LOS ANGELES — There’s a distinct advantage to holding an awards show in print and cyberspace: Kanye West can’t ruin it.
The rapper’s tour with Lady Gaga was recently scrapped, probably for slow ticket sales. Todd Helton recently suggested I retire prematurely because of lack of interest in my columns. I think he meant by him, not the populace, so I charge on.
With the playoffs lurking like dessert, it’s time to look at who excelled during the meat of the season. Envelopes, please.
National League MVP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals. He wrapped up this award at the all-star break. He has finished in the top five in the MVP voting seven times since 2001, winning twice. Here’s the stat that jumps out: 47 home runs, 63 strikeouts. Simon & Garfunkel, we know where Joe DiMaggio has gone — to St. Louis.
“If he keeps this up for another eight years or so, he will be the greatest player ever,” outfielder Matt Holliday said.
NL Cy Young: Adam Wainwright, Cardinals. He won the award when he beat the Rockies last weekend. Chris Carpenter, his main competition, said he deserved it over him. Good enough for me.
NL rookie of the year: Chris Coghlan, Marlins. This is a wide-open race, and it would not surprise me if Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson wins. Just love the way Coghlan acts as a catalytic force in the lineup.
NL manager of the year: Jim Tracy, Rockies. Have you been watching? Not even Cher and Carlos Santana could stage greater comebacks.
AL MVP: Joe Mauer, Twins. Has a chance to be the finest hitting catcher ever. Matt Herges told me Mauer’s the best he’s faced not named Bonds. Given his position and the Twins’ charge, he gets a slight nod over Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira.
AL Cy Young: Zack Greinke, Royals.He has a 2.16 ERA in 220-plus innings. Makes the game look too easy. Greinke is the one reason to watch Kansas City baseball. Seattle’s Felix Hernandez deserves honorable mention.
AL rookie of the year: Elvis Andrus, Rangers. This kid is modest at the plate, but has distinguished himself as one of the game’s best gloves. He gets a slight edge over Oakland’s Andrew Bailey, who hasn’t blown a save since June 16.
AL manager of the year: Jim Leyland, Tigers. Between expletives and smokes, Leyland has done a masterful job.
Footnotes.
Consider it a prediction: A day or two after the Rockies’ last game, general manager Dan O’Dowd receives a three- year contract extension. And in turn, he gives Tracy a matching deal. The question isn’t whether either will be back, but for how long? . . . Somebody is going to get a great deal with free-agent starter Justin Duchscherer. He’s working out like an animal already in preparation for next season. . . . The dismissal of GM Kevin Towers in San Diego is the result of owner Jeff Moorad wanting to pick his own guy. Arizona’s Jerry Dipoto, who nearly landed GM gigs with Seattle and Washington, would be a great fit. However, the Diamondbacks may block any potential move because of conflicts with Moorad. . . . Fractures are becoming chasms in Toronto, where players are airing their grievances about manager Cito Gaston. They have complained about his communication skills, or lack thereof. This is an example of a successful man not fitting a modern team built in the age of Twitter. Gaston could survive but GM J.P. Ricciardi did not, getting fired this weekend. . . . White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is becoming background noise, too many outbursts diluting his message. Of his many quotes of the year, however, came this gem. Asked what he has seen from overpaid and underperforming outfielder Alex Rios: “A lot of strikeouts.” . . . The Cubs desperately want to unload malcontent Milton Bradley. The Mets or Oakland could get involved if the Cubs are going to eat the majority of his remaining contract. Texas would have been a great reunion, but he angered a lot of Rangers officials with selfish talk about his statistics. . . . Just a suggestion, but now that their future is so bright, isn’t it time the Rockies stop feeling threatened by their past? It would be nice to see Dante Bichette or Andres Galarraga throw out the first pitch at the Rockies’ first home playoff game this week. . . . The buzz in Houston is that Jim Fregosi and Manny Acta are leading candidates for the manager’s job. . . . Philadelphia’s Cliff Lee has been terrible lately. His ERA is over 6.00 in his last seven starts. . . . Congratulations to former Rockie and Heritage High School star Nate Field. The right-hander was on the mound when Team USA clinched the World Cup.
Eye on …
Mariano Rivera, RHP, New York Yankees
Background: Rivera burst onto the scene as John Wetteland’s setup man in 1996, helping the Yankees to a title. In 1997, he began the greatest run by a closer the game has ever seen.
What’s up: There are a lot of reasons to like the Yankees to win their first World Series since 2000 — Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia. But the most convincing is Rivera. If they get a lead late, it’s Don Pardo. Thanks for coming, here are your parting gifts. Rivera has compiled another tremendous season, saving 44 games, his most since 2004.
Renck’s take: To watch Rivera is to witness genius. He has one pitch. A cut fastball. He throws when he wants to, where he wants to and with evil intentions. It’s more like a chainsaw the way it bites through bats. Hitters all convey the same story. They think they have a read on it, it looks juicy, then as they swing it breaks late, usually on their hands. Watching Brad Hawpe try to hit Rivera in the All-Star Game, it elicited sympathy. Rivera absolutely mauls left-handed hitters. Most impressive is that he doesn’t flinch in the clutch. Yes, he’s blown a few leads, but his postseason statistics are ridiculous. He’s appeared in 76 games, compiling 34 saves with a 0.77 ERA. That would be a great season. So the conclusion is obvious: Beat the Yankees early or succumb to their Legend of the Fall.
At issue
Do teams really need momentum going into the playoffs?
What: There’s more talk about lights these days than around the Ben Franklin household. As in, can struggling teams flip the light switch when the playoffs start?
When: The postseason begins Wednesday with three games: two National League matchups and one American League game.
Background: Rockies shortstop Troy Tulo- witzki boldly discussed the issue two weeks ago, stressing the importance of the Rockies playing well heading into the postseason. He practically demanded that the pitchers throw more strikes. Closer Huston Street believes the Rockies are dangerous because “(Helton) and Tulo are hot, and (Brad) Hawpe is starting to figure it out again.” But what about the Dodgers, whose rotation is a mess? Or the Red Sox, who have slouched into the playoffs? Or the Cardinals, who aren’t hitting, or the Phillies, who still are assigning roles in their bullpen?
Renck’s take: The Dodgers’ Joe Torre downplayed the issue. That’s probably because his 2000 Yankees club lost 15-of-18 games before the playoffs and won the World Series. Cal Ripken Jr. predicted that the Dodgers would be able to “turn the switch on because they have answered the call all year when it was important.” With apologies to Ripken, I don’t buy it. It’s a case-by-case issue. Teams with dominant pitchers can trip across the finish line. So Boston will be fine with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester. Same goes for St. Louis with Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. The Dodgers? Not so much. Their ace is Randy Wolf, symbolic of a team with pieces of the puzzle scattered everywhere. The Dodgers have been living dangerously all year, but without consistent starters to keep them close late they are likely one-and-done in the playoffs.
Ups and downs
THREE UP
1. Yankees: CC Sabathia lived up to the hype, giving the Bombers a true ace.
2. Twins: Pitching staff found groove. A joy to watch with way they execute fundamentals.
3. Rockies: Tulowitzki could finish as high as third in the NL MVP voting.
THREE DOWN
1. Orioles: This team’s Septembers resemble Wile E. Coyote plummeting off a cliff.
2. Dodgers: They are a mess. Can’t hit, and now Hiroki Kuroda is on the shelf.
3. Mets: These are the Miracle Mets, as in it’s a miracle they didn’t lose 100 games.
