2009 was an interesting season in terms of Awards. The National League was almost no different than the previous season's results. Both Albert Pujols and Tim Lincecum took home the top prize for their respective positions for the second straight year. Pujols won the National League MVP and Lincecum won the Cy Young Award in 2009 with Florida Marlins rookie Outfielder Chris Coughlin taking the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Coughlin hit .321 on the year and led the Major Leagues in hits in the second half with 113.
In the American League three young stars seemed to come out of nowhere. Twins star catcher Joe Mauer became just the second catcher in 33 years to win the MVP award. Despite Mauer missing all of April, he hit .365 with 28 home runs and 98 runs batted in and also won his third career batting title. Kansas City Royals Pitcher Zack Greinke won his first Cy Young award for being the AL's top pitcher. Greinke throughout his young career has showed great promise but has had some bumps in his road to stardom. In 2006 Greinke missed 2 months with a social anxiety disorder and pitched through the minors to finish the year. He pitched out of the bullpen all of 2007 before getting another chance to start in 2008.
The AL Rookie of the Year was one nobody expected. The Oakland Athletics closer Andrew Bailey. Bailey spent the early part of his career as a struggling starter in the minor leagues before finally transitioning into a dominant reliever in AA the second half of the 2008 season. When the A's projected closer, Joey Devine, went down in early spring training in 2009, Bailey earned a spot on the major league roster.
Now onto 2010. There are several qualified candidates to take home the hardware this year so I'll get some of those out of they way. For the NL you can clearly rule out anyone on the Mets. Let's face it, they don't get caught by the injury bug, they get caught by an injury swarm. Even without any Mets players I went with an all NL East trophy case this season.
-NL Most Valuable Player: Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman has hit more home runs each year and hit for his highest average in 2009. His slugging percentage continues to climb so I think this is the 25 year old's big year.
-NL CY Young: Atlanta Braves young righty Tommy Hanson. Hanson was a top prospect coming into last season and was a mid-season call up. Hanson has been lights out in spring training and I think the 23 year old will put together a great year.
-NL Rookie of the Year: The top pick in 2009's MLB Amateur draft Stephen Strasburg was sent down to the minors, but it will not be long until the Washington Nationals call him up and he really shows his stuff.
Now on to the American League. My AL predictions won't necessarily be surprising because I have three big name players who I think will be difference makers for their teams this season.
-AL Most Valuable Player: New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod is always mentioned in the list of the leagues best players and is a constant MVP candidate and I think the cards are in his favor this year. Last year Rodriguez missed the first month of the season and still finished with 30 homers and 100 RBI so I can't wait to see what he'll do in a full healthy season in the league's best lineup, the league's most power friendly ballpark and the addition of Curtis Granderson. I wouldn't be surprised to see A-Rod hit 40 plus home runs with 120 plus runs batted in with a solid average and double digit stolen bases thrown in.
-AL Cy Young Award: This one was tough considering there are two young stars on opposite sides of the country who could have two huge seasons. I would have gone with Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox, but since he plays in Boston I won't. Seattle Mariners 23 year old(24 on April 8th) right-hander Felix Hernandez was 2009's Cy Young Runner up and has only improved since he came into the league. Since breaking into the league in 2005 at 18 years old, Hernandez has improved in almost every statistic imaginable. Last season Hernandez was second in earned run average, tied for first in wins, and third in innings pitched in the AL. He looks poised to continue his dominance in the American league.
-AL Rookie of the Year: Wade Davis of the Tampa Bay Rays has already won the 5th spot in the Rays' starting rotation. In 2009 he made six starts for Tampa Bay and struck out a batter per inning. The 24 year old threw his first shutout in a 10 strikeout game against Baltimore in just his third major league start last season and has been a top prospect for Tampa Bay for a while. It is just a matter of time before he is one of the most impressive starting pitchers of the Major Leagues.
-J. DeClercq
