Storyline: The first half of MLB ’15 has yielded great performances and surprises. Here are my picks of standout players and teams.
Best team in baseball
Courtesy: sportsunlimited.inc
St. Louis Cardinals – Year after year the Cards rely on young starting pitching and they continue to win. They have the best system in baseball and they continue to win. Regardless of losses in free agency or injuries they continue to win. Having a great one-two punch in Wacha and Martinez, it would be scary to see how good they would be with a healthy Wainwright.
The Cards also have one of the deepest lineups in the NL as well. Does Johnny Peralta age like a fine wine? The Cardinals should win the toughest division in baseball.
Runner up: Kansas City Royals
Biggest disappointment
San Diego Padres – After watching the Jays attempt something very similar a few years ago I wasn’t sure if the Padres would end up with the same fate. But that’s exactly what has happened. Bringing in high-price talent and just throwing them all together rarely works. Only Justin Upton and James Shields seem to be holding up their end of the bargain.
What’s really strange is that the starting pitching has really let down the Padres. I thought starting pitching would be a sure thing this year, but this seems like a team that will battle just to get to .500 this year. The Padres might be selling at the trade deadline.
Runner up: Seattle Mariners
Biggest surprise team
Courtesy: FOXsports.com
Minnesota Twins – It’s extraordinary what Paul Molitor has done with this team. With a team full of gritty hitters the Twins have put up a great first half. They should only get better with the off-suspension addition of Ervin Santana and the arrival of Miguel Sano.
The biggest headscratcher with the Twins is the starting pitching. It’s good. And Pelfrey and Hughes have been excellent. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Twins acquire some pitching talent at the deadline to add some depth. Will the Twins grab a wildcard spot?
Runner up: Houston Astros
MVP – AL
Josh Donaldson – Donaldson has done nearly everything this year for the Toronto Blue Jays–clutch hitting with outstanding defense. Josh has the Jays in the thick of things in the AL East. He makes the highlight reel nearly every night of the week with a game-winning hit or a barehanded play at 3rd. His leadership doesn’t go unnoticed either. He’s simply the best all-around player in the AL today.
Runner up: Miguel Cabrera (if not for his injury this would have been much closer.)
MVP – NL
Courtesy: zimbio.com
Paul Goldschmidt – Flying under the radar (playing in Arizona) Goldschmidt has quietly put together one of the best first halves in baseball. Even with getting pitched-around and put in tough spots, here is his stats line for the first half: AVG: .345, OBP: .462, HR: 20, RBI: 69, SB: 16
That’s a Fantasy dream stats line. Goldschmidt should win MVP this year. And, if he had any help in the desert, the Dbacks could be right there to compete.
Runner up: Bryce Harper
CY Young – AL
Dallas Keuchel – What can you say about Dallas Keuchel? He’s leading the AL in wins and innings pitched. He owns a low 2.00 ERA. And he has been an anchor for the Houston Astros. He has been pitching lights out for the surprising Astros in one of baseball’s toughest divisions. And Keuchel has been the definition of a work horse, pitching 7-8 innings every 5th day.
Runner up: Felix Hernandez
CY Young – NL
Courtesy: blacksportsonline.com
Zack Greinke – Greinke has been unhittable for nearly the entire year. It’s shocking that he has only 8 wins to date. But Greinke gets very limited run support even though he has gone 35.2 innings without giving up a run (one of the best in the history of the game).
With one of the lowest ERA’s in the history of the game (going into the 2nd half) it’s going to be tough for anybody to beat him out for the CY Young award.
Runner up: Gerrit Cole
World Series prediction:
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Kansas City Royals
(For a preview: July 20-22, Pirates at Royals, Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO, all games, 7:10 p.m. Central Time)
