The Football Fan Spot

AL MVP

March pick: Grady Sizemore (Yikes!)

July pick: Mark Teixiera

October pick: Mark Teixiera- New York Yankees

This may come as a surprise because I don’t like the Yankees and because everyone and their dog is picking Joe Mauer of the Twins. Any argument you can make for Mauer, I can make for Teixiera. Mauer drives in runs. Mauer, because he was hurt for a month, doesn’t even have 100 RBIs. Teixiera has 122. Some might say that Mauer’s injury has made his season that much more impressive, but I say that missing a month of the season really hurts one’s MVP case simply because they weren’t playing for a 1/6 of the season. Teixiera has more homeruns. Mauer does have the better batting average, but in terms of total offense, runs scored and runs batted in, Tex leads Mauer 225 to 190. Some might argue that Mauer should get it because he plays better defense. Well, the Yankees were a mess defensively last year and Tex with his gold glove caliber defense has made this whole infield good again. Some might argue that Mauer should get it because he plays catcher and still put up those offensive statistics. Yes, he did, but I’m not giving him any sympathy for that. Tex meant just as much to the Yankees defense as Mauer did. Some might say that Mauer is the only reason the Twins are in playoff contention. Well, the Yankees missed the playoffs last year. This year they have 103 wins. Tex has been that stabilizing force both with the bat and with the glove. He is the best player on the best team and any argument you can make for Mauer I can top with an argument for Tex.

NL MVP

March pick: Manny Ramirez (Yikes again!)

July pick: Albert Pujols

October pick: Albert Pujols- St. Louis Cardinals

I don’t see how it can be anyone else. Pujols leads the NL in slugging, homeruns, runs, on base percentage, and OPS and he’s top three in walks, runs batted in, and batting average. He’s missed all of two games this season for the division winning Cardinals and plays great defensively as well. He has 64 strikeouts to 45 homeruns, which is almost unheard of. He also has stolen 16 bases. I don’t know what this guy does badly. He must be a machine. An MVP winning machine.

AL Cy Young

March pick: CC Sabathia

July pick: Roy Halladay

October pick: Zach Greinke- Kansas City

Its not his fault he doesn’t have a great win-loss record at 16-8. He did everything he could. He led the AL in ERA at 2.16 and WHIP at 1.07. He’s 2nd in strikeouts and 5th in innings pitched. The last place Royals won 65 games and Greinke accounted for almost 25% of that.

NL Cy Young

March pick: Brandon Webb (double yikes!)

July pick: Tim Lincecum

October pick: Chris Carpenter- St. Louis Cardinals

The NL Cy Young is down to 3 closely matched contestants. Reigning Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum, who has been than last year better in every category other than wins, the Cardinals’ Chris Carpenter, who leads the NL in ERA and win-loss record, and Carpenter’s teammate Adam Wainwright, who leads the NL in wins, but has the worst ERA. I’m going to eliminate Tim Lincecum at this point because he had less wins than Wainwright and a worse ERA than Carpenter. That leaves it between Carpenter and Wainwright, teammates. Carpenter has a better win-loss record on the same team as Wainwright and a lower ERA, but Wainwright hasn’t missed a game. However, I think Carpenter has been the better overall pitcher this season. Despite his injuries, he only has 2 less wins than Wainwright and 4 less losses. His ERA is far better as is his WHIP.

Part 2 Tomorrow: Rookie of the year, Manager of the year, Comeback Player of the year

Then (March): 

AL MVP: Grady Sizemore (CLE) 

NL MVP: Manny Ramirez (LAD) 

Now:

Sizemore: .235/13/47/40/9

Ramirez: .355/9/29/30/0

New Prediction:

AL MVP: Mark Teixiera (NYY)

NL MVP: Albert Pujols (STL)

Sizemore has been as disappointing as the rest of his Cleveland teammates, as what was once a sleeper team is in last place in the AL Central. Ramirez has been good when he has played, but he was suspended for 2 months for violating the league’s drug policy. Mauer and Morneau would both be good candidates in the AL, but I have a feeling that they will split votes, as they are teammates, and Teixiera will win it. He has been a steadying force on both the offensive and defensive end for a Yankee team that, through adversity, is in position to get back to the playoffs. In the NL, it has been Pujols and then everyone else. As Pujols is within striking distance of the triple crown, he is the NL MVP in pretty much everyone’s mind, unless he gets hurt.

Then:

AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia (NYY) 

NL Cy Young: Brandon Webb (ARZ)

Now

Sabathia: 8-6/3.86/95/38/1.15

Webb: 0-0/13.50/2/2/2.00

New Prediction:

AL Cy Young: Roy Halladay (TOR)

NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum (SFO) 

Sabathia has been alright as the ace of the Yankees, but has not lived up to his giant contract thus far. Webb’s season lasted 6 innings before he got hurt. He won’t be back until 2010. Halladay will win the AL Cy Young, on one condition. He doesn’t get traded to the NL, which would eliminate him from AL Cy Young contention. Despite missing a few weeks with injury, he has still been the most dominant and valuable pitcher in the AL. Lincecum is in good position to defend his Cy Young, as the All-Star game’s starting pitcher and a part of the Giants, who are surprising in playoff contention.

Then: 

AL Comeback player of the year: Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA) 

NL Comeback player of the year: Chris Carpenter (STL)

Now: 

Griffey: .222/10/26/27/0

Carpenter: 7-3/2.47/64/13/0.87

New Prediction:

AL Comeback player of the year: Brandon Inge

NL Comeback player of the year: Chris Carpenter

Griffey has stayed healthy in his return to the Pacific Northwest, but he hasn’t been good enough for consideration year. Carpenter, meanwhile, has not been healthy the whole season, but when healthy, he has dominated. With a strong 2nd half, he could run away with this award. Inge, after battling injuries last season, is an All-Star for the first time this season, helping the first place Tigers, not only with his bat, but in the field, where he has played 3rd, catcher, and the outfield.

Then:

AL Rookie of the year: Matt Wieters (BAL) 

NL Rookie of the year: Andrew McCutchen (PIT) 

Now: 

Wieters: .259/3/10/10/0

McCutchen .292/2/23/24/7

New Prediction:

AL Rookie of the year: Andrew Bailey (OAK)

NL Rookie of the year: Colby Rasmus (STL)

Wieters and McCutchen were the top prospects in their respective leagues when the season started, and while they both have very bright futures, they have not been the best rookies. Bailey has dominated for the lowly A’s as a starter, middle reliever, and most recently as a closer, maintaining a sub 2 ERA. Rasmus has finally come on as the power hitting outfielder the Cardinals knew he could be.

Then: 

AL Relief man of the year: Jonathan Papelbon (BOS) 

NL Relief man of the year: Francisco Rodriguez (NYM) 

Now: 

Papelbon: 1.85/23

Rodriquez: 1.90/25

New Prediction:

AL Relief man of the year: Jonathan Papelbon (BOS)

NL Relief man of the year: Francisco Rodriguez (NYM)

No change here. Papelbon and K-Rod are the league’s best closers at this point and it should stay that way.

Then:

AL Homerun champ: Josh Hamilton (TEX) 

NL Homerun champ: Ryan Howard (PHI) 

Now:

Hamilton: 6 hrs

Howard: 22 hrs

New Prediction:

AL Homerun champ: Carlos Pena (TBR)

NL Homerun champ: Albert Pujols (STL)

Hamilton has been hurt. Howard has had a good season, but currently trails Albert “The Machine” Pujols by 10. Pujols has 8 more homeruns than anyone else in the NL and, barring injury, should win the homerun crown. The only two things that remain to be seen are whether or not he wins the triple crown and whether or not he can break the “clean” single season homerun record of 61.

Then:

AL Batting champ: Kevin Youkilis (BOS) 

NL Batting champ: Hanley Ramirez (FLA) 

Now:

Youkilis: .298

Ramirez: .349

New Prediction:

AL Batting champ: Joe Mauer (MIN)

NL Batting champ: Hanley Ramirez (FLA)

Youk has been a good hitter, but not nearly as good as Mauer has been. Mauer was batting over .400 and is now only about 25 points below that. Ichiro is coming on strong, but Mauer is a better overall hitter and has a 10 point lead right now. Ramirez was my preseason pick and currently has 11 points more than any other batter.

Then:

AL Strikeout champ: CC Sabathia (NYY) 

NL Strikeout champ: Johan Santana (NYM) 

Now

Sabathia: 95Ks

Santana: 112ks

New Prediction:

AL Strikeout champ: Justin Verlander (DET)

NL Strikeout champ: Tim Lincecum (SFO)

While both Sabathia and especially Santana have been dominant, Verlander and Lincecum currently have double digit leads in strikeouts and barring injury, I don’t expect that to change. 

AL

C Joe Mauer- Minnesota .407 14 HR 42 RBI

C Victor Martinez- Cleveland .330 12 HR 53 RBI

C Jason Varitek- Boston .228 10 HR 25 RBI

1B Mark Teixeira- New York .286 20 HR 56 RBI

1B Kevin Youkilis- Boston .316 12 HR 40 RBI

1B Justin Morneau- Minnesota .320 16 HR 57 RBI

1B Miguel Cabrera- Detroit .333 14 HR 44 RBI

2B Ian Kinsler- Texas .267 18 HR 48 RBI

2B Aaron Hill- Toronto .302 15 HR 48 RBI

2B Dustin Pedroia- Boston .286 2 HR 28 RBI

SS Jason Bartlett- Tampa Bay .373 7 HR 31 RBI

SS Derek Jeter- New York .301 9 HR 30 RBI

3B Evan Longoria- Tampa Bay .309 16 HR 61 RBI

3B Mark DeRosa- Cleveland .277 13 HR 50 RBI

LF Jason Bay- Boston .276 18 HR 66 RBI

LF Carl Crawford- Tampa Bay .307 6 HR 32 RBI

LF Matt Holliday- Oakland .269 8 HR 39 RBI

CF Torii Hunter- LA Angels .316 16 HR 52 RBI

CF Curtis Granderson- Detroit .263 17 HR 43 RBI

CF Adam Jones- Baltimore .316 12 HR 43 RBI

RF Nelson Cruz- Texas .268 18 HR 45 RBI

SP Zack Greinke- Kansas City 8-3 1.96 ERA 106 K

SP Roy Halladay- Toronto 10-1 2.53 ERA 88 K

SP Edwin Jackson- Detroit 6-4 2.39 ERA 72 K

SP Justin Verlander- Detroit 8-3 3.31 ERA 118 K

SP Felix Hernandez- Seattle 7-3 2.74 ERA 98 K

SP Jered Weaver- Los Angeles 7-3 2.53 ERA 78 K

SP Kevin Millwood- Texas 7-5 2.62 ERA 65 K

RP Jonathan Papelbon- Boston 16/17 SV 1.80 ERA

RP Joe Nathan- Minnesota 16/18 SV 1.69 ERA

RP Mariano Rivera- New York 15/16 SV 3.25 ERA

Final vote

Like the real all-star game, the 32nd man is voted in by the fans. Above I have 31 all-stars and below I have 4 guys who would make the team if it were a 35 man roster. However, it is not, so its up to you to pick a 32nd man. Tell me in a comment and tell me why. This could be interesting.

1B Russell Branyan- Seattle .305 16 HR 31 RBI

2B Brian Roberts- Baltimore .291 7 HR 34 RBI

3B Michael Young- Texas .312 10 HR 27 RBI

SP Josh Beckett- Boston 8-3 3.74 ERA 88K

NL

C Bengie Molina- San Francisco .264 10 HR 40 RBI

C Brian McCann- Atlanta .325 6 HR 28 RBI

C Yadier Molina- St. Louis .284 5 HR 23 RBI

1B Albert Pujols- St. Louis .329 26 HR 68 RBI

1B Adrian Gonzalez- San Diego .275 23 HR 45 RBI

1B Prince Fielder- Milwaukee .299 17 HR 67 RBI

1B Ryan Howard- Philadelphia .257 20 HR 54 RBI

2B Chase Utley- Philadelphia .297 15 HR 45 RBI

2B Brandon Phillips- Cincinnati .279 11 HR 47 RBI

2B Freddy Sanchez- Pittsburgh .319 6 HR 29 RBI

SS Hanley Ramirez- Florida .328 9 HR 36 RBI

SS Miguel Tejada- Houston .331 6 HR 38 RBI

3B Mark Reynolds- Arizona .267 19 HR 49 RBI

3B David Wright- New York .349 4 HR 39 RBI

LF Raul Ibanez- Philadelphia .312 22 HR 59 RBI

LF Ryan Braun- Milwaukee .320 15 HR 50 RBI

LF Carlos Lee- Houston .300 12 HR 43 RBI

CF Matt Kemp- Los Angeles .318 8 HR 37 RBI

CF Carlos Beltran- New York .336 8 HR 40 RBI

RF Adam Dunn- Washington .267 18 HR 49 RBI

RF Brad Hawpe- Colorado .332 10 HR 50 RBI

SP Matt Cain- San Francisco 9-1 2.28 ERA 76 K

SP Chad Billingsley- Los Angeles 9-3 2.83 ERA 96 K

SP Tim Lincecum- San Francisco 6-2 2.72 ERA 112 K

SP Dan Haren- Arizona 6-4 2.23 ERA 96 K

SP Ted Lilly- Chicago 7-4 3.05 75 K

SP Johan Santana- New York 8-5 3.22 ERA 97 K

SP Johnny Cueto- Cincinnati 6-4 2.55 ERA 66 K

RP Francisco Rodriguez- New York 18/20 SV 1.07 ERA

RP Heath Bell- San Diego 19/20 SV 1.19 ERA

RP Trevor Hoffman- Milwaukee 16/17 SV 1.31 ERA

Final vote

Like the real all-star game, the 32nd man is voted in by the fans. Above I have 31 all-stars and below I have 4 guys who would make the team if it were a 35 man roster. However, it is not, so its up to you to pick a 32nd man. Tell me in a comment and tell me why. This could be interesting.

3B Pablo Sandoval- San Francisco .338 8 HR 33 RBI

RF Justin Upton- Arizona .321 13 HR 42 RBI

SP Josh Johnson- Florida 7-1 2.66 ERA 88 K

RP Ryan Franklin- St. Louis 17/18 SV 1.00 ERA