Blogspott Won't Let Me Put A Title In for Some Reason.
So It's the MLB Mid Year Awards...No Owens Style.


Seemingly everyone who thinks their voice should be heard in the sporting world seems to give a "Mid-Year Awards" deal. Well, I think I should be heard, so here at No Owens, you're not going to get anything else.


The difference is that chances are, you aren't going to get the same, "logical" choices that others give. You will get the "most logical" when you look at my reasoning. And as we all know, I'm always right.


American League Most Valuable Player.

Most people would say...A-Rod. Surprise surprise. If not A-Rod, Vlad. If not Vlad, Mags. What do all these guys have in common? They are all middle of the order guys on teams with some protection for them. Big numbers? Yes. Good teams? All besides A-Rod. But like I said, these are all middle of the order guys. I find more value when someone as dominant in their role in another spot. And no one has been anywhere near as close in dominance to Ichiro Suzuki in the leadoff spot. He's second in the league in hitting (behind Mags) and he's scored 62 runs with the biggest hitter in his lineup being all of Raul Ibanez. He's struck out 35 times in 357 AB's. That's not too bad, neither is his .410 OBP. Possibly the most important part? The once dismal Mariners are only 2.5 games back of the perenially dominant Vlad and the Angels. Ichiro is making the difference in a statement year for his team. I'm taking Ichiro.

Watch for: The reigning champ Morneau however. He is quietly putting together an season together that could equal last year's.


National League Most Valuable Player.

I've tried, I really have, but I can't give it to Matt Holliday. I can't do it. I tried giving it to Jake Peavy. Can't do it. And he makes great amplifiers. It's Prince Fielder. It just is. The guy's having a monster season. It's about the same as Ryan Howard's last year. And yes, Howard should have won it last year. The stats don't lie. The timeliness of his hits don't lie. It's him. Watch for: A Met in the second half. Beltran has been hurting and he doesn't hit for average. Wright and Delgado have been "quiet." Look out for a Met to come out in the second.


AL Cy Young.

Tough call. Not really. 12-2 with a 3.44 in 16 starts? Yeah, it's Josh Beckett. The only reason Haren is getting the start tonight is because it's in his backyard. Oh yeah, I traded josh Beckett in my fantasy league before the season began...for Pat Burrell. Love it.

Watch for: Johan Santana. He's got 10 wins before the break. He could end up with 25.


NL Cy Young.

I would like to just say...The Padres. But in order to not create a stir in the San Diego dugout with Greg Maddux beating out all the young guns...I'm going to select Brad Penny. Yes, that Brad Penny. Leading the league with 10 wins and a 2.39 is about as strong as anyone right now. And where did this electric stuff come from the past couple years? He's good.

Watch for: Roy Oswalt in the second. The Astros are going to go on a run. They always do. Cabayo is quietly leading the NL in RBI. That never happens.



Rookies of the League don't matter halfway through. Why? The guy who plays third for Milwaukee would be the guy. He gets called up, hits third. Hits like .380 something. Oh, and I don't know his name. This is why they don't matter until the end of the year.



NL Worst Player Ever.

This award could go to two places. DP Alou has had a pulled quad since May. (Double Play Alou that is...and he runs like a goose. It hurts.) But I'm going with the once dominant Mark Mulder. Last year? Horrible. This year. Has he pitched yet? Biggest waste of talent. Biggest waste of an Oakland A's starting spot. Second in the balloting? Barry Zito. At least Hudson is getting his act together...

AL Worst Player Ever.

It's Jermaine Dye. It has to be. I've yelled and yelled about Dye so many times. To this day, someone won a World Series with Jermaine Dye as their third hitter. Some may call that good managing. I call that ridiculous. He is terrible. At least the Sox announcer makes his name sound good. Thanks for hitting .214. Remember when he didn't exist...I mean, he played in Kansas City? I liked that a whole lot better.

Biggest Disappointment Award.

Most people would say Bob (whatever happened to the Bob Abreu thing) Abreu. I'm going with his teammate Rob Cano. This guy almost won a batting title last year. He hits 9th or whatever for the Yankees. That should produce some runs. He isn't. He's got a great swing and doing nothing with it. Thanks big nasty.

Shawn Merriman Award (Get away with anything).

It's Giambi. How does this guy get so little for all of his steroid usage? Where is he? I know he's hanging our with Mitchell and all that...but is he getting paid? How come no one cares? What if this was Bonds? Griffey? Pujols? A-ROD? This would be the biggest thing since sliced bread? His publicist needs to be hired by H Dub for G dub, asap.

George Jung Award.

Does anyone find it interesting that all of these guys getting in steroid trouble played in Oakland? Then, when rumors started surfacing about Pujols, he pulled an oblique? I'll lay it out for you to play out.


Matt Stairs Award.

This award goes to Matt Stairs. As long as he is in the league, he deserves an award. If Glenallen Hill was still in the league, he too would also get an award every waking moment.


Go Away Award.

This award goes to the player that just needs to quit and move on. This award goes to Fernando Vina on Baseball Tonight. Just walk away.


Learn Another Sport Award.

Richie Sexson - Basketball. This guy is really tall. He also can't hit. He also resembles Dirk. Put it together. "Sexson, from way downtown. BANG!"



That's it sportsfans. The mid-year MLB Awards. If you have an award you want to be added to the list, let me know. I'll come up with something.