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.

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