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1st half awards

AL MVP
1. Josh Hamilton, Tex
2. J.D. Drew, Bos
3. Ian Kinsler, Tex

NL MVP
1. Albert Pujols, Stl
2. Chase Utley, Phi
3. Lance Berkman, Hou

AL Cy Young
1. Roy Halladay, Tor
2. Cliff Lee, Cle
3. Justin Duchscherer, Oak

NL Cy Young
1. Dan Haren, Ari
2. Tim Lincecum, SF
3. Cole Hamels, Phi

AL Rookie of the Year
1. Evan Longoria, TB
2. Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos
3. Greg Smith, Oak

NL Rookie of the Year
1. Edison Volquez, Cin
2. Jair Jurrjens, Atl
3. Hiroki Kuroda, LAD

AL Manager of the Year
1. Joe Maddon, TB
2. Ozzie Guillen, ChW
3. Ron Gardenhire, Min

NL Manager of the Year
1. Tony Larussa, Stl
2. Lou Pinella, ChC
3. Charlie Manuel, Phi

LVP AL
1. Richie Sexson, Sea


LVP NL
1. Andruw Jones, LAD

DHL FanFest NYC 2008

NL's Road To The Show

SprungOnSports With Former Mets GM Jim Duquette

Happening Again? I Think So, Why This Draft Reminds Me of 1996

-I'm finally back after a long vacation, six months or so. Its nice to be back.

At 1:00AM, about an hour after the draft, the T-wolves traded Ovinton J'Anthony Mayo, Marco Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner to the Grizzlies for Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins. A blockbuster, brain teasing trade that makes you wonder what this may change for the futures of two perenial stars. Mayo and Love may eventually be looked at as the top guard and top forward in the league if their chips fall right, and they will look back and realize how different their careers may have been in opposite parts of the country. Let me explain why this trade makes sense. The Grizzlies are now stacked with guards, Mike Conley, Javaris Crittenton, Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry, and now Jaric and Mayo. It looks as if they will have a starting five of Conley, Mayo, Gay, Warrick, Darko, if they stayed this way right now. The future in Memphis involves movement and guard play, and Love didnt seem to fit the system. On the other side, Minnesota seems to want a David Robinson/Tim Duncan connection in Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, not that they can be compared yet, but Jefferson reminds me of a yound Robinson and Love's fundementally sound mind reminds me of the Duncan of today. They have Telfair, Miller and Foye/Brewer to build around them and it could lead to more wins in a few years.

Now ill give a history lesson. Four times has a trade been made within the top 5 since 1993. Penny Hardaway, drafted 3 by the Warriors, traded for Chris Webber who was number 1 for the Magic. Antwan Jamison drafted 4 byt the Raptors, traded to Golden State for Vince Carter, who was drafted 5. And in 2006 Lamarcus Aldridge, drafted 2 by the Bulls was traded to the Balzers for Tyrus Thomas, picked 4. The draft I think this one was conparable to was the 1996, where Stephon Marbury, drafted 4 by the Bucks, was traded to the T-wolves for 5 pick Ray Allen. Whats makes a draft you may ask? What it looks like ten years later. This draft had tons of stars, Iverson, Camby, Pedja, Antoine Walker, Kobe, Nash, Jermaine O'Neal, Fisher, Ilgauskas, and of course Allen and Marbury. This years draft had a trade within the top five, and Rose/Beasley could be compared to Iverson/Camby of that year. Campby was going to be a prolific scorer out of UMass and Iverson a great point guard out of Georgetown. I'm not saying that Brandon Rush who was picked 13th will be the next Kobe, who went 13th, or that Robin Lopez who went 15 to Phoenix will be as productive as Steve Nash who also went 15 to the Suns, but im just saying that there will be many stars from this years draft, and many busts.

Will Be Stars: Rose, Beasley, Mayo, Love, Bayless(the Nash of this years draft), Randolph and Alexander, Hickson, Arthur
Busts: Westbrook, Lopez Brothers, Koufos.
Ballers, but not Hallers: Gordon, Gallinari, Augustine, etc.

Around The Majors- Friday

-News and notes, brawls, and Jayson Stark’s insights all today around the majors.

Thursday’s Best & Worst
-Pittsburgh scored thrice off of Matt Cain in the 7th to sweep the Giants 5-4. Ryan Doumit drove in 2 as Matt Capps and co closed the door.
-A Matt Diaz single in the 9th gave the Braves their 6th straight win, 5-4 over San Diego. Both Jo-Jo Reyes and Buddy Carlyle left the game with injuries, but the bullpen was able to come through with the win. Shawn Estes pitched in his first major league game since 4/5/06.
-5 innings from Mike Mussina was followed by 4 scoreless bullpen innings as the Yankees conquered Cleveland 6-3. Damon, Giambi, Cano, and Betemit homered for New York as Paul Byrd was tagged with the loss.
-John Danks pitched 5 solid innings as the White Sox tamed the Twins 5-2. Dye and Uribe went deep for the Pale Hose.
-Kyle Lohse allowed 7 runs in 4 innings as the Rockies crushed the Cardinals 9-3. Atkins and Ianetta each drove in 2 for Colorado.
-Brandon Webb threw a complete game 6 hitter as Arizona beat Philadelphia 8-3. Young and Upton homered for the Snakes as Brett Myers was saddled with the loss.
-Justin Verlander is now 1-6 as Boston bested Detroit 5-1 as Josh Beckett allowed 1 run over 7. Youkilis and Varitek each drove in 2.
-Toronto scored 3 times in the 9th off of Troy Percival, but the Rays would have the last laugh. They scored 5 in the 13th off of Shawn Camp capped off by a Dioner Navarro grand slam to beat the Jays 8-3. JP Howell pitched 3 scoreless for the win.
-Carlos Villanueva allowed 7 runs over 5 as Matt Treanor drove in 3 in the Marlins’ 7-2 win over Milwaukee.
-Austin Keanres and Rob Mackowiak each drove in 2 as the Nationals hammered Houston 8-3. John Lannan allowed just 1 run in 6 for the win.
-Daniel Cabrera threw a complete game, allowing 1 run on 3 hits striking out 7 as Baltimore beat KC 4-1. Nick Markakis hit a 3 run homer for the win.
-Kason Gabbard was charged by Richie Sexson in a brawl ensuing act, and then left the game with an injury but the Rangers smoked Seattle 5-0 as Felix Hernandez was once again defeated. But the sad part is that the pitch that Sexson charged the mound on wasn't even close, it didn't even hit him!

News, Notes & Rumors
-Jimmy Rollins is set to rejoin the Phillies in San Francisco today, and may even start.
-After an appeal, Yankees miscreant reliever Kyle Farnsworth's suspension for throwing over Manny Ramirez's head was reduced from 3 games to 1, and will serves his punishment tonight against Detroit. With Kei Igawa on the mound, this may be the night they need him the most. Classic Farnsworth...
-All kidding aside here, Doug Davis is now cancer free after a treatment to remove his thyroid and will pitch a rehab start in AAA Tuscon tomorrow.
-Recently released OF Jason Michaels was dealt to Pittsburgh for a PTBNL.
-It's a catching connundrum in Washington as both Paul Lo Duca and Johnny Estrada were placed on the DL, as Jesus Flores and Elijah Dukes were brought up.
-Scott Eyre and Bill Bray will return to their respective clubs as Kent Mercker has landed on the DL.
-8-0 Brandon Webb won’t be a free agent until after the 2010 season, but they’re now worrying that they may have to give him Johan Santana money when the time arrives. (East Valley Tribune)
-The Rocky Mountain News reports that with Phillies GM Pat Gillick retiring after the season, Philadelphia could target Yankees GM Brian Cashman.
-The Cincinnati Enquirer says that the Reds could deal Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey to save 25 million dollars.
-David Wells could return to the Yankees, says the New York Post. Please don't let this be true! Jayson Stark, help me! "No interest, best I can tell. The source of that story, remember, was David Wells. He should get Hank Steinbrenner to hire him in the front office so he can sign himself as a pitcher."
Don't give Boomer any ideas...
-The Rockies will pass on a Josh Fogg trade, says the Denver Post.
-The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that manager Ned Yost is squarely on the hot seat. Derrick Turnbow is not likely to be traded and will probably report to AAA Nashville.
-The Boston Herald says that the Yankees kept Gary Sheffield and then dealt him to Detroit to keep him away from the Red Sox.
-John Smoltz should return soon for the Braves to become their closer, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Something starting with a '2'," Smoltz said. "One of those days." Reliever Mike Gonzalez will not return in mid-May, but will be in more extended rehab.
-Despite hitting for the cycle on Wednesday, scouts are saying that Twins OF Carlos Gomez swings at too many bad pitches, says the St Paul Pioneer Press. I asked Jayson Stark his take on the young speedster:
"Carlos Gomez is an intriguing guy. When you watch him in a game like that (Wednesday), you can certainly understand why he was the centerpiece of that Santana trade. But to be a star, he's going to have to simmer down up there. He has walked three times all season, so he isn't exactly your prototype top-of-the-order bat. And he takes some furious hacks. Ron Gardenhire told me in spring training that Gomez swung so hard at one pitch, he swore he broke his bat before the ball got there. So that part of his game is a work in progress. That's for sure."
-The New York Daily News reports that most Mets fans want manager Willie Randolph fired, and that the team could be close to releasing reliever Jorge Sosa and his 2 million dollar deal for this season.
-Rangers manager Ron Washington could be on the hotseat, says the Philadelphia Daily News.
-Sadly, Freddie Bynum is now Baltimore’s starting SS. (Washington Post)
-After a slow start with the big club, the Mariners have benched Jeff Clement. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
-Expect more playing time for Cards OF Ryan Ludwick, says the St Louis Post Dispatch.
-With his 2-22 slump, the St Pete Times reports that the Rays have benched Evan Longoria.
-The Red Sox should probably dump Coco Crisp. The Boston Globe reports that this season, Boston scores 6.4 runs per game when Jacoby Ellsbury starts to 3.8 when Crisp is in the lineup.

Friday On Tap
It's the first inning at Wrigley and Chris Young has already gone deep (his 9th) as Haren and Arizona lead Ted Lilly and the Cubs 1-0. If it gets much better than Halladay and Sabathia tonight, come see me. The Yankees open up a series in Detroit against Kenny Rogers and the Tigers, Garland faces Shields in Tampa, and Glavine faces Snell in Pittsburgh. The Red Sox open in Minnesota as Lester faces bonser, and Cook battles Peavy in San Diego.