April Awards

This week I will do my April Awards. The awards are as if the season ended today.

Rangers:

MVP: Nelson Cruz, TEX (.323 AVG, 7 HR, 17 RBI) – Nelson is 2nd on the team in batting average, leads the team in home runs, and leads the team in RBIs. That makes him the obvious choice.
Runner-up: Vladimir Guerrero, TEX (.326 AVG, 2 HR, 13 RBI)

Cy Young: CJ Wilson, TEX (2-1, 1.75 ERA, 21 K) – Even though Colby Lewis leads the AL in strikeouts, CJ Wilson is third in the AL in ERA, and I value ERA much more than strikeouts, because, in my mind, it doesn’t matter how you get the outs (although strikeouts are the coolest).
Runner-up: Colby Lewis, TEX (3-0, 2.76 ERA, 38 K)

Rookie of the Year: Joaquin Arias, TEX (.321 AVG, 0 HR, 3 RBI) – Even though Joaquin has no power numbers, his batting average is still very, very good, and the only other two rookies on the team are Smoak and Feliz.
Runner-up: Neftali Feliz, TEX (4 SV, 5.40 ERA, 13 K)

AL:

MVP: Miguel Cabrera, DET (.343 AVG, 5 HR, 26 RBI) – Miguel leads the major leagues in RBIs with 26, and in my opinion, that’s way more important than home runs, although 5 isn’t too bad. He is also 7th in the AL in batting average.
Runner-up: Justin Morneau, MIN (.347 AVG, 5 HR, 17 RBI, .490 OBP)

Cy Young: Francisco Liriano, MIN (3-0, 0.93 ERA, 27 K) – Francisco leads the American League in ERA. He is tied for 2nd in the AL in wins with three, and he has just been dominant. He is one of just three pitchers, along with Ubaldo Jimenez and Livan Hernandez, that have an ERA under 1.00.
Runner-up: Matt Garza, TB (4-1, 2.06 ERA, 34 K)

Rookie of the Year: Austin Jackson, DET (.356 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI) – Austin is the only American League rookie with an average above .300 or an ERA below 3.50, so I think he pretty obviously deserves it.
Runner-up: Reid Brignac, TB (.283 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI)

Manager of the Year: Joe Madden, TB (17-7, 1st place) – The Rays have a very good team, but they are still overachieving at a .708 winning percentage. They are also 9-1 on the road, which is incredible.
Runner-up: Bob Geren, OAK (13-12, 1st place)

NL:

MVP: Ryan Braun, MIL (.361 AVG, 5 HR, 20 RBI) – Ryan is tied for 6th in the NL in RBIs with 20 of them, and he has also hit 5 home runs on the year. His .361 batting average is second in the National League.
Runner-up: Andre Ethier, LAD (.350 AVG, 7 HR, 22 RBI)

Cy Young: Ubaldo Jimenez, COL (5-0, 0.79 ERA, 31 K) – Ubaldo leads major league baseball in ERA, and in wins. If that doesn’t make you a Cy Young Award winner, I don’t know what will.
Runner-up: Roy Halladay, PHI (5-1, 1.47 ERA, 39 K)

Rookie of the Year: Jon Niese, NYM (1-1, 3.10 ERA, 25 K) – Jon is just one of five Mets starting pitchers that are pitching lights-out, with a 3.10 ERA. That said, though, if Jason Heyward had a better batting average, he would have this spot.
Runner-up: Jason Heyward, ATL (.256 AVG, 7 HR, 20 RBI)

Manager of the Year: Bud Black, SD (15-9, 1st place) – Coming into the year I thought that the Padres might be the worst team in baseball, but after the month of April San Diego is in first place with a .625 winning percentage.
Runner-up: Jim Riggleman, WAS (13-11, 3rd place)

Come back next week for my Jon Daniels Trade Analysis Part 4.