MLB Hands Out Hardware

We have hit that time of the year. With the season now in the rear view mirror, Major League Baseball handed out the hardware for the 2024 season. The best of the best were selected by the baseball writers for what was a truly stelar season around the Majors. So here's how things went down. The 2024 MLB awards winners.

All MLB Team:
First Team:
Catcher: William Contreras (Brewers)
1st Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)
2nd Base: Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks)
Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals)
3rd Base: José Ramírez (Guardians)
Outfielders: Aaron Judge (Yankees), Juan Soto (Yankees), Mookie Betts (Dodgers)
Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)
Starting Pitchers: Chris Sale (Braves), Tarik Skubal (Tigers), Paul Skenes (Pirates), Zack Wheeler (Phillies), Corbin Burnes (Orioles)
Relief Pitchers: Emmanuel Clase (Guardians) Ryan Helsley (Cardinals)

Second Team:
Catcher: Salvador Perez (Royals)
1st Base: Bryce Harper (Phillies)
2nd Base: Jose Altuve (Astros)
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor (Mets)
3rd Base: Manny Machado (Padres)
Outfielders: Jackson Merrill (Padres), Jarren Duran (Red Sox) Teoscar Hernández (Dodgers)
Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez (Astros)
Starting Pitchers: Seth Lugo (Royals), Dylan Cease (Padres), Shota Imanaga (Cubs), Framber Valdez (Astros), Michael King (Padres)
Relief Pitchers: Mason Miller (Braves), Kirby Yates (Rangers)

Gold Gloves:
American League:
Catcher: Cal Raleigh (Mariners)
1st Base: Carlos Santana (Twins)
2nd Base: Andrés Giménez (Guardians)
3rd Base: Alex Bregman (Astros)
Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals)
Left Field: Steven Kwan (Guardians)
Center Field: Daulton Varsho (Blue Jays)
Right Field: Wilyer Abreu (Red Sox)
Pitcher: Seth Lugo (Royals)
Utility: Dylan Moore (Mariners)
Team: Blue Jays

National League:
Catcher: Patrick Bailey (Giants)
1st Base: Christian Walker (Diamondbacks)
2nd Base: Brice Turang (Brewers)
Shortstop: Ezquiel Tovar (Rockies) 3B: Matt Chapman (Giants)
Left Field: Ian Happ (Cubs)
Center Field: Brenton Doyle (Rockies)
Right Field: Sal Frelick (Brewers)
Pitcher: Chris Sale (Braves)
Utility: Jared Triolo (Pirates)
Team: Brewers

Silver Sluggers:
American League:
Catcher: Salvador Perez (Royals)
1st Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)
2nd Base: Jose Altuve (Astros)
3rd Base: José Ramírez (Guardians)
Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals)
Outfielders: Aaron Judge (Yankees), Juan Soto (Yankees), Anthony Santander (Orioles)
Designated Hitter: Brent Rooker (Athletics)
Utility: Josh Smith (Rangers)
Team: Yankees

National League:
Catcher: William Contreras (Brewers)
1st Base: Bryce Harper (Phillies)
2nd Base: Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks)
3rd Base: Manny Machado (Padres)
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor (Mets)
Outfielders: Jackson Merrill (Padres), Teoscar Hernández (Dodgers), Jurickson Profar (Padres)
Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)
Utility: Mookie Betts (Dodgers)
Team: Dodgers

Manager Of The Year:
AL: Stephen Voght (Guardians) NL: Pat Murphy (Brewers)

With Stephen Voght winning the award in the AL, it was history making indeed. A winning record and an AL Central title wasn't enough for this one, oh no. He became the fastest person in history to go from player to winning Manager of the Year. He retired at the end of 2022, then was hired a little over a year later. End of that first season, he took a team that won 76 games, which was a 3rd place finish last year, to a division title this year. And it was a huge turnaround for Cleveland, who's 2023 season was the first losing season they had had since 2021 and just the 2nd losing year since 2012. A good turnaround for a good team gets him the award.

With Pat Murphy winning it for the Brewers, he took over for Craig Counsel and did so with limited expectations for a team that looked like it was going to be taking a step backwards this season. All he did was lead the Brew Crew to their 3rd division title in the last four seasons. He was able to really his young team to get the job done in the NL Central. the only other manager who did more with less in a sense was Carlos Mendoza with the Mets.

Rookie of the Year:
AL: Louis Gil (Yankees) NL: Paul Skenes (Pirates)

For the first time in a very long time, the two top rookies in baaseball are both pitchers. Last time we saw this happen was in 1981 when Fernando Valenzuela and Dave Righetti won the awards. This is also the 4th time ever its happend, along with 1981, 1976 (Mark Fidrych in the American League, Pat Zachry and Butch Metzger in the National League) and 1952 (Harry Byrd in the AL, Joe Black in the NL).  Skenes did it in the NL with eye popping numbers for a first year hurler in this league going 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA (yikes) and 170 K's in 133 innings. He started the all star game. He looks like he's right there as being the new face of the franchise for the Pirates. With Gil in the AL, 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA and 171 Ks in almost 152 innings. He was right behind Cole as the Yankees best arm. He just beat out Colten Cowser of the O's in one of the closer races in quite some time

Cy Young Awards:
AL: Tarik Skubal (Tigers) NL: Chris Sale (Braves)

Both cases for the Cy Young award were fairly simple. Both guys, Skubal and Sale, pulled off the pitching triple crown in both leagues. In the AL, Skubal went 18-4, with a 2.39 ERA and 228 Ks in 192 innings. Sure the innings weren't the most in the league (that was good enough for 5th in the AL), but the other numbers more than made up for that in a truly dominating effort. Same thig for Chris Sale in the NL. Sale didn't even finish in the top ten in innings pitched this year, but the rest of the numbers more than make up for it for him to win the award. Sale finished 18-3, with a 2.38 ERA and 225 Ks in 177.2 innings. It was one of those performances, by both pitchers, that is of a true dominating nature and both guys won it going away.

Most Valuable Player
AL: Aaron Judge (Yankees) NL: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)

Both awards were handed out by unanimous vote and with good reason. Judge paced baseball with 58 homers and 144 RBI while hitting .322 (which was 3rd in baseball behind Bobby Whitt and Vlad Guerrero). He also scored 122 runs on the year as well. And in the big two offensive categories, Ohtani was right behind Judge with 54 homers and 130 RBI. Oh and yeah Ohtani became the 1st player in history to join the 50/50 club in one season. 54 homers and 59 steals. Judsge and Ohtani are the only guys to hit 50 or more homers and drive in over 130 runs. It wasn't even really close for either guy behind them in voting to possible overtake them for their MVP awards, they were both that good this season.

Best & Worst NFL Week Nine

Week Nine has come and gone in the National Football League and what a week it was. Kansas City still unbeaten at 8-0. NFC west is still a tight race as is the AFC North. Running backs are showing that they still have a major role to play in the modern game. We also some big names have big days catching passes as well. Lets not waste anymore time. Here's the Best, and Worst, of week nine in the NFL.

Best: Saquan Barkley, Running Back Philadelphia Eagles
There may have been some questions about Barkley's running ability coming into this season when he signed with the Eagles. Those worries are starting to get put to bed more and more as each week goes by. Barkley is the second leading rusher in the NFL this year, behind only Derrick Henry. We saw more of that skill on display in the Eagles 28-23 win over the Jaguars on Sunday. Barkley finished with 27 carries for 159 yards and a touchdowns. Those yards were the most by any running back in the league this season. He's been good, like really good.

Worst: New Orleans Saints
There had been a lot of high hopes for the Saints this year. A lot of it was off to the great start, winning their first two games. Now the wheels have fallen off in New Orleans. Seven straight losses, including a 23-22 loss in Carolina on Sunday. Here's a perfect example off how bad the things have gotten for the Saints over the last month and a half. They outrushed the Panthers by over 150 yards. and outgained the Panthers by 150 yards. They still lost to Carolina. That's the only time in NFL history that something like that has ever happened. Things just keep going down for New Orleans this season.

Best: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver Seattle Seahawks
Yes it came in a losing effort, but its a performance that needs to be talked about. Sure, Seattle lost 26-20 to the Rams, but it wasn't for lack of trying by Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Seven catches for 18- yards and a pair of touchdowns. It was the 2nd time in his career that he's had a 100 yard receiving game. Last one was in week two against New England this season. Yes the Rams took the game in overtime, but the Seahawks got there thanks to Smith-Njigba performance. His yard total was the tops out of any pass catcher in the league this week.

Worst: Jordan Love, Quarterback Green Bay Packers
He was supposed to be the guy to take over in Green Bay. This season at least, we haven't quite seen it just yet. Now to be fair, the Packers went up against a powerhouse this week in the Detroit Lions. Lions won it 24-14, thanks to their run game. But that wasn't the only story to come out of this night. The play of Jordan Love is something to talk about. Sure the 274 pass yards are nice, but that can be deceiving. He threw for no touchdowns, at least not for this own team. The one touchdown toss he had was a pick six. It also is somewhat glaring that he was 23 of 38 passing. This bye week for Green Bay is coming at a good time, as it allows them to get it together and it starts with Love having to start playing better.

Best: Tyler Bass, Kicker Buffalo Bills
To say that things have been kind of rough for Tyler Bass in Buffalo have been a totally fair assessment. He missed what would have been a game tying field goal against Kansas City last year in the playoffs. That kind of carried over to a rough start this year. It wasn't getting any better at the start of things on Sunday at home against Miami. Then, things changed as the game went on. Coach Sean McDermott put faith in his kicker. he sent Bass out in a tie game with ten seconds left.  Bass went out to drill the kick, which by the way was a 61-yarder, to win the game 30-27 for the Bills. It was not only the longest of Bass's career, but the longest in Bills history.

Worst: Caleb Williams, Quarterback Chicago Bears
Yes, the numbers were OK for Williams on Sunday. He did throw for 271 yards. But that wasn't good enough. Chicago scored just nine points on Sunday in a 29-9 loss to the Cardinals. And this was coming a week after Jayden Daniels beat the Bears with the walk off Hail Mary. What made this week worse for Williams, aside from the fact that he looked average at best against a spotty Arizona defense, was the fact that he limped off at the end of the game with an apparent leg injury. Oh and the Bears are now 0-4 on the road this season. Ouch