With one week left of the regular season, the staff of Dodgers-Lowdown put together their list of regular season awards of who they believe is going to win each of the following awards:
NL MVP
Cody Bellinger (7)
Picked by: Kevin @Klein25, Eddie @edslifejourney, Oskar @2Rawsko94, Carole @simsgrl1983, Ian @ianenielson, David @_therealdrose, Brent @im_brentc
In just his 3rd season, Dodgers star Cody Bellinger has captured the attention of baseball fans throughout the league. Whether it’s in the outfield or first base, Bellinger has been sensational on defense with 10 outfield assists. He is the MLB leader in Wins Above Replacement at 8.6 according to ESPN, with Yelich as the next closest in the NL at 7.1. Bellinger is 3rd in the NL with 46 HRs, 7th in the NL with 114 RBIs. With RISP, he’s batting .297 with 61 RBIs. Bellinger is 2nd in the NL with a 1.032 OPS. He’s currently batting .302 with an OBP of .404, so with his 2019 dominance. He was so hot in 2019, that not even some fans could stay away. Literally. That is why he was voted our unanimous MVP.
AL MVP
Mike Trout (6)
Picked by: Kevin @Klein25, Eddie @edslifejourney, Oskar @2Rawsko94, Carole @simsgrl1983, David @_therealdrose, Brent @im_brentc
Alex Bregman (1)
Picked by: Ian @ianenielson
Mike Trout continues to get better, which is saying something. The 28 year-old already has 2 MVPS in his trophy case, and this is arguably his best season ever. After signing a huge extension with the Angels, Trout leads the AL with a 8.3 WAR. Despite only playing 134 games, Trout finished with an AL leading 45 HRs, and 1.083 OPS. He also drove in 104 runs, while hitting .291 and a massive .438 on base percentage. Bregman received one vote as he is currently 3rd in the AL with a 7.8 WAR. He’s put together a great season for the AL West champion and 100+ win Astros with a .293 average, 39 HRs, and 108 RBIs.
NL Cy Young
Hyun-Jin Ryu (3)
Picked by: Eddie @edslifejourney, Carole @simsgrl1983, Brent @im_brentc
Jacob deGrom (3)
Picked by: Kevin @Klein25, Oskar @2Rawsko94, David @_therealdrose
Max Scherzer (1)
Picked by: Ian @ianenielson
A tale of 2 halves for both deGrom and Ryu. Heading into the All-Star break, Ryu of the Dodgers led baseball with a 1.73 ERA and dominated the competition with .221 avg against, 10 walks, and an average of 6 1/2 innings a start. However, in the 2nd half Ryu posted a 3.51 ERA in just 11 starts going 3-3. His season ended with a 2.41 ERA leading all of MLB, a 13-5 record, 156 strike outs over 175.2 innings. In terms of WAR, Ryu fell to 9th in the NL at 4.6, while the reigning Cy Young award Winner of the Mets, Jacob deGrom led the NL with a 6.9 WAR. He finished 2nd in ERA at 2.51. In the 2nd half, deGrom leads baseball with a 1.55 ERA in 13 starts, opponents are only hitting .185 off him as well. Both these starters have had special seasons, so that’s why it could be split down the middle.
AL Cy Young
Justin Verlander (6)
Picked by: Kevin @Klein25, Eddie @edslifejourney, Oskar @2Rawsko94, Carole @simsgrl1983, Ian @ianenielson, Brent @im_brentc
Gerrit Cole (1)
Picked by: David @_therealdrose
Nobody dominated the AL like Justin Verlander. The future Hall of Famer continues to add to his resume by being the only 20 game winner in 2019. At the age of 36, he leads the AL with a 2.53 ERA. He led baseball with a 7.7 WAR, in 33 starts he pitched more innings than anybody with 217 of them. He struck out 288 batters, and last but not least, he threw a complete game no-hitter. Yes Cole struck over 300 guys, pitched incredible, and finished 2nd in the AL in both wins at 18 and ERA at 2.61, but if Verlander doesn’t win, it could be the biggest snub of the decade,
NL Rookie of the Year
Pete Alonso (7)
Kevin @Klein25, Eddie @edslifejourney, Oskar @2Rawsko94, Carole @simsgrl1983, Ian @ianenielson, David @_therealdrose, Brent @im_brentc
Nobody had a rookie season like the Mets rookie in the National League ever. Pete Alonso snapped Bellinger’s rookie HR record in just 2 seasons by slugging 50 dingers over the wall. Alonso burst into the scene right away, by driving in 115 runs, hitting .264 and becoming only the 2nd rookie ever to hit 50 home runs. This should be an obvious one.
AL Rookie of the Year
Yordan Alvarez (5)
Picked by: Oskar @2Rawsko94, Carole @simsgrl1983, Ian @ianenielson, David @_therealdrose, Brent @im_brentc
John Means (1)
Picked by: Kevin @Klein25
Brandon Lowe (1)
Picked by: Eddie @edslifejourney
Yordan Alvarez has made his presence felt immediately for the Astros. In just 82 games, Alvarez has hit 27 Home Runs, driven in 77 RBIs, all while hitting .326 with 49 walks. Alvarez is 2nd in AL rookie HRs, tied for first in RBIs. How was Josh Fields traded for him again? Also receiving votes was Lowe, who had a great season for the Rays but his season has been limited due to injuries, but in 77 games, Lowe hit .277 with 16 HRs, and 49 RBIs. John Means was the only bright spot of the Orioles season. The rookie left-handed pitcher, made the All Star team, put together a 11-11 record combined with a 3.54 ERA over 26 starts in a tough American League
NL Manager of the Year
Dave Roberts (3)
Picked by: Kevin @Klein25, Eddie @edslifejourney, Carole @simsgrl1983
Brian Snitker (3)
Picked by: Ian @ianenielson, David @_therealdrose, Brent @im_brentc
Craig Counsell (1)
Picked by: Oskar @2Rawsko94
If Dave Roberts were to win, this would be the 2nd time he has won in his career with the first coming in 2016. Despite losing in back-to-back World Series, Roberts led a ball club to a 100 win season that has been leading the National League in wins for nearly the entire season. Roberts has been able to lead this team to a successful season despite injuries and a lot of new faces. Lux, Verdugo, Smith, Beaty, May, and Gonsolin are just a few prime examples of rookies making immediate impact this season. Snitker won the award last season, and has led the Braves to the 2nd best record in the NL. Counsell has taken a team decimated by injuries into a Wild Card birth. Despite losing Yelich, and lacking starting pitching, the Brewers have gone 16-3 in their last 19 games.
AL Manager of the Year
Rocco Baldelli (3)
Picked by: Eddie @edslifejourney, Ian @ianenielson, Brent @im_brentc
Aaron Boone (3)
Picked by: Kevin @Klein25, Carole @simsgrl1983, David @_therealdrose –
Kevin Cash (1)
Picked by: Oskar @2Rawsko94
First year manager, Rocco Baldelli has turned the Twins into an offensive juggernaut. The Twins and Yankees are currently separated by 1 HR in leading all of baseball in total HRs hit. The Twins are on the verge of winning the AL Central, with 96 wins currently. Despite a whole bunch of injuries, Aaron Boone has led the Yankees to a 102-win team and a force to be reckoned with if they make the World Series.