Post by Sha-Le Unique on Dec 4, 2015 15:13:13 GMT -5
With the 1967 season down to a few weeks remaining, it's always a good time to analyze what to expect for the annual season ending awards in each league. Sometimes, OOTP will make the right calls, but at other times, the results haven't always made the most sense. Being that this league does not have its own MVP, Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year polls among the GM's, we have to hope that OOTP itself makes the best decisions possible.
Regardless of whatever OOTP may end up thinking, let's take a look at the top AL MVP, Cy Young Award, Rookie of the Year Award, Fireman of the Year and Manager of the Year contenders and see who the likely favorites will be.
AL MVP
Top Contenders: Norm Siebern (NYY), Al Kaline (DET), Harmon Killebrew (MIN), Jerry Kindall (DET), Don Robertson (CHW)
As we all know, OOTP only takes offensive stats into consideration for these awards, regardless of any particular team success. In this season's AL MVP race, there are certainly different angles one could take to analyze who the most worthy winner would be. As of right now, Al Kaline probably has the best overall resume this season. He's 4th in batting average, 5th in OBP, 1st in slugging, 1st in OPS, 3rd in hits, tied for 4th in doubles, 5th in home runs, 1st in RBI, 5th in runs and 2nd in total bases.
But Norm Siebern's season is quite well-rounded himself. Siebern is only 8th in batting average, but is 6th in OBP, 2nd in slugging percentage, 2nd in OPS, tied for 5th in hits, tied for 2nd in home runs, 4th in RBI, 6th in runs and 1st in total bases. Siebern also has an edge over Kaline in walks, with 86 (6th in the AL), compared to Kaline's 72, which is just short of the top 10.
Jerry Kindall and Don Robertson should be in consideration as well with their very high batting averages OBP's and OPS', while Harmon Killebrew's 33 home runs and league leading 108 walks certainly puts him in the mix as well. But while Siebern certainly has a chance to win, this award right now should belong to Kaline, who again is having the best overall season in the AL.
Predicted Winner: Al Kaline
AL Cy Young Award
Top Contenders: Joey Jay (CHW), Garland Shifflett (DET), Tex Clevenger (MIN), Larry Jackson (DET), Mike Fornieles (CHW), Mudcat Grant (CHW), Rudy May (CAL)
Despite the AL almost always being the more hitter-friendly league of the two, the AL has had some really good pitching this season. Obviously, the ERA leader Joey Jay should be front and center in this discussion. He has 19 wins, a league-leading 2.11 ERA, 234 strikeouts (2nd in the AL) and also leads the AL with 29 quality starts. But others should at least be considered as well.
Garland Shifflett's 2.28 ERA is 2nd in the AL, but he also has 21 wins so far (and we all know how much OOTP loves those win totals for pitchers). He's not as high in the strikeouts and quality starts ranks, but his season is still among the best in the AL so far.
Tex Clevenger and Larry Jackson both have solid (and nearly identical) ERA's, but while Clevenger has struggled to get enough run support for more wins, Jackson is only tied for 10th in quality starts. Neither of the two are among the strikeouts leaders. Again, both have had great seasons, but lacking in even one important category could hurt their chances of winning the Cy Young Award.
The other top contenders (Mike Fornieles, Mudcat Grant and Rudy May) were simply included because of their high win totals and sub-3.00 ERA's. Depending on how everyone's last few starts go, these three are basically dark horse contenders that could emerge victorious with a leading number of wins and an ERA that is respectable enough to win the award. May has also probably been one of, if not the biggest surprise among AL pitchers this season, so he probably deserves a shout-out for that alone.
Cy Young Awards are always tricky to predict because more often than not, OOTP will overvalue the number of wins instead of leaning more heavily on ERA and quality starts. But right now, the clear favorite has to be Joey Jay. This is lining up to be his career season and not just because he's the AL Cy Young Award favorite. He will almost certainly make just his second trip to the playoffs this season after all those long years with the Braves. The first time around didn't go so well for him in 1965, but now that at he's pitching at his best, maybe he will do better this time in the postseason.
Predicted Winner: Joey Jay
AL Rookie of the Year Award
Top Contenders: Art Shamsky (CHW), Fred Newman (WSH), Bill Hands (CLE)
This AL Rookie class is very weak overall and some may argue that at least one of these players shouldn't even be in the discussion. Anyway, with all due respect to Art Shamsky (.261 average, 17 home runs, 59 RBI, 23 doubles and a .747 OPS) and Bill Hands (11 wins, 4.75 ERA), this award should clearly go to Fred Newman.
Newman, who was the 2nd ever 1st round pick in Senators history, has emerged into the major leagues in a big way. Despite playing on the lowly Senators, who are on their way to having HOFFBL's worst overall record for the 5th consecutive season, Newman has been one of the very few bright spots. His 2.56 ERA currently ranks 6th in the AL. And despite only having 11 wins in 26 starts, he should still be the overwhelming winner because he has basically no competition that could overtake him.
Again, this one should easily go to Newman. The Senators have found their 1st ace and now it's time for them to start putting better surrounding pieces around him.
Predicted Winner: Fred Newman
AL Fireman of the Year
Top Contenders: Lindy McDaniel (CHW), Terry Fox (NYY), Hal Woodeshick (DET), Dave Baldwin (MIN), Gordie Richardson (KCA), Bob Allen (CAL)
Lindy McDaniel was voted the AL Fireman of the Year last season and could win it again, with a league-leading 35 saves thus far. His 3.28 ERA and 87.5% success rate is certainly good enough as well. Terry Fox (33 saves, 2.90 ERA, 86.8%), Hal Woodeshick (33 saves, 2.31 ERA, 89.2%), Dave Baldwin (32 saves, 2.25 ERA, 94.1%), Gordie Richardson (29 saves, 2.35 ERA, 82.9%) and Bob Allen (27 saves, 3.02 ERA, 84.4%) are all certainly in the mix as well.
Right now, I'd say this vote is between Woodeshick and Baldwin. Right now, Baldwin has the better ERA and save %, so he'd be the favorite, but Woodeshick could easily overtake him in the last few weeks of the season.
Predicted Winner: Dave Baldwin (barring some sort of late season meltdown)
AL Manager of the Year
Top Contenders: Trevor (DET), Dave M. (BAL), Mark (CHW)
The Tigers have run rampant in the AL East once again, so of course Trevor belongs in the discussion. Dave's Orioles have already surpassed their 1966 win total, so being that they are on the rise, his name should be in it as well. But Mark looks like the winner here. After the White Sox lost to the eventual AL champion Twins last season to end their 5-year run atop the AL West, the White Sox have bounced back in a big way and currently lead the Twins by 11.5 games. That kind of turn around from last season, along with the AL East looking rather similar once again should give Mark the win here.
Predicted Winner: Mark
NL predictions coming up next!
