2012 MLB National League Midseason Awards Picks and Predictions: The National League has been a bit unpredictable even before the season started. Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun shockingly won his appeal of a 50-game suspension, and the surprises just keep coming. Philadelphia is in the cellar of the NL East, and starter Cliff Lee didn’t get his first win until July. Meanwhile, Yankee castoff A.J. Burnett has nine wins for the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates. Yep, I said it. The Pirates are leading their division. Needless to say, there are some unexpected players getting the nod for midseason awards.
2012 MLB National League Midseason Awards Picks and Predictions
National League MVP: Andrew McCutchen, Outfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates
This is where your definition of valuable really comes into play because Cincinnati’s Joey Votto is the best player in the National League and the most-efficient hitter in baseball. However, McCutchen’s Pirates are one game ahead of the Reds in the NL Central, and Votto has much more talent around him than does McCutchen. Despite little protection from the rest of the Pittsburgh lineup, McCutchen leads the majors with a .360 batting. He is also second in the NL in OPS, third in total hits, and in the top 10 in RBIs. He is also maintaining a nice 30-30 pace, swiping 14 bases and belting 16 home runs so far. If McCutchen can somehow lead the a doormat franchise like the Pirates into the postseason, he deserves to be named MVP.
National League Cy Young: R.A. Dickey, Starter, New York Mets
Aside from ranking second in strikeouts, Dickey basically leads the National League in every statistical category. He also leads the majors in wins, WHIP and batting average against. Dickey’s knuckleball has become an unhittable monster, and the fact that he throws it for strikes on a regular basis is just unfair. He has walked just 25 batters all season, and his 12-1 record is a big reason why the Mets are in the mix for a playoff spot. Matt Cain may have thrown a perfect game, but Dickey tossed back-to-back one-hit shutouts at one point, and his numbers are undeniable. It’s tough to explain how it happened, but a journeyman knuckleballer has become the best pitcher in the National League.
National League Rookie of the Year: Wade Miley, Starter, Arizona Diamondbacks
Washington fans are probably on their way to my doorstep with torches and giant cutouts of Bryce Harper’s face, but Miley has been rock solid from the start of the season for Arizona. He has a 9-4 record, and he ranks in the top 12 in the National League in both ERA and batting average against. Miley also owns the fifth-best WHIP in the NL. He doesn’t strike out a ton of batters, but he doesn’t walk many either. With last year’s NL wins’ leader Ian Kennedy struggling and No. 2 starter Daniel Hudson injured, Miley has saved the Diamondbacks’ rotation. Harper has certainly flashed his immense talent, but Miley’s consistency has him out front in the Rookie of the Year race.
Comeback Player of the Year: Carlos Beltran, Outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals
At one point in his career, Beltran was among the biggest superstars in baseball. However, injuries began to mount, and he missed half of the 2009 season and most of 2010. He began to rebound last year, splitting time between the Mets and Giants, but he has truly recaptured his form this season with the Cardinals. He is hitting .304, and he is second in the National League with 20 home runs. Beltran also leads the NL with 63 RBIs, and he should surpass his totals in homers and RBIs from last season shortly after the All-Star break. Even his speed has resurfaced, and his eight stolen bases are more than he had the last three years combined. Throw in the fact that he has essentially replaced Albert Pujols in the middle of a St. Louis lineup that has been plagued by injuries, and Beltran’s turnaround has been truly impressive.
Biggest Bust: Tim Lincecum, Starter, San Francisco Giants
Entering this season, Lincecum had pitched in four full seasons in the majors and had already won the Cy Young twice. In 2012, he has been a train wreck on the mound. Lincecum has a 6.08 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Batters are also hitting a robust .262 against him this season, and after allowing 66 earns runs all over last year, Lincecum has already surrendered 63 earned runs this season. His record is a woeful 3-9, and he has been so much worse than his career averages in every category that it is hard to believe there isn’t something physically wrong with him. Lincecum was supposed to be an ace and a Cy Young candidate. Instead, he wouldn’t even qualify as a bad No. 5 starter with his current numbers.
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