Post by Sha-Le Unique on Oct 28, 2013 23:05:21 GMT -5
Well, with the Pirates obviously doing terrible, there isn't much to say about them. However, the 1953 season is starting to wind down, which means that it's time to start predicting what the awards may look like by season's end.
Note: I'm not exactly sure if we will only be doing the OOTP awards or if we will also be voting on the same awards ourselves.
AL MVP
One glance at the AL League Leaders and everyone will notice that one particular hitter is leading the AL in seven different categories, including batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS, among others. That player would be the Mick himself, Mickey Mantle.
At just 21 years of age, the dynamic center fielder for the league leading Yankees has batted .343 with 25 home runs, 89 RBI, a .449 OBP, and a .572 slugging percentage. He also has 26 stolen bases, which makes the possibility of a 30/30 season that much higher. Mantle has won the AL Player of the Week award three times thus far and was a member of the American League All-Star team as well. Defensively, Mantle has made just five errors in center field, but also has six assists, which has prevented a few runs against the Yankees. All in all, Mantle is one of the most talented hitters in the game. With the numbers he has put up, along with the success the Yankees have had, he should be the clear front-runner for the 1953 AL MVP Award.
Honorable Mentions: Gus Zernial (PHA), Ralph Kiner (BOS), Al Rosen (CLE), Larry Doby (CLE)
AL Cy Young
There will most likely be a familiar theme with the AL Cy Young Award as well. One look at the AL pitching League Leaders will show that Vic Raschi of the Yankees is leading the league in some of the most important categories, which include wins (26), ERA (1.65), and quality starts (26). Raschi is also first in runners per 9 innings (8.63), tied for second in shutouts (5), and tied for eighth in innings pitched (268).
All of the Yankees' starting pitchers have 17 or more wins apiece, but Raschi has clearly been the ace of the staff all season long and has commanding leads in both wins and ERA. Raschi is definitely the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award.
Honorable Mentions: Eddie Lopat (NYY), Chuck Stobbs (WSH), Billy Pierce (CWS), Bob Lemon (CLE)
AL Rookie of the Year Award
This AL rookie class in particular is very deep, but the one rookie that has really stood out this season has been Al Smith of the Indians. Smith is currently third in the AL in batting average (.305), fifth in slugging percentage (.506), third in OPS (.917), fourth in runs created (99.2), third in runs created/27 outs (8.09), tied for seventh in home runs (20), tied for sixth in RBI (80), tenth in runs scored (82), ninth in walks (79), tied for sixth in extra-base hits (47), and tied for seventh in total bases (224). And these are not rookie rankings...this is for the entire American League!
At 25 years old, Smith has a long future ahead of him, but he looks to be the 1953 AL Rookie of the Year favorite.
Honorable Mentions: Al Kaline (DET), Sonny Dixon (WSH), Bob Turley (SLA), Frank Baumann (BOS)
NL MVP Award
Over in the National League, this competition looks tighter than in the AL, but regardless, there has been one hitter that has put up numbers that no one else really has done this season. The "Duke of Flatbush" himself, Duke Snider has certainly set the original standard for what it means to be a HOFFBL slugger.
Snider is batting .318, with 31 doubles (tied for 5th in NL), 12 triples (3rd in NL), 50 home runs (leads NL), 144 RBI (leads NL), 120 runs scored (leads NL), 169 hits (7th in NL), 81 walks (6th in NL), 93 extra-base hits (leads NL), a remarkable 374 total bases (leads NL), a .405 on-base percentage (7th in NL), a .704 slugging percentage (leads NL) and a 1.110 OPS (leads NL).
The Dodgers may not be currently leading the National League, but they were in the lead for much of the season and Snider was one of the biggest, if not the biggest reason why. Snider is a special player and will be the face of the Dodgers for many years to come. Some other National League hitters could be deserving in their own rights, but Snider has simply had an incredible season that no one else in the league can match.
Honorable Mentions: Red Schoendienst (STL), Stan Musial (STL), Eddie Mathews (MIL), Ted Williams (PHI)
NL Cy Young Award
This will probably be the closest race of all, but Bill Keegan of the Dodgers should have a slight edge as the favorite for NL Cy Young Award.
Keegan is 17-11 (tied for fourth in wins), has a 2.82 ERA (leads NL), 22 quality starts (leads NL), 16 complete games (leads NL), two shutouts (tied for 3rd in NL), and a 10.95 runners per 9 innings rate (5th in NL) in 281 innings pitched (leads NL). The only stat Keegan does not have going for him is strikeouts, with just 82, but despite that, he has gotten outs and has not allowed many runs at all, which shows that he can still be effective if the ball gets put in play.
The one other NL pitcher that could have something to say on this would be Warren Spahn of the Braves. Spahn leads the NL in wins (24), has a 3.09 ERA (4th in NL), 21 quality starts (2nd in NL), 13 complete games (tied for 3rd in NL), 136 strikeouts (tied for 7th in NL), leads the NL in runners per 9 innings (10.00), and is second in the NL in innings pitched (273.2).
Again, this is close, but with enough wins and a noticeably better ERA, Keegan should have the advantage, albeit a possibly slight advantage.
Honorable Mentions: Warren Spahn (MIL), Johnny Antonelli (MIL), Ruben Gomez (NYG), Bob Miller (PHI)
NL Rookie of the Year Award
Another really close race will be the National League Rookie of the Year Award. There are two candidates in particular that will be considered for the honor: Hank Aaron of the Braves and Ernie Banks of the Cubs.
Many of Aaron's and Banks' stats are very similar generally speaking. Aaron has the edge in average (.313 to .292), hits (147 to 146), RBI (95 to 91), on-base percentage (.356 to .344), slugging percentage (.537 to .528), OPS (.893 to .872) and stolen bases (13 to 3). Banks only has higher numbers in home runs (26 to 23) and runs scored (76 to 75). Again, many of these stats are very close, but the difference in batting average should be enough for Aaron to become the NL Rookie of the Year.
Honorable Mentions: Ernie Banks (CHC), Al Worthington (NYG), Ed Bailey (CIN)
Note: I'm not exactly sure if we will only be doing the OOTP awards or if we will also be voting on the same awards ourselves.
AL MVP
One glance at the AL League Leaders and everyone will notice that one particular hitter is leading the AL in seven different categories, including batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS, among others. That player would be the Mick himself, Mickey Mantle.
At just 21 years of age, the dynamic center fielder for the league leading Yankees has batted .343 with 25 home runs, 89 RBI, a .449 OBP, and a .572 slugging percentage. He also has 26 stolen bases, which makes the possibility of a 30/30 season that much higher. Mantle has won the AL Player of the Week award three times thus far and was a member of the American League All-Star team as well. Defensively, Mantle has made just five errors in center field, but also has six assists, which has prevented a few runs against the Yankees. All in all, Mantle is one of the most talented hitters in the game. With the numbers he has put up, along with the success the Yankees have had, he should be the clear front-runner for the 1953 AL MVP Award.
Honorable Mentions: Gus Zernial (PHA), Ralph Kiner (BOS), Al Rosen (CLE), Larry Doby (CLE)
AL Cy Young
There will most likely be a familiar theme with the AL Cy Young Award as well. One look at the AL pitching League Leaders will show that Vic Raschi of the Yankees is leading the league in some of the most important categories, which include wins (26), ERA (1.65), and quality starts (26). Raschi is also first in runners per 9 innings (8.63), tied for second in shutouts (5), and tied for eighth in innings pitched (268).
All of the Yankees' starting pitchers have 17 or more wins apiece, but Raschi has clearly been the ace of the staff all season long and has commanding leads in both wins and ERA. Raschi is definitely the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award.
Honorable Mentions: Eddie Lopat (NYY), Chuck Stobbs (WSH), Billy Pierce (CWS), Bob Lemon (CLE)
AL Rookie of the Year Award
This AL rookie class in particular is very deep, but the one rookie that has really stood out this season has been Al Smith of the Indians. Smith is currently third in the AL in batting average (.305), fifth in slugging percentage (.506), third in OPS (.917), fourth in runs created (99.2), third in runs created/27 outs (8.09), tied for seventh in home runs (20), tied for sixth in RBI (80), tenth in runs scored (82), ninth in walks (79), tied for sixth in extra-base hits (47), and tied for seventh in total bases (224). And these are not rookie rankings...this is for the entire American League!
At 25 years old, Smith has a long future ahead of him, but he looks to be the 1953 AL Rookie of the Year favorite.
Honorable Mentions: Al Kaline (DET), Sonny Dixon (WSH), Bob Turley (SLA), Frank Baumann (BOS)
NL MVP Award
Over in the National League, this competition looks tighter than in the AL, but regardless, there has been one hitter that has put up numbers that no one else really has done this season. The "Duke of Flatbush" himself, Duke Snider has certainly set the original standard for what it means to be a HOFFBL slugger.
Snider is batting .318, with 31 doubles (tied for 5th in NL), 12 triples (3rd in NL), 50 home runs (leads NL), 144 RBI (leads NL), 120 runs scored (leads NL), 169 hits (7th in NL), 81 walks (6th in NL), 93 extra-base hits (leads NL), a remarkable 374 total bases (leads NL), a .405 on-base percentage (7th in NL), a .704 slugging percentage (leads NL) and a 1.110 OPS (leads NL).
The Dodgers may not be currently leading the National League, but they were in the lead for much of the season and Snider was one of the biggest, if not the biggest reason why. Snider is a special player and will be the face of the Dodgers for many years to come. Some other National League hitters could be deserving in their own rights, but Snider has simply had an incredible season that no one else in the league can match.
Honorable Mentions: Red Schoendienst (STL), Stan Musial (STL), Eddie Mathews (MIL), Ted Williams (PHI)
NL Cy Young Award
This will probably be the closest race of all, but Bill Keegan of the Dodgers should have a slight edge as the favorite for NL Cy Young Award.
Keegan is 17-11 (tied for fourth in wins), has a 2.82 ERA (leads NL), 22 quality starts (leads NL), 16 complete games (leads NL), two shutouts (tied for 3rd in NL), and a 10.95 runners per 9 innings rate (5th in NL) in 281 innings pitched (leads NL). The only stat Keegan does not have going for him is strikeouts, with just 82, but despite that, he has gotten outs and has not allowed many runs at all, which shows that he can still be effective if the ball gets put in play.
The one other NL pitcher that could have something to say on this would be Warren Spahn of the Braves. Spahn leads the NL in wins (24), has a 3.09 ERA (4th in NL), 21 quality starts (2nd in NL), 13 complete games (tied for 3rd in NL), 136 strikeouts (tied for 7th in NL), leads the NL in runners per 9 innings (10.00), and is second in the NL in innings pitched (273.2).
Again, this is close, but with enough wins and a noticeably better ERA, Keegan should have the advantage, albeit a possibly slight advantage.
Honorable Mentions: Warren Spahn (MIL), Johnny Antonelli (MIL), Ruben Gomez (NYG), Bob Miller (PHI)
NL Rookie of the Year Award
Another really close race will be the National League Rookie of the Year Award. There are two candidates in particular that will be considered for the honor: Hank Aaron of the Braves and Ernie Banks of the Cubs.
Many of Aaron's and Banks' stats are very similar generally speaking. Aaron has the edge in average (.313 to .292), hits (147 to 146), RBI (95 to 91), on-base percentage (.356 to .344), slugging percentage (.537 to .528), OPS (.893 to .872) and stolen bases (13 to 3). Banks only has higher numbers in home runs (26 to 23) and runs scored (76 to 75). Again, many of these stats are very close, but the difference in batting average should be enough for Aaron to become the NL Rookie of the Year.
Honorable Mentions: Ernie Banks (CHC), Al Worthington (NYG), Ed Bailey (CIN)
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