Before we get to the Top 5 best players of the National League and American League let talks about the things that have happened so far this year. A lot of history has been made in 2010. This year has been the year of the "PITCHER" where we have seen 4 no-hitters, 2 of them perfect games. The first no-hitter came on April 17th, from Rockies pitcher Ubalado Jimenez who walked 6 batters on 128 pitches thrown. One month later on mother's day May 9th, A's pitcher, Dallas Braden threw his first complete game, shutout, no-hitter, and perfect game of his career. When people thought of Dallas Braden people thought of the guy who stood up to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez who ran across Braden's pitching mound. About 2 weeks later on May 29th, Phillies ace Roy Halladay who everyone thought would already have a perfect game in his career threw his first ever perfect game and made history with Dallas Braden to become 2 of the first pitchers in history to throw 2 perfect games in one month. Then 4 days later on June 2nd, Tigers pitcher Armando Galarrage went 8 2/3 innings with a perfect game but on a ground Jason Donald was called safe when he was out by a foot step by umpire Jim Joyce. Galarrage almost made history, well we he really did make history and would have been the 3rd pitcher this year to throw a perfect game and the 21st pitcher to do so. Two weeks later on June 25th, D-Backs pitcher Edwin Jackson threw his first career no-hitter on 8 walks and 149 pitches thrown. Jackson's no-hitter at one point looked like he would have been the losing pitcher where he walked the bases loaded no outs and somehow got out of the jam he put himself in. So where in 2009 they called it the year of the cycle where 8 different players hit for the cycle, we call 2010 the year of the pitcher!
Now to our Top 5 best of the first half. We start things off in the National League.
Our first player on the list is Colorado Rockies pitcher Ubalbo Jimenez who right now is that best pitcher in the game. Not only did he throw 1 of 4 no-hitters this year but he's 1st in wins with 14 and is 4th in ERA with a 2.27. He has become the Ace of this Rockies pitching staff and looks like he could be the NL CY Award Winner if he keeps it up in the second half of the year. Right now he is on pace to win 22-28 and have an ERA of 2.20 - 2.22 on the year.
Second on this list for the NL is Cincinnati Reds First Baseman Joey Votto who is a big reason why the Reds are in 1st place in the National League Central. Votto is 1st in home runs with 21, 5th in batting average batting .313, and 5th in RBI's with 59. Votto has a good shot of winning the NL MVP if he stays healthy. He is also on pace of hitting 35-40 home runs, drive in 115-120 RBI's and at least bat .310 -.317 on the year.
Third on this list in the NL is Los Angeles Dodgers Right Fielder Andre Eithier who is batting .322, 14 home runs, and 50 RBI's. Eithier is 2nd in the league in batting average. He is one of the reasons why the Dodgers are in 2nd place in the National League West and hopes to win the teams 3rd division title over the San Diego Padres.
Eithier is on pace to hit 25 home runs, drive in 90-95 RBI's and bat .320 - .318 on the year.
Forth on this list in the NL is St. Louis Cardinals First Baseman Albert Pujols the former 2008 and 2009 NL MVP this year started off a tad slow but started to pick it up this year and is the one the key reasons why the Cardinals have won their division the past few years and have themselves a World Series Title. Pujols this year is batting .303, 20 home runs, and 61 RBI's. He is 2nd in home runs, and 3rd in RBI's. If some how Pujols can go on a hot streak in the second half of the year he would be in line to win his 3rd straight MVP and his 4th in his career. Right now he's on pace to hit 35-40 home runs, drive in 135-140 RBI's and bat around .315 on the year.
Last on this list in the NL is St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher Adam Wainwright who right now is the second best pitcher in the National League. He is 2nd in wins with 12, 2nd in strikeouts with 123, and 3rd in ERA with a 2.24. To me this guy is the Cardinals ace with a out a doubt. He will be one of the main reasons if the Cardinals win their division again this year. He is on pace to win 20-25 games, have 150-170 strikeouts, and have an ERA of 2.19 - 2.22 and could possible win his first ever CY Young Award.
Now over to our top 5 best in the American League.
First on this list in the AL is Detroit Tigers First Baseman Miguel Carbrera, words cannot explain what is going on right now. This guy right here is the best hitter in baseball. He is leading the League in 1st in average .347, 1st in RBI's with 73 and 2nd in home runs with 21. Carbrera is the reason why the Tigers are in first place and one of the hottest teams in the American League. Miguel Carbrera right now is on pace to win the AL MVP Award and could possible win the first ever Triple Crown of the 21 century if he stays healthy. No player of our time has ever done that and the last player to do so was Carl Yastrzemski back in 1967. If he could do so he would be one the greatest hitters of all time, right now he's on pace to hit 40-45 home runs, drive in 160-165 RBI's and bat .345 - .350 on the year.
Second on this list for the AL is New York Yankees Second Baseman Robinson Cano. Cano this year has made his first all-star game and some would say it’s about time he did. This year he is batting .337, 16 home runs and 55 RBI's. He is one of the Yankees hottest players and is the key reason they are in first place in their division, looking to repeat as World Champions he would be the reason they would do so. Cano is on pace to hit 20-23 home runs, drive in 95-100 RBI's and bat around .330 - .335 on the year.
Third on this list for the AL is Seattle Mariners Pitcher Cliff Lee. Lee would have an outstanding year with both the Indians and Phillies but would be traded in the offseason to the Seattle Mariners. Lee started the year on the DL but when he came back he didn't waste time being the best pitcher in the American League. Lee is 1st in ERA with a 2.34 and 1st in complete game with 5. Lee looks like he might be the starting pitcher in the 2010 All-Star game and with the trade dead-line coming up who knows what team he will finish the year off with. Without that being said Lee is on pace to win 16 games and have an ERA of 2.29 - 2.30.
Forth on this list is Tampa Bay Rays Pitcher David Price who is having the best year of his career right now. Price is 1st in wins with 12 and 2nd in ERA with a 2.42. Price is the main reason they are only 2 games out of first in their division and are leading the American League Wild Card. Price back in 2008 help get the Tampa Bay Rays to their first ever World Series and is trying to do so again and is on pace to win 20-25 games, have about 145 strikeouts, and have an ERA of 2.38 - 2.42 on the year.
Last on this for the AL is Texas Ranger Left Fielder Josh Hamilton who right now is the second best hitter in baseball. He is a key reason why the Texas Rangers are in first place in their division and he is another player on pace of winning the AL MVP Award and could possible win the Triple Crown Award if he can pass Miguel Carbrera and team mate Vladmir Guerrero in RBI's. Hamilton is 2nd in home runs with 21, 3rd in batting average .340, and 4th in RBI's with 63. He will be a big reason the Rangers will win their division for first time since 1999. Hamilton is on pace to hit 35-40 home runs, drive in 138-143 RBI's, and bat around .340 - .345 on the year.
So those are my top 5 best players of the National League and American League of the first half so far. Who's yours?
For Beyond Baseball,
I'm Seth Lempert.
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