2019 MLB Awards: AL Picks

The 2019 MLB season was the year of the home run. In fact, 15 teams set franchise records for home runs. Furthermore, the Minnesota Twins broke the all-time record for most homers in a single season with 307. 

But this season, like any other year, will also be remembered for which players took home the league's most prestigious individual honors—MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year.

Here are my picks for each notable award in the American League.

MVP: Alex Bregman, Astros
There is a great case for Mike Trout to nab his third American League Most Valuable Player award. After all, the Los Angeles Angels outfielder led the AL in on-base percentage, OPS and slugging. He ranked second in homers with 45, despite missing 28 games due to injury.

Unfortunately for Trout, Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman had by far the best year of his career. Bregman finished first in the AL in the all-important Wins Above Replacement (WAR) at 8.4, just above Trout (8.3). The 25-year-old drew the most walks (119) and finished top-5 in runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, OPS and slugging. Bregman is the fifth player in AL history to reach over 40 homers, 110 and 35 doubles with less than 90 strikeouts in a seasons. The other four—Frank Thomas (1993), Ted Williams (1949), Lou Gehrig (1936) and Babe Ruth (1920, 1921 and 1924)—all won MVP in their respective season(s).

Alex Bregman spearheaded the Astros a MLB-best 107 wins. (AP Photo)

Cy Young: Gerrit Cole, Astros
Astros ace Justin Verlander, a one-time Cy Young winner, has finished runner-up for the award three times (2012, 2016 and 2018) in his legendary career. He is likely to be the runner-up again this year, despite going 21-6 with 300 strikeouts and a 2.58 ERA. Verlander achieved a career-best .803 WHIP.

The only player to outshine Verlander among AL pitchers, teammate Gerrit Cole led MLB with 326 strikeouts. Cole (20-5) set the Astros single-season record for strikeouts. Cole went 16-0 in the final 22 starts of the 2019 season with a 1.78 ERA and 226 punchouts. He had the No. 1 ERA (2.50) in the American League. Amazingly, he struck out 10 or more batters in each of his last nine starts.

Rookie of the Year: Yordan Alvarez, Astros
Yordan Alvarez played only 87 games, but he's still the odds-on favorite to win ROY. Since his June call-up, the designated hitter has posted a 1.078 OPS with 27 home runs and 78 RBIs.

In the second half of the MLB season, Alvarez wasn’t just the best rookie in the AL, he was among the best hitters in the league. He registered a tremendous slash line of .313/.412/.655. 

Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez also had a fine inaugural season in the majors, mashing 31 homers and slugging .513.

Manager of the Year: Aaron Boone, Yankees
New York Yankees skipper Aaron Boone led his club to 103 wins, winning the AL East with ease. They accomplished this despite setting a MLB record for most injured players in a season.

This award could go to Twins first-year manager Rocco Baldelli. The Twins rebounded from a 78-84 finish in 2018 to win 101 games this season. They seized their first AL Central division title since 2010. 

Patriots' Defense Playing at Historic Level

The New England Patriots are playing at a historically dominant level defensively.

New England’s defense has allowed just one offensive touchdown through four contests, tied for the fewest in the Super Bowl era. The NFL's top-ranked defense has surrendered just 6.8 points per game. (That 6.8 mark would be lower if not for the special teams and the offense surrendering a touchdown each in Week 3 versus the Jets)

Devin McCourty has an interception in every game this season, the first player to accomplish that feat since 2003. He leads the NFL in interceptions, while teammate Jamie Collins ranks second with three picks. As a team, the Patriots have 10 interceptions, double the amount of the next closest clubs (Giants, Bills and 49ers have amassed five interceptions).

J.C. Jackson was masterful in the Patriots' 16-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, becoming the first player since 1989 to record two interceptions and block a punt in the same game.

Our guy!

J.C. Jackson's punt block leads to Matthew Slater's first career TD!#NEvsBUF | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/JiaeNrwHFB

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 29, 2019

Kyle Van Noy had the best game of any New England defensive player. He recorded eight tackles, two sacks and forced two fumbles. He was named Week 4's AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

The Patriots have allowed just 13 points on defense in 2019.

Patriots defense has allowed 13 points on 51 drives this season. It has also scored two TD, so they have allowed net -1 points on 51 drives.

They might stay in the negatives with this Washington offense. https://t.co/6UcFmzSDKD

— Scott Kacsmar (@ScottKacsmar) September 30, 2019

Up next for the Patriots is a road tilt against the winless Washington Redskins (0-4). The Redskins rank 28th in total offense.

NFL Standings Predictions 2019

Standings Predictions

AFC East	Record	NFC East	Record
New England Patriots	14-2	Philadelphia Eagles	12-4
Buffalo Bills	8-8	Dallas Cowboys*	10-6
New York Jets	6-10	Washington Redskins	5-11
Miami Dolphins	1-15	New York Giants	4-12
AFC North	Record	NFC North	Record
Cleveland Browns	10-6	Minnesota Vikings	11-5
Pittsburgh Steelers*	10-6	Chicago Bears*	10-6
Baltimore Ravens	9-7	Green Bay Packers	9-7
Cincinnati Bengals	4-12	Detroit Lions	5-11
AFC South	Record	NFC South	Record
Tennessee Titans	10-6	New Orleans Saints	13-3
Houston Texans	9-7	Atlanta Falcons	9-7
Indianapolis Colts	8-8	Carolina Panthers	8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars	7-9	Tampa Bay Bucs	5-11
AFC West	Record	NFC West	Record
Kansas City Chiefs	12-4	LA Rams	12-4
LA Chargers*	11-5	Seattle Seahawks	9-7
Denver Broncos	6-10	San Francisco 49ers	7-9
Oakland Raiders	5-11	Arizona Cardinals	4-12

*Indicates Wild-Card Team

• Note: I initially picked the Indianapolis Colts to win the AFC South. But following Andrew Luck's decision to retire, I switched my selection to the Tennessee Titans.

AFC Championship: Patriots defeat Chiefs

NFC Championship: Saints defeat Eagles

Super Bowl: Patriots defeat Saints

NBA Standings Predictions: Eastern Conference

Here is a projected order of finish for the 2019-20 NBA season in the Eastern Conference.

Eastern Conference

1. Milwaukee Bucks

2. Boston Celtics

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Toronto Raptors

5. Indiana Pacers

6. Miami Heat

7. Brooklyn Nets

8. Orlando Magic

9. Detroit Pistons

10. Atlanta Hawks

11. Washington Wizards

12. Charlotte Hornets

13. Chicago Bulls

          14. Cleveland Cavaliers

15. New York Knicks

NBA Standings Predictions: Western Conference

Here is the projected order of finish for the 2019-20 NBA season in the Western Conference.

1. LA Clippers 

Key additions: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Maurice Harkless

Key subtractions: Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Garrett Temple

2. Denver Nuggets

Key additions: Jerami Grant

Key subtractions: Trey Lyles

3. LA Lakers

Key additions: Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Danny Green, Avery Bradley, Jared Dudley

Key subtractions: Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Tyson Chandler

4. Utah Jazz

Key additions: Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Ed Davis, Jeff Green 

Key subtractions: Jae Crowder, Ricky Rubio, Derrick Favors, Kyle Korver

5. Houston Rockets

Key additions: Russell Westbrook, Tyson Chandler

Key subtractions: Chris Paul

6. Portland Trail Blazers

Key additions: Hassan Whiteside, Anthony Tolliver, Kent Bazemore, Mario Hezonja

Key subtractions: Evan Turner, Maurice Harkless, Al-Farouq Aminu, Enes Kanter

7. Golden State Warriors

Key additions: D'Angelo Russell, Willie Cauley-Stein, Glenn Robinson III, Alec Burks

Key subtractions: Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, DeMarcus Cousins, Shaun Livingston

8. San Antonio Spurs

Key additions: DeMarre Carroll, Trey Lyles

Key subtractions: Davis Bertans

9. Sacramento Kings

Key additions: Trevor Ariza, Dewayne Dedmon, Cory Joseph

Key subtractions: Willie Cauley-Stein, Alec Burks, Frank Mason III

10. New Orleans Pelicans

Key additions: Zion Williamson, JJ Redick, Derrick Favors, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Jaxson Hayes, Josh Hart

Key subtractions: Anthony Davis, Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton

11. Dallas Mavericks

Key additions: Seth Curry, Boban Marjanovic, Delon Wright

Key subtractions: Dirk Nowitzki

12. Minnesota Timberwolves

Key additions: Noah Vonleh, Jordan Bell, Jarrett Culver

Key subtractions: Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Dario Saric

13. Oklahoma City Thunder

Key additions: Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Mike Muscala

Key subtractions: Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Jerami Grant, Markieff Morris

14. Phoenix Suns

Key additions: Ricky Rubio, Dario Saric, Aron Baynes, Cameron Johnson

Key subtractions: Josh Jackson, T.J. Warren

15. Memphis Grizzlies

Key additions: Ja Morant, Andre Iguodala, Josh Jackson, Tyus Jones, Jae Crowder

Key subtractions: Mike Conley, Avery Bradley, Delon Wright

Scorching-Hot Rafael Devers Joins Ted Williams in Elite Company

Rafael Devers is the first player to reach the 100-RBI plateau in 2019. 

The 22-year-old wrapped up his otherworldly week with a terrific Sunday, going 4-for-5 with a homer, two doubles and four RBIs in the Boston Red Sox’s 13-7 thumping of the visiting Baltimore Orioles.

pic.twitter.com/uy5pdGumLq

— Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) August 18, 2019

Completing a three-game sweep of the lowly Orioles, the Red Sox won their fifth consecutive contest. They still trail the Tampa Bay Rays by 6.5 games for the second AL Wild Card spot, but the monster production of Devers has made the Red Sox a must-watch.

Devers mashed his 27th homer of the season in Boston's win over Baltimore. (Michael Dwyer/AP)

Devers is the first player to register 100-plus runs and RBIs in a season before age 23 since future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera did so in 2005. The only other Red Sox player in franchise history to accomplish this feat was the legendary Ted Williams.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously it feels good to be a part of that group,” Devers said after Sunday’s win. “But overall I’m just trying to help the team as much as I can whether it’s baserunning, playing defense, that’s what I’m more focused on is just trying to contribute as much as I can to help the team win ballgames.”

During Devers’ eight-game hitting streak, he is 20-for-37 with eight doubles, four homers and 14 RBIs with a 1.656 OPS.

Devers leads MLB in hits (167), extra-base hits (76), RBIs (101) and total bases (300). Ty Cobb is the only other player in history to lead the league in these categories in his age-22 season, dating back to 1909.

Batting .332—the third-best in MLB—Devers has a shot at winning the American League MVP. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is currently the favorite to nab the award. Trout leads the AL in homers (41) and his MLB-best WAR (8.2) is far higher than Devers’ mark of 5.2.

New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu, who leads MLB in batting (.339) and ranks third in hits (156), is another strong candidate to win MVP. He has the same WAR as Devers and has been unquestionably the best player on the Yankees, who hold the top record (83-43) in baseball.

Jakobi Meyers Emerging as Tom Brady's 'Favorite Target' in Camp

A rookie wide receiver has made a significant impact during the New England Patriots’ training camp. Undrafted free agent Jakobi Meyers—not first-round selection N'Keal Harry—has emerged as the “favorite target” for quarterback Tom Brady.

Julian Edelman is sidelined with a thumb injury, allowing other receivers the chance to shine. Meyers has taken advantage of the opportunity. He has earned reps with the first team offense and could carve a role in the Patriots’ offense in 2019 if Josh Gordon remains suspended indefinitely.

Meyers has made a name for himself in training camp. (Mandy Lane/Boston Herald)

The 6-foot-2, 203-pound former North Carolina State wideout has been the talk of the town during most of the team’s practices. He grabbed 14-of-18 targets in 11-on-11 drills on Monday.

Meyers is a converted quarterback who switched to wide receiver before his sophomore year at N.C. State. He hauled in 92 receptions in 2018—the seventh-most in college football—for the Wolfpack during his senior season.

Not enough people are talking about NC State's Jakobi Meyers (@jkbmyrs5).

He isn't a big separator, but he catches everything. He's a top-5 WR in this class in drop rate and contested catch %.

He's a Jason Avant clone, IMO. Chain mover, sneaky red-zone threat and SO consistent. pic.twitter.com/XuAPGnCz3V

— Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) March 30, 2019

Brady praised Meyers for seizing the moment during training camp.

                          

“He’s done a great job and he’s taken advantage of his opportunities,” Brady said. “I think that’s really what we try to stress to anybody. It really doesn’t matter — the football doesn’t care how old you are, whether you were drafted or not. The football doesn’t care how much experience you have. It just knows that when I let that ball go, it’s got to be in the hands of the guy who it’s intended for. If that happens to be him, it’s him. If it’s Julian, it’s Julian. Whoever it is, it doesn’t matter in football.”