p class=MsoNormal>With the All-Star game and the season’s first half now firmly planted in our rear view mirror – and no games scheduled today – I thought I’d take a look back and see how my preseason picks are doing and – in some cases – crow about how I saw it coming, or – in some other cases – wonder just what the heck I was thinking? 

 

The Hitting Leader Picks

 

Batting Average AL – My pick – Ichiro Suzuki - .324 – Currently - .343 (2^nd)

Batting Average NL – My pick – Albert Pujols - .335 – Currently - .316 (9^th)

 

On Base % AL – MP – Alex Rodriguez - .429 – Currently – .390 (11^th)

On Base % NL – MP – Albert Pujols .444 – Currently – .436 (2^nd)

 

SLG AL – MP – Mark Teixeira - .619 – Currently - .445 (48^th)

SLG NL – MP – Albert Pujols - .625 – Currently - .703 (1^st)

 

Teixeira, however, has suffered a HR power outage and is nowhere near the league leaders in this category.  Could this be a “what the heck was I thinking” or is he due to break out?

 

OPS AL – MP – Paul Konerko – 1.024 – Currently - .944 (10^th)

OPS NL – MP – Albert Pujols – 1.069 – Currently – 1.138 (1^st)

 

Pujols is on pace to post the second best OPS in major league history in just his sixth major league season.  Travis Hafner’s AL leading 1.111 would rank as the 77^th best of all-time.

 

Runs AL – MP – Derek Jeter – 127 – Currently – 58 (14^th)

Runs NL – MP – Albert Pujols – 136 – Currently – 63 (T-8^th)

 

Hits AL – MP – Ichiro Suzuki – 218 – Currently – 129 (1^st)

Hits NL – MP – Jimmy Rollins – 212 – Currently – 94 (T-21^st)

 

Ichiro has been Ichiro since his early season slump and he is well on his way to leading the league in hits for the third time, while notching his sixth consecutive 200 hit season. 

 

Doubles AL – MP – Mark Teixeira – 48 – Currently – 31 (T-1^st)

Doubles NL – MP – David Wright – 50 – Currently – 22 (T-17^th)

 

Teixeira’s power outage has not extended to his double hitting ability, which saves me from a complete “what the heck was I thinking.”

 

Triples AL – MP – Carl Crawford – 15 – Currently – 8 (1^st)

Triples NL – MP – Jimmy Rollins – 16 – Currently – 3 (T-18^th)

 

Rollins’ off year is making me wonder “what the heck I was thinking?”  Good thing Carl Crawford is around to back me up.

 

HR AL – MP – Jim Thome – 46 – Currently – 30 (2^nd)

HR NL – MP – Adam Dunn – 44 – Currently – 28 (T-2^nd)

 

RBI AL – MP – Paul Konerko – 145 – Currently – 67 (8^th)

RBI NL – MP – Carlos Delgado – 128 – Currently – 56 (T-19^th)

 

Delgado is beginning to look like a “what the heck was I thinking?”

 

BB AL – MP – Jason Giambi – 121 – Currently – 62 (3^rd)

BB NL – MP – Albert Pujols – 128 – Currently – 52 (T-10^th)

 

SO AL – MP – Richie Sexson – 179 – Currently – 92 (2^nd)

SO NL – MP – Adam Dunn – 186 – Currently – 104 (1^st)

 

What seemed like a no-brainer in the AL is being thwarted by Curtis Granderson.  Still though, Sexson trails him by just five.

 

The Pitching Leader Picks

 

Innings Pitched AL – MP – Jon Garland – 239.2 – Currently – 109.0 (T-58^th)

Innings Pitched NL – MP – Brandon Webb – 253.0 – Currently – 139.1 (1^st)

 

Wins AL – MP – Josh Beckett – 24 – Currently – 11 (T-2^nd)

Wins NL – MP – Roy Oswalt – 22 – Currently – 6 (T-25^th)

 

Beckett, thanks to some serious run support (5^th in the AL at 7.28 RPG) is right in the mix.  Oswalt is tied for 26^th in the NL (60^th overall) in run support and has 5 less wins to show for his efforts despite allowing over a run and a half less per game than Beckett. 

 

Losses AL – MP – Daniel Cabrera – 17 – Currently – 6 (T-23^rd)

Losses NL – MP – Sergio Mitre – 20 – Currently – 4 (T-58^th)

 

Cabrera hasn’t been very good but he missed a couple of starts with an injury and with 70 walks and 1.74 WHIP, he’s primed to make a second half “run”.  Mitre was just 1-4 before going down for the year after just 35 IP.

 

ERA AL – MP – Jon Garland – 2.40 – Currently – 5.37 (42^nd)

ERA NL – MP – Jake Peavy – 2.24 – Currently – 4.46 (25^th)

 

Garland definitely qualifies as a “what the heck was I thinking?” with his 5.37 ERA, but what can I say, except that I was banking on him reaching his potential.  The much more talented Peavy, on the other hand, has been a complete mystery. 

 

Hits AL – MP – Carlos Silva – 243 – Currently – 132 (7^th)

Hits NL – MP – Brandon Webb – 253 – Currently – 134 (T-6^th)

 

Silva was third in the AL with 255 hits allowed last year. This year, with his 7.00 ERA, 13.20 H/9, and being only 12 hits allowed behind league leader Brad Radke, it’s possible that only his short stint in the bullpen is blocking my clairvoyance. 

 

SO AL – MP – Johan Santana – 229 – Currently – 138 (1^st)

SO NL – MP – Jake Peavy – 242 – Currently – 118 (3^rd)

 

BB AL – MP – Daniel Cabrera – 103 – Currently – 70 (1^st)

BB NL – MP – Oliver Perez – 108 – Currently – 51 (4^th)

 

With an average of almost 8 BB/9, Cabrera is well pace to lead the league in this category despite missing time.  And after averaging over 6 walks per 9 innings last year, Perez was on the same pace this year but that, combined with his 10.42 H/9, got him demoted which will keep him from leading the league this season.   

 

HR AL – MP – Scott Elarton – 38 - Currently – 24 (2^nd)

HR NL – MP – Eric Milton – 38 – Currently – 15 (T-9^th)

 

Only Josh Beckett has served up more HR this year in the majors than Elarton, who is just two behind him.  Milton has only given up 15 long balls, but he has only made 13 starts.

 

SV AL – MP – B.J. Ryan – 48 – Currently – 24 (3^rd)

SV NL – MP – Jason Isringhausen – 41 – Currently – 26 (1^st)

 

Isringhausen has managed to lead the majors despite 7 blown saves and nearly 6 ½ walks per 9 innings. 

 

The Award Picks

 

Most Valuable Player - AL – MP – Paul Konerko .313/.384/.559, 21 HR, 67 RBI

Having another great year but not quite MVP worthy.  Needs to step his game up in the second half. 

 

Most Valuable Player – NL – MP – Albert Pujols .316/.435/.703, 29 HR, 76 RBI

Nailed this one right on.  Best player currently on the planet, how could you not?

 

Cy Young Award – AL – MP – Josh Beckett 11-4, 4.75 ERA, 1.24 WHIP

Thanks largely to great run support, he’s got the wins, but the rest of the numbers are suspect. 

 

Cy Young Award – NL – MP – Jake Peavy 4-8, 4.46 ERA, 1.20 WHIP

Not what the Padres or I expected from their ace.  Even so, I’d pick him again.

 

Rookie of the Year – AL – MP – Kenji Johjima .287/.338/.460, 10 HR, 41 RBI

He’s been good, but he won’t beat out Liriano or Papelbon unless they both implode.

 

Rookie of the Year – NL – MP – Prince Fielder .265/.320/.479 16 HR, 46 RBI

Leads all rookies in HR but has slumped (.183 since June 1) to drop back in the pack.

 

Comeback Player – AL – MP – Jim Thome .298/.414/.651, 30 HR, 77 RBI

The numbers speak for themselves.  Honorable mention to Mike Lowell.

 

Comeback Player – NL – MP – Barry Bonds .249/.474/.497/ 12 HR, 39 RBI

On pace to get close to projected HR total but performance has not been Comeback Player worthy.

 

The Division Picks

 

A three way battle between the Sox, Yankees and Jays in the AL East?  Check.  Padres, Cardinals and A’s leading their divisions?  Check.  The White Sox playing .600+ ball?  Check.  Royals and Pirates stinking it up while the Brewers and Reds set themselves up for a second half run at the Wild Card?  Check.  Cubs playing so badly that Dusty Baker’s job is in jeopardy?  Check.  Giants, Diamondbacks and Dodgers roughly .500 teams in the NL West and the Rangers a .500 team in the AL West? Check.  D’Rays and O’s not playing up to snuff?  Check.  Phillies and Nationals scuffling?  Check.

 

Well those ones are looking pretty good, but not all of my picks are panning out exactly as predicted.  Braves leading the NL East?  Um, well uh…  The Mets leading the NL East?  Um, well uh…  By 12 games?!?  Um, well uh…  Indians and Angels on pace to win 90+ games?  Um, well uh…  Marlins to lose 113?  Well they were but then uh…  Rockies to lose 90+?  Um, well uh…  Cardinals and A’s to win 94-98 games?  Um, well uh…  Detroit playing .670 baseball in July?  Um, well uh…

 

The World Series Pick

 

Now you know it’s still obviously way too early to tell how this one turns out, but I sure can’t wait to find out.  It’s been a great first half of baseball and it promises to be a fantastic second half.  With the midsummer classic wrapped up and the season about to get back underway, it’s time to gear ourselves up for the annual midsummer shopping spree we all know as the non-waiver trading deadline! 

 

And just to get us excited, we can thank the Astros and Devil Rays for setting the mood on Wednesday by completing a trade that sends Aubrey Huff to Houston for two minor leaguers, right handed pitcher Mitch Talbot and switch hitting shortstop Ben Zobrist.  The move should send shockwaves through the Astro clubhouse with Jason Lane being demoted to make room for Huff and Morgan Ensberg being put to task with his playing time now threatened.  Another result of this trade is that B.J. Upton will now be moved to third base with his recall to the majors to fill Huff’s spot expected within weeks.

 

On Deck – The second half.  Play Ball!!!

 

Questions or comments for Richard? Richard Van Zandt is a staff writer for Baseball Evolution who lives in San Francisco, California. You can reach him at richard@baseballevolution.com.