MLB award predictions

By Dan Rodgers

This is just a continuation of the previous post. However, this one will only be dealing with the awards races.

AL MVP candidates: Robinson Cano (NYY), Miguel Cabrera (DET), Vlad Guerrero (TEX)

NL MVP candidates: David Wright (NYM), Albert Pujols (STL), Joey Votto (CIN)

AL CY YOUNG candidates: David Price (TAM), Jon Lester (BOS), Andy Pettite (NYY), Jered Weaver (LAA)

NL CY YOUNG candidates: Ubaldo Jimenez (COL), Adam Wainwright (STL), Chris Carpenter (STL), Mike Pelfry (NYM)

AL ROOKIE: Brennan Boesch (DET), Austin Jackson (DET), Mitch Talbot (CLE), Neftali Feliz (TEX)

NL ROOKIE: Gaby Sanchez (FLA), Jason Heyward (ATL), Ike Davis (NYM), Jaime Garcia (STL)

AL MANAGER: Ron Washington (TEX), Cito Gaston (TOR)

NL MANAGER: Bobby Cox (ATL), Bud Black (SD)

Here is a nice clip from a July 4 that happened just a few years back...enjoy...





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'Grand' aquisition for Yanks

By Dan Rodgers

The Yankees buff up their outfield with the acquisition of Detroit Tigers star outfielder Curtis Granderson. This brings a ton of depth and youth to the Yanks outfield but puts a dent in their quality young pitching. The Bombers sent up and coming Phil Coke to Arizona, and Ian Kennedy and prospect Austin Jackson to Detroit.

Coke threw 2 2/3 innings in the postseason but most of it was in junk time. However, Coke did a reasonable job from the bullpen during the season. It was nice to see a young pitcher come out of the bullpen. Kennedy, who struggled in 2008, was rarely seen this year in a Yankee uniform, but if in the right organization could be a solid starter. Austin Jackson, a top prospect in the New York farm system, is an outfielder that has been working his way up the ladder.

Granderson is obviously the biggest name in the trade; he had 30 homers and 71 RBI and 20 steals. He has excellent range in center field and adds another impressive offensive threat in the lineup. Granderson has good speed but also has the ability to knock the ball out of the park at any time. He reminds me of a younger Johnny Damon with a better arm.

I think the Yanks definitely helped themselves here, however, they have a lot of outfielders and it would be smart to deal one and look for a young pitcher in return. The Yanks were looking to improve even though they just won the World Series. This should allow them to dominate in the coming season and cruise to an easy championship for the first back-to-back Series winner since the Yanks did so in '98-'00.

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