MLB Mid Season Awards

As the All-Star break comes closer and closer, we are beginning to get an idea of who the contending teams are this year in Major League Baseball.

But since its the All-Star break, I'll give some credit to the individual players. Here are my mid season awards.

AL MVP: Josh Hamilton

This was actually a much harder choice than many would have expected. Despite Hamilton leading the AL in RBIs with 75 and tied for the league lead in HRs with 27, Hamilton was not an automatic pick for me.

As a rookie, Mike Trout has been unreal, despite only playing 63 games. Trout leads the AL with a .343 average as well as an AL leading 26 stolen bases.

Josh Hamilton has led Texas to the best record in the American League, so that's a plus for him. I'll stick with Hamilton for now, but Mike Trout is not far behind.

NL MVP: Andrew McCutchen

Another very tough choice here, as there are so many great players in the NL this year. Andrew McCutchen is my choice not only because of the amazing season that he has been having, but also the fact that the Pirates are in 1st place. No that is not a typo.

McCutchen has carried the Buccos to 1st place in the NL Central, fueling their run to the top. McCutchen leads the Major Leagues with a .361 average, as well as 59 runs knocked in.

The main reason that Andrew McCutchen is my choice is because of how well the Pirates have done this season. Pittsburgh is not a team that we are accustomed to being in 1st place. So for that, give Andrew McCutchen a lot of credit.

AL Cy Young: Jered Weaver

Jered Weaver is not my pick because he threw a no-hitter. Nor because he boasts the best ERA in the American League. Not even because he shares the same name as me, sort of.

Jered Weaver is the AL Cy Young because he has done all of this in only 15 starts. Weaver is 3rd in the AL with 10 wins, but first in the league in winning percentage. Weaver has been sensational this year, being first in ERA, WHIP, win percentage; while adding a no-hitter.

I can't think of any other pitcher who has done that. So for that reason, Jered Weaver is my Cy Young choice.

NL Cy Young: R.A. Dickey

Much like the other categories this was a tough call because believe it or not, Dickey is not the only 12 game winner in the National League. Robert Allen Dickey is my pick because he has sparked a resurgence in the Mets, and he is having a season like no other.

It took until he turned 37, but R.A. Dickey has become a great pitcher. The only knuckleballer left in the majors is 12-1 this season, while throwing two 1-hitters. The only other pitcher to do that this season is Matt Cain who has thrown a 1-hitter and a perfect game.

Dickey's knuckle ball has helped him strike out 123 batters this season, 2nd in the National League.  Robert Allen Dickey has been an amazing story thus far, but Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, and Matt Cain will give Dickey a good run for his money. It will be interesting to see if he can maintain his level of play in the second half of the season.