John_Havok

ty sir The first 2 are ready for a quick read/check. No, none of us have award ballots and never will, but we all have an opinion and that's what the internet is for! Over the next week we'll deliver each of our writers' picks for the top MLB awards; MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year for both the American League and National League. First, the NL Cy Young. John Havok - Clayton Kershaw Max Scherzer undoubtedly gained a few votes with his second no hitter of the season in his last start, and but his overall season just doesn't stack up to Clayton Kershaw, Jake Arrieta and Zack Greinke as the top names for me. Looking at WAR (its not perfect, I get it. But when there's 3 guys head and shoulders above other candidates, it's pretty telling). FIP-based WAR would crown Kershaw the champ, RA9 WAR would give it to Greinke, and a 50/50 blend of the two sees Arrieta on top with Kershaw right behind. I don't think there's really a wrong choice here and each guy could have a case built for them, depending on how much weight you give to ERA, sequencing and batted ball "luck", but my vote goes to Kershaw. Purely and simply, he's a beast and the best pitcher in the game right now that every team in baseball would take if there was a dispersal draft tomorrow if cost wasn't an issue. 300 Ks don't grow on trees. Spencer Estey - Clayton Kershaw I believe that Kershaw is clearly the National League's best pitcher. He had an absolutely monstrous season. Arrieta and Greinke really only have ERA arguments over Kershaw, and I don't put a lot of stock in those arguments when it comes to determining the best pitcher. Nikolai Ballevski - Clayton Kershaw Kershaw was easily the best pitcher in the NL this year. He had a FIP under 2.00 and he K'd over 300 batters! It's a crying shame that win totals and a couple of slightly fluky ERA seasons from two other very good pitchers could actually have him 3rd in Cy Young voting behind Arrieta and Greinke. Andre Godin - Clayton Kershaw Improbably, Clayton may have set the bar even higher for himself in 2015 over his 2014 season. Kershaw put up the kind of numbers that you just don't expect pitchers not named Randy Johnson to put up.

Oh yeah, one more thing, what are KingKats and NJH's writing names... it's been so long they've slipped my old brain. I know North is SPencer... NJH is ... Nikolai?

I'll put the first one up tomorrow since it's the first day of the playoffs for the Jays and follow with another one each day. If anyone else wants to get in before it goes up or chime in on a an award or two after the first few go up, no problem just post it here and I'll get it done.

Anyone else for the awards? Would like more than 2 of us.

My AL pick is Sale, but I'm a weirdo.

K, with the regular season wrapped up, lets get something out for our award predictors. AL and NL MVP, Cy, and ROY - we'll put each award together and release as separate articles for each league.. so just do up a paragraph or two on each award and why you picked who you picked and we'll compile and get sent out. SAmple: "NL Cy Young - Max Scherzer undoubtedly gained a few votes with his second no hitter of the season in his last start, and he joins 3 other names in Clayton Kershaw, Jake Arrieta and Zack Greinke as the top 4 names in my consideration. FIP-based WAR would crown Kershaw the champ, RA9 WAR would give it to Greinke, some blend of the two sees Arrieta on top and Scherzer right there also. I don't think there's really a wrong choice here and each guy could have a case built for them, but my vote goes to Kershaw. Purely and simply, he's a beast and the best pitcher in the game right now that every team in baseball would take if there was a dispersal draft tomorrow. My ballot goes Kershaw, Arrieta, Greinke then Scherzer. "

For me it's Zaun and it's not close

Who says he's not in the running in the terms of hype for the Cy? Most articles I read these has it between Kershaw, Greinke and Arrieta

Some decent nostalgia in that video. California Angels, Fenway without the monster seats, Buck Martinez 25 years younger with a stache... lol

4pm and 7:30 pm eastern time are the scheduled start times

Getting to the point where I think the award picks article could get underway. Once the Jays clinch the east we can do a playoff preview, etc

We should put out something about award predicting soon, as nauseating and predicatable as that might be. Each of us can write a small blurb about the big awards in each league, MVP, CY and ROY.

All i can say is get there early and walk around the stadium, check out the places that are close by, some amazing places to eat. The most fun I had there was on Yawkey prior to the game. Great food and atmosphere.

He's stuck out 38% of the time and hasn't walked in 37 PA. It's not exactly a sample size worth talking about. He's run into 5 HR. No secret he has power.

I doubt this alot. He inherited a great situation wth good club, good minor league team and financial flexibility and proceeded to take that ship and hit every iceberg he could find. He had a playoff team his 4 four years as GM, including a WS win in his first, and WS loss in his second, but as soon as the moves and deals he made during those first four years began to take effect in years 5-8, the team sank faster than the titanic. He is largely recognized as one of the last GMs to embrace advanced statistics as even a factor in his decision making. Bye bye to baseball dinosaurs. The city of Philadelphia should throw him a parade, not as a thanks, but as a "good riddance."

If he lives in Baltimore, that's all explanation you need to explain the inferiority complex.

Don't kid yourself, Goins would have splinters in his ass if injury hadnt opened the door.

I would guess it's bout being a rookie vs being a guy he's had a lot more first hand knowledge of. Pure guess on my part but Gibby seems like he's just like most other old-school type managers who don't really get into the micro details of any decision.

I'll be in Chicago the week of a Whute Sox/Cubs home and home series. Frigging sweeeeeet

Edwin a hit banged up on one of his legs? Looks d like he was really taking it easy down the line on something that could have been much closer. Looked a little ginger going down the steps into the dugout too.

Well then, I guess he's healthy.

All I expect is if that hes healthy, he has nowhere left to pitch any more rehab starts so he can only be called up or shut down. Whether he starts or goes out of the pen isn't my decision, nor do I have enough information to guess what the right decision is. But if the only two options are shut him down or activate him, then activating is the logical thing to do ... IF he is 100% healthy.

Nowhere did I say he should go into the roatation. Don't make up arguments

No its not. The Jays would have guys there to actually look at him and see what he actually looked like. Was he missing wildly? Getting squeezed by the ump? Who knows. Health is really all that matters when you're out of places to rehab and either have to be shut down or added to the roster.

1 minor league start's worth of numbers is worth about a such as spring training numbers. They don't really indicate anything.