MLB: Joe Smeltzer’s 2016 Mid-season Awards

MVP: Kris Bryant

Stats: .286 Average, 25 Homers (1st in NL) 73 Runs (1st) 65 RBI (3rd) .962 OPS.

With all due respect to Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist, Bryant is the best player on the Cubs. While he may not quite be the best player in the National League, he is damn close to it; he is the best player on the best team. In my mind, a player who leads a great team has an edge over a player that is a tad better but doesn’t win as much. In spite of their recent struggles, the Cubbies are still the team to beat in the Senior Circuit in my eyes, and Bryant is the leading reason why.

Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw

Stats: 11-2, 1.79 ERA (1st) 3 shutouts (1st) 145 Strikeouts (4th)1.70 FIP (1st) 0.727 WHIP (1st) 0.7 BB/9 (1st)
You could debate me on this one, but you’d be foolish in doing so. Kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball by a wide margin and is arguably one of the ten best of all time. Assuming his current injury is not more severe than it seems, Kershaw will be back in time take his 4th Cy Young Award.

Rookie of the Year: Corey Seager

Stats: .297 Average, 17 Homers, .879 OPS

Another Dodger. I had a hard time choosing between Seager and Trevor Story of the Rockies; both are the future of baseball at the shortstop position. But I went with Segar because;
1. His offensive numbers are slightly better than Story’s
2. He plays his home games in a pitchers paradise, while Story plays in a launching pad
3. The Dodgers have been better than the Rockies in the NL West.

When two players are close to each other regarding productivity, the tie for me goes to who has the better team. Seager is the driving force of an otherwise weak Dodger offense, and next to Kershaw, the biggest reason why they still have a chance to play in the postseason.

Rolaids relief man: Kenley Jansen

Stats: 27 Saves (2nd) 1.16 ERA (1st among NL closers) 0.647 WHIP, 11.9 K/9, 1.34 FIP, 1.4 BB/9 

This was tough, as I had to choose between Jansen and our own Mark Melancon. I had to go with Jansen because, ultimately, his numbers in most categories were just a little better than those of “The Shark”.

The Dodgers and Pirates are both fighting to get to the postseason, and both have been helped greatly by their closers. You can’t go wrong with either Jansen or Melancon, but Kanley has done a slightly better job this season.

Next: American League Awards