MLB midseason awards

 MLB midseason awards: Biggest surprises and disappointments of 2024

PHOENIX — It’s been a first half where two teams getting their last rites suddenly kicked the priests out of the room and are running down the halls ready to party into October.

Yes, we’re talking about you, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals.

It’s been a first half where the teams that absolutely stunk a year ago suddenly have become serious playoff contenders.

Take a bow, Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians.

It’s been a first half where Shohei Ohtani is letting us know that he’s the greatest player in history with one healthy elbow; Aaron Judge could be our modern-day Babe Ruth; rookie Paul Skenes could be the most electrifying starter since Pedro Martinez; and A’s rookie reliever Mason Miller is making radar-gun readings look obsolete.

It’s been a first half where kiddie shortstops Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr. and Masyn Winn have become the new generation of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra and where 35-year-old veteran Chris Sale has turned back time.

Now, with the July 4th holiday at the end of the week, the All-Star break two weeks away, and the trade deadline four weeks away, buckle up, grab a cold one, and take a look at our first-half awards winners.

AL's biggest surprise: Cleveland Guardians

I picked these guys to win the World Series a year ago and they fell flat on their face.

Future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona retired after the season. The Guardians didn't spend any money over the winter. They lost ace Shane Bieber after two starts.

And they have the best record in the American League.

Go figure.

NL's biggest surprise: Milwaukee Brewers

Let’s see, they traded their Cy Young award winner. They’re without their No. 2 starter, Brandon Woodruff. They lost veteran Wade Miley. They’ve been without All-Star closer Devin Williams.

They’ve had to resort to using a franchise-record 14 different starters.

And, yes, their manager had defected to the rival Chicago Cubs.

And?

They have a 6½-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central and a whopping 11 ½-game advantage over the Cubs.

AL's biggest disappointment: Toronto Blue Jays

Remember when they were supposed to be the class of the AL East, and the envy of baseball with all of their fabulous young talent, and be a serious threat to return to their golden age of 1992-1993 when they won back-to-back World Series titles.

Well, they’ve won the AL East once since 1993, haven’t won a postseason game since 2016, and have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette under team control for only 1 ½ more years.

They are the American League’s most underachieving team.

It will be intriguing to see who pays the price.

NL's biggest disappointment: Chicago Cubs

They sure don’t have David Ross to blame anymore, do they?

Ross is sitting home this summer, collecting his paycheck, and watching his resume look a whole lot better with the Cubs falling off a cliff.

The Cubs spent money, have gotten tremendous value out of rookie sensation Shota Imanaga, and somehow find themselves in last place.

The only category this team leads is having players thrown out stealing: 35 and counting.

AL MVP: Aaron Judge, Yankees

The Yankees have spent an awful lot of money on free agents over the years, but they may never have made a better investment.

Judge, who’s in contention to win the Triple Crown with 30 homers (first) and 79 RBI (first) while batting .312 (second), is also leading the American League in walks. Having accomplished the feat in 2022, Judge would join Babe Ruth and Ted Williams as the only players to twice lead the league in RBI and walks in the same season.