• MVP

Who should win it:  Albert Pujols - Surprise, surprise!  Pujols had another monster year hitting .327 and led the majors in home runs with 47, and was second in the NL in RBIs with 135.  He also led the majors in runs scored with 124.

Who will win it: Albert Pujols - Unanimously.

Big ups to: Ryan Howard, Prince Fielder, Hanley Ramirez and Ryan Braun

• CY Young

Who should win it: Adam Wainwright - This was really difficult.  I’m giving it to Wainwright because he was a workhorse all season.  He led the league in innings pitched with 233 and was tied for the major league lead in wins with 19.  He was 4th in the NL in strikeouts (212) and ERA (2.63).  Top five in those categories did it for me.

Who will win it:  Chris Carpenter - 17-4, 2.24 ERA, 3 CGs, 1 SHO, 192.2 innings pitched, 144 Ks.  Wainwright had 6 more starts which is why his innings are that much higher, but I think Carpenter wins it because he is, and has been, the leader of that staff for years.  Plus he has the “feel good” story to go with his great year.

Big ups to: Tim Lincecum, Dan Haren, Javier Vazquez, and Matt Cain

• Rookie of the Year

Who should win it: Chris Coghlan - Led the rookies in average, hitting .321.  He raked in the month of August with 47 hits and hitting .385.  He won the award in that month.  Oh wait, did I say August or September?  Well it doesn’t really matter because he had 47 hits in both months!   He hit 9 home runs and drove in 47 RBIs.  You can argue that he kept the Marlins in the playoff race for as long as they were in it.  Plus, he’s from Pinellas County.

Who will win it: Chris Coghlan - For all the reasons I just mentioned.

Big ups to: J.A. Happ, Tommy Hanson, Andrew McCutchen, and Casey McGehee