2009 First Half Award Winners

With the first half of the baseball season in the books it's time for the first half awards:

[All stats are through July 4th]

Americal League

MVP: Jason Bay, Boston.

His batting average is so-so, but his production has been top shelf and absolutely vital in light of Davis Ortiz's monumental struggles.

Runner up: Mark Teixeira, New York

Unlike Bay, who's been slugging from the start, Texeira didn't heat up until Alex Rodriguez returned.

Cy Young Award: Zack Greinke, Kansas City.

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He's been the proverbial

story of the year so far and hasn't slowed up much since his blazing start.

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Runner up: Roy Halladay, Toronto.

Greinke gets the nod, albeit barely, because of his ERA (2.00 - 2.56).

Rookie of the Half: Rick Porcello, Detroit.

On pace for 16 wins, and a big part of the Tigers success so far.

Runner up: Andrew Bailey, Oakland.

Only eight saves on a team going absolutely nowhere, but check these numbers: 47.1 innings: 57 Ks, 2.09 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a .173 opponents BA. A bright light in a dismal season for the A's.

Biggest Surprise: The Texas Rangers.

Damned if they're 12th in team batting. Damned if they're 10th in team pitching. Damned if they have a winning record and damned if they're battling for first place in the AL West. Baseball. Damndest game I ever saw.

Biggest disappointment: The Cleveland Indians.

They were supposed to take the next step this season, at least according to the "experts." Grady Sizemore is having a rotten year and the rest

of the team seems to have abandoned ship.

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Runner up: David Ortiz, Boston.

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He's picked it up a little, but his staggering dropoff has become one of the biggest mysteries in years.

National League

MVP: Albert Pujols, St. Louis.

He is, without any doubt now, the best hitter since Ted Williams and has entered the top ten all-time players list with a bullet. The early choice for the best player of the 21st Century. He'll be one hell of a tough act to top.

Runner up: Prince Fielder, Milwaukee.

With J.J Hardy and Cory Hart in the tank, Fielder has risen to the task by becoming a much more dangerous overall hitter and as a result, the Brewers are right in the mix.

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Cy Young Award: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco

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After a rough start, he's rounding into form and is the cornerstone of the Giants becoming a winning team for the first time in what seems like forever.

Runner up: Matt Cain, San Francisco.

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He and Lincecum are the best tandem in baseball right now.

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Rookie of the Half: Tommy

Hanson, Atlanta.

Late call-up was 4-0, 2.48 in his first five starts.

Runner up: Colby Rasmus, St. Louis.

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Holding up fairly well under the hype so far, mainly thanks to the giga-shadow of Pujols.

Biggest Surprise: The Los Angeles Dodgers.

They didn't lose a step without Manny which proves that either he's not that important or the entire sports universe owes Juan Pierre a major league apology.

Biggest Disappointment: Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles.

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The whole thing's almost as ridiculous as his friggin' hair.

Runner up: The Chicago Cubs.

The New York Mets have been laid to waste by injuries, but other than losing Aramis Ramirez, the Cubbies don't have many excuses for being a .500 team. The surprising lack of an explosion by Mt. Piniella to this point adds to disappointment at Wrigley.