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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.