All hail Helen!!

All hail Helen!!
Helen Carmona and your humble blogger

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Yankees in the running

The 2008 season projections will be posted next week. For now, let's take a look at which Yankees figure to be in the running for the major end-of-season awards.

AL Most Valuable Player

The obvious: Alex Rodriguez. The dark horses: Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano

A-Rod said two weeks ago that Jeter is in such good shape physically that he thinks the Yankee captain will be the MVP of 2008. Too bad for Jeter that the reigning MVP looks to be in equally good shape.

Jeter does look great, and he's probably in the pre-season running for MVP every season just because of the lineup around him. If Johnny Damon's healthy and getting on base, giving Jeter better pitches to hit, Jeter just might get the award he was robbed of in 2006.

Cano looks on the verge of a breakout season, and anyone listening to Girardi on last season's YES Network telecasts knows he loves Cano's potential. The only chink in Cano's MVP armor is his spot in the lineup. Batting eighth, he'll need Melky Cabrera to have a good season in order to keep pitchers honest when throwing to Cano. If Cabrera cooperates, Cano might sneak up on the league.

A-Rod. Well, what's left to be said?

AL Cy Young Award

Realistically, no Yankee hurler looks like a contender, unless Mo Rivera saves 48 games and keeps his ERA below 1.00. Andy Pettitte is past his 20-win days, and Chien-ming Wang just doesn't seem to get serious consideration from voters because he's not a big strikeout guy. And with the young arms apparently on an innings leash, it's doubtful either Hughes or Kennedy will get the innings -- and with them the win totals -- to make a run for the CYA. Similarly, Joba Chamberlain's bullpen/starter hybrid status doesn't seem to offer much chance for him to make an award run.

AL Manager of the Year

What will Joe Girardi have to do to earn a shot at his second top manager award? He won the National League award in 2006 with a sub-.500 Florida Marlins team. Obviously, the only thing he'd get with that kind of season in the Bronx is a one-way ticket back to the YES booth. But will he have to win the division in order to make a MOY run?

Almost certainly, and then some. Yankee managers carry expectation baggage that other managers don't. Without a 100-win season, even winning a difficult AL East division probably wouldn't get Girardi the top vote from most writers.

Predictions

AL MVP: Cano! It's an emotional call, but something says that the second baseman is ready. And give A-Rod a third-place finish as Cano gets the "Cano's a new guy/anti A-Rod" vote.
CY YOUNG: Wang still a top six finisher (because he won't be bad), but that's it for the Yankees.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Yankees won't win 100 games with three young hurlers figuring so prominently in the equation. Girardi gets votes for a 94+ win season, but not enough to win the trophy.

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