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.

30 Teams in 30 Days

Minnesota Twins:  Putting Prospects (Sometimes Yours) To Work

(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals.  Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked.)

Keeping It Real

If you're looking at the Twins roster at any point and your not a fantasy baseball nerd (check) or American League Central fan, the likelihood that you've heard of all of these guys is quite slim.  Don't fret.  The Twinkies, at just around 26 years of age, are the third youngest team in the league, loaded with their own prospects (Denard Span, Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Scott Baker, etc.), other teams former prospects (like John Bonser, Delmon Young, and Joe Crede), and other teams actual prospects (Carlos Gomez).  It's fair to say that they've done quite well for themselves, losing big name players seemingly every year, and still competing.  Considering the rest of the teams didn't do too much to improve themselves and that the Twins are now a year older after a 163 game regular season last year, they should find themselves in the thick of AL Central competition all season.

Joe Mauer's Achy Back

I'm not going to hide it, I've never been a huge fan of Joe Mauer.  Not to take anything away from him, but I just never bought into this hype that had him imagined as a top flight MLB player.  Sure, the numbers he puts up (for a catcher) are good and he can actually field the position (ahem, Josh Phelps).  But, let's be honest about this dude.  Three hitters that hit for a nice average, don't drive in more than 80 or so runs (in a good year), and can't hit more than 10 homers are called Bobby Abreu.  Not, the best new young thing.  OK, now that I've finished bashing the best young catcher in the league, his back injury has become something of a spot of worry for the Twins.  No one seems to know exactly what is wrong or how long he'll be out.  Regardless of his lack of power or run-producing ability, he'll undoubtedly be missed as the Twins lineup, while consistently solid, is already lacking in pop (only 3 guys had either 10 or more homers and 70 or more RBIs).

Proof That Home Runs Are Overrated

Last year, the Twins ranked 29th in the league in homers hit, but 4th in the league in runs scored.  How in the hell?  Well, first, they've got a lot of what I call the David Eckstein-annoying-as-hell-but-effective quotient.  Scrappy little guys like Span and Alexi Casilla (expect some more steals this year you fantasy mongers) are able to outweigh the complete disappearance of power from a guy like Delmon Young or lack of it from Mauer.  I know I can't be the only AL fan to lick his chops when the Twins come to town, thinking that they only have one real hitter to fear in their whole lineup (sorry, not you Jason Kubel).  But, 6 of the 9 guys in their projected line up hit over .270 last year.  Fact is, they hit.  May not go a whole long way, but, it doesn't always have to.

A Quick Fantasy Note

Don't sleep on a guy like Scott Baker, please.  Somehow, this guy isn't catching on big time yet.  He was a solid to dominant pitcher for the last 4 months of the season last year.  He won't compete for a Cy Young any time soon, but the strikeout to walk ratio is sure to surprise (3.5/1) and he's only now rounding into what should be his first full 200 inning season.  Expect 15 wins, a sub-4 ERA, and near 175 K's.  I'd say that's pretty good.

Bold Predictions

Francisco Liriano, who has had a terrific spring, will return to top form this year.  Maybe not striking out 12 a game like 2006, but we will see more than just a flash of what made this kid the heir-apparent to Santana.  Usually, the second year after Tommy John is when you see full recovery, and sometimes even improvement.

Despite a balanced, youthful, improving staff, the lack of a 8th inning guy to compliment Joe Nathan will hurt the team at some point. Guys like Jesse Crain, Luis Ayala, and Matt Guerrier just don't seem like they can (or ever have been able to) get it done. How much it will hurt, I can't say.  I literally mean that, I'm not allowed.  I do know, but the league won't let me tell you.  Sorry.

Up Next...Wednesday, Astros