2007 AL Midseason Baseball Awards

The all star voting results are in, most teams have played at least 81 games, and therefore, the 2007 baseball season is now officially half over. Here is a look at the top midseason award winners from Suite101 Baseball. Let's begin with the New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez.

I. American League Most Valuable Player

Winner - Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (.327, 28 HR, 80 RBI, 74 Runs, 1.105 OPS)

The team has been terrible. Rodriguez has been nothing short of brilliant. Through 79 games, A-Rod's 28 home runs and 80 RBI lead the Major Leagues. His power numbers project out to 58 home runs and 162 RBI, which when you play on the clean side of the steroid line, those are other-worldly statistics. He also leads the MLB in runs scored, sluggging percentage and OPS. On top of that, Rodriguez has put his 2006 fielding woes behind him, and is playing close to a Gold-Glove caliber third base. For those who have said that A-Rod isn't clutch? Well, he's already hit seven (7) home runs in the ninth inning, including two walk-off blasts.

Runner Up - Magglio Ordonez, Detroit Tigers (.369, 13 HR, 68 RBI, 65 Runs, 1.061 OPS)

Ordonez's season has been fantastic, and his team is doing much better than the Yankees. He could have won the mid-season award, but Rodriguez's overall stats were just too good. Although, with half the season to go, don't be surprised to see Magglio pull out the award if the Tigers can prevail in the dog-eat-dog American League Central.

Honorable Mention - Vlad Guerrero, Los Angeles Angels (.328, 14 HR, 73 RBI, 45 Runs, .987 OPS)

This guy could win the Most Valuable Player award every year. Seriously. He has had MVP-caliber seasons in eight of the last nine seasons, and now with 2007, it's nine out of ten. Not bad for a guy the Mets thought was finished by a bad back in 2003. Again, although Vlad is worthy and has the Angels soaring, he is well behind Rodriguez in home runs, runs scored, and OPS.

II. American League Cy Young Award Winner

Winner - C.C. Sabathia, Cleveland Indians. (12-2, 3.20 ERA, 116 Ks, 17 BBs)

Yes, Josh Beckett has done a beautiful job being the rock of the Red Sox staff, but Sabathia has done even more. This staff lost Jake Westbrook for two months and Cliff Lee for a month, and yet the team still managed to reach mid-season in first place, one and a half games ahead of the Tigers. Sabathia has been a huge reason for that success, no pun intended.

First, he has given the Indians 7.1 innings per start; and he has made every start. His 12 wins are tops in the Major Leagues. His 116 strikeouts are third in the American League. Perhaps most impressive, the six-seven, 300 pound Sabathia has walked only 17 batters in 129 innings.

Runner Up - Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox (11-2, 3.38 ERA, 83 Ks, 20 BBs)

Beckett had silenced his doubters with a brilliant first half of the 2007 MLB season. Had he not been sidelined for 15 days in May, he might have taken home the gold. Nevertheless, there is plenty of time for Beckett to win the real award.

Honorable Mention - Danny Haren, Oakland Athletics (10-2, 2.20 ERA, 98 Ks, 31 BBs)

Best ERA of any starter in the American League. Ten wins. Almost 100 strikeouts for a guy who is not a power pitcher. Great control. Keeping his team in the fight. Danny Haren deserves an honorable mention for all of that.

III. Reliever of the Half-Year

J.J. Putz, Seattle Mariners (23 Saves, 0.92 ERA, 0.59 WHIP, .127 BAA). Putz gets the mid-season nod because he blew every other reliever out of the water. Take a gander at that ERA. Look at his WHIP. Only one in eight batters gets a hit against this guy. Putz could end up the season with Dennis Eckersley a la 1990 numbers, and for that he gets the award. Hands down.

IV. Comeback Player of the Half-Year

Sammy Sosa, Texas Rangers. There are reasons to dislike Sosa, reasons not to trust him, and reasons to doubt even the fine season he is having in 2007. The man has a track record. But there are also reasons to celebrate the man. For starters, Sosa has 14 home runs and 63 RBI in a league where steroid testing is no longer a joke. He also just hit his 600th home run, a total that will make it difficult for baseball writers to keep him out of Cooperstown forever. Finally, by playing so well without any illegal help, Sosa is taking his best shot at baseball redemption. That makes him the Comeback Kid.

V. Free Agent Bust of the Half-Year

The biggest bust of this year's very well paid free agent class is J.D. Drew of the Boston Red Sox. Mr. Drew has been a disaster for Boston, hitting just .260 with 6 home runs and 32 RBI. Although he was paid $70 million to be a slugger, his slugging percentage is an anemic .397. He's been a Bust.

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Check out the National League Half-Season Awards

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