Offering Some Awards Predictions Before The Start Of A New Season

Tomorrow's Opening Day! All the analysts are posting their awards predictions and what not, so I decided, "hell, I'll give it a shot!" Here are my picks:

American League Most Valuable Player:

- Alex Rodriguez, 3B New York Yankees

Batting Line: .292, 44 HR, 120 RBI

A-Rod is primed for a bounce back. The guy with the best spring of anyone else on the team looked like a new man. Two years removed from serious hip surgery, Alex has said he's feeling "better than ever," and claims he's feeling more comfortable at the plate, saying he has more movement now that he can do his full workouts. Rodriguez certainly proved that this spring, and he's primed for a big year even though it'll be his age 36 season.

Others considered: 2B Robinson Cano - NYY, 1B Miguel Cabrera - DET, C Joe Mauer - MIN, 3B Evan Longoria - TB, OF Josh Hamilton - TEX

American League Cy Young Award:

- Jon Lester, LHP Boston Red Sox

Pitching Line: 20 - 6, 2.87 ERA

Jon Lester was destined for great things. The young lefty, who finished 19-9 last season, is primed for a breakout to include himself in the conversation of baseball's greatest pitchers. A consistently strong big-game pitcher, Lester, 27, will bring his game up to a whole new level this season when he leads the Red Sox deep into October.

Others considered: LHP CC Sabathia - NYY, RHP - Felix Hernandez - SEA, LHP David Price - TB, RHP Justin Verlander - DET, RHP Trevor Cahill - OAK

American League Rookie Of The Year:

- Ivan Nova, RHP New York Yankees

Pitching Line: 16-8, 3.63 ERA

Yeah, not what you expected right? You probably expected to see the likes of Jeremy Hellickson, Mike Moustakas, Desmond Jennings or Mark Trumbo here. Call me crazy, but I'm sticking behind this pick, and I'm not the only one (see Buster Olney's predictions). I've been a huge fan of Nova since he was a blip on the radar screen in the land of Yankee prospects. Nova, 24, dazzled this spring and proved to Yankee management that the fourth starter spot was going to be his. He's a horse. He's going to give the Yankees' innings (we'll see how he gets through a lineup this season), be mildly effective, and prove to be a solid mainstay in the rotation this season. If anything, I think he's the one to watch this season along with Derek Jeter (who's nearing 3,000 hits). Nova is going to be Super-Nova, and will prove to the Yankees that he's the man for the job in the rotation.

Others considered: RHP Jeremy Hellickson - TB, 3B Mike Moustakas - KC, OF Desmond Jennings - TB, 1B Mark Trumbo - LAA, C Jesus Montero - NYY, 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka - MIN

National League Most Valuable Player:

- Albert Pujols, 1B St. Louis Cardinals

Batting Line: .324, 52 HR, 134 RBI

Do I really have to explain this one? Pujols, 31, is already a three-time NL MVP, and in a year where he's playing for a new contract at season's end, he's going to go all out for that $300 million mega-deal. Albert is Albert and that's that.

Others considered: SS Troy Tulowitzki - COL, OF Ryan Braun - MIL, C Buster Posey - SFG, 1B Ryan Howard - PHI, 1B Prince Fielder - MIL

National League Cy Young Award:

- Roy Halladay, RHP Philadelphia Phillies

Pitching Line: 30-0, 0.00 ERA

Real Pitching Line: 23-9, 2.62 ERA

Last year's Cy Young Award winner is going to go back-to-back. When the Toronto Blue Jays traded the best pitcher in the game out of baseball's toughest division (AL East) to the inferior league (NL), it was obvious that Halladay, 33, would prosper greatly. And greatly prosper he did, winning 21 games last season in his first year in Philly, while also throwing a Perfect Game during the regular season and a no-hitter in the playoffs - just the second ever. Already a two-time Cy Young winner, Halladay will add number three to his mantel.

Others considered: LHP Cliff Lee - PHI, LHP Cole Hamels - PHI, RHP Roy Oswalt - PHI, RHP Tim Lincecum - SFG, RHP Josh Johnson - FLA, LHP Clayton Kershaw - LAD, RHP Zack Grienke - MIL, RHP Matt Cain - SFG

National League Rookie Of The Year:

- Aroldis Chapman, LHP Cincinnati Reds

Pitching Line: 4-1, 2.13 ERA (if in bullpen)

Pitching Line: 14-7, 2.91 (if in rotation)

Last season, I went with an explosive young reliever to win the award and got it right (Neftali Feliz, AL), so why not continue on that trend this season? Chapman was downright throwing flames last season, hitting 105 mph on the radar gun in a game last season. Not only was he throwing heat, but the cuban defectee was close to un-hittable. While his role this season is still somewhat undetermined, it appears as though he'll begin the year in the Reds' bullpen as Francisco Cordero's set-up man, but could move to the rotation. For me, it came down to Chapman and San Francisco's young first base phenom Brandon Belt. However, because Belt soared through the minor leagues so quickly, I'm still unsure that he's ready. Just 23, Chapman's ready to open more eyes and wow spectators with that prized left arm.

Others considered: 1B Brandon Belt - SFG, 1B Freddie Freeman - ATL, OF Domonic Brown - PHI, 3B Matt Dominguez - FLA, 2B Brad Emaus - NYM

DIVISION WINNERS:

EAST - New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves

CENTRAL - Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds

WEST - Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies

WILD CARD - Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies

ALCS - Boston over New York

NLCS - Atlanta over Colorado

WORLD SERIES MATCH-UP:
Atlanta Braves vs. Boston Red Sox

Why? The most-improved team (Boston) vs. the team with one of baseball's best overall teams. Who wouldn't want to watch Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkillis & co. go up against Jason Heyward, Chipper Jones and Brian McCann in the Peach State?

Boston is the best team in the American League, by far (even though I think that the Yankees will still win the AL East). They made massive additions by signing Crawford and trading for Gonzalez to build upon an injury-barren, underachieving, playoff missed, 2010 team. Their rotation, led by Lester and Clay Buchholz, is tops in the American League. Together, they are the league's best, so it's hard to count them out of the World Series.

Atlanta will play its first season in a looooong time without long-time manager Bobby Cox. With former Marlins' manager Fredi Gonzalez at the helm, the Braves will look to build upon their 2010 success, as they made the playoffs for the first time in five years last year. With a healthy Chipper Jones, and the rookie butterflies out from under Heyward's belt, the Braves will look to be a heavy-weight favorite in the National League. Is it likely that they'll overtake Philadelphia for the NL East crown? No, but it's certainly possible and isn't as far out of reach as many think. They've got one of the best lineups in the NL and a great pitching staff to boot. It's hard to not like this team.

2011 WORLD CHAMPIONS:
Atlanta Braves

WHOA OH OH OH-OH, WHOA OH OH OH-OH!