Baseball Stories & Lists

Baseball Todd's Award Picks

2001 MLB Award Picks

American League Most Valuable Player

There were several worthy candidates from which to choose from this season in the American League. Last year's MVP was first baseman Jason Giambi from the Oakland A's and he did a fine job of trying to repeat, finishing second for the AL batting title with a .342 average along with 38 home runs and 120 RBI as he helped the A's rebound from a poor early start to clinch the wild card spot in the playoffs this year. The Texas Rangers were pitiful, but new shortstop Alex Rodriguez came over from Seattle and tried to prove he was worth the $25 million he got this year. Rodriguez set a major league record for shortstops with 52 home runs. He also hit .318 with 135 RBI, 201 hits, and 133 runs scored. First baseman Jim Thome from the Cleveland Indians helped his team win the Central Division with a .291 batting average, 49 homers and 124 RBI. Rookie right fielder Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners won the batting title with a .350 average along with a rookie record of 242 hits - breaking Lloyd Waner's freshman mark of 223 safeties in 1927. Suzuki is a cinch to win AL Rookie of the Year honors. But, it's his teammate at second base BRET BOONE who I think deserves the American League's MVP award this year. The Mariners won a record-tying 116 games in 2001 and Boone did all he could to help them with a .331 batting average, 37 homers and 141 RBI. Boone also had 206 hits and 118 runs scored while supplying solid defense - something his father Bob Boone and grandpa Ray Boone know something about. Bob caught 19 years for the Phillies, Angels and Royals while Ray was an all-star third baseman in the 1950s for the Tigers, White Sox, Indians, and others.
OFFICIAL WINNER: Ichiro Suzuki

American League Cy Young Award

Mark Mulder of the Oakland A's had a breakout season this year. The lanky 6-foot-6 righty led the American League in victories with a 21-8 record along with a 3.45 ERA as part of a formidable starting rotation that also included Barry Zito (17-8) and Tim Hudson (18-9). The Mariners also had a pair of standout starters in Freddy Garcia and veteran Jamie Moyer. Garcia (who came to Seattle in the 1998 trade that sent Randy Johnson to Houston) went 18-6 with a 3.05 ERA, second best in the league. Moyer (at 39) had the best year of his 14-year major league career with a 20-6 record and 3.43 ERA. My choice for the AL Cy Young Award, though, would go to ROGER CLEMENS of the New York Yankees. The Yanks have won the World Series four of the last five years and could do it again, mainly because Clemens was nearly unbeatable this year. He went 20-1 before suffering two straight defeats late in September against Tampa Bay. Clemens won 16 straight decisions at one point. He also had a 3.51 ERA and 213 strikeouts in 220 innings pitched - giving him 3,717 strikeouts in his career, third on the all-time list behind Nolan Ryan (5,714) and Steve Carlton (4,136). If Clemens wins the Cy Young Award, it will be his sixth. He also won it in 1986, '87, and '91 with the Boston Red Sox and in 1997 and '98 with the Toronto Blue Jays.
OFFICIAL WINNER: Roger Clemens

National League Most Valuable Player

Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals provided a strong spark in the lineup during his rookie season in 2001. He is a cinch to win the NL's Rookie of the Year award after hitting .329 with 37 home runs and 130 RBI. Primarily a third baseman, Pujols was also handy in the outfield and at first base at times. Luis Gonzalez of the Arizona Diamondbacks had a career year with a .325 batting average, 57 homers and 142 ribbies. Gonzalez won the home run hitting contest at this year's All-Star Game at Seattle's Safeco Field. Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs had another magnificent season, hitting .328 with 64 homers and a major league leading 160 RBIs. It's the third time in the last four seasons that Sosa has belted 60-plus home runs. But, as much as I hate to admit it, I would have to give the National League MVP award to right fielder BARRY BONDS of the San Francisco Giants. This is a no brainer because Bonds broke the major league record for home runs in one season with 73. It was only three years ago when Sosa (with 66) and Mark McGwire (70) staged their famous home run derby. Now, Bonds has the record comfortably. He also hit .328 with 137 RBI. His ribbie total was misleading because he walked a major league record 177 times. His on-base percentage was .515 and his slugging average was .863 - breaking Babe Ruth's record of .847 in 1920. Bonds will become the first player with four MVP awards to his credit. He also won it in 1990 and '92 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and in 1993 during his first year with the Giants. With 567 career home runs, Bonds is a sure first-ballot Hall of Famer. At 37, he could have a shot at breaking Hank Aaron's career home run record of 755. I just wish that Bonds were more personable. He comes off as one of the biggest jerks in the game. Maybe he'll change and let's hope so, because he has a chance to become the greatest player in the history of baseball. But, if he continues to be surly and rude, he'll have a hard time convicing people he's worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Ruth, Cobb, Mays, Gehrig, Mantle, etc.
OFFICIAL WINNER: Barry Bonds

National League Cy Young Award

Four-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves had another strong season, going 17-11 with a 3.05 ERA while helping the Braves to their 10th consecutive division championship. Matt Morris of the Cardinals tied for the league lead in victories after going 22-8 with a 3.16 ERA. Jon Lieber of the Cubs had a nice breakout-type of season, going 20-6 with a 3.80 ERA. And, Curt Schilling was nearly unhittable after going 22-6 for the Diamondbacks with a 2.98 ERA and 293 strikeouts in only 256 innings pitched. But, his teammate RANDY JOHNSON was even more intimidating. Johnson led the Senior Circuit with a 2.49 ERA along with a 21-6 record. He challenged Nolan Ryan's 1973 record of 383 strikeouts, falling just 11 short with 372. Johnson (at 6-foot-10) is the tallest player in baseball history and could win his fourth Cy Young Award this year, after winning in 1995 with Seattle and the last two years with Arizona. Johnson is the most intimidating pitcher in the game today, if not in the history of baseball. I think he's at the top of his game right now and deserves another award for his trophy case.
OFFICIAL WINNER: Randy Johnson

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