MLB MID SEASON AWARD WINNERS       

  This Tuesday is the MLB All Star game. It is the unofficial end of the first half of the season. With that being said let take a look at the first half award winners in the AL and NL.


AL MVP Robinson Cano
   I know what everyone is gonna say. Where is Josh Hamilton? Listen is Josh Hamilton a great player? Yes no doubt, but to me how can you win MVP if you are always hurt. Robinson Cano really doesn't get the respect he deserves. Cano is having another Cano type year with a 314 Average 20 Homers and 51 RBIs. This is all with Cano having a slow start to the season. Another plus for Cano is when he started hitting the Yankees when on this big tear they are on now. For me Cano is the MVP followed by Hamilton with Trout in third.

NL MVP Ryan Braun 
   This one was tough. This came  down to Ryan Braun and David Wright. Both are having great years. With Wright having a great bounce back season after his last two years. The reason I gave it to Braun is with everything he went through in the off season with the failed drug test people saying he shouldnt of won the MVP last year. Braun has stepped up and is off to a better start then he was last year with a 304 Average 24 Homers and 60 RBIs. Braun is also the lone bright spot on a Brewers team that is really reeling right now.

AL CY YOUNG Justin Verlander 
    
   With all do respect to Jered Weaver, Chris Sale, and Jake Peavy Verlander is still king. While you can make a case for any of those in my eyes if its close like it is with all these pitchers you give it to the King and Verlander is just that. With a 9-3 Record 2.58 ERA and 128 Strikeouts Verlander is showing why he is still the best pitcher in the game. Another big factor is how bad the Tigers rotation has been. They don't have a number two pitcher and with out Verlander this team would really be in trouble. 

NL CY YOUNG R.A. DICKY
 

   If you would of told me RA Dicky was the mid season Cy Young award winner I would of thought you were a part of his family, but its true. Dicky is 12-1 with a 2.40 ERA and has 123 Strikeouts. He has been dominate vs NL hitting all year. He went a month with out allowing an earn run which is very hard to do.  He's also  made six starts already in which he lasted at least six innings and gave up no more than three hits. Dicky has been special. 

AL ROY Mike Trout
   Sorry Bryce Harper fans but Mike Trout is the best rookie in the game right now. Trout has had a MVP type season with a 348 average 10 Homers and 38 RBIs. Trout is a game changer. He can get you a big hit. He can get you a steal. He can even make a big play in the field. Trout made one of the catches of the year a few weeks back. To me this is a run away for Trount, out of all the awards this one is the only no brainier.


NL ROY Bryce Harper 

    I know I said that Trout is better then Harper, but Harper is still good. No teen age player has ever won rookie of the year that will change after Harper wins it this year. Harper numbers at first dont grab your attention with 8 Homers 25 RBIs and 283 Average. Considering Harper came up in May and that he hits in the Nationals line up which this year hasn't been all that great. Harper has had him self a good start of the season. When you watch him play you can tell he is gonna be a star. He is a doubles machine he plays hard on every play. Harper is going to be a star for years to come.

MANAGERS OF THE YEAR CLINT HURDLE OF THE PIRATES AND BUCK SHOWALTER OF THE ORIOLES
  The Pirates and Orioles have a good chance of making the playoffs. Yes I said it and a big reason for that is their mangers. Both Hurdle and Showalter have two young teams with really good young talent and the fact that they have them both in the playoff race when everyone said they would finish last is very impressive to me. No other two managers deserve it more then these two.