The 2014 MLB season is now in the books, and it’s time to take a look back at the regular-season stars that set the table for a great postseason.
The breathtaking moments and clutch performances taking place from the end of September until the last out of the World Series can sometimes skew our judgement and cause us to forget about those that played at a level above the rest of their class during the regular season. But we can’t forgot about the months leading up to the Fall Classic, either.
Before the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announces their award winners on Nov. 10, we’ve attempted to break down the field and predict who will be taking home the accolades.
NL MVP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
While fellow NL West southpaw Madison Bumgarner ruled the playoffs, Kershaw exemplified mound dominance during the months that came before. So much so that the Dodgers’ ace is set to become one of a handful of pitchers to be recognized as a league MVP.
Unlike most who sign lucrative contracts, Kershaw proved to be more than worth the amount management shelled out to him this past off-season.
An early season injury that kept him out for all of April couldn’t prevent him from putting up other-worldly numbers over 27 starts: a 21-3 record, 1.77 ERA and 239 strikeouts. And let us not forget about the no-hitter he spun on June 18—a game in which only a Hanley Ramirez error got in the way of perfection.
AL MVP: Mike Trout, Angels
After two straight years of playing second fiddle to Miguel Cabrera, Trout finally gets his moment at the top (not that it was much of a surprise).
In leading the Angels out of the doldrums of overachievement and back into the playoffs (with baseball’s best record), he had career highs in homers (36), RBI (111) and tied his season-best in doubles (39).
#Angels Mike Trout has as many career seasons with 65+ XBH & 65+ BB as Joe DiMaggio had in his career (3 each).
— Ace of MLB Stats (@AceballStats) September 29, 2014
But what stands out is not just Trout’s 2014 accomplishments, it’s about the culmination of a historic beginning of what will likely be a bright future—following in the likes of Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams.
Over his first three full big league seasons, Trout has compiled a .305 batting average, 98 HRs and just over 300 RBI. And he’s only 23 years old.
It’s a safe bet that more MVPs will be coming his way.
NL Cy Young: Kershaw
This is an easy one, as well. Obviously, a pitcher that’s stellar enough to merit an MVP nod should be a no-brainer as the best pitcher in baseball throughout the 2014 campaign—despite the 0.25 ERA Bumgarner managed to post in the World Series.
After the disappointment of another postseason dud and subsequently having to watch Bumgarner and the rival Giants hoist another World Series trophy, there’s absolutely no chance that Kershaw will take this year for granted and slip into a state of complacency.
AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Mariners
King Felix is again the ruler of all American League hitters. With all due respect to his closest competition, Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians, Hernandez wins this just as much on reputation as he does on performance.
But compared to the Cy Young award he attained in 2010, this year’s efforts were far more pleasing. He went 15-6 with a career low 2.16 ERA and a career high 248 strikeouts over 34 starts. Hernandez led the league in WHIP (.915) and hits per nine innings (6.5).
And, for the first time in his 10-year career, he was an integral part of a team that was a playoff contender for the entirety of the season. The Mariners can feel comfortable about their progress with Felix on the hill.
NL Rookie of the Year: Jacob deGrom, Mets
For all the talent coming through the Mets pipeline, it’s the one who didn’t have any publicity when the season began that was the league’s top rookie pitcher when the season concluded.
And deGrom first arrived to New York in mid-May—with the team hoping he could be used as a reliever. Then, when Dillon Gee left the rotation due to injury, the 25-year-old from Florida got his shot…and didn’t blow it.
After opening with four quality starts, deGrom was the National League Rookie of the Month in July. On Sept. 15, he began his outing against Miami with eight consecutive strikeouts (tying an MLB record). His premiere season ended with a 9-6 record, a 2.69 ERA and 144 Ks.
AL Rookie of the Year: Jose Abreu, White Sox
Masahiro Tanaka could have made this race a bit more interesting, especially looking at his dominance out of the gate. But his mid-season injury put an end to that discussion and made it a landslide victory for the Chicago youngster. Abreu, in turn, had one of the greatest hitting seasons by a rookie—36 home runs, 107 RBI, 80 runs scored and a .317 average.
His dream season began by winning April’s AL Player of the Month. It continued with a selection to the All-Star Game in Minneapolis this past July. It’ll undoubtedly end with the proper recognition from the writers.
NL Manager of the Year: Matt Williams, Nationals
Here’s further evidence that these are regular season awards. Williams’ decision to pull Jordan Zimmermann in the ninth inning of Game 2 in the NLDS against the Giants was not something an experienced, top-flight manager does. But the first-year skipper deserves recognition for finding a winning formula in the second half of the season while the Nats fought through injuries.
And winning 96 games and taking down the top seed in the National League is no easy task.
There were a few moments of instability leading up to his club’s NL East title—most of them involving Bryce Harper. That didn’t stop Washington from catching fire and embarking on a dominant second-half run in which they surpassed all of their competition (including the Atlanta Braves) and cruised to the division crown.
AL Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter, Orioles
Just 35 miles north of Washington D.C., Showalter spent the majority of 2014 making the most of the talent available in Baltimore.
Minus a fully healthy Manny Machado at third base, a reliable backstop presence in Matt Wieters, and a completely productive Chris Davis, Showalter and the Orioles recovered from an early season slip-up and resoundingly marched to the AL East crown.
The O’s had power (leading the league in home runs), defense and a great bullpen—all on display throughout their 96-victory campaign. It continued in their three-game ALDS sweep of Detroit, and it appeared that Baltimore was the favorite of the four left standing.
But all hopes of a pennant disappeared behind the magic displayed by the Kansas City Royals—leaving the Birds’ manager short of a World Series yet again and making this honor only small consolation for his team’s premature exit.