Gold Glove:
National League:
Catcher: J.T. Realmuto, Phillies (1st career Gold Glove)
1st Base: Anthony Rizzo, Cubs (3rd career Gold Glove)
2nd Base: Kolten Wong, Cardinals (1st career Gold Glove)
3rd Base: Nolan Arenado, Rockies (7th career Gold Glove)
Shortstop: Nick Ahmed, Diamondbacks (2nd career Gold Glove)
Left Field: David Peralta, Diamondbacks (1st career Gold Glove)
Center Field: Lorenzo Cain, Brewers (1st career Gold Glove)
Right Field: Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (1st career Gold Glove)
Pitcher: Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks (6th career Gold Glove)
American League:
Catcher: Roberto Pérez, Indians (1st career Gold Glove)
1st Base: Matt Olson, Athletics (2nd career Gold Glove)
2nd Base: Yolmer Sánchez, White Sox (1st career Gold Glove)
3rd Base: Matt Chapman, Athletics (2nd career Gold Glove)
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, Indians (2nd career Gold Glove)
Left Field: Alex Gordon, Royals (7th career Gold Glove)
Center Field: Kevin Kiermaier, Rays (3rd career Gold Glove)
Right Field: Mookie Betts, Red Sox (4th career Gold Glove)
Pitcher: Mike Leake, Mariners (1st career Gold Glove)
Manager Of The Year:
American League: Rocco Baldelli, Minnesota Twins
There could be some matter of a debate here. Baldelli finished with ten more votes than Boone for Manager of the Year, but I really think a case should be made for a closer race. Yes, the Yankees had that expectation to win with the lineup they had, but with all the injuries that the Bombers got hit with during the course of the year, the fact that they finished with 103 wins and won the East says a lot about what Boone did. At the end of the day, the Yankees had the expectation to be at the top of the East, while the Twins had minimal expectations for a division title. All Minnesota went out and did was have a record setting home run season, win 101 games and claim the AL Central title. No doubt the right decision was made, but I would have thought that the decision would have been closer.
National League: Mike Schildt, St Louis Cardinals
Taking a team to a division title win is pretty impressive. St Louis was a team that was expected to finish middle of the pack in the Central. But Schildt gave his team the confidence to go out there and play there best day in and day out. This was a team that was a 44-44 baseball team at the Break. They won 47 games the rest of the year. He ascended to the manager’s job on an interim basis in July 2018 following Mike Matheny’s firing and was given the full-time position at the end of that season. What he managed to do was lift the Cards to the first division title since 2015.
Rookie Of The Year:
American League: Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
This was almost a run away in the AL. Actually it was a runaway as Alvarez snagged every first place vote for Rookie of the Year and why not. He was the best all around rookie in the AL this year. Scoring 98 runs, driving in 78 while smashing 27 home runs and hitting .313 for the year. Oh yeah, he did it all in 87 games. Just imagine the numbers that Alvarez could have put up had he played the entire year in Houston instead of only part of the year.
National League: Pete Alonso, New York Mets
This one should have been pretty easy to predict. A little surprising that Mike Soraka got one first place vote for NL Rookie of the Year, which is all that stopped Alonso from the clean sweep. He shattered a lot of not only rookie but club records for the Mets. He finished the year hitting .260, which was a little low for my liking, but he did score 103 runs, driving in 120 and oh yeah became the first player in the history of the New York Mets to ever hit more than 50 home runs in a season. He finished the year with 53 which set the Major League record for most home runs in a season. The only thing I'd like to see Pete improve upon next year is that batting average. Other than that, there's a lot to like going into next year with Pistol Pete
Cy Young Award:
American League: Justin Verlander, Houston Astros
This came as a bit of a surprise, when you consider that his teammate had the better year than he did.Verlander finished with four more first place votes than Cole did, but it really could have gone to either guy. Both finished with 20 wins. Verlander had 21 while Cole had 20, while Cole had more strikeouts and a lower ERA. Part of the reason could be that Verlander pitched more innings than Cole did. Either way, both guys had a great year and were worthy of the award.
National League: Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
Got a little nerve racking as to who was going to walk away with the award, but it stays in New York for the 2nd year in a row. It seems like the National League likes to keep back to back winners. Before Jake won his back to back, Max Scherzer won back to back for the Nationals. Before that it was Jake Arrietta, and before that it was Clayton Kersahw in back to back years. That's becoming a trend in the NL. Jake might not have had the win numbers, finishing with just 11. That's only because the Mets couldn't score for him. He was dominating games like few others in the league. Hyun Jin-Ryu could have come closer in the voting had he matched Jake in total starts. Didn't happen. Jake had a slighlty higher ERA but was the better overall pitcher and deserving of the award.
Most Valuable Player:
American League: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
I'm sorry, but as much as I love watching Mike Trout play baseball, I don't feel he should have won it this year. Yes he lead the league with 45 home runs, drove in 104 runs, scored 110 and hit .291 on the year, all while missing the final month of the year with an injury. Had he played a full year he would have hit closer to =, if not over .300. I'm not denying his greatness or the impact he had on baseball. All I'm saying is, he wasn't the most valuable to his team in the AL this year. That goes to DJ LeMahieu of the Yankees, who finished 4th. Hell Alex Bregman was the only other player to get first place votes, finishing four back of Trout. DJ should at leat gotten more consideration. Congrats to the best player in the game for winning MVP.
National League: Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
The city of Angels is cleaning house on the MVP award this year. First Trout and now Bellinger. Could also make more of an argument for Anthony Rendon, who hit more homers and drove in more runs. I know WAR is looked at a lot more, but the other numbers still count, in my mind. Rendon was more of an impact player for the Nationals and their turn around then Bellinger was in LA. Don't get me wrong, Bellinger was a huge reason why the Dodgers had the best record in the NL, but what Rendon was able to help power in Washington was a bigger deal to me.
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