Spring Break
MLB's future on display at 2008 All-Star Game
Mid-season awards
Hart Holloman
Issue date: 7/16/08 Section: Sports
| |
|
It also brings its fair share of controversy to the baseball world. Between head-scratching selections and sometimes-criminal omissions from the line-ups, the All-Star Game always provides enough to talk about during the break and this year was no exception.
The fan voting for the starting line-ups always turns in some dubious selections. This year was no different. There is always the potential for fan voting to turn into a popularity contest for the players in the biggest markets with the most passionate fan-bases, and not the most deserving players.
But, this game is for the fans and the league stands by the selection process. This season, there were a few strange selections turned in by the fans.
In the National League, the Cubs dominated the selections with seven. Alfonso Soriano was selected by the fans as starter but will be unable to participate due to injury.
This is just as well because he should have never been selected in the first place. His .283 batting average and extended time on the disabled list (he has been out since June 11 with a broken hand) hardly scream All-Star starter. After a horrendous start he did come on strong in May with 10 home runs, but he is still undeserving of All-Star status this season.
Likewise, his teammate Kosuke Fukudome's selection by the fans was unwarranted. His rather underwhelming stats of 7 HR, 36 RBI and .279 average are solid for a Rookie of the Year candidate, which he most certainly is, but not exactly All-Star game starter quality.
Another selection that might have gone in another direction was made by manager Clint Hurdle in his decision to make the Brewers' Ben Sheets the National League starting pitcher. While he has been impressive with 10 wins and 108 strikeouts, Tim Lincecum seemed to be the most impressive NL starter in the first half of the season (Sorry, Brandon Webb). The diminutive Giants ace put up 11 wins and 135 strikeouts with less run support than Sheets received from the potent Brewers line-up.
On the American League side, it was the Red Sox who led the way with seven selections. While most were deserving of a spot on the team, Jason Varitek's .218 BA should have kept him out and David Ortiz, another whose play was stilted due to injury, has not put up All-Star numbers so far this season.
Other than that, there isn't too much to gripe about. Had Evan Longoria missed out on the last spot by fan vote, it would have been a glaring omission.
Perhaps Jason Giambi did enough since his mustache-driven resurgence to earn a selection, but the only player whose spot he could take was the also deserving Joe Crede. One could also have made a case for Crede's White Sox teammate Jermane Dye, but a crowded AL outfield was tough to break into this year.
Mid-season awards:
AL MVP- Josh Hamilton, OF, Rangers- His story makes him the sentimental favorite, but his play on the field has made him the front-runner. An early triple-crown threat, he has been the driving force behind the league's best offense.
He has belted 21 HR and drove in an astonishing 97 RBI in the first half of the season. His play has kept the Rangers within reach of the wild card race--not to mention his stellar defense patrolling the outfield.
AL Rookie of the Year- Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays- This rookie All-Star has been the star of the surprise team of the first half of the season. If his 16 HR and 53 RBI weren't impressive enough, his defense has been. Longoria has made play after play from the hot corner and looks primed for the AL Gold Glove as well.
AL Cy Young Award- Cliff Lee, Indians- This was really a no-brainer. His paper thin 2.31 ERA has helped him to 12 wins on a last place team. Lee won his first nine starts and has been up against poorly run support from the struggling Indians line-up all season. He and Grady Sizemore have been the lone bright spots on the most disappointing team of the first half.
NL MVP- Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves- With all respect to Chase Utley, Chipper is having an amazing year. He leads the MLB with a .376 BA and has spent the majority of the season above .400.
A recent stint on the DL saw his form dip after his return, but he has started to heat up again going into the break. The veteran has kept the Braves in the hunt for the division title and his production was sorely missed when he was injured. If he stays healthy the Braves may have a second half charge in them and he would be the driving force behind it.
NL Rookie of the Year- Kosuke Fukudome, OF, Cubs- Some people have a problem giving this award to a veteran of another league, but the inaugural award went to Jackie Robinson, a seasoned veteran of the Negro Leagues, so that mindset is unfounded and egocentric of the American media.
Fukudome has put up solid numbers, even for a nine-year vet of the Japanese league. He has become a fan favorite at Wrigley because of his clutch hitting and he leads NL rookies in multi-hit games, hits, runs and on-base percentage.
NL Cy Young- Tim Lincecum, Giants- This is probably one of the hardest calls of the first half. A host of deserving National League pitchers have made their case.
Brandon Webb won his first nine starts, Ben Sheets is the All-Star game starter and Edinson Volquez has been stellar--but Lincecum is the choice here.
His numbers are great and his 135 strikeouts lead the majors. He has needed every one of them with a porous defense behind him and a poorly run support all season. What he can do on the mound given his stature (5-10, 170) is nothing short of amazing, as well as his ability to stay off the DL.
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com
Be the first to comment on this story