Silver Slugger
American League
Catcher: Gary Sanchez, Yankees
1st Base: Eric Hosmer, Royals
2nd Base: Jose Altuve, Astros
3rd Base: Jose Ramirez, indians
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, Indians
Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees
Outfield: George Springer, Astros
Outfield: Justin Upton, Angels
Designated Hitter: Nelson Cruz, Mariners
National League
Catcher: Buster Posey, Giants
1st Base: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
2nd Base: Daniel Murphy, Nationals
3rd Base: Nolan Arenado, Rockies
Shortstop: Corey Seager, Dodgers
Outfielder: Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins
Outfielder: Marcell Ozuna, Marlins
Outfielder: Charlie Blackmon, Rockies
Pitcher: Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
Manager Of The Year:
AL: Paul Molitor, Twins
NL: Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks
There should be almost no surprise for Molitor winning manager of the year in the American League. He took a team that had lost 100 games last season, to this year winning 85 games, finishing 2nd in the AL Central and making the playoffs as a wild card team. Molitor, who just completed his third season and was also a finalist in 2015, edged out the Indians' Terry Francona and the Astros' A.J. Hinch for the honors. He has also become the 4th Twins manager to snag the award, the others being Tom Kelly in 1991, Buck Showalter in 1994 and Ron Gardenhire in 2010. And to be able to go from 103 losses to 85 wins and the playoffs is a lot to speak of for an outstanding manager.
As for the National League, Arizona finished 69-93 in 2016 but improved to 93-69 and captured the top NL Wild Card spot in Lovullo's first season. Lovullos becomes the 3rd Diamondback manager to claim the award in the NL, joining Bob Melvin in 2007 and Kirk Gibson in 2011. to claim the award this year, he edged out Dave Roberts and Bud Black to walk away with the title. He's had control and support from his players since he was hired in Arizona last November
Rookie Of The Year:
AL: Aaron Judge, Yankees
NL: Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
It was almost a lock that Aaron Judge was going to run away with the American league Rookie Of The Year. Jusge is the 9th Yankee to win the Rookie of the Year and the first to do it since Derek Jeter in 1996. The other Yankees to win the award were Gil McDougald (1951), Bob Grim ('54), Tony Kubek ('57), Tom Tresh ('62), Stan Bahnsen ('68), Thurman Munson ('70) and Dave Righetti ('81). Judge also became the 22nd unanimous Rookie of the Year in Major League history, coming off a season in which he shattered Mark McGwire's 30-year-old record by belting a league-leading 52 home runs in his first full campaign. While Andrew Benintendi of the Red Sox and Trey Mancini of the Orioles enjoyed fine first seasons, what Aaron Judge managed to do was something that was almost other worldly. Judge finished the year hitting .284, the 52 home runs, and managed to lead the AL in runs (128) and walks (127), while ranking second in RBIs (114), on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Yes he had 208 Strikeouts but still I think the rest of his numbers more than make up for it.
As for the National League, Cody Bellinger is the 2nd straight Dodger to win the award, as Corey Seagur won it last year. As a matter of fact, this now marks the 18th time that a Dodgers player has walked away with the top rookie honors. Cody finished the year with a .267 batting average, 39 home runs and 97 runs batted in. The Cardinals' Paul DeJong finished second, with Pittsburgh's Josh Bell coming in third. Bellinger is the third straight unanimous NL winner, after Cory Seagur last year and Kris Bryant in 2015. Bellinger made an impact on this team as soon as he got called up in April and really helped power the Dodgers to one of the best records in the entire league from wire to wire. There was no rookie in the NL who had as much of an impact on their team as he did.
Cy Young Award:
AL: Corey Kluber, Indians
NL: Max Scherzer, Nationals
Twice in four seasons now Corey Kluber has walked away with the AL Cy Young Award. When he won in 2014, Kluber showed a little emotion, but this year it seemed like just another day at the office. Kluber, Cliff Lee (2008), CC Sabathia (2007) and Gaylord Perry (1972) are the only AL Cy Young Award winners in Indians history. This year, Kluber had to beat out Chris Sal, Luis Severino, and Carlos Carrasco to claim the award, but he did it in pretty convincing fashion. Kluber had himself an outstanding year, going 18-4 with an MLB-leading 2.25 ERA. In 29 starts over 203 2/3 innings, Kluber piled up 265 strikeouts compared to 36 walks, and he posted those totals despite missing most of May with a back injury. This marks the fourth straight season in which the right-hander eclipsed 200 strikeouts and 200 innings. Once he came back from his injury on June 1st, the Indians took off and ran away with the division, which shows how much of an impact and a leader he was for this team.
For Max Scherzer, this marks the 2nd year in a row he's walked away with the Cy Young Award, making him and Kluber among the 19 pitchers in baseball history who have earned the award multiple times. this marks the 3rd Cy win for the Expos/Nationals, as Max won it last year and Pedro Martinez before him in 1997. Scherzer won the award by receiving 27 of the 30 first-place votes. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw finished second and Scherzer's Nationals teammate, Stephen Strasburg, finished third. Out of the three of them, Scherzer was the only one who three more then 200 innings. Mad Max went on to finish the year going 16–6, with a 2.51 ERA and 268 strikeouts. Max, at times willed the Nationals to victory.
Most Valuable Player
AL: Jose Altuve, Astros
NL: Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins
The National League saw the first Marlins player to ever win league MVP. Yes I know the Marlins missed the playoffs, but there was nobody better in the NL this year then Giancarlo Stanton. In the final tallies, Stanton won the fourth-closest vote in MVP history. With 302 points, the slugger finished just two ahead of Cincinnati's Joey Votto, with Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt placing third with 239. Stanton had himself a year, leading the Majors with 59 home runs, becoming the eighth player in history to hit at least that many in a season. It's a total that hadn't been reached since Bonds set the MLB record with 73 in 2001. Sammy Sosa finished with 64 in the same year. Stanton also finished with 132 RBIs and .631 slugging percentage also topped the Majors. There's no denying that Stanton had a fantastic season, but the Marlins missed the playoffs, which I think takes a little bit out of the award. There's no doubt he was the best player in the National League this year, I'm not knocking that by any means. I'm just knocking the rest of the Marlins for not playing up to his level and making the playoffs. I think if Miami had made the post season, then the award would have been a bit more of a separation in the voting for the award.
As far as the American League award is concerned, it was a right choice giving it to Altuve, although it could have gone to either him or Aaron Judge of the Yankees. Altuve joins Jeff Bagwell as the only two Astros players to win the award. Altuve beat out Judge and Jose Ramirez of the Indians. The vote for MVP was 27-2 in favor of Altuve over Judge. We talked about Judge's numbers before when he won Rookie Of The Year. Altuve lead the league with a .346 average and 204 hits. He also finished with 24 homers and 86 RBI's. Some could argue that the award could have gone to Judge because he was more of a boost to the Yankees lineup. If you take Judge out of the lineup then there's probably a good chance that the Yankees miss the playoffs. With Altuve out of the Astros lineup, there's probably a chance that the Houston still makes the post season. The fact that Altuve was steady and consistent all season, and Judge had that slump late in the year may have hurt his chances to claim the award. Either way, MVP could have gone to either guy, bud Altuve had a more consistent season and was a little more deserving of MVP.
Congratulations to all the award winners this season!
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