During the thick of football season, it’s hard to remember other sports not only exist, but are reaching crucial parts of the season.
That’s the case with baseball as the season comes to a close and the postseason nears. And with the end of the regular season comes postseason awards.
It’s been an interesting season in baseball. Teams like the Rangers, Reds and Red Sox have suffered dramatic falls, while teams like the Orioles and Royals enjoy landmark years. In between, a few players have stood out and become deserving of baseball’s highest individual honors.
American League Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
First, apologies to Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale, who has had another incredible season while playing for another terrible White Sox team. Sale was good, but Hernandez has been a workhorse and the biggest factor contributing to the Mariners success this season.
Sale and Hernandez have similar statistics in Earned Run Average and WHIP, with Hernandez having a slight edge in both. The real difference comes in innings pitched, which Hernandez dominates with more than 220 innings so far.
Taking up so many innings is essential to the Mariners because it gives their bullpen the rest in needs. Factor in Hernandez’s high-strikeout rate and there is little doubt he is deserving of his second Cy Young.
American League MVP: Mike Trout, LA Angels
Mike Trout is 23 years old and contending for the MVP award for the third consecutive season. Most 23-year-olds will feel pretty accomplished if they get their cars cleaned out once a week.
Trout has the unique set of speed, power and fielding any fan or manager dreams about. He is the only American League player with more than 30 home runs and 10 stolen bases, and he only has committed two errors while playing center field in the spacious Angel Stadium.
The only player who’s been able to compete with Trout for MVP the last two seasons has been Miguel Cabrera, who had a down season and made this a one-man race. With the Angels finally making the postseason, it will be exciting to see what Trout can do in October.
National League Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, LA Dodgers
Record an ERA below 2.00, and you are going to win the Cy Young that season. It’s a pretty logical rule, and Kershaw followed it this season.
The frightening thing about Kershaw’s season is remembering he was injured early in the year and missed a few weeks of the season. Yet he still leads both leagues in wins, allowing only 38 earned runs in his 26 games started.
Kershaw owned the summer in baseball, whether it was pitching 41 straight scoreless innings or throwing a no-hitter in July. He had a season for the history books, and talking about other National League pitchers would be disrespectful.
NL MVP: Clayton Kershaw, LA Dodgers
I’ve already talked about Kershaw’s historic season, and that certainly contributes to him winning MVP. The other factor is the lack of any National League batter standing out or putting together a complete season.
Colorado Rockies slugger Troy Tulowitzki was in the driver’s seat for the award but lost it when he injured his upper thigh in July. Since then, players like Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton have produced respectable stats, but nothing that really impresses me.
Some say pitchers shouldn’t win MVP awards because they have their own award, and they really need to get over themselves. Kershaw has become a guaranteed win for the Dodgers every five days, and there are few things more valuable than that.
Tommy Romanach is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Dallas, Texas. You can reach him on Twitter @troman_28.