2012 MLB Picks and Predictions – American League Awards MVP, ROY and Cy Young Picks

2012 MLB Picks and Predictions: American League Awards Predictions: Another MLB season is in the books, and it is time to crown the best players in the American League. From the MVP debate between Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout to the handful of pitchers that had excellent season, the competition in the AL was definitely stout for the major awards. With that in mind, let’s get right into things. Here are my picks for the regular season hardware for 2012 in the American League.

2012 MLB Picks and Predictions: American League Awards

American League Most Valuable Player: Mike Trout, Outfielder, Los Angeles Angels

This is without a doubt that most hotly debated award, and I’m sure the Miguel Cabrera supporters will point out that he became just the 17th player to win the Triple Crown, and he did it for a Detroit team that won the AL Central. Those are fair points, but Trout finished the year with a .326 average, 129 runs scored, 30 home runs and 49 steals. Do you know how many players in history can boast that stat line in a season? Nobody before Trout did it this year. He also amassed those numbers despite missing the first month of the year. When he was called up, the Angels were 6-14. With him in the lineup, they went 83-59 the rest of the way. Not to mention that the Angels actually won more games than the Tigers. Throw in his Gold-Glove caliber defense in centerfield, and Trout was the best all-around player in baseball and deserves to be named ALL MVP.

American League Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Starter, Detroit Tigers

No, he didn’t put up MVP-caliber numbers like he did last season, but Verlander was still the best pitcher in the American League. He finished the year with a 17-8 record and led the league with 239 strikeouts. He also finished second in ERA, WHIP and batting average against. More importantly, he was the best workhorse in the game yet again. Verlander led the AL innings pitched and complete games, and compared two 20-game winners David Price and Jered Waever, it wasn’t even closer. He threw 27 more inning than Price and 50 more innings than Weaver. No pitcher combines dominance and durability like Verlander, and another Cy Young should be coming his way.

American League Rookie of the Year: Mike Trout, Outfielder, Los Angeles Angels

Well, he was good enough to earn my MVP vote so it goes without saying that Trout would also be the Rookie of the Year in my mind. The guy missed a month of the year and led the majors in runs scored and stolen bases. He also finished third in the majors in OPS and drove in 83 runs from the leadoff spot. It is scary to think that Trout is just 22 years old and could actually get better than he already is.

Comeback Player of the Year: Adam Dunn, Designated Hitter, Chicago White Sox

In 2011, Dunn hit .159 and finished the year with just 11 home runs and 42 RBIs. Those numbers are pitiful for any player, and they were embarrassing for a guy that had hit at least 38 homers in the previous seven seasons. The good news is that whatever was wrong with Dunn last year vanished in 2012 because he smacked 41 home runs and added 96 RBIs. Sure, he only upped his average to .204 and struck out an MLB-high 222 times, but Dunn his 105 walks were also the most in baseball. Add it his 87 runs scored, and Dunn bounced back from last season in a big way. He more than doubled his RBI total and hit 30 more homers. Dunn deserves to be named the Comeback Player of the Year in the American League.

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