other names that are in serious consideration for this award are: Cabrera (DET), V. Martinez (DET), Brantley (CLE) and Abreu (CHI) may just be a name as well. They could win this. Altuve (HOU) is making a little knock at the door but I don’t expect him to win. We shall see who does.
NL Rookie of the Year: Billy Hamilton (CIN Reds): Billy led the NL rooks in RBI (48), stolen bases (56), hits 141, runs scored (72), and doubles (25). He also led the way in AB’s with 563 among the NL rookies
AL Rookie of the Year: Jose Abreu (CHI White Sox): This one was pretty easy. Jose burst onto the scene in a huge way. He led the AL rookies in AB’s (556), runs scored (80), hits (176), doubles (35), home runs (36), RBI (107), walks (51), average (.317), WAR (5.5), OPS (.964), SLG (.581). Shall I keep going? Nah, he wins. Look for him to put his name into serious consideration for MVP next year.