Guido's Winners: Baseball Edition

By: Guido

AL Manager: Joe Maddon
Did anyone really think that the Rays would do anything this year? The AL East is extremely tough with the BoSox and Yankees. Plus the Jays are usually average.

AL MVP: Justin Morneau
If it was a popularity contest then Josh Hamilton would win hands down. The Twins played well enough in the second half to possibly earn a playoff spot or a play-in game. They won without Santana and they probably shouldn't have.
AL Most Improved Hitter/Fielder: Aubrey Huff
Huff had career highs in almost every batting category. He stroked the ball nicely.

AL CY Young: Cliff Lee
This was a tough one to call and I almost gave it to Roy Halladay. For whatever reason, the Indians played like shit all year and yet, Lee only lost 3 times. It was Lee's awesome control that earned him 22 victories on an underachieving team.

AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria
I chose Longoria over the Chisox 2B Alexei Ramirez because Longoria had slightly better numbers. However, I feel that Ramirez had a stronger impact on his team. The Rays continued to win games when Longoria was injured. It came down to who was the better player and that was Evan.

AL Most Improved Pitcher: Cliff Lee
Sucked ass last year. And on a good team, nonetheless.

AL Relief/Closer: Mariano Rivera
Mariano had better overall numbers that K-Rod. K-Rod earned the single season save record but he blew 7 saves compared to Mariano's 1. Plus, Mariano did it on a crappy team and had a lower era.

AL Hidden Gem: Carlos Quentin
Carlos was cast aside in amongst all the young talent in Arizona. The White Sox took a chance and ended up making the best move in the off season. If he had stayed healthy, he would could have been the AL MVP.

NL Manager: Ned Yost
Ned Yost was shafted big time. He shouldn't have been fired that close to the end of the season. The Brewers won the wild card and I believe Yost deserves a lot of the credit.

NL MVP: Albert Pujols
I don't believe that the MVP should come from a winning team(see Derrek Lee 2005). Pujols proved again this year that he is the best player in the game and his fans are the biggest jackasses next to NYY fans.

NL Most Improved Hitter/Fielder: Jorge Cantu
Jorge didn't play very much last year and wasn't supposed to be the starting 3B in Florida this season. He played like he was going to be deported...or traded to the Pirates.

NL CY Young: Tim Lincecum
Same as Cliff Lee. Lincecum pitched his ass off on a God awful team. Brandon Webb is a close second.

NL Rookie of the Year: Geovany Soto
Most though it would be Kosuke Fukudome. Unfortunately for Kosuke, he couldn't hit squat after the all-star break. Geo played solid all year and had huge hits for the Cubs as well as catching Zambrano's no-hitter.

NL Most Improved Pitcher: Ricky Nolasco
Ricky was a Cubs cast-off a few years ago when they traded him for Juan Pierre. Idiots! Ricky emerged as the Florida ace this year because Olsen and Johnson were injured.

NL Relief/Closer: Brad Lidge
Brad Lidge was money. Maybe the nightmares of Pujols 3-run 2005 NLCS blast have faded. Only time will tell. There's always time to create new memories and the Brewers will have the first shot.

NL Hidden Gem: Ryan Dempster
The Cubs rotation was all about Zambrano to start the 2008 season. Ryan remained consistent and healthy through-out the entire season. He finished the season 17-6 with a 2.99 era. Not bad for a former closer and for a Canadian. Baseball trumps hockey.