2018 MLB awards: Breaking down the ballots

American League MVP: Jose Ramirez – Cleveland Indians

There were quite a few excellent performances in the American League this season. However, no player may have been more valuable to his team than Jose Ramirez was to the Cleveland Indians.

Ramirez emerged as a star in 2017. He led the league in doubles, made his first All Star Game, and finished third in the MVP balloting. This season, he took another step forward, producing a 151 OPS+, while hitting 39 homers, stealing 34 bases, and showing an impressive batting eye. In his 698 plate appearances, Ramirez drew 106 walks while striking out only 80 times.

He also continued to show his solid defenisve versatility. After splitting 2017 between second and third, Ramirez has spent most of the 2018 campaign at third base. However, once Josh Donaldson was healthy and ready to join the lineup, Ramirez moved over to second once again. He performed reasonably well at both positions defensively, although he was much better at the hot corner.

In the end, Ramirez did more with less in the lineup. Michael Brantley and Francisco Lindor were certainly excellent performers this past season, but the Indians lineup as a whole was not exactly a Murderer’s Row. Center field was a black hole, and Yonder Alonso failed to match his production from 2017. It was an above average offense, but Ramirez was the key to its success.

Also considered: Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, J.D. Martinez, Blake Snell

National League MVP: Christian Yelich – Milwaukee Brewers

While every team has a player that is vital to the success of their club, the Milwaukee Brewers may not have made the postseason without Christian Yelich.

One of the Brewers additions this offseason, Milwaukee had hoped that the former Marlins All Star would be the final piece they needed to win that elusive first World Championship. He certainly did his part, finishing the year just short of winning the Triple Crown.

He made quite the impressive first impression with the Brewers. In that first year, he posted a .326/.402/.598 batting line, leading the league in batting average. Yelich was tied for third with 36 homers and tied for second with 110 RBI, coming ever so close to that milestone. He also contributed a career best 21 steals and seven triples, using his speed effectively for Milwaukee as well.

While the Brewers had a solid team overall, Yelich added a dimension that the roster did not have. He was a versatile defensive outfielder, splitting his time in right and left. Not only was he another power bat, but he had a combination of power and speed that the Brewers were lacking in their roster. Yelich was a true difference maker for Milwaukee, helping to lead them to the NL Central title.

Also considered: Javy Baez, Matt Carpenter, Jacob deGrom, Freddie Freeman

American League Cy Young Award: Blake Snell – Tampa Bay Rays

The 2018 campaign was a record setting one for Blake Snell, as he carved his way into the Tampa Bay Rays history books.

Long expected to emerge as the next ace of the Rays, Snell took that awaited step forward in 2018. In a season that saw Chris Archer get traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, three different starters felled by Tommy John surgery early in the year, and Ryne Stanek taking 29 turns as the Opener, Snell was the rock in the Rays rotation.

Snell put together one of the better seasons of the decade. He led the AL with 21 wins and a 1.89 ERA, finishing sixth with 221 strikeouts. The Rays young lefty also led the AL with a 7.4 pitching bWAR and by allowing only 5.579 hits per nine innings. He was also in the top five in K/9, WHiP, and winning percentage. It was a truly dominant season. That win total and ERA set team records for the Rays as the best single season performances in team history.

In a lot of ways, Snell’s surprising performance helped personify the Rays own impressive run. A team that was expected to be overwhelmed in the AL East, one that sold numerous high profile players during the year, ended up winning 90 games on the season. And they do not get there without Blake Snell.

Also considered:  Chris Sale, Justin Verlander, Blake Treinen, Edwin Diaz

National League Cy Young Award: Jacob deGrom – New York Mets

Let’s ignore the record. Jacob deGrom was the best pitcher in the National League in 2018.

Yes, it is easy to overlook his performance, especially for the more traditional voters. His 10-9 record is hardly going to get anyone to pause in their tracks. However, he was the victim of an incompetent offense and a horrendous bullpen. Given even competence in either case, or at least four runs per start, and deGrom’s record becomes a lot more palatable.

Ignoring his won-loss record, there is little reason for deGrom not to win the Cy Young award. He led the NL with a 1.70 ERA, 0.67 runs better than Aaron Nola in second. deGrom was the NL leader in bWAR, actually giving him a case as the NL MVP as well. Over his 217 innings, he struck out 269 batters, while allowing only 46 walks and just 10 homers.

Imagine if he played for a contending team. Put deGrom on a team like the Brewers, or even the Nationals, and his performance looks much better. He was the best pitcher in baseball, and was arguably the best player in the game. deGrom deserves that recognition.

Also considered: Max Scherzer, Josh Hader, Aaron Nola, Kyle Freeland

American League Rookie of the Year – Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Angels

As impressive as Shohei Ohtani was last year, we may have only scratched the surface of what he can be.

Nonetheless, what we saw from the two way talent was certainly intriguing. Ohtani impressed with the bat and on the mound, until elbow soreness turned him strictly into a designated hitter for three months. While he attempted to make a comeback as a pitcher, he injured his elbow even more, requiring Tommy John surgery that will keep him from pitching in 2019.

However, his overall performance was still transcendent. During his all too brief time on the mound, Ohtani posted a 3.31 ERA and a 1.161 WHiP, striking out 63 batters with just 22 walks in 51.2 innings. With the bat, Ohtani produced a .285/.361/.564 batting line, hitting 22 homers and even stealing ten bases.

The two way experiment is going to be on hold for now, as Ohtani will not pitch next season. However, he did prove to be a difference maker with both the bat and on the mound, a two way talent the likes of which has not been seen since Martin Dihigo or Babe Ruth. Maybe he never reaches either of those legends over his career, but Ohtani showed that there is still a place for a two way player in this day and age. He has changed baseball in just one year.

Also considered: Miguel Andujar, Brad Keller

National League Rookie of the Year: Juan Soto – Washington Nationals

The NL Rookie of the Year race may have been the closest of all the 2018 MLB awards to pick, but one can never go wrong by siding with a truly historical performance.

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That was exactly what Juan Soto produced with the Washington Nationals. Despite just eight games above A-ball, Soto was brought up to the majors due to a rash of injuries in the Nationals outfield. Once he reached the majors, all he did was hit, forcing Washington’s hand and cementing his place as a key building block for the future.

His 2018 campaign was impressive for a rookie regardless of age. He produced a stellar .292/.406/.517 batting line, hitting 22 homers and 25 doubles. Soto even chipped in five steals, even though he is never going to be confused for a speedster.

However, Soto had quite an impressive, and historic, season. His 22 homers tied Bryce Harper for the second highest total in a single season by a teenager. Soto also became the first teenager to steal three bases in a game, something that even Ty Cobb did not accomplish. That production, at such a young age, certainly makes him worthy of the NL Rookie of the Year award.

Also considered: Ronald Acuna, Walker Buehler