Well, baseball has been over for a while now.
The Cubs defeated the Indians in one of the best World Series matchups I have ever witnessed. With the season over and spring (unfortunately) still a while away, I still get to talk baseball for a little bit because it was awards week.
Let us start with the 2o16 Rawlings Gold Glove winners in each league. This award recognizes excellence in defense by position.
American League Winners
Pitcher: Dallas Keuchel-Houston Astros; 3rd of career
Catcher: Salvador Perez-Kansas City Royals; 4th of career
First Base: Mitch Moreleand-Texas Rangers; 1st of career
Second Base: Ian Kinsler-Detroit Tigers; 1st of career
Third Base: Adrian Beltre-Texas Rangers; 3rd of career
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor-Cleveland Indians; 1st of career
Left Field: Brett Gardner-New York Yankees; 1st of career
Center Field: Kevin Kiermaier-Tampa Bay Rays; 2nd of career
Right Field: Mookie Betts-The Boston Red Sox; 1st of career
National League Winners
Pitcher: Zack Greinke-Arizona Diamondbacks; 3rd of career
Catcher: Buster Posey-San Francisco Giants; 1st of career (snapped Cardinals’ Molina’s streak of eight straight)
First Base: Anthony Rizzo-Chicago Cubs; 1st of career
Second Base: Joe Panik-San Francisco Giants; 1st of career
Third Base: Nolan Arenado-Colorado Rockies; 4th of career
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford-San Francisco Giants; 2nd of career
Left Field: Starling Marte-Pittsburgh Pirates; 2nd of career
Center Field: Ender Inciarte-Atlanta Braves; 1st of career
Right Field: Jason Heyward-Chicago Cubs; 4th of career
To go alongside the Golden Glove winners, there is also a Platinum Glove winner selected from each league. This award goes to the overall top defender, regardless of position. The award this year went to the Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo in the National League and the Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor in the American League.
Onward we now go to the winners of the 2016 Silver Slugger Award presented by Louisville Slugger. This award is given to the top hitters at each position.
American League Winners
Catcher: Salvador Perez-Kansas City Royals; 1st of career
First Base: Miguel Cabrera-Detroit Tigers; 7th of career
Second Base: Jose Altuve-Houston Astros; 3rd of career
Third Base: Josh Donaldson-Toronto Blue Jays; 2nd of career
Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts-The Boston Red Sox; 2nd of career
Outfield: Mookie Betts-The Boston Red Sox; 1st of career
Outfield: Mike Trout-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; 5th of career
Outfield: Mark Trumbo-Baltimore Orioles; 1st of career
Designated Hitter: David Ortiz-The Boston Red Sox; 7th of career
National League Winners
Pitcher: Jake Arrieta-Chicago Cubs; 1st of career
Catcher: Wilson Ramos-Washington Nationals; 1st of career
First Base: Anthony Rizzo-Chicago Cubs; 1st of career
Second Base: Daniel Murphy-Washington Nationals; 1st of career
Third Base: Nolan Arenado-Colorado Rockies; 2nd of career
Shortstop: Corey Seager-Los Angeles Dodgers; 1st of career
Outfield: Charlie Blackmon-Colorado Rockies; 1st of career
Outfield: Yoenis Cespedes-New York Mets; 1st of career
Outfield: Christian Yelich-Miami Marlins; 1st of career
Major League Baseball has also given out its’ Rookie of the Year awards in both the AL and the NL. In a unanimous decision, Corey Seager won the NL Rookie of the Year award. Seager was a big part of the success that the Dodgers had this season. Over in the AL, Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer took home the hardware for being the league’s top rookie.
Another Los Angeles Dodger took home an award this season. The team’s manager, Dave Roberts, took home the award for National League Manager of the Year. Roberts had a successful first season as a manger in the Majors and was able to best verterans Joe Maddon and Dusty Baker. On the American League side, Terry Francona of the Cleveland Indians was named Manager of the Year. A well deserved award for Francona and is his second such win in the last four seasons.
On Wednesday night, the Cy Young Award winners for both the AL and NL were announced. Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals became the sixth play in MLB history to win the award in both leagues. He finished above Chicago Cubs teammates Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks. In the American League, 22-game winner Rick Porcello of The Boston Red Sox beat out the Tigers Justin Verlander and the Indians Corey Kluber. Porcello actually had less first place votes than Verlander but was still able to bring home his first Cy Young Award.
And the awards culminated on Thursday evening when the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) handed out the Most Valuable Player awards for both leagues. The finalists in the American League were Jose Altuve of Houston, Mookie Betts of The Boston Red Sox and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. When all was said and done, Trout won his second MVP award in five seasons, beating out second place Betts. Trout has now won or finished second in MVP voting in each of his five full seasons of his already sparkling career. Reigning Rookie of the Year Corey Seager from the Dodgers, Daniel Murphy from the Nationals and Kris Bryant from the Cubs were the finalists in the NL. Bryant, the versatile Cubs third baseman won the MVP in the NL, becoming the fourth player in MLB history to win the MVP the season after winning the Rookie of the Year award. If this is any indication on how things could go next season, I am campaigning for the young Seager to take home the honors in 2017. After all, I predicted Bryant for MVP back a few months ago and was correct. What, you don’t remember that? Have you even been paying attention?