Slightly delayed with this weeks blogger poll, but nonetheless, the Awards for the American League as of the thirteenth week are up at Roto Junkie. Things are beginning to get very tight in the American League according to the voters.

Check out how I voted for week eleven.

MVP
The separation between first place in the MVP and 4th is becoming tighter with the passing weeks. Although not much has changed from my perspective, other voters are beginning to jump from hot streak to hot streak, while I maintain my stance on value towards a team.

Winner - Milton Bradley
Runner Up - Alex Rodriguez
3rd - Grady Sizemore

Had Bradley and Rodriguez both been healthy for the entire season, I would have had an impossible time separating the two. However, because Bradley has played in a few more games, and due to my belief that Josh Hamilton's outstanding can predominantly be placed on the switch hitting shoulders of Bradley, the decision becomes slightly easier. As Bradley continues to miss a game here and there, and Rodriguez continues to rake, I may begin drawing names from a hate.

Sizemore has cut down on his strikeouts which has invariably led to a breakout season. It is incredible what can happen when a player puts the ball in play an extra 4 or 5%. As mentioned, there is a marginal amount of homer-ism with this.

A very interesting placement belongs to Evan Longoria. While he is undoubtedly having a fantastic season, especially when you consider his age and experience, I think it is difficult to call him the most valuable player on the Rays, let alone one of the top three in all of baseball.

CY Young
There is a substantial gap for this award, and I can somewhat understand where the voters are coming from. Overall, my voting was quite similar to that of the other bloggers.

Winner - Roy Halladay
Runner Up - John Lackey
3rd - Cliff Lee

For me, the combination of great numbers, and in game longevity are what separate Halladay from the rest of the pack. Halladay owns a considerable lead in innings pitched among his competitors and has provided his bullpen with a night off in 33% of his starts. While Lackey has probably been more impressive, not qualifying for the ERA title hurts his odds. However, like Halladay, Lackey has been an incredible innings eater and downright dominant.

Lee has been incredibly impressive, even more so because of the limited expectations entering this season. However, he lacks the 'stopper' mentality of Halladay and Lackey, which is something I look for when comparing pitchers. All else being equal of course.

All that being said, it is going to be difficult to ignore John Danks and Justin Duchscherer during week 15's poll.

Rookie of the Year
Similar to the Cy Young award, there really isn't much of a debate here. The voters pretty much had their first and second place votes etched in stone and just rolled the dice on the final player to receive 1 point.

Winner - Evan Longoria
Runner Up - Jacoby Ellsbury
3rd - Joba Chamberlain

As I mentioned in the previous poll, this is hardly a competition. Longoria has taken this award and simply run away with it. Ellsbury has done his best to act like a rookie, rather then a seasoned veteran, and in doing so watched his on base percentage fall from an outstanding .402 to a still strong, but fading .343. At this rate, Ellsbury may have worked his way from consensus #1 rookie, to out of the ballot altogether (for everyone not located in Boston that is).

I suppose the Chamberlain pick is more of a preemptive one. He has been strong, yet unspectacular as a starter. His relief work definitely helps his cause, as does the mediocre work of the Yankees bullpen since his departure to the rotation.

Lastly, I can't argue with the pick of Greg Smith as the #3 rookie thus far. While not performing at a spectacular level, he is having a nice season for a rookie. That being said, has he been that much better then Aaron Laffey to this point?

As always, I encourage everyone to give feedback on my votes, and/or to suggest whom they would have voted for. Keep in mind, however, that this is a 'if the season were to end today' vote.

Hype Up the Story Here!

Chicago's AM 670 The Score, is reporting that Bobby Jenks is "likely headed to the DL".

There isn't anything else to back up this story, and given the ChiSox decision to designate Pablo Ozuna for assignment, moving Jenks to the disabled list would be an interesting move.

The Sox are being rather tight lipped about Jenks to begin with, which makes me wonder how much pain Jenks is actually in. That is, the Sox trainers could be thinking that Jenks will be out for a substantial amount of time, not revealing that information would not handcuff Kenny Williams into making a move.

On July 7th, the day after Jenks threw a bullpen session, the Chicago Sun Times quoted Guillen as being guarded and cautious regarding Jenks.

The report continues suggesting that this is an ideal time to shut Jenks down. With only a handful of games remaining before the break, avoiding the temptation to rush Jenks back will not hinder the club to a great degree.

Or maybe all of this is just the White Sox trying to win a headline or two in the windy city. I hear some Canadian with great side burns is making noise down there.

To avoid redundency, the blogger's awards occur for each week on an every other rotating week basis. This week's edition checks in with the National League up to June 22nd. To check out the results, head over to RotoJunkie to view the results of all who voted.

It is also interesting to reflect upon a previous weeks voting. Here is my last posting which was for week 6.

The following will be how I voted, and why...

MVP
Winner - Lance Berkman
Runner Up - Dan Uggla
3rd - Chipper Jones

Berkman has been the class of Major League Baseball. For those in fantasy leagues, he has been a godsend. Combining excellent power numbers, with the steals and on base percentage, Berkman has been one of a kind. I place Uggla at this level as his performance for a second basemen has been incredible. Chipper Jones' name just looks good on this list, having a .400 batting average does not hurt.

Cy Young
Winner - Ben Sheets
Runner Up - Edinson Volquez
3rd - Tim Lincecum

Ben Sheets has eaten innings for the Brew crew. In one less start then Volquez, Sheets had logged an extra inning. Over the last week that amount has further increased. However, denying Volquez his due would be wrong and second place is outstanding for a player of his age and experience. As for Lincecum, he has absolutely dominated. While I typically do not give much credit for wins and loses, when your team has logged a loss in 57% of their games and you are sitting with 2% of that total, you are doing something right.

Rookie of the Year
Winner - Geovany Soto
Runner Up - Kosuke Fukudome
3rd - Joey Votto

Soto is definitely slowing down, but one cannot deny what he has done to this point as a 25 year old catcher. If this award was given out based on what a player has done lately, Soto would be on the outside looking in, but his April happened, and no one can take that away. Despite not really being a rookie, Fukudome qualifies and has been as good as advertised. Owning a .400+ on base percentage is outstanding for anyone, let alone a rookie. Lastly, despite currently ranking 3rd, it wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone if Votto or someone else from Cincinnati won this award. Votto has had a nice season and is a hot streak from jumping Soto and Fukudome.


What do you think? How would have you voted? Clearly Bill Chuck would have went in a different direction for each award except for Rookie of the Year.