AL Cy Young, MVP and ROY Leaders

by faketeams on May 20, 2008 11:45 AM EDT in Baseball

Baseball Happenings enters its 7th week of polling the blogging community to provide intelligence on which players are currently considered the leading contenders for the big three baseball awards - MVP, Cy Young and ROY - for the American and National leagues. This week's results should be available later today .

Here is the way I voted. My biases for voting in the Cy Young and MVP awards lean towards those hitters and pitchers playing on contending teams. ROY determination is not tied are strongly to his team's record, but good rookies on expected paly-off contenders will get additional consideration.

AL Cy Young:
1. Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
2. Daisuke Matzusaka, Boston Red Sox
3. Joe Saunders, Los Angeles Angels

Although Lee was bombed on Sunday, the 2008 season is far enough along that his statistics didn't plummet. Anothe rone or two like that, and he could very well be back with the pack. I struggled with the order of the next two because Daisuke doesn't pitch enough innings and Saunders doesn't strikout anyone nor does he have a killer GB/FB rate. Ultimately, I went with the 7-o pitcher.

AL MVP:
1. Carlos Quentin, Chicago White Sox
2. Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
3. Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox

This was a close call given Hamilton's league-leading RBi total, but, ultimately, Quentin has been the best player on the 1st place team. Kevin Youkilis came in 3rd, but I suspect he will suffer from the presence of Manny Ramirez and the resurgent David Ortiz.

AL ROY:
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox
2. Greg Smith, Oakland Athletics
3. Nick Blackburn, Minnesota Twins

This is the same order as last time. All three have worsened since last time, but none are doing as poorly as hyped (over?) Tampa Bay Ray Evan Longoria. A 231/316/402 is a far cry from what was expected. New York Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain could have made the list, but he in the midst of allowing runs in enough appearances to make his ROY candicacy appear to be an illusion of the New York media.

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