The Picks - Post Season Award Talk

Arguably, the most ridiculous of all of the pre-season predictions are the awards. Which player will be the most valuable to his (or her) team? Which pitcher will have the best season? How about best rookie? The questions themselves seem simple enough, but when asked before a pitch has been thrown, they're a bit silly.

But, nonetheless, it's tradition. Before every baseball season, even if it's only in your own head, you have to think of some predictions, even if that only means picking your Silver Sluggers (and if that's your thing, more power to you...get it, more power to you. bah dumpt, chhhh). And so, Jordan and I have berned long and hard over these, stewing and brewing over predictions that will more than likely fall by the wayside due to injury or incompetence (on either the players' or our parts).

So, without further ado, the 2009 Berning On Sports Pre Season Award picks...

AL Rookie of the Year:

Jordan: Matt Wieters, BAL

Assuming he plays most of the season, this guy is bound for stardom. I expect once he comes up in May he'll hit near .300 and hit 15-20 home runs while making a big impact on the Orioles both offensively and defensively.

Scott: Same, BAL

I don't really know many other rookies. He's supposed to be good.

NL Rookie of the Year:

Jordan: Colby Rasmus, STL

This guy has been in the minors longer than the Cardinals wanted him there because of an already crowded outfield. Assuming he'll get plenty of at-bats this season, he'll do well because he plays for St. Louis and if you play for them, you hit, no matter what your name is.

Scott: Come on. My only other guess, Daniel Murphy, NYM. He'll bat second, and they say the kid can really rake, so long as his lack of a real position doesn't kill the Mets too bad.

AL Cy Young Award: J

Jordan: Jon Lester, BOS

He's an excellent pitcher primed for a huge year. With the benefit of a winning club that has a great offense, he'll win a lot of games, and statistically he's as good as anyone.

Scott: Roy Halladay, TOR

I love the pick of Lester, and while I'd love to echo Jordan's sentiment's a third time, I'm going to stay in the division, but head further north. The only thing holding him back is that he might not get enough wins playing for such a poor team, but his stuff and track record show nothing other than greatness and no signs of slowing.

NL Cy Young Award:

Jordan: Jake Peavy, SD

This one is harder because there are so many dynamite pitchers in the National League. But the 2007 Cy Young is going to be pitching with the extra motivation of wanting to be traded from San Diego so he'll have a huge year. The only way he doesn't get consideration is if he doesn't win enough games because his offense is so bad.

Scott: Johan Santana, NYM

This might seem like a pick made based on the fact that I live in his area, but he'd have likely won it if the Mets had any semblance of a bullpen at any point last season. He won 16 games with a league leading ERA last year, and now he has Frankie Rodriguez and J.J. Putz to lock down a few more W's for the resume.

AL Most Valuable Player:

Jordan: Mark Teixeira, NYY

The MVP almost always comes from one of the best teams that is playoff bound. Big Tex is a fantastic player as it is, but now he'll be the focal point of an already excellent offense since A-Rod will begin the season on the DL.

Scott: Justin Morneau, MIN

With Joe Mauer out of the lineup for a chunk of time, the Twins will count on the Canadian to pick up the slack, and he will. He might not slug you to death, but Morneau will carry the Twins all the way to a division title.

NL Most Valuable Player:

Jordan: Manny Ramirez, LAD

He's playing his first full season in the National League, which he destroyed last year. I understand it was in a contract year, but the guy mashes no matter where he is. The Dodgers will likely be NL West champs again, and Manny will be credited with leading them there.

Scott: Albert Pujols, STL

This is a give-up pick, but here's how I look at it: the guy's always great (which, I know can work against him for this award, a la Kobe Bryant or even Shaq), and no one on the Cubs stands out to me as a guy that would clearly deserve an MVP award. So, Pujols it is, if even by default. Again.

Here's Something I Don't Understand...

Why does everyone care so much about whether a pitcher starts on opening day?

Here in Chicago, the talk has been whether Carlos Zambrano would start opening day for the Cubs for a couple of weeks. Turns out he is. I've heard discussion about whether Johan Santana can start opening day for the Mets, or whether he'll pitch the day after or the day after that. This discussion seems to take place in many cities in the country.

But why is that so important? What's so great about starting on opening day? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's one game and doesn't count for more than one win, right? How is it so much more important than any other game?

Listen, opening day is like a holiday for me, because the realization that baseball's back is thrilling. I love watching my team play an afternoon or early evening game on the season's first day and think about how great it is that there are 161 games to follow.

At the same time, though, it's not that important. Opening day is just game one of 162. And when you look at any team in September, it is usually markedly different than it was on the season's first day.

Spare me this argument how the opening day start is so important it's worth discussing. Because the truth is, it doesn't matter one bit.

Apparently No MRI Necessary for Johan

So I guess Johan Santana's tight elbow is feeling better.  Or at least, that's what he wants Mets fans to think.

Probably fearing the number of Queens residents on the roof of their buildings after hearing their ace's golden left arm wasn't feeling so good, he now says after throwing today the MRI he was scheduled to undergo on Monday is feeling better and that procedure won't be necessary.

However, Mets fans, I wouldn't breathe that sigh of relief just yet.

Santana threw for the first time in four days today.  The fact that his arm felt better as he continued to throw is a good sign.  But as someone who used to pitch, granted not on the professional or even the college level, feeling fine after four days rest can be misleading.

He might feel fine now, but the fact that he's having soreness could still be a major red flag.  It might just be that he's getting back in the routine of throwing and he's having normal soreness that comes with reusing muscles that haven't been used in a few months.  But my guess is that there is something of concern, considering the Mets were ready to fly him back to New York.

Am I being pessimistic?  Sure.  But I don't think you're out of the woods yet, Met fans.  I'd suggest deep relaxing breaths.

Uh Oh

Mets ace Johan Santana has "tightness" in his elbow.  Now he's flying back to New York Monday for an MRI just to check things out.  GM Omar Minaya is calling it "precautionary", but don't tell that to Met fans who I'm guessing are very nervous right now.

I don't blame you.  I had to deal with this almost yearly with Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.

Reports indicate Santana may not be ready to make his opening day start in Cincinnati on April 6th.  That's at least the word right now.

But I've seen pitchers go down this road before.  Opening day turns into the first week.  The first week turns into the first month.  The first month turns into mid May.  Then all of a sudden he'll have minor league rehab.  Then the guy is instructed to wait until the all-star break to return.

I'm not saying this is the case for Santana, but this possibility has to be in the back of every Mets fan's mind.  If they were to lose Santana for a lengthy period of time, they'd lose their only bona fide starting pitcher in their rotation.

Oliver Perez, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Tim Redding and Jonathon Niese are decent options for the rest of your rotation.  But any baseball person would tell you this is not a rotation that without Santana can contend for anything but maybe a first round exit in the playoffs.  And that would be the very best case scenario.

The Mets have good offensive talent and a bolstered bullpen with the additions of Frankie Rodriguez and J.J. Putz.  But how long would those guys be able to keep the team afloat without Santana?  Especially when you're competing with the defending champion Phillies, an improved Braves team, and an always pesky Marlins club?

They probably wouldn't stack up that well.  If I'm a Mets fan, I'm on pins and needles until the results of Santana's MRI come back.  If he's healthy, a big sigh of relief.  If this is a major injury or at least a nagging one?  Well, then I'm afraid the frustration continues for the Queens faithful.