The baseball awards

 Welcome to the MVP Chase, where I look for, or chase, the best objective criteria in determining greatness without personal subjective bias.

Today's Topic: Baseball Award results

Photo credit: Tage Olsin

The Baseball Writers Association of America announced its major awards this past week. They agreed with me on all four awards: NL and AL MVP and Cy Young.

I will list the BWAA MVP results followed by (in parentheses) where I put them on my hypothetical ballot.  Then I'll do the same for the Cy Young Awards.

BWAA National League MVP (My ballot)

1. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (First)

2. Manny Machado, Padres (Fourth)

3. Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (Fifth)

4. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (Second)

5. Mookie Betts, Dodgers (Sixth)

6. Austin Riley, Braves (Ninth)

7. J.T. Realmuto, Phillies (Eighth)

8. Pete Alonso, Mets (Third)

9. Francisco Lindor, Mets (Off)

10. Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, (Off)

I had Hunter Renfroe, Brewers seventh, and Kyle Schwarber, Phillies, tenth. I didn't have Alcantara because I haven't yet figured out the metrics to make pitchers viable MVP candidates. The Marlins, however, were a losing team and Alcantara was unlikely to be on my ballot anyway.

BWAA American League MVP (my ballot)

1. Aaron Judge, Yankees (First)

2. Shohei Ohtani, Angels (Off)

3. Yordan Alvarez, Astros (Second)

4. José Ramírez, Guardians (Third)

5. Jose Altuve, Astros (Fourth)

6. Andrés Giménez, Guardians (Sixth)

7. Julio Rodríguez, Mariners (Seventh)

8. Mike Trout, Angels (Off)

9. Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (Off)

10. Justin Verlander, Astros (Off)

Ohtani, Trout, and Bogaerts missed my ballot because their teams didn't win enough games. Verlander (like Alcantara in the NL) wasn't on my ballot because I haven't figured out how to value pitchers for MVP.

Instead, I had Teoscar Hernandez, Blue Jays fifth, Randy Arozarena, Rays eighth, Yandy Diaz, Rays ninth, and Alex Bregman, Astros tenth.

Great players on losing teams can still be all-stars, all-league, Silver Sluggers, Golden Glovers, and stat monsters. They can build Hall of Fame credentials. But MVP isn't a "Best Player" award. It's about contributions to team success.

BWAA National League Cy Young (my ballot) 

1. Sandy Alcantara, Marlins (First)

2. Max Fried, Braves (Off)

3. Julio Urias, Dodgers (Off)

4. Aaron Nola, Phillies (Second)

5. Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks (Fifth)

I had Corbin Burnes, Cardinals third, and Yu Darvish, Padres fourth.

BWAA American League Cy Young (my ballot)

1. Justin Verlander, Astros (First)

2. Dylan Cease, White Sox (Off)

3. Alex Manoah, Blue Jays (Fourth)

4. Shohei Ohtani, Angels (Off)

5. Framber Valdez, Astros (Off)

I had Triston McKenzie, Guardians second, Gerrit Cole, Yankees third, and Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks fifth. 

James Leroy Wilson writes The MVP Chase, Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, and JL Cells. Thanks for your subscriptions and support! You may contact James for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.