Each week, I am participating in the 2008 MLB Blog Poll at RotoJunkie.com. Below are my current votes for the Most Valuable Player, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards. These votes will be tabulated among other votes from other blogs to create a running master list of voting as the year progresses.
MVP:
1. LF Milton Bradley, TEX: Can’t ignore his numbers. He’s hitting an obscene .316/.440/.610 for a Rangers team that’s hanging around the fringes of contention.
2. 3B Alex Rodriguez, NYY: For all the problems the Yankees have, A-Rod has kept them in the playoff hunt.
3. RF J.D. Drew, BOS: He’s predictably cooled off after his hot June, but he’s keeping the numbers pretty strong in July.
Cy Young:
1. SP Cliff Lee, CLE: Gotta give the nod to the A.L. starter for the All-Star Game. He’s 12-2 with a 2.31 ERA.
2. SP Justin Duchscherer, OAK: Duke’s got an ERA of 1.82 after begging for years to start. We traded Duschscherer for Doug Mirabelli eons ago.
3. SP Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS: Had to do it. His sterling 10-1 record is excellent and he’s got a 2.65 ERA. We may be forced to overlook his walk totals. Apparently he can get away with it.
Rookie of the Year:
1. 3B Evan Longoria, TB: When a dude from Tampa Bay gets picked by the fans against Jason Giambi of New York and is a participant of the Home Run Derby after not even opening the season in the majors, you know you’ve got a winner on your hands.
2. CF Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS: He scuffled for a bit but has come out of it just fine.
3. SP Nick Blackburn, MIN: A pleasant surprise, Blackburn finishes the first half with a 3.65 ERA.
What do you think? Did I do a good job picking the award winners if the season was to end today?
