[GraniteStateConservative]

AL MVP, Ortiz-- better OPS in September (1.118 vs. .997), same # of homers, more RBI.

AL CY, Mo-- having a career year in ERA and WHIP (has had more positive influence on wins and losses as a pitcher for a top tier team than any other pitcher)

AL ROY, Gomes-- has hit for average, power, and gotten on base. Has had a great season so far, and has had a better September than Manny Ramirez. There are several pitchers who could take this award, too (Street, Kazmir, Chacin, and Blanton). Cano is the second best position player rookie.

AL MOY, Wedge-- gets credit for how unbelievably the team has played since the ASB.

NL MVP, Pujols-- should have gotten some of Bonds' juiced MVPs. Consistently excellent. Future HOFer.

NL CY, Carpenter-- #4 in ERA, #3 in K, #3 in WHIP, #6 in BAA, #4 in OBA, #2 in IP, #1 in CG, #2 in Shutouts.

NL ROY, Howard-- .904 OPS in 266 ABs (not a bad sample size). Team is in the playoff hunt, so pressure is on him to produce-- like with Cano.

NL MOY, Cox-- should be called the Bobby Cox award.

[Charles Henrickson]

Lots of good ROY candidates in both leagues this year. No single rookie jumps out in either league, and you could almost put a blanket over 8 or 10 in each. But as of now I'll rank my top three and then six others:

NL ROY: 1) Ryan Howard, 2) Willy Taveras, 3) Zach Duke
Honorable mention: Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmes, Gary Majewski, Chad Qualls, Jeff Francouer, Cory Sullivan

AL ROY: 1) Huston Street, 2) Jonny Gomes, 3) Robinson Cano
Honorable mention: Tadahito Iguchi, Dan Johnson, Joe Blanton, Gustavo Chacin, Scott Kazmir, Jesse Crain