National League Award Predictions

Here are my MLB award predictions for the National League. Brought to you before March!!!

-Most Valuable Player: Mark Teixeira, 1B, Atlanta Braves

Teixeira had monster numbers once he was traded to the Braves at the deadline last year. He had 17 HR and 56 RBI in only 54 games. If the Braves can somehow win the NL East division over the defending Phillies and the Series-bound Mets, Teixeira will definitely be a huge part of it, and in turn win the NL MVP.

-Dark horse: Ryan Braun, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers

If Braun can keep up his numbers from his outstanding rookie season last year, he will win it. It is easier said than done, but in the 4th spot in the order behind Prince Fielder, he should get some good RBI chances. Also, a switch to outfield may be just what Braun needs, because his defense at third base was terrible (26 errors in 112 games). 

-Cy Young Award (best pitcher): Johan Santana, SP, New York Mets

It is hard to argue that the former AL Cy Young Award winner will not benefit from his move to the NL. As I stated i

n my previous article, Santana's stats should improve as well as his win total, and whala; the Cy Young trophy falls into his lap. Still, defending winner Jake Peavy may have something to say about it in the end.

-Dark Horse: Dan Haren, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Another AL pitcher coming to the NL. Although his former home field in Oakland is more spacious than his new one in Arizona, Haren will benefit just as Santana will because of the pitcher's 9th spot instead of the DH. He also inherits a better lineup in the Desert than he had in the Bay City, which means more wins.

-Rookie of the Year: Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds

If you have heard about the MLB's new generation of players, you have most definitely heard of Votto. He has the first base position in the Reds lineup already locked up. Not to mention hitting in Great American Ballpark should do wonders for him, as it has done for Ken Griffey Jr., Brandon Phillips and, of course, Adam Dunn.

-Dark Horse: J.R. Towles, C, Houston Astros

Honestly, I do not know much about Towles, other than the fact that he has already been given the starting catcher job in Houston over long-ime starter Brad Ausmus. The Astros have a pretty good lineup and he has some potential in the 7th or 8th spot in the lineup.

-Silver Bat Award (batting title): Matt Holliday, LF, Colorado Rockies

Holliday should have won MVP last year, but that's not the point. He is one of the MLB's best spray hitters and the opposing team cannot pitch around him because the rest of the Rockies' lineup can hurt you. There seems to be no reason Holliday cannot repeat his .340 average that he obtained last season on his way to winning the batting title.

-Dark Horse: Freddy Sanchez, 2B, Pittsburgh Pirates

"Steddy Freddy" won the batting title two years ago and had a very quiet .304 average last year. Sanchez was not close to Holliday's .340 mark because he had a terrible first half, partly due to a nagging injury he obtained during spring training last March. If Sanchez can keep his strikeouts down and put the ball in play more, he could get back around to his .344 mark of 2006.

-Hank Aaron Award (best hitter): Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies

This 29-year old Phillie may have the sweetest swing in all of baseball; it is basically made for gap-shots. Utley has come along as the premier hitting second baseman in the MLB in the past couple of years. He always makes good contact, his on base % is outstanding, and he may be a part of the best lineup in baseball. What is not to like about his offensive opportunities?

-Dark Horse: Derrek Lee, 1B, Chicago Cubs

Maybe one of the most underrated players in the league, Lee will be hitting 4th in the Cubs' lineup behind newcomer Kosuke Fukudome, a hot import from Japan. This means more RBI opportunities and more protection for Lee because Aramis Ramirez will be in the on-deck circle right behind him.

-Relief Man of the Year Award: Billy Wagner, RP, New York Mets

This means a clean sweep for Mets' pitchers in the NL awards. Wagner has been working on his curveball and his change-up lately to add to his (good) filthy pitches. He has a steaming fastball, a (good) nasty slider, and now with two more off-speed pitches, Wagner may not be able to be contacted against.

-Dark Horse: Matt Capps, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates

This old-fashioned country boy does not fool around; Capps goes right after hitters, just daring them to touch his heat. Capps had a ridiculously low number of walks (only 16 in 79 innings pitched), which translated into a 1.01 WHIP. Last year he was forced into the closer's role after Solomon Torres stunk it up, meaning he did not really "know" how to close. If Capps gets 40 chances, he should be around the 35 save mark, but playing on the Pirates on the Pirates, those 40 chances may be hard to come by.

-Comeback Player of the Year: Brett Myers, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

Hurt for most of the 2007 season, Myers was demoted from starter to closer when he came back. Just recently, manager Charlie Manuel announced that Myers would be the Phillies opening day starter, over stud pitched Cole Hamels. Myers is only 27-years old and has a ton of upside; if he can stay healthy this season, he could rack up 15 wins with Philadelphia's stacked lineup.

-Dark Horse: Jason Bay, LF, Pittsburgh Pirates

You could say that Bay had a terrible 2007 season, but that does not begin to describe it. After a great month of May last year, Bay was sitting high-and-mighty on a .310 average. But every month from then on his average decreased, until it settled on a wimpy .247 spot after game 162. For some reason, the acquisition of Adam LaRoche hurt Bay's numbers instead of helping them. Now in the off-season, Bay has been resting a knee injury that may have been the cause of his stinkiness last season. He has also called out Pirate management, saying they have not done enough as executives to field a winning ball-club here in the 'Burgh. Therefore, Bay has some words to back up.

Coming next: American League award predictions!!!