Four games until 81, the half-way point of the season. It’s been a weird one for the Giants. They’re not good, and sometimes they’re very bad, but at least they’re interesting. It’s been fun to watch the subplots: the younger players like Bowker and Burriss no one expected up so soon; the mediocrity of the N.L. West creating the illusion of competitiveness; the mild renaissance of a few veterans; and the excitement of the past two drafts.
I’ll be off the grid when we hit the midline this weekend, so allow me to dish out first-half awards a few days early.
First-Half Cy Young: Tim Lincecum. Until his rough outing Sunday in Kansas City, he was neck-and-neck with Cincy’s Edison Volquez for best pitcher in the league. Runner-up is Jonathan Sanchez, but it’s not really close.
First-Half MVP: I’m a sucker for the Big Money Molina heart-and-soul stuff, and his celebrated clutchiness is a nice story. (And exaggerated. Did you know his numbers are almost identical this year whether there are runners on or not?) But B-Mo by most measures isn’t even one of the top-three hitters on the Giants. Aaron Rowand and Randy Winn lead the team in VORP, and close behind them is Fred Lewis, my first-half MVP. The Giants desperately needed someone to lead off, and he did it. The Giants needed a younger position player to play a starring role, and he has done it. In an organization not known for producing hitters with good plate discipline, Lewis stands out that much more. All the outfielders qualify for this prestigious award, but FreddieLoo! wins it because he waved to me in the bleachers a couple weeks ago.
First-Half ROY: A guy with a .353 OBP and above-average defense at short who played last year in single-A? Or a guy with 7 home runs, .315 OBP/.454 SLG, and above-average defense at 1B despite learning the position at the big-league level? Emmanuel Burriss or John Bowker? I give the nod to Bowker because he’s had a lot more at-bats and is expected to be a key member of the lineup.
First-Half Comeback of the Year: Three-way tie between Keiichi Yabu, Tyler Walker, and Ray Durham. Durham’s defense is still subpar, and he only has two home runs, but he’s once again a productive member of the offense after being one of the worst position players in baseball last year. Throw out a couple bad games and Walker’s numbers would be spectacular. A year ago he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Yabu was out of baseball entirely last year, and at the age of 39 had only one major-league season under his belt. That he made the team was stunning; that he is a valuable member of the bullpen is the warmest, fuzziest ABC afterschool special ever. No one under 35 has any idea what that means.
To save time and prompt discussion, I’ll go lightning-round with the next three categories:
First-Half Fireman: Brian Wilson. First-Half Most Improved: Jose Castillo. First-Half Minor-Leaguer: Madison Bumgarner.
Ladies and gentlemen, señoras y señores, start your counterarguments, and feel free to add your own categories.
(Photo courtesy of Stephen Glauser under a Creative Commons license.)
