AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Detroit Tigers
Yes. Miggy. Not Trout. Sorry. Sabremetric seamheads would hate me if I had a say in the actual awards. I am a fan of history. Miggy became the first Triple Crown winner since 1967. That means something to me. Add in the fact that he carried his team to the playoffs in September, played out of position all year, and... WON THE TRIPLE CROWN! Sorry Trout, not for you. It it an eternal question- are you that valuable when your team misses the playoffs? Well, Alfonso Soriano had the first 40-40-40-20 season in MLB history, and finished 6th in the voting. So, no MVP for Trout. Oh, and just wait, it is going to get worse for the Angels' golden boy...
AL Walter Johnson: Fernando Rodney, RP, Tampa Bay Rays
Another surprise, I suppose, but his numbers do not lie. 48 saves, 9.56 K/9 innings, 5.07 K/BB ratio, .167 opponents batting average, and an absolutely insane 0.60 ERA, which is 0.01 lower than the previous record for lowest reliever ERA held by Dennis Eckersly. I know relievers aren't the popular pick for the Cy Young, but no other pitcher in the AL had such a historic season. That is a good reason to "shoot the moon"
AL Rookie of the Year: The Oakland Athletics Pitching Staff, Derrick Norris, and Yoenis Cespedes
Ok, I know Mike Trout will obviously win this, as well he should. But these are my awards, so I am going to give them to who I want. So, I am going to give the award to rookies from Mike Trout's division who made sure their team finished ahead of Mike Trout's. The point of baseball is to win, folks, not finish 3rd. Tommy Milone, Jarrod Parker, AJ Griffin, and Dan Straily carried the Oakland A's to the AL West title. They were almost 20 games back of the Texas Rangers in the middle of the year. Brandon McCarthey was injured. Bartolo Colon was suspended. Instead of folding, these rookies took a hold on the team's rotation and guided them to the playoffs. It was an absolutely improbable season. Then, two rookie position players helped the team down the stretch as well. Derek Norris (along with Milone, Brad Peacock and AJ Cole) were part of the trade that sent Gio Gonzalez from Oakland to DC. He started 53 games at catcher, and almost every game once Kurt Suzuki was also traded to DC in early August. He provided a consistent battery-mate with the young pitching staff, and had a number of huge clutch hits in their drive to the postseason. Cespedes is a legit ROY candidate on his own. .292, 23 HR, 82 RBI are very impressive numbers. He battles some injuries, but was there when it mattered for the AL West Champions.
AL Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles
I think this is a no-brainer. The O's should have been terrible. Like, 70 wins or so. Instead, they brought the AL East race down to the last days of the season, and took the Yankees to Game 5 of the ALDS. Since Buck took over, the O's are a completely different team. Not even Peter Angelos' dismal ownership could stop him from willing this team into contention. That alone makes him an easy winner. Bob Melvin of the A's is a close 2nd.
NL MVP: Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants
Batting champ, division winner, probably comeback player of the year, arguably the best catcher in the game... It is very difficult to argue against Posey. You can argue for some others, sure. But I don't think I can be convinced of someone that has impressed me more than Posey.
NL Walter Johnson: Gio Gonzalez, SP, Washington Nationals
I am biased, I will admit this. He is my pitcher on my team. He got none of the press because of Strasburg, but guided the Nationals to an improbable 98-win season and a division title. He won't win the Cy Young because RA Dickey's numbers are slightly better, and he is the "better story". Again, I don't think awards should go to 4th place teams, because the point of baseball is to win. We ignore wins in modern baseball voting, so it seems. It is odd, because the only number Cy Young has over Walter Johnson is Wins. Interesting... Well, I don't ignore wins. 21-8, 2.89 ERA, 207 K's, .206 opponents batting average, 9.4 K/9, and that is without a gimmick pitch like the knuckleball. He won't win the Cy Young, but he did win the Warren Spahn Award for best Lefty. And now, he has the JFLANland Walter Johnson Award.
NL Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper, CF, Washington Nationals
Again, I am biased, but I think I will agree with the world at large on this one. This would have been a lot closer if Todd Frazier didn't have a horrible September, or if Bryce Harper didn't have an amazing September. It will still be close between Bryce and Wade Miley of the Diamondbacks, but I think you have to give it to the every day player over a pitcher when it is close. As it was, Bryce ended up being the spark that the Nationals needed. He was called up in late April and proved that he belonged in the big leagues right away. He had the most pressure of any rookie this season, and lived up to it. Furthermore, he did this all as a teenager (Happy 20th Birthday, Bryce!), and as a catcher playing center field. He played with more fire, passion and hustle than anyone in the majors all year. I don't think you can argue against him winning the award. Question him winning? That's a clown question, bro...
NL Manager of the Year: Davey Johnson, Washington Nationals
Again, biased. Again, he is going to win. The Washington Nationals won 98 games and the NL East. Do I really need to say more? Give him the award, and a hug!
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