One-Half Down….One to Go

With the Mid-Summer Classic upon us, the unofficial halfway point of the season is here.  Some great stories have arisen in the first half of the season, from the Texas Rangers to the Milwaukee Brewers to Lew Ford to the stomach parasite that has wreaked havoc throughout Kevin Brown, Jason Giambi and the Yankees.  With the season half-over, here are my awards for the first-half and predictions for the rest of the way.AL MVP:  Ivan Rodriguez edging out Vladimir Guerrero, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.  Pudge could become the first catcher ever to win the AL batting crown.  He’s been raking and he’s done a stellar job handling a young pitching staff and turning this miserable franchise around.  Alan Trammell’s job became much easier with the signing of I-Rod.

NL MVP:  Scott Rolen edging out Barry Bonds and Jim Thome.  Okay, this award really should go to Bonds, but I just don’t like him and hey, these are my awards.  Rolen has been Mr. Everything for the Cards.  Put runners on base and Rolen is almost guaranteed to knock them in.  He’s also the best defensive player in the game.

AL Cy Young:  Mark Mulder edging out Curt Schilling and Mariano Rivera.  Mulder is the biggest of “the Big 3”.  With Tim Hudson injured and Barry Zito struggling, Mulder has to carry this team to start out the second half.  I would not bet against him.

NL Cy Young:  Jason Schmidt edging out Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, and Ben Sheets.  Well, since we discovered that Eric Gagne is human, the Cy Young Award door opened up for a starting pitcher.  Schmidt’s overall numbers are slightly better than the Rocket’s and the Unit’s.  I also factored in that I hate the Rocket and the award goes to San Fran’s ace.

AL Rookie of the Mid-Year:  Bobby Crosby edging out Shingo Takatsu and Jason Frasor.  Crosby has been good with the glove and the stick and he’s on a winner.  

NL Rookie of the Mid-Year:  Matt Holliday edging out Khalil Greene, Chad Cordero, Kaz Matsui, and Akinori Otsuka.  Sure, Holliday takes advantage of the friendly confines of Coors Field and he doesn’t have the high-profile of Greene or Matsui, but he’s had a strong first half.  

AL Manager of the Mid-Year:  Lou Pinella edging out Ozzie Guillen and Buck Showalter.  Lou and the D-Ray’s were pulling a Frank “the Tank” (“We’re going streakin’!”) as they ripped off what seemed like 35 straight games to get in the Wild Card hunt.  Lou was given lemons and he has made lemonade.

NL Manager of the Mid-Year:  Tony LaRussa edging out Bruce Bochy, Ned Yost, and Bobby Cox.  Everyone knew the Cardinals had offense, but who thought they’d be ahead of the Cubs and the Astros come July?

2nd Half Predictions:  
AL East – Yankees take the division, but the Sox pick up the Wild Card in a tight race.
AL Central – The White Sox end Minnesota’s reign as Central Champs.
AL West – Oakland outlasts Texas and Anaheim to take the West.

AL Champs – Boston Red Sox

NL East – Phillies survive the race.
NL Central – St. Louis wins in a landslide, but the Cubs grab the Wild Card.
NL West – San Francisco advances to the post-season yet again.

NL Champs – Philadelphia Phillies

Predictions that I hope come true:  
Roger Clemens gets a bad case of the gout and is forced into retirement.
The Yankees trade Alex Rodriguez and Javier Vasquez for Todd Van Poppel.
The Expos find a home before next season.
The World Cup of baseball comes to fruition.

The Red Sox end my misery and win the World Series.