2010 MLB Awards

The baseball Oscars are here. During the next two weeks, baseball will hand out its 2010 hardware. But does anybody really want to hear another set of picks for the MVP and CY Young winners? Do we need another set of arguments outlining why the voters got it wrong (DEREK JETER) in handing out Gold Gloves? So, in lieu of handicapping the major awards, I have put together a list of alternative awards and award winners for 2010 so we can acknowledge some of the more unappreciated accomplishments, feats and moments of the 2010 season.

Biggest “I Told You So” Team: Seattle Mariners

After coming off an 85 win season and trading for Cliff Lee, the Seattle Mariners thought they were finally contenders again in the AL West. But despite plenty of offseason buzz, every sportswriter in the country was red flagging this team. The rotation behind Lee and Felix Hernandez was susceptible and unproven. Adrian Beltre and Russell Branyan were gone. This meant an already weak offense would be getting weaker and that was if Milton Bradley (acquired from the Cubs) could finally put it together. Needless to say, none of this worked out and Seattle will be drafting second next June.

Most Disappointing Free Agent Signing: Rich Harden.

Texas enjoyed last year’s biggest free agent bargain in Vladdy Guerrero, but the value gained in the Guerrero signing might have been cancelled out by the loss sustained in the Harden signing. Paying $6.5 million dollars for a 5.68 ERA and 5 wins is something only the Yankees can afford to do. Luckily it was only a one year contract.

Most Impressive Season Played With a Sports Hernia: Jose Bautista.

Most Surprising Team: San Diego Padres.

I still don’t completely believe that this team won 90 games this year. Now Boston fans will have to wait until July to acquire Adrian Gonzalez.

Biggest Trend That Didn’t Pan Out: Strong Defensive Teams.

Last offseason, defence was a hot commodity. Many teams (Boston and Seattle) based their free agent and trade acquisitions (Mike Cameron, Adrian Beltre, Casey Kotchman, Jack Wilson) on defensive efficiency, assuring their fans they would be competitive through run prevention. The value of defence should not be undermined, but it turns out you still need to pitch and hit. I don’t know who watched the World Series but the San Francisco Giants fielded a defence that included a shortstop that has the range of a traffic cone, a designated hitter at first base AND Pat Burrell.

Biggest “Oh Shit” Moment: Stephen Strasburg Blowing Out His Arm.

The fate of the Nationals future (and Dr. James Andrews’ career practicing sports medicine) hangs on how Strasburg’s arm will respond to Tommy John surgery.

Slowest Player to Steal a Base: Bengie Molina.

At the end of the regular season this title would have gone to Rangers catcher Matt Treanor. That said, Bengie has been far and away the slowest player in MLB since 2003, so when he swiped a bag in the playoffs with the stakes at their highest, he deservedly took the crown away from Treanor. Molina also plans to retire this year, so it’s a nice gesture to have him go out on top.

Player Who Agonizingly Still Failed to Live Up to His Potential: BJ Upton.

Instead of having a breakout campaign in 2010 Upton again seemed to be playing a personal game of “how low can my batting average go before I get platooned”. There’s an old saying in baseball that speed never takes a day off, but whoever said that hasn’t seen Upton run out a ground ball.