Alright, time to put all that nonsense from the 2014 season behind us. Let’s talk awards, free agents, and prospects for 2015!
The upcoming awards schedule is as follows:
[ul]
[li]Monday, Nov. 10: Rookies of the Year[/li]
[li]Tuesday, Nov. 11: Managers of the Year[/li]
[li]Wednesday, Nov. 12: Cy Young Awards[/li]
[li]Thursday, Nov. 13: Most Valuable Players[/li][/ul]Make your predictions now!
Two seem like no-brainers;
NL Cy Young: Kershaw
NL Manager: Bochy
Who’s ready for the Cubs to sign Joe Maddon? Rumored to be announced today or tomorrow… Seems the Cubs are finally ready to open their pocketbooks to go along with all their rookies who are on the cusp. I think in the next 3 years we’ll finally see the Cubs back in the World Series!
#PayPanda
That about sums it up for the Giants…we’ll see you in 2016.
The only thing I’m looking at right now is does Maddon come to the Cubs. I walk by Wrigley at least twice a day. The Cubs are spending money to completely renovate the area. My guess is they do hire Maddon and let Renteria go to another team. Ricketts wants some serious excitement next year, a good young Cubs team plus a manager with a proven track record will sell seats even in April.
AL MVP is obviously Trout, AL Rookie is obviously Abreu. No super obvious NL MVP - could it go to Kershaw?
McCutcheon/Stanton/Posey?
Only other choice is McCutchen. But Kershaw would seem to be the front-runner.
I’m wondering if any of the voters are going to shy away from Kershaw after the post-season.
The votes are taken before the post season – at least they used to be. I assume they still are. The award is supposed to be award in-season performance.
My Dodgers have some off-season decisions, maybe most notably the left side of the infield (I think we need to let Hanley walk), and renovating the bullpen. And as soon as we get the setup guys put together, can Jansen continue to be effective as closer? The shelf life of most dominant closers is pretty brief. I still want to see Billingsley return to form, but I’m not sure if it happens, and if it does, I’m not sure it happens with the Blue. Probably time to package Ethier and see what we can get. Sorry to see him go, I like the way he plays the game and he handled his situation this year with real class.
Dodgers need to deal Ethier and Ramirez for sure. I wonder if they are thinking about making an offer to Sandoval? That would give them Uribe to package as well.
Billingsley is toast, I’m afraid. I don’t see him ever coming back as anything noteworthy. But that’s just my opinion.
This next year might just be the year Rojas and Turner become starters, if the Dodgers spend all their trade assets on pitching instead of position players.
I’d be very surprised if it was anyone other than Kershaw.
Also, NL ROY: de Grom is the front runner.
It is my understanding Hanley is a free agent now. You are probably right about Bils, but hope springs eternal.
Hanley was desperate to boost his numbers this year because of said free agency. Anything to try to increase his price on the free market.
I don’t think it worked. The Dodgers will make him an offer, but if he goes somewhere else they won’t cry a lot of tears.
Yes, they voted before the postseason.
I’d say Kershaw’s a better than even bet to win the MVP Award.
Thanks for the info on the timing of the voting; I was not aware. I’d agree that Kershaw is the most likely MVP winner.
It’s a done deal, Cubs fire Renteria and will introduce Maddon on Monday. I’ve got very mixed feelings about this. There will be Hell to pay if Maddon doesn’t deliver immediate improvement next year and a World Series within 3 years. But if he does, he’ll be loved in Chicago like no one else.
A-Rod’s back, so the Yankees are all set for 2015.
All A-Rod’s fans* are eager to see if he can pass Mays on the career HR list in 2015.