Thursday, December 31, 2015

2015 End-of-Season Awards Voting

All votes are in for BRASSball's 2015 end-of-season awards. It's almost 2016 as I write this, so let's get right to it!

AL Rookie of the Year:
This race proved to be a two-way battle between Channel Islands outfielder Ender Inciarte (.339/.379/.450, 433 PA) and Brooklyn pitcher Jacob DeGrom (8-8, 2.91 ERA, 142 IP). But with 7 votes for first place versus just 2 for his rival, Inciarte beat out DeGrom for this year's AL Rookie of the Year honor.

AL Cy Young:
Simi Valley couldn't go wrong here, with both Clayton Kershaw (17-6, 2.06 ERA, 201 IP) and David Price (20-10, 3.11 ERA, 246 IP) earning 5 first-place votes apiece. But with much stronger down-ballot support, Kershaw took home this year's AL Cy Young Award.

AL Most Valuable Player:
This race was not particularly close. Timberlake left fielder Michael Brantley (.343/.401/.579, 677 PA) easily outpaced the field with 9 first-place votes to take home the AL Most Valuable Player Award.

NL Rookie of the Year:
North Georgia designated hitter José Abreu (.299/.349/.542, 617 PA) and Metropolis pitcher Collin McHugh (13-5, 2.69 ERA, 161 IP) were the clear front-runners in this race. But with 8 first-place votes versus just 3 for the other, Abreu took home the NL Rookie of the Year crown.

NL Cy Young:
In the most lopsided vote among all awards, Metropolis pitcher Corey Kluber (21-7, 2.56 ERA, 246 IP) was the National League's unanimous choice for the NL Cy Young Award.

NL Most Valuable Player:
This vote could not have been any closer! It came down to a battle of two playoff center fielders: Andrew McCutchen for Metropolis (.316/.398/.534, 659 PA) and Mike Trout for Fleetwood (.279/.378/.559, 713 PA). McCutchen appeared on more ballots (9) than Trout (8), while Trout earned more first place votes (4) than McCutchen (2). Once all votes were tallied (and then double-tallied!), McCutchen compiled 63 total points of balloting (2 first, 5 second, 1 third, 1 forth) versus 64 points for Trout (4 first, 3 second, 1 fourth). So by the absolute slimmest of margins, Trout brought home this year's NL Most Valuable Player Award.

Thanks to everyone for submitting their ballots on time, and congrats to the players (and teams!) noted above. Onward to 2016!


AL Rookie of the Year
Ender Inciarte
Channel Islands
NL Rookie of the Year
José Abreu
North Georgia

AL Cy Young
Clayton Kershaw
Simi Valley
NL Cy Young
Corey Kluber
Metropolis
AL Most Valuable Player
Michael Brantley
Timberlake
NL Most Valuable Player
Mike Trout
Fleetwood