Turning the page into September, its time to get serious about picking MVP winners and such.  Here are JV’s selections.

American League Cy Young

1. Zack Greinke, KC

190.1 IP, 13-8, 202 K, 40 BB, 1.08 WHIP, 2.32 ERA

Greinke catapulted ahead of the AL Cy Young pack with a two start week that featured a 1 hit shutout and a career high 15 strikeout game.  Now at 13 victories, the Cy is Greink’s to lose.  If he can find a way to 16 wins, he is a lock to bring home the hardware.

2. Justin Verlander, DET

189 IP, 15-7, 215 K, 53 BB, 1.17 WHIP, 3.38 ERA

Verlander is here because of the high win and strikeout totals.  He really has been great every time out and has been the main reason why Detroit is in a position to head back to the post-season.  Verlander will probably need to win 20 to win the award.  However, could you really give the Cy Young to Verlander when Greinke’s ERA is a full run better?

3. Felix Hernandez, SEA

185.1 IP, 13-5, 179 K, 55 BB, 1.18 WHIP, 2.77 ERA

It seems like we have been waiting forever, but King Felix has finally put it all together in 2009.  If he can get the ERA down in the 2.5 range and get to 18 wins, he could edge out Greinke.

apologies to:  CC Sabathia (high ERA), Roy Halladay (struggled since trade deadline), Josh Beckett (not sure why he was in the conversation anyway)

National League Cy Young

1. Tim Lincecum, SF

193.1 IP, 13-4, 222 K, 54 BB, 1.03 WHIP, 2.33 ERA

I still put Lincecum ahead of the rest because of the K’s and WHIP.  Just ridiculous.  He may need to win 17 to hang on, but if the season ended today, i would vote Tim.

2. Adam Wainwright, StL

193 IP, 16-7, 164 K, 57 BB, 1.20 WHIP, 2.47 ERA

Waino has been the most consistent starter in baseball and comes in at #2 because of it.  He has thrown 6 or more innings in 26 straight starts.  He has allowed 2 earned runs or less in 13 straight.  He has allowed 0 or 1 earned run in exactly half (14) of his 28 starts.  He needs to win 20 games and keep the ERA in the mid to high 2’s to be named the Cy.

3. Dan Haren, Ari

188 IP, 13-8, 180 K, 29 BB, 0.94 WHIP, 2.78 WHIP

One could argue that Haren has been the best pitcher this season because of the K:BB ratio alone.  Like Greinke, he has found a way to win 13 games on a horrible team and voters should look past that when filling out their ballots.  Haren probably needs to win 4 more games and have those in front of him falter to be named the winner.

Apologies to:  Chris Carpenter (the 6 missed starts with injuries has to be a factor here), Javier Vazquez (11 wins hurts), Matt Cain (hasn’t won in last 7 starts)

American League MVP

1. Joe Mauer, MIN

 .367 BA/.435 OBP/.608 SLG/

25 HR, 79 RBI, 77 R

Even with missing four weeks at the beginning of the season, Mauer is ahead of a flawed group for AL MVP.  The power spike to go along with an unreal BA and the demanding position he plays makes this his to lose.  Its not really that close either.

2. Miguel Cabrera, DET

.335 BA/.399 OBP/.565 SLG

27 HR, 82 RBI, 77 R

I’m not real sure why he hasn’t been getting more publicity.  Detroit is in the race and his numbers have been there all season.  I’m predicting a huge September that will get his name thrown out there some more.

3. Kendry Morales, LAA

.311 BA/.355 OBP/.593 SLG

30 HR, 94 RBI, 71 R

This may be a bit high for Morales, but I feel that credit should be given where credit is due.  With the injuries and scuffling this team has been through, Morales has been the one constant.  His break out season deserves some recognition, especially the position he has put the Angels in.

apologies to:  Mark Teixeira (.283 BA isn’t going to cut it), Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano (they just haven’t done enough), Michael Young (not really a candidate just pointing out the great year that he has had), Aaron Hill and Adam Lind (these are not your older brother’s Jays)

National League MVP

1. Albert Pujols, StL

.320 BA/.444 OBP/.669 SLG

41 HR, 110 RBI, 102 R

Has been the front runner all season and has the award all but wrapped up.

2. Hanley Ramirez, FLA

.359 BA/.422 OBP/.562 SLG

19 HR, 85 RBI, 82 R

Hanley is having an unworldly season and despite Pujols’s dominance, dare I say that Hanley has a chance?  A monster September and Florida making the post-season would be a scenario where Han-Ram wins his first MVP award.  It also helps that he plays shortstop.

3. Prince Fielder, MIL

.300 BA/.412 OBP/.594 SLG

36 HR, 119 RBI, 80 R

Prince has begun the trend of on year, off year in his short career.  He is a distant third for the award and I don’t envision the possibility of him even finishing second.  With a mediocre September, he could even finish outside the top 5.

apologies to:  Mark Reynolds (bad team and blah BA), Matt Kemp (imagine the season he would have if he would hit higher in the order), Ryan Braun (has been steady and solid but nothing amazing), Chase Utley and Ryan Howard (just haven’t done enough), Troy Tulowitzki (has turned it up and has the Rox ready for the stretch run)

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