BY JUSTIN LADA
SENIOR WRITER
AL MVP
Aaron Judge, Yankees
Jose Altuve, Astros
Jose Ramirez, Indians
Pre-season pick: Mike Trout, Angels
You can still make an argument for Mike Trout. He led baseball in wRC+ at 118 (weighted runs created plus). He only played in 113 games and came back freakishly fast from a thumb injury sliding into second as only Trout could. He did everything you expect in a Mike Trout season. That being said, Aaron Judge hit 52 homers as a rookie and even in his slump he managed to finish with a .422 on base percentage. Jose Altuve was just as good, but with the higher on base percentage, better slugging percentage and having surprisingly better defensive metrics than Altuve, it's a fair pick. Jose Ramirez was the do-it all man again for the Indians and added power to his resume. He led the AL in extra base hits, stole 17 bases and in an age where strikeouts are way up, he barely did while playing third base and second base well.

AL Cy Young
Corey Kluber, Indians
Chris Sale, Red Sox
Luis Severino, Yankees
Pre-season pick: Yu Darvish, Rangers
The Darvish pick was way off. It was too easy to try to pick someone else for the sake of making a non-Kluber or Sale pick. Even with a month missed, Kluber nearly caught Sale in strikeouts and innings. He had a better WHIP, better ERA, finished very close in FIP and had a better record. Without his historic run after coming off of the DL, the Indians are far from being a 102 win team. He and Sale both have MVP arguments. Sale struck out 300 but his bumpy final stretch may cost him. Severino was right up with Kluber and Sale in all kinds of key categories until the end and was every bit as dominant at times.

AL Rookie of the Year
Aaron Judge, Yankees
Matt Olson, Athletics
Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox
Pre-season pick: Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox
In a normal year, Benintendi was a pretty sure pick. But he was just pretty good. Matt Olson had a late season barrage that deserves to be noticed. Of course outside of Judge's six week slump, he was every bit as good as everyone said.

AL Manager of the Year
Paul Molitor, Twins
Terry Francona, Indians
AJ Hinch, Astros
Pre-season pick: AJ Hinch, Astros
The Astros were expected to be good, as were the Indians. But high expectations are hard to reach and hard to manage. The manager of the year award is often narrative based and based on pre-season expectations or lack thereof. So managing to expectations goes overlooked sometimes. But, the Twins were the first team in baseball to go from 100 losses to the playoffs. I think a lot of this credit is also due for new President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey and some subtle changes, but it does deserve the accolades to the dugout to make that turnaround. Francona did incredible managing injuries as well, which shouldn't be overlooked here.

NL MVP
Joey Votto, Reds
Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins
Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
Pre-season pick: Yoenis Cespedes, Mets
I picked Cespedes coming off a monster 2016. Whoops. I couldn't vote anyone but Votto. MLB hitters set a new record for strikeouts this year and what did Joey Votto do? Only eight hitters struck out less often than him but none below him hit 36 homers like him, played defense like him (even if it was at first base) and he got on base at a .454 clip. He was on base in almost half of his plate appearances this year. Insane. Stanton hit 59 homers and had an insane second half. I went with Goldschmidt because he put up his usual impressive numbers hitting, played gold glove defense and stole 18 bases, contributing everywhere and in places even MVP first basemen usually don't

NL CY Young
Max Scherzer, Nationals
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
Pre-season pick: Noah Syndergaard, Mets
Never pick a Mets pitcher again. Anyway, Scherzer was head and shoulders better than any NL pitcher this year mostly in default due to Kershaw's time missed with the bad back again. If he was healthy all year, this would be Kershaw, but he missed a bit too much time. Two pitchers on the same team in top-3 Cy Young voting? Strasburg put together the best year of his career and was mostly healthy. No shock those two went hand in hand.

NL Rookie of the Year
Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
Paul DeJong, Cardinals
Rhys Hoskins, Phillies
Pre-season pick: Dansby Swanson, Braves
Bellinger was the NL's Judge minus a few homers but he was nothing short of amazing. Hoskins had a brilliant run when he came up and was incredible in that short stint but DeJong did pretty well and all season, so he gets the recognition at two.

NL Manager of the Year
Bud Black, Rockies
Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks
Craig Counsell, Brewers
Pre-season pick: Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks
I almost got this one right I think. It's hard to pitch and win at Coors Field. Some people thought the Rockies would be a playoff contender this year. The offense was a Rockies offense but they had almost a whole rotation of rookie starters and gave Greg Holland a second chance to be a good reliever. That's a lot to manage and Bud Black did great. Lovullo had a great season turning the Diamondbacks around too but had a great pitching staff to work with. I almost feel like I'm shortchanging Counsell and the Brewers by sticking him at third. They didn't make the playoffs but no one had the Brewers leading the division as late in the season as they did and they weren't eliminated from postseason contention until game 161. No one expected that and they were great..
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​POSTED 10/24/2017 17:27
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Lake County Sentinel
2017 Major League Baseball Award Predictions
By
Justin Lada & Tim Shirer
BY TIM SHIRER
SPORTS EDITOR
AL MVP
Jose Altuve, Astros
Aaron Judge, Yankees
Jose Ramirez, Indians
Pre-season pick: Francisco Lindor, Indians
Francisco Lindor I think could still be the MVP, but it would be more realistic if he played for the Yankees or the Red Sox.  Even though he had a great season, he has no shot, he plays for the Indians and Jose Ramirez is the guy on the Indians the national media seemed to like this year.  But let's give Ramirez the credit he deserves here too, he is one of the most dynamic players in baseball.  But once again Ramirez plays for the Indians which is and has always been a handicap when it comes to the MVP award in the AL.  The award then has to go to Jose Altuve, he is also a dynamic player and well deserving.  Judge will come in second.  Judge should not be second even in my mind, maybe fifth or sixth due to the 208 strikeouts, yes he hit 52 home runs, which isn't a guarantee to win the MVP, but striking out 208 times in mind is a sure reason why his not the MVP.

AL Cy Young
Corey Kluber, Indians
Chris Sale, Red Sox
Luis Severino, Yankees
Pre-season pick: Corey Kluber, Indians
It's pretty simple, Corey Kluber was the best pitcher in the American League before the season began and he's the best pitcher in the American League now.  Is Chris Sale a really good pitcher, yes, but he's no Corey Kluber, but he does pitch for Boston so he gets the extra big market bump.  Luis Severino, is also very good and the Yankees factor helps him, but again, he's no Kluber.  Enough said on this subject because Kluber is the most dominant pitcher the AL has seen in years.

AL Rookie of the Year
Aaron Judge, Yankees
Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox
Matt Olson, Athletics
Pre-season pick: Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox
Andrew Benintendi looked like the easy favorite before the season to win the AL Rookie of the Year.  He's a very talented player and I have said many times he reminds me of Carl Yazstremski.  Also the fact he plays for the Red Sox doesn't hurt him for being well known since they are  on National TV constantly.  But the award will go to Judge.  You hit 52 home runs, even if you strike out 208 times, you deserve rookie of the year.  If Matt Olson had come up sooner he would have won it because he would have made Judge's numbers look..

AL Manager of the Year
Paul  Molitor, Twins
AJ Hinch, Astros
Joe Giradi, Yankees
Pre-season pick: Kevin Cash, Rays
Ok, I was way off on this.  I thought the Rays would have a much better year than they were, that's why the Cashy pick.  But there is no doubt that Paul Molitor did a miracle job this season in Minnesota.  The Twins are the first team in MLB history to go from 100+ losses to making the playoff, brilliant job by Molitor.  Just like when he was a Hall of Fame leadoff hitter, he "Ignited" something in Minnesota this year.

NL MVP
Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins
Joey Votto, Reds
Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
Pre-season pick: Bryce Harper, Nationals
Yea, I picked Bryce Harper and so did alot of others.  We were all wrong, injuries hurt him.  Let's face it Harper is still pretty good.  I just feel like the award has to go to Giancarlo Stanton.  Stanton hit 59 home runs and he doesn't strikeout every three at bats either.  Votto is really good, but I don't think he's the MVP.  I think Bellingers gets votes just because his face was plastered everywhere because he plays for the Dodgers.  If you vote on character, which many writers do, Stanton still wins this vote.

​NL Cy Young
Max Scherzer, Nationals
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
Zach Davies, Brewers
Pre-season pick: Clayton Kershaw
I picked Kershaw, I mean why not.  But Scherzer was definitely the best pitcher in the NL.  Scherzer is dominating.  Scherzer is one of the enjoyable pitchers to watch, he loves to compete.  My third guy in the voting is a name that maybe you have never heard of, but I have.  Davies is a really good you pitcher, but he pitches for Milwaukee so he gets little to know publicity or respect.  Watch out for him in the future, he might be at the top of the Cy Young voting really soon.

NL Rookie of the Year
Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
Rhys Hoskings, Phillies
Paul DeJong, Cardinals
Pre-season pick: Dansby Swanson, Braves
Dansby Swanson was a huge disappointment for the Braves.  Therefore the door was open for NL Rookie of the Year.  Cody Bellinger is the beneficiary of the Swanson collapse.  Bellinger, like Judge in the AL benefits for who he plays for and is also lucky Rhyse Hoskins did not arrive in the big leagues sooner.

NL Manager of the Year
Craig Counsell, Brewers
Bud Black, Rockies
Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks
Pre-season pick: Joe Maddon, Cubs
I just went with the Maddon pick before season because I kept hearing from the national folks that Maddon invented the game, I guess they were wrong.  I think this has to go to Counsell, he turned the Brewers around and scared the heck out of the Cubs.  Lovullo and Black also did great jobs turing around teams that struggled and they did make the post season.