MLB Awards Tracker- May 3

In honor of Major League Baseball's stupidly long regular season, as well as their emphasis on their individual statistical records and awards being more important than any other sport, I've decided to start a monthly-ish look at the MLB Awards for the 2013 season.  This also allows me to keep baseball in my writing portfolio without having to watch more than just a handful of Red Sox games here and there til the Fall.  With all that out of the way, here's a Top 5 right now for all the major awards (Cy Young and MVP) and the current leaders for the other awards (Rookie, Manager of year).

AL MVP

1. Chris Davis, 1B, Orioles:  9 HR, 29 RBI, .337 AVG, 1.142 OPS

Photo Rights to Sports Illustrated

Davis started off the season hotter than anyone in the AL and remains the MVP through the first month.  It seems strange to see his name on this list, but his numbers speak for themselves.

2. Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees:  8 HR, 18 RBI, .324 AVG, .988 OPS

Cano (right), my preseason pick to take home this award, has flashed the bat that made me pick him in March.  If the Yankees real lineup ever makes it back to health, his RBI totals will reflect it.

3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Tigers:  4 HR, 30 RBI, .373 AVG, 1.017 OPS

Miggy is the defending champ in this race and he isn't going to let go of his mantle quietly.  He's still the best pure hitter on the planet, and he looks prime to chase another triple crown as long as the homers start to come.

4. Prince Fielder, 1B, Tigers:  7 HR, 27 RBI, .297 AVG, .985 OPS

Fielder has been almost as big as Cabrera thus far as the Tigers continue to boast the best 3-4 Lefty/Righty tandem in the league.

5. Mike Napoli, C/1B, Red Sox:  6 HR, 31 RBI, .283 AVG, .929 OPS

Napoli has been instrumental in the Red Sox resurgence, and his power numbers are spectacular.  His average and OPS leave him looking up at the first four.


NL MVP

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1. Justin Upton, OF, Braves:  12 HR, 19 RBI, .287 AVG, 1.080 OPS

The Braves are in first and Justin Upton (right) is on pace for 69 homers this season.  I feel like the former has a better chance to sustain itself over 162 games than the latter, but Upton's your MVP right now regardless.

2. Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals:  9 HR, 18 RBI, .323 AVG, 1.094 OPS

Harper has been incredible this season, and the popular preseason MVP has certainly played to his immeasurable talent.  Now if only the rest of the Nationals could get off the cruise control, he'd be on top.

3. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Rockies:  5 HR, 15 RBI, .317 AVG, .981 OPS

CarGo has been good this year, but his standing on this list reflects the Rockies first place standing in the NL West more than anything.  He's been the best in a very productive lineup thus far.

4. Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers: 7 HR, 23 RBI, .293 AVG, .963 OPS

Braun has been his usual productive self this season, and while the Brewers are plodding a little bit so far, it hasn't been his fault.  If the Brewers contend, he'll contend for this award, plain and simple.

5. Jason Grilli, RP, Pirates: 13G, 12 IP, 18K, 11 SV, 0 BS, 0.75 ERA, 0.83 WHIP

A closer, you say?  Well, the Pirates have 16 wins, which puts them in the playoffs as of this writing.  Grilli is 11-11 on save opportunities, and locking in 11 of those 16 wins is a nice ratio.  Then consider that one blown save by Grilli and the Pirates wouldn't be in the playoffs right now, and his value is there.  The hitting in the NL is pretty bad, so there's potential for pitchers to make noise in the MVP race.




AL CY YOUNG
1. Matt Moore, Rays:  5GS, 5W, 0L, 32 IP, 38 K, 1.13 ERA, 0.88 WHIP

Moore gets the slightest of nods here over Clay Buchholz.  The difference?  In 32 innings, Moore has conceded 13 hits.  Any time you allow less than 4 hits per 9 innings, that's just stupid.  Anytime you have a WHIP under 1 and you allow fewer hits than walks, it's even stupider.  Matt Moore can't be hit this year.  Period.

2. Clay Buchholz, Red Sox:  6GS, 6W, 0L, 44.2 IP, 47K, 1.01 ERA, 0.96 WHIP

Any time you're so good that your opponents have to play the 3rd grade "He cheated" card, you know you've reached a level where you're a man among boys.  Buchholz has been unbeatable this year and that's an understatement.

Photo Rights to CBS Sports

3. Yu Darvish, Rangers:  6GS, 5W, 1L, 38.2 IP, 58K, 2.33 ERA, 0.93 WHIP

Yu makes the Top 3 over several players with better ERA's because of his win total and his OH MY GOD HE STRIKES OUT 13.5 HITTERS PER 9 INNINGS factor.  The worst part of his success is it makes every Red Sox fan realize that Yu Darvish is what we were supposed to have in Daisuke Matzusaka.  Oh well.

4. Felix Hernandez, Mariners:  6GS, 3W, 2L, 42.2 IP, 44K, 1.90 ERA, 0.96 WHIP

Another year, another Mariners team that can't hit.  And of course, another year Felix will be dominant and finish with a 15-10 record, or thereabouts.  How a guy can have a sub-2 ERA and sub-1 WHIP and lose 2 out of 6 is beyond me.  His teammate Hishashi Iwakuma has been electric too, but doesn't make the top 5 due to a seniority issue.

5. Justin Verlander, Tigers:  6GS, 3W, 2L, 39.1 IP, 41 K, 1.83 ERA, 1.19 WHIP

Verlander gets the nod in the 5-hole over teammate Anibal Sanchez and the aforementioned Iwakuma.  I'd say the past 3 or 4 years validate giving him the benefit of the doubt that he's as good as his numbers indicate.  He and Hernandez are simply the best starters in the American League when they're on their game.


NL CY YOUNG

1. Matt Harvey, Mets: 6GS, 4W, 0L, 40.1 IP, 46K, 1.56 ERA, 0.82 WHIP

Back-to-Back Cy Youngs for the Mets?  It's not impossible.  Harvey has been as good as advertised for the World's Most Depressing Baseball Team, even out-dueling Nationals' Ace Stephen Strasburg in April.

2. Madison Bumgarner, Giants: 6GS, 3W, 0L, 40.2 IP, 36K, 1.55 ERA, 0.84 WHIP

Bumgarner has been the best arm on San Fran's vaunted staff this season.  One way to combat the bullies about the whole "You're Name is Madison and You're a Boy" thing is to get them out.

Photo Rights to ESPN

3. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers:  6GS, 3W, 2L, 41.2 IP, 47K, 1.73 ERA, 0.91 WHIP

Kershaw (right) is the left-handed version of Verlander or Hernandez- if he's on, he's going to win.  He's also stuck in their weird "great stats but 3-2 record club."

4. Jordan Zimmerman, Nationals:  6GS, 5W, 1L, 44 IP, 27K, 1.64 ERA, 0.75 WHIP

Zimmerman doesn't have the gaudy strikeout numbers of the other guys on these lists, but his numbers speak for themselves.  He's walked a measly 7 batters in 44 innings, showcasing great command that's reflected in his WHIP.

5. Jake Westbrook, Cardianls: 5GS, 2W, 1L, 33.2 IP, 18K, 1.07 ERA, 1.40 WHIP

Westbrook's ERA is the only thing affording him this final spot in the top 5, and his high WHIP would indicate he's gotten lucky with giving up runs this year.  But the National League hasn't been quite as impressive as the American League pitching-wise and Westbrook's been good enough for the first month or so.


AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

1. Manny Machado, 3B, Orioles: 3 HR, 18 RBI, .317 AVG, .863 OPS

Machado has been everything the Orioles dreamed of since they called him up for the playoff run last year.  This season he's picked up right where he left off, and the Orioles are contenders because of it.


NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

1. Matt Harvey, SP, Mets: 6GS, 4W, 0L, 40.1 IP, 46K, 1.56 ERA, 0.82 WHIP

In case you missed it, Matt Harvey has been the best pitcher in the National League thus far.  I think that merits a Rookie of the Year vote.


AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

1. John Farrell, Red Sox

He's the only guy worth a vote right now.  The Red Sox have the best record in baseball at the moment, and a year ago they had the worst clubhouse in baseball.  I'm not sure if Farrell turned either one around, but they've both been turned around on his watch.

Photo Rights to WEEI

NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

1. Walt Weiss, Rockies

The Rockies- the effing Rockies- are in first in a NL West that includes the Giants and the Dodgers.  I don't know who Walt Weiss is, but he's done a hell of a job with that team so far.