The 2012 MLB Midseason Report

Dickey, Braun, Trout, and Dunn are among the many who have been making noise through the halfway point this season. 

Even though the All-Star Game represents the midway point of the Major League Baseball season, we’ve officially hit the halfway point today. We’ve gotten through 81 games of the regular season, roughly albeit, and there’s been a lot that’s happened since the Opening Day. New faces have entered their new places. Some have flourished, and some have been disappointments. Familiar faces are once again mesmerizing us with their superior talent, and while one notable player seemed to have fizzled out, he’s found his groove again and before we know it, he’ll be who we think he is. No-hitters and perfect games have been thrown, home runs have been hit, and dazzling plays have been made. One thing is for certain:

If this has been as great a start to the 2012 season as it has been, who knows what the rest of it has in store for us.

Here are my award winners for the first half of the season, in this 2012 Midseason Report.

American League

Most Valuable Player

1. Mike Trout, CF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Season Stats: .336/.402/.532, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 21 SB

Yes that is in fact correct: Mike Trout is my pick for the American League MVP for the first half of the season. Trout came up on April 28, and since that point, the Angels are 37-21 after being 7-14 before he was reeled in from AAA Salt Lake (his clip at the time was .403/.477/.623 in 20 games). The 20-year old from Millville, New Jersey has defied the “small fish in a big pond” stereotype and has taken the A.L. by storm. He would qualify to win a batting title at this point in time, and with his .344 batting average, he would do just that. His 21 stolen bases lead the American League as does his 4.0 WAR. He’s only played 56 games in 2012 but the ceiling and potential are through the roof and the sky’s the limit. Right now, since April the 28th, nobody in my opinion has been better than Mike Trout in the American League.

2. Josh Hamilton, LF, Texas Rangers

Season Stats: .319/.385/.652, 25 HR, 73 RBI, 6 SB

Certainly Josh Hamilton is having an incredible year. The .652 SLG is absolutely incredible, and his metrics are also off the charts, and yes, he does play on baseball’s best team (record-wise, at least), and that will certainly help him if he keeps up this pace as we have seen in previous years. But for as spectacular a start he had, he tapered off this past month, big time. While he hit .395 in April, and .344 in May, he dramatically fell to a .223 batting average, with 21 hits, six doubles, four home runs, an on-base percentage of just .318 and a slugging percentage of only .436. If you look at how he started, those numbers just cannot be ignored. He may have led the chase, but he has since been taken over. Make no mistake though: Hamilton is talented enough to jostle that first place crown in the next half of the season.

3. Robinson Cano, 2B, New York Yankees

Season Stats: .308/.370/.582, 19 HR, 44 RBI, 1 SB

Almost the opposite of Josh Hamilton’s season is the season that Robinson Cano has had thus far. After compiling a disastrous .267 average with just 24 hits in 99 plate appearances, the Yankees second baseman revived himself in the month of May, and exploded in the month of June. Over the last month, Cano is hitting .340, with an OPS of 1.146 (slugging a ridiculous .730) with eleven home runs in the sixth month of the calendar year. He is by far the best player on the New York Yankees roster and has been since 2010 and he’s been proving exactly why. While the Yankees have notoriously been hitting the long ball, Cano isn’t just doing that. He’s compiled 49 singles and 23 doubles, and even a triple, to go along with his 19 home runs. If Cano finishes with 30+ home runs, it would be his first season doing that. Watch out for him to take the A.L. by storm in the second half.

Outside Looking In: David Ortiz (BOS), Adam Jones (BAL), Curtis Granderson (NYY) and Paul Konerko (CWS)

Cy Young

1. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

Season Stats: 123.2 IP, 8-5, 2.69 ERA, 121 K, 29 BB, 0.98 WHIP, 8.81 K/9, .202 BAA

Let me preface by saying I don’t think either of the Cy Young races are over right now. There are about nine pitchers in contention in the American League that have been strutting their stuff through the first half of the season that have built up a case. With that said, my Cy Young is the reigning and defending Cy Young, Justin Verlander. Verlander isn’t marveling as many people that he was last year, but he’s still putting up phenomenal numbers. He boasts currently a 2.69 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP which leads the American League, 121 strikeouts which also leads the American League. Hitters are putting up a measly .202 BA against him when he’s on the mound. Anybody can take this race by the throat and run with it at the end of the season, but right now, I’m taking the 2011 winner to repeat.

2. Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox

Season Stats: 94.1 IP, 9-2, 2.29 ERA, 93 K, 23 BB, 0.95 WHIP, 8.87 K/9, .197 BAA

Show of hands: how many of you had Chris Sale as the runner-up to the Cy Young Award for the 2012 season before the season started? None of you? Okay, that’s what I expected. Nevertheless, the White Sox hurler has surprised many this season with just how good he’s been. Considering the fact that he started out as a reliever, it may be even more marvelous. Sale currently leads the American League in ERA at a miniscule 2.29 and his WHIP is near the top as well at just 0.92. Sale has struck out 93 batters and walked only 23 of them in 94.1 innings pitched, amounting to an 8.87 K/9, sixth best in the league. Sale, much like Verlander, can definitely find a way to the top if he gets to that point. Personally, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if he does, and, to be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me if he flames out like Ubaldo Jimenez or Jair Jurrjens. Only time will tell.

3. David Price, Tampa Bay Rays

Season Stats: 104.2 IP, 11-4, 2.92 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 97 K, 35 BB, 8.34 K/9, .240 BAA

David Price is doing his best job to not make me look stupid for picking him as the Cy Young Award winner for the 2012 season in the offseason. Price became the first pitcher to 11 wins in the American League on Friday night, and while he has been helped by a great bullpen with Fernando Rodney leading the charge, it’s not like he hasn’t done his fair share of work either. While only pitching one complete game, Price has had 10 starts where he’s gone at least seven innings, with two being over seven and one complete game shutout over the Angels back on April 24. Price’s 2.92 ERA is fifth best in the American League, and WHIP is tied for eleventh best. The 97 strikeouts he’s posted on the mound counts for seventh best in the league, so he’s doing some great work on the mound, and if he shrinks down that ERA and WHIP a peg, he could be your Cy Young winner and the price will indeed be right.

On the Outside Looking In: Felix Hernandez (SEA), Yu Darvish (TEX), CC Sabathia (NYY), Jake Peavy (CWS), Matt Harrison (TEX), and C.J. Wilson (LAA)

Rookie of the Year

1. Mike Trout, CF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim:

Season Stats: .336/.402/.532, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 21 SB

Was there any doubt? My pick for American League MVP is also my pick for American League Rookie of the Year. If Trout does in fact do it, he’ll be the first player since Ichiro in 2001 to take home both the Rookie of the Year Award and the Most Valuable Player Award. Trout’s numbers are blowing by just about everyone else in contention, and frankly, to me, right now it’s not even close and Trout is the runaway Rookie of the Year Award winner.

2. Yu Darvish, SP, Texas Rangers

Season Stats: 95.2 IP, 10-4, 106 K, 50 BB, 1.38 WHIP, 9.97 K/9, .227 BAA

When this prized free agent came from the Far East to the state of Texas in the offseason, folks like myself were a bit skeptical that his game would translate to the Major Leagues and he would be another name on a long laundry list of failed overseas expeditions. Needless to say, I was incredibly off base with that. His numbers are incredibly stellar for a guy who has not pitched in MLB before this season and is one of the best acquisitions of the offseason. He looked to be a standalone choice for Rookie of the Year, but a recent run of mediocre performances have plagued him. He has accumulated a 4.31 ERA since the month of April ended and has been very lucky that Texas gives him so much run support. Darvish, much like Hamilton, must be thanking his lucky stars that he got off to such a great start because he has come back down to earth.

3. Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox

Season Stats: .304/.337/.548, 10 HR, 37 RBI, 2 SB

The replacement for Kevin Youkilis has been very good for the Boston Red Sox and has helped them boast a pretty solid offense. He has done so well for them he has caused Adrian Gonzalez, usually a first baseman, to play some games in the outfield. Middlebrooks now possesses the starting third baseman job with Youkilis trading in his red socks for white, and to be honest he’d be second in this Rookie of the Year ballot but his time in the majors has been smaller than Darvish’s. With that said I think that Middlebrooks will eventually hit around the .280-.290 area, hit roughly 25 homers and drive in around 80 runs which will help him in the Rookie of the Year ballot moving forward.

On the Outside Looking In: Jarrod Parker (OAK) and Wei-Yin Chen (BAL)

***

National League

Most Valuable Player

1. Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds

Season Stats: .350/.471/.632, 14 HR, 47 RBI, 4 SB

The 2010 National League MVP is well on his way to making himself a 2-time National League MVP. Joey Votto might be the best hitter in the big leagues and may very well have held that title since 2009, so nothing is really surprising about this. The Reds’ first baseman has flirted with the league best average through most of the season (currently held by Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz). He’s on pace to hit roughly 30 home runs and drive in around 95 RBI, which with his high average and OPS would make him a runaway choice for N.L. MVP.

2. David Wright, 3B, New York Mets

Season Stats: .355/.449/.564, 9 HR, 50 RBI, 8 SB

The Mets’ 3rd baseman’s career took an interesting turn when the team moved into Citi Field. He didn’t seem to be the same player, with his stats shrinking and his power vanquished. Add onto the fact that he was beaned in the head by a Matt Cain-fastball and Metropolitans fans were wondering whether or not he would ever be the same again. Their wishes so far have turned into reality and David Wright has been on an absolute tear through the first half of 2011. He, much like Votto, has dueled for the league lead in batting average and at one point was hitting over .400. The fact that he plays in a big market may cater him a little bit when it comes to the voting and I would not be surprised if he takes the pole position as the season winds down.

3. Ryan Braun, LF, Milwaukee Brewers

Season Stats: .313/.394/.611, 22 HR, 55 RBI, 13 SB

A bit of a surprise you’d probably say, all things considered, but the 2011 NL MVP gets recognition from me and is on my ballot. To chastise him for the PED mess he was involved with this season would be brutal in my opinion. With that said, I could see the BBWAA snubbing him in terms of votes no matter how well he does. Braun has been superb in 2012 regardless though, and his career is definitely continuing on the upswing. He leads the National League in home runs with 22, and is on pace to hit more home runs than he did last season when he won the MVP. His OPS is nearly better than his from last year as well. The point is: Braun is arguably doing better than last year when he won the MVP award, and thus should get some sort of recognition for it.

On the Outside Looking In: Matt Kemp (LAD), Andrew McCutchen (PIT), Carlos Beltran (STL), Melky Cabrera (SFG), Carlos Gonzalez (COL)

Cy Young

1. R.A. Dickey, New York Mets

Season Stats: 113 IP, 12-1, 2.15 ERA, 116 K, 25 BB, 0.88 WHIP, 9.24 K/9, .188 BAA

This one took some time to think over because there are so many worthy candidates and cases to be made about each of them. I however succumbed and went with the 37-year old knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, whose story is about as great as he has pitched this season. That’s the thing too. Usually when you see stories made of players, and the media gain steam of it, they’re usually not too great (those persons shall remain nameless). However Dickey is as good as it gets folks; his 12-1 record is tops in the majors, as is his league-leading 2.15 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and .188 BAA. He’s passed the eye-test and the metrics test, and there’s really no other way to go… for now.

2. Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants

Season Stats: 113.2 IP, 9-3, 2.53 ERA, 114 K, 23 BB, 0.95 WHIP, 9.03 K/9, .203 BAA

I predicted before the season that Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants would win the Cy Young Award for the National League. So far through one half of the season, he has put up the kind of numbers that would prove me right. The young right hander who had proved his worth in the 2010 Postseason has only gotten better two years later and has been stellar. 114 K through 113.2 IP has given him a 9.03 K/9, and his 2.53 ERA is one of the best in baseball. He’s piled up nine wins to three losses this season, memorably one of them being a perfect game which, putting it into perspective, was one of the greatest performances in baseball history. Cain can definitely take home the hardware at the end of the season, as long as he keeps this superb start going.

3. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals

Season Stats: 90.2 IP, 10-3, 2.78 ERA, 108 K, 35 BB, 1.08 WHIP, 10.72 K/9, .188 BAA

Not only did I predict that Matt Cain would win the Cy Young, I said that GIo Gonzalez would be the runner-up. Once again, despite the fact that R.A. Dickey has been excellent, Gonzalez has been superb. Gonzalez along with Stephen Strasburg has been an excellent one-two punch for the first place Washington Nationals. He’s struck out 108, has 10 wins, and hitters are hitting only a measly .188 against him. A lot of people believed that the trade the Nationals made to get him would be the acquisition of the season. So far, Gio is proving to be just that.

On the Outside Looking In: Stephen Strasburg (WSH), Zack Greinke (MIL), Johnny Cueto (CIN), Cole Hamels (PHI), James McDonald (PIT)

Rookie of the Year

1. Wade Miley, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Season Stats: 94.0 IP, 9-4, 2.87 ERA, 66 K, 19 BB, 1.064 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, .227 BAA

Even though he may one day be surpassed by fellow teammate Trevor Bauer, right now Wade Miley is the best rookie pitcher in baseball and the best rookie player in the National League. Miley has really strutted his stuff as of late, just at the right time as Arizona has been making moves out in the NL West. From June 6 to June 24, Miley went 3-1, with an ERA of 1.17 ERA and a 0.65 WHIP. His K/9 during that stretch is 8.2 and his K/BB ratio was 14.00. He had a putrid start against Milwaukee the other day, but that appears to be a bit of an anomaly. Miley could not only be the Rookie of the Year but he may make a strong push for Cy Young contention if he keeps up at the rate that he is playing.

2. Bryce Harper, CF, Washington Nationals

Season Stats: .274/.347/.475, 8 HR, 22 RBI, 8 SB

The 19-year old phenom sparked some controversy when he first arrived in the big leagues, but Bryce Harper has calmed himself down and stayed out of the public eye and has done what he does best: be a really, really good baseball player. Harper didn’t make the All-Star team but can make it via the Final Vote, although I don’t know if he will because I think Chipper Jones may beat him in the fan vote. Even with that said Harper is probably one of the best outfielders in the National League already and to say that at 19 years of age is absolutely stupendous. His average has been around .300 since called up and if Miley somehow falters, look for Bryce to make a big push.

3. Norichika Aoki, RF, Milwaukee Brewers

Season Stats: .291/.357/.443, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 10 SB

Once a fourth outfielder, Norichika Aoki has stepped into the role of playing right field thanks in part to the Brewers being decimated by injuries all season. Since that point Aoki has been a very pleasant surprise and certainly better than most would have believed after having the worst season of his career last year. Aoki’s average has ascended to .291, just .009 away from .300 and I witnessed two of his four home runs in person, one of them being a walk off home run. The 10 stolen bases don’t hurt him either. Aoki may not be well known right now or looked at in a very positive light, but he’s the real deal.

On the Outside Looking In: Zack Cozart (CIN), Todd Frazier (CIN), Kirk Niewenhuis (NYM), Wilin Rosario (COL)