By Dalton Del Don
NL MVP: David Wright – What doesn’t he do well? Wright plays defense, runs the bases and has a terrific batting eye. He had a .364/.465/.596 line after the All-Star break and even if you take away the entire month of April, posted a 30/31 season last year.
AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera – I probably wouldn’t be batting him fifth, but in a lineup as loaded as the Tigers’, it’s unlikely to matter much. It’s easy to forget, but Cabrera is still just 24 years old. It’s only a matter of time before he posts a gigantic .330-50-150 type season, and it very well may arrive in 2008.
NL Cy Young: Johan Santana – Boring, but Santana is the clear front-runner. Jake Peavy may be an equal pitcher, but he’s got more health concerns, and Santana has a solid offense supporting him as well. The switch to the NL could result in an extra 60 strikeouts.
AL Cy Young: Josh Beckett – Justin Verlander will be major competition, and Beckett’s increasing workload and health need to be monitored, but he’s also become possibly the game’s best pitcher. Over the final three months last year, he posted a 111:20 K:BB ratio.
NL Rookie of the Year: Kosuke Fukudome – Kind of boring since he’s 30 years old and all, but when you combine opportunity with skill set, he should finish 2008 with some pretty solid numbers. Johnny Cueto and Manny Parra are his main competitors, but it’s harder to learn the art of pitching than it is hitting.
AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria – Like Ryan Braun last year, Longoria is going to have to make up for a lost six weeks after starting the year in the minors, but he has the stick to do so. Clay Buchholz and Joba Chamberlain are the obvious contenders.
NLCS: Mets over Dodgers
ALCS: Yankees over Red Sox
World Series: Yankees over Mets
Leave a Reply