Yes it’s over halfway through the season and most sports networks are giving awards away for the first half. It’s no different here, as I present my 1st Half Awards:
The Good Awards:
Half Season MVP: Francisco Cordero/Prince Fielder
I’ve been going back and forth on both of these guys and I make the same argument for both: If it wasn’t for Cordero being lights out for most of the season, we might have lost many more close games. If it wasn’t for Prince’s bat, we wouldn’t be in those games. I think so far you can’t have one without the other. Runner Up: J.J. Hardy
Rookie of the First Half: Ryan Braun
How good has this kid been? I was a little leery bringing him up already, but man, he was ready and delivered. There have been some gaffes, especially in the field, but you have to expect that from a rook. Runner Up: Yovanni Gallardo
Cy Higuera Award:
Best Brewer Starting Pitcher of the first half goes to Ben Sheets. It has to. He has the most wins, an E.R.A. of 3.4, and the most strikeouts on the team. He is the Brewer’s ace, hands down. Runner Up: Dave Bush
The “WOW†Moment of the First Half:
This moment is the one that sticks out in your head as just a great moment of the first half. I have to give it to Prince Fielder’s inside-the-park home run. He chugged himself into the hearts of many and gave us bleacher-creatures a perfect comeback to any Cub fan who says Prince is too slow. Runner Up: 5-4 Win Over the Cubs in 11 innings, 24-10
The “Blue Collar†Award:
This award goes to a player that doesn’t get much credit for what he does, but deserves it. Corey Hart began the year hurt and led a lot of people to give up on him. However, when he started getting everyday playing time, he took complete advantage and has put together two amazing hitting streaks. So pop one open for our “Blue Collar†award recipient. Runner Up: Ben Sheets
The “Benchieâ€:
This award goes to the player who has done the most coming off the bench. The Benchie goes to Kevin Mench. He was part of the platoon, but lost even his every other day starting gig when Geoff Jenkins started to hit. He still has done well, hitting about .270 with 24 RBI’s and only 15 K’s in 176 AB’s. I’m still not the biggest “Shrek†fan, but I feel better when he comes up to the plate than when Gabe Gross does. Runner Up: Tony Gwynn
The “2003 Scott Podsednik†Award:
This award is for a guy who comes out and dazzles beyond expectations. The award goes to Carlos Villanueva. This kid has been spectacular and has been the one consistent bullpen arm outside of Cordero. I think that’s the only reason he’s still in the bullpen, plus he’s a starter that can stop the bleeding and possibly keep the game within grasp. Runner up: J.J. Hardy
The Not So Good Awards:
The “2004 Scott Podsednik Awardâ€
This award goes to one who was good the year before, but disappoints the next. That one has to go to Tony Graffanino. He hit .280 with the brewers last year and was a great fill in for the injured Rickie Weeks. This year, he’s been humping the Mendoza Line never being able to really shake it. Runner Up: Bill Hall
The “Oh S**t” Moment of the First Half:
This award goes to the moment when we all put our heads down in dismay and said various forms of the word “crap”. I think this goes to Justin Verlander’s No Hitter. It was the rock bottom of the first half, but soon after came a lovely resurgence. Runners Up: Losing the Nationals Series, Losing the Rangers Series, Losing the Cubs Series
The “Mulligan†Award:
Elmer Dessens for Brady Clark. I call mulligan on that one. I said it was a good trade, that he’d be like Rick Helling, an aging bullpen arm that can really eat up innings without blowing the game wide open, but he’s not. He’s been hurt and I haven’t even missed him. Runner Up: Jose Capellan for some perennial minor leaguer.
The “Richie Sexson†Award:
Richie Sexson was well known for blowing it in the clutch and delivering hits and home runs when it mattered least. He also would half ass it and usually never even tried to tag a runner on a pick off play. The winner of this award is Johnny Estrada. His average is very good, but I can’t remember a time when he delivered a truly crucial hit. I think he did once…but I’m not sure, which is exactly what I would say about Sexson. Runner Up: If Sexson was a pitcher, he might have been like Vargas…gets the important stats (Wins), but doesn’t work as hard as the rest (IP)