Posted by Brian Joseph on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 9:39 pm

More than 50% of the season is over and we thought it would be fun to take a look at who the BDD crew would pick as winners of the major awards in the American and National League if the season ended today. Also, the 10 BDD writers who voted chimed in with their World Series predictions updated at the All-Star break (some, like me, have changed their tune since Opening Day):

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

National League — Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

Pujols received all 10 first-place votes and walked away with a landslide victory. Pujols has a shot at a Triple Crown with a strong second half as he sits first in homers with 32, first in RBI with 87 and fourth in batting average at .332 — just .017 behind leader Manny Ramirez. Pujols also leads the NL in on base % (.456), slugging % (.723), OPS (1.179), runs scored (73), total bases (222), walks (71), runs created (100) and extra base hits (55).

Others Receiving Votes (1st/2nd/3rd)

Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins (0/4/1)
Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers (0/3/0)
Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies (0/1/5)
Raul Ibanez, Philadelphia Phillies (0/2/0)
Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants (0/0/3)
Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers (0/0/1)

American League — Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins

Not as dominating as Pujols, Joe Mauer picked up eight first-place votes and a second and third place vote on the other two ballots. Some would probably attribute Minnesota’s success to Mauer’s return but they are 32-32 in games where Mauer appears and 32-29 when he starts compared to their overall record of 45-44. It is Mauer’s Major League high .373 average and American League high .447 on-base % and .622 slugging that have impressed. In 64 games this year, Mauer has 15 homers — two more than his previous career high — and is on track to win his third batting title.

Others Receiving Votes (1st/2nd/3rd)

Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels (0/4/1)
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays (1/1/1)
Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins (1/0/2)
Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays (0/2/1)
Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox (0/1/1)
Jason Bay, Boston Red Sox (0/1/0)
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (0/0/1)
Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rays (0/0/1)
Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners (0/0/1)

CY YOUNG

National League — Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants

In a two-horse race, last year’s Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum is our choice ahead of Arizona’s Dan Haren. Lincecum grabbed seven of the 10 first-place votes while Haren picked up the other three with Haren appearing second on the other seven and Lincecum second on the other three. The National League’s All-Star starter went 10-2 in 18 starts and owns an ERA of 2.33. His three complete games, two shutouts, 149 strikeouts and .833 winning percentage all lead the National League. He’s the ace of the Giants pitching staff which is the main reason why the Giants are currently sitting at the front of the Wild Card race in the NL.

Others Receiving Votes (1st/2nd/3rd)

Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks (3/7/0)
Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants (0/0/3)
Josh Johnson, Florida Marlins (0/0/3)
Javier Vazquez, Atlanta Braves (0/0/2)
Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles Dodgers (0/0/1)
Johan Santana, New York Mets (0/0/1)

American League — Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals

Like Pujols, Zack Greinke dominated the voting and was our unanimous selection for Cy Young. All 10 votes went to Greinke who slowed down after a hot start but still finished the first half with a 10-5 record and 2.12 ERA (best in the American League). His five complete games and two shutouts are the best in the AL and in 127-1/3 innings, Greinke has allowed just three homers. With 129 strikeouts, the emerging Royals ace has averaged more than a strikeout per inning and his 1.076 WHIP isn’t the best in the AL but it’s definitely impressive.

Others Receiving Votes (1st/2nd/3rd)

Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays (0/5/2)
Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners (0/4/5)
Edwin Jackson, Detroit Tigers (0/1/1)
Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers (0/0/1)
Jarrod Washburn, Seattle Mariners (0/0/1)

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

National League — Colby Rasmus, St. Louis Cardinals

Colby Rasmus stood out amongst all voters with seven of 10 first-place votes. The Cardinals rookie outfielder is hitting .278 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI in 82 games. With 56 starts in center field and 10 starts at the corner outfield, Rasmus cracked the outfield in St. Louis and looks here to stay. Rasmus has heated up over the last two weeks of the first half where he hit .356/.431/.667 with four homers in 13 games.

Others Receiving Votes (1st/2nd/3rd)

J.A. Happ, Philadelphia Phillies (1/3/3)
Randy Wells, Chicago Cubs (2/1/1)
Casey McGehee, Milwaukee Brewers (0/2/4)
Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves (0/2/0)
Seth Smith, Colorado Rockies (0/1/0)
Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates (0/0/1)

American League — Ricky Romero, Toronto Blue Jays

In 13 starts, Romero has a 7-3 record and solid 3.00 ERA in 87 innings. Since June 5, Romero is 5-1 with a 2.38 ERA in eight starts, all eight being quality starts. Of Romero’s 13 starts, he has 11 quality starts including 24 consecutive scoreless innings from June 21 to July 6.

Romero was not a unanimous choice with four first-place votes, three second-place votes and a third place votes. Fellow rookie pitchers Brad Bergesen and Andrew Bailey garnered the next most support and were bunched in with position players Elvis Andrus and Nolan Reimold.

Others Receiving Votes (1st/2nd/3rd)

Brad Bergesen, Baltimore Orioles (1/3/2)
Andrew Bailey, Oakland Athletics (1/3/1)
Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers (2/0/2)
Nolan Reimold, Baltimore Orioles (1/1/2)
Jeff Neimann, Tampa Bay Rays (1/0/0)
Brett Gardner, New York Yankees (0/0/1)
Vin Mazzaro, Oakland Athletics (0/0/1)

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

National League — Joe Torre, Los Angeles Dodgers

Technically, Torre and Giants manager Bruce Bochy tied if using a points system but Torre received one more first-place vote than Bochy who appeared on eight of our ballots compared to Torre who appeared on just six. Torre’s Dodgers have looked invincible in the first half — with or without Manny Ramirez in the lineup — so that made Torre the pick though not unanimous. Torre’s Dodgers are owners of the best record in baseball at 56-32 and own a seven game lead over Bochy’s Giants who are 49-39.

Others Receiving Votes (1st/2nd/3rd)

Bruce Bochy, San Francisco Giants (3/3/2)
Ken Macha, Milwaukee Brewers (2/0/1)
Tony LaRussa, St. Louis Cardinals (0/2/3)
Charlie Manuel, Philadelphia Phillies (0/2/1)
Jim Tracy, Colorado Rockies (1/0/1)
Fredi Gonzalez, Florida Marlins (0/1/0)
Cecil Cooper, Houston Astros (0/0/2)

American League — Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles Angels

Since he won the Manager of the Year Award in 2002, Mike Scioscia guided the Angels to four division titles but was not given the recognition for his managerial success. The first half of the season saw numerous injuries tear apart the Angels’ roster but Scioscia made the right decisions and that has the Angels at the top of the American League West. Scioscia’s support wasn’t overwhelming but he did collect four first-place votes and a second-place vote which gave him more support than any other AL Manager in the first half.

Others Receiving Votes (1st/2nd/3rd)

Ron Washington, Texas Rangers (2/3/2)
Jim Leyland, Detroit Tigers (2/1/1)
Don Wakamatsu, Seattle Mariners (0/3/1)
Terry Francona, Boston Red Sox (1/1/1)
Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays (1/0/0)
Joe Girardi, New York Yankees (0/1/2)
Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins (0/0/2)
Ozzie Guillen, Chicago White Sox (0/0/1)

OUR WORLD SERIES PREDICTIONS!!! (With 1st Half Picks Crossed Out)

Bill Baer — Boston Red Sox over Philadelphia Phillies Los Angeles Dodgers
Joe Hamrahi — New York Yankees over Chicago Cubs Los Angeles Dodgers
Brian Joseph — Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers over Philadelphia Phillies
Jeff Lubbers — Boston Red Sox over Milwaukee Brewers Los Angeles Dodgers
Gavin McCormick — Boston Red Sox over St. Louis Cardinals
Rob McQuown — Chicago Cubs Boston Red Sox over New York Yankees Los Angeles Dodgers
Eric Polsky — Boston Red Sox over Los Angeles Dodgers
Zach Sanders — Boston Red Sox over Los Angeles Dodgers
D.J. Short — Boston Red Sox over Philadelphia Phillies
Michael Street — Los Angeles Dodgers Boston Red Sox over New York Yankees Los Angeles Dodgers