Baseball Todd's 2003 Award Picks
2003 MLB Award Picks
 CARLOS DELGADO |
CARLOS DELGADO - TORONTO BLUE JAYS |
 GARRET ANDERSON  JASON GIAMBI |
This year's choice for the American League Most Valuable Player award is really a toss-up. There is no clear, dominating player but there is a host of worthy considerations to be sure. First baseman Jason Giambi of the AL East Division champion Yankees will get some consideration because he had 41 home runs and 107 RBI. Garret Anderson of the Angels had another great year with a .315 batting average, 116 RBI, and 201 hits. Frank Thomas of the White Sox merits a look with his 42 homers as does Bret Boone of the Mariners who had 35 dingers, 117 ribbies, and 111 runs scored. Mega-millionaire shortstop Alex Rodriguez of the Rangers led the league again with 47 homers along with 118 RBI and a league-leading 124 runs scored. I would not be surprised if shortstop Nomar Garciaparra of the playoff-bound Red Sox gets some serious looks for the hardware since he hit .301 with 28 homers, 105 RBI, 198 hits, and 120 runs scored. But, my pick for the AL MVP award would go to CARLOS DELGADO of the Blue Jays. He led the Junior Circuit with 145 RBI and was second behind A-Rod with 42 homers. He also scored 117 runs and had a .302 average. He also became the 15th player in baseball history to swat four homers in a one game when he did it against Tampa Bay on Sept. 25. Delgado gets my nod for AL Most Valuable Player this year - if I had a vote, that is. |  NOMAR GARCIAPARRA
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Official Winner: Alex Rodriguez - Texas Rangers
 ROY HALLADAY |
ROY HALLADAY - TORONTO BLUE JAYS |
 ESTEBAN LOAIZA  ROGER CLEMENS |
Even though Toronto didn't make the playoffs in 2003, they may sweep the American League's two most prestigious awards. That's because ROY HALLADAY of the Blue Jays (along with the aforementioned Delgado for MVP) may end up holding the AL Cy Young Award when the postseason concludes. Halladay (22-7) led the Junior Circuit in victories and ranked fifth in ERA with a 3.25 mark. He also was third in strikeouts with 204 whiffs and hurled a league-leading 266 innings. Esteban Loaiza of the White Sox went 21-9 and ranked third in ERA (2.90) and led the AL with 207 strikeouts (where did he come from?!) Over-40 phenom Jamie Moyer of the Mariners went 21-7 with a 3.27 ERA. Tim Hudson of the A's was 16-7 and ranked second in ERA with a mark of 2.70. Lefty Andy Pettitte of the Yankees had another fine year (going 21-8 with 180 strikeouts) as did his teammate Mike Mussina, who was 17-8 with a 3.40 ERA and 195 whiffs. Derek Lowe (17-7) and Pedro Martinez (a league-leading 2.22 ERA and 206 strikeouts) of the Red Sox deserve a look. Even six-time Cy Young Award winner and future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens (17-9, 190 Ks) of the Yankees could get a nod here and there. But, my pick for this award would be Halladay because he was a consistent winner and a workhorse for the Blue Jays. In my book, that is worth a lot. Unfortunately, I don't get an official vote since I don't belong to the BBWAA. So, my opinion is not worth much in other books. |  ANDY PETTITTE
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Official Winner: Roy Halladay - Toronto Blue Jays
 ALBERT PUJOLS |
ALBERT PUJOLS - ST. LOUIS CARDINALS |
 JIM THOME
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First off, let me say this. While Barry Bonds of the Giants had another great year, he does not deserve a sympathy vote and another MVP award for his trophy case just because his father Bobby died this year from cancer. While it was a trying year for Bonds in the wake of his dad's death, I just think there are more deserving candidates. Yes, Bonds did hit .341 with 45 homers and 111 runs scored - all great numbers. But, Jim Thome of the Phillies led the National League with 47 homers and drove in 131 runs - far more than Bonds' 90 RBI. Gary Sheffield of the Braves set an Atlanta record with 132 RBI in 2003 along with a .330 average and 39 homers. Javy Lopez of the Braves hit 43 homers - 42 as a catcher to set a new record. Todd Helton of the Rockies had a monster season, too, with a .358 average, 117 RBI, 135 runs scored, and 209 hits. Preston Wilson of the Rockies led the Senior Circuit in ribbies with 141 while Richie Sexson of the Brewers clobbered 45 homers with 124 RBI. Above Bonds and all the rest was ALBERT PUJOLS of the Cardinals. He won the closest NL batting race in history over Helton with a .359 mark - actually .3587 to .3585. Pujols also was third in the NL with 43 homers, fourth in RBI with 124, and first in runs (137) and hits (212). To me, that deserves an MVP any season. Bonds will get (and deserves) some credit. I just think Pujols is the winner this time around. |  BARRY BONDS
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Official Winner: Barry Bonds - San Francisco Giants
 RUSS ORTIZ |
RUSS ORTIZ - ATLANTA BRAVES |
HIDEO NOMO MARK PRIOR |
The Dodgers, if they could have produced more offense, might have made the postseason in 2003. They certainly had the pitching in Hideo Nomo and Kevin Brown. Nomo (16-13) ranked among the National League's best in ERA (3.09) while Brown finished second in ERA (2.39) and sixth in strikeouts (185). Mark Prior and Kerry Wood pitched the Cubs into the postseason this year thanks to their arms. Prior (18-6) ranked second in the Senior Circuit in victories while also sporting a 2.43 ERA (third) and striking out 245 batters. Wood led the NL with 266 whiffs and picked up key wins. Jason Schmidt (17-5) helped the Giants win the NL West with a league-leading 2.34 ERA and 208 strikeouts. Relievers Eric Gagne of the Dodgers (55 saves) and John Smoltz of the Braves (45 saves) were supreme firemen, to be sure. I don't vote for relievers, though. I do, however, vote for former Oklahoma Sooners, especially when they are named RUSS ORTIZ. Oddly enough, the Braves won their 12th division title since 1991 with record-setting offense. Their pitching wasn't quite on par with past Atlanta squads, but Ortiz filled the gap nicely in his first year over from the Giants. Ortiz (21-7) was the only National Leaguer to win 20 games in 2003. He was the meal ticket for the Braves. My vote (again, if I had one) for NL Cy Young Award winner would go to Ortiz. Call me biased, I don't care. Ortiz gets my nod! |  KERRY WOOD
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Official Winner: Eric Gagne - Los Angeles Dodgers
