Midseason Awards: National League West
If you missed Mapes’ midseason awards, shame on you! And now go check them out here. Using his blog as inspiration, here are my division’s midseason award recipients. Respect the West!
Rookie of the Year:
Wade Miley, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks – Was there really any doubt? Arizona’s lone All-Star representative has been rock solid in the rotation; a revelation, considering bigger names like Trevor Bauer and Tyler Skaggs were supposed to be the big-name rookies making the jump to the D’Backs this season. Through his first 14 games started in 2012, the 25-year-old is 9-5 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. His K to BB ratio is pretty ridiculous, too. Miley has been huge with last year’s ace, Ian Kennedy struggling so much.
In the running: Elian Herrera, Dodgers/Jordan Pacheco, Rockies/Wilin Rosario, Rockies/Yonder Alonso, Padres
MVP:
Melky Cabrera, OF, San Francisco Giants – We have a Matt Kemp/Carlos Beltran situation here in our own division folks! While the case could be made for Carlos Gonzalez, who is single-handedly carrying an awful team, Cabrera has really been the best overall player on a team just a half game back of first place. If the Giants stay in the race all season, Cabrera is a legitimate MVP candidate for the entire National League, let alone just the West. Not a bad trade, eh Giants fans? All-Star Game MVP Melky’s line thus far: .353/8/44/league-leading 119 hits
In the running: Andre Ethier, Dodgers/Buster Posey, Giants/Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies/Matt Kemp, Dodgers (let’s be real – if he stays healthy, he’s back in the thick of it)
Cy Young:
Matt Cain, SP, San Francisco Giants – Despite a plethora of solid pitching in this division, it has to be Mr. Perfect taking the first half honors. It’s been a long time coming for Cain, who has unfairly resided in the shadow of teammate Tim Lincecum for years. But if the season were to end right now, a very strong case for both Cain and Mets hurler R.A. Dickey would be made for the N.L. Cy Young overall. There’s certainly some stiff competition, but Cain’s 9-3 record, 2.62 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 118:24 K to BB ratio stands head and shoulders above the rest.
In the running: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers/Chris Capuano, Dodgers/Wade Miley, Diamondbacks/Ryan Vogelsong, Giants/Madison Bumgarner, Giants
Tune in for more divisional midseason awards in the days to come! KP, Angelo, Brian and Mapes will all be posting their own versions soon!
– Jeremy Dorn (@Jamblinman)
Three Up, Three Down 