MLB Midseason Awards

With the ESPYs taking stage on national TV, the G. Voit Report takes a look at the best and worst of baseball's first half.

AL MVP

Justin Morneau, Twins (.316, 23 HR, 78 RBI)

Carl Crawford and his 47 stolen bases may be the trendy pick among media outlets, but Morneau has quietly become one of the most consistent run producers in the league. Rock steady defense completes the package for the line drive-hitting first baseman, a combination that gives him the nod over the speedy Crawford.

Key Stat: Boasts a fielding percentage of .999 on the season while playing half his games on the volatile Metrodome turf.

NL MVP

Albert Pujols, Cardinals (.332, 34 HR, 90 RBI)

Pujols has been in a league of his own this season, slugging an astonishing .720 while maintaining a .332 average. What makes the triple crown candidate's season all the more impressive is that he is "protected" by Ryan Ludwick and Mark DeRosa in the lineup.

Key Stat: 74:38 walk to strikeout ratio is head and shoulders above the rest of the league.

AL Cy Young

Zack Greinke, Royals (10-5, 2.08 ERA, 136 K)

Greinke has emerged from a muddled past to dazzle American league hitters in every imaginable category. His five April starts thrust him into the spotlight after he posted a 5-0 record and a 0.5 ERA, striking out 44 batters in 36 innings of work.

Key Stat: Turned in a ML high five complete games over the first half of the season, saving the team from a bullpen that has posted a 4.89 ERA and converted only 17 of 32 save opportunities.

NL Cy Young

Tim Lincecum, Giants (10-2, 2.27 ERA, 169 K)

The NL's All-Star game starter continues to dominate with his unorthodox delivery, and this year he appears poised to repeat as Cy Young winner. The 5' 11'' hurler leads the league in strikeouts while yielding a stingy 2.27 ERA for the upstart Giants, who are among the Wild Card favorites in the NL.

Key Stat: Has been equally baffling to righties and lefties alike, allowing batting averages of .217 and .211 respectively.

AL Breakout Player of the Half

Aaron Hill, Blue Jays (.286, 20 HR, 60 RBI)

Hill earned his first career All-Star invitation for his work as the hot-hitting Blue Jays' no. 2 hitter. His average is hovering near his career mark, but he has reached a new level of power this season, slugging more homers in the first three months of 2009 (19) than his previous career high (17).

Key Stat: The ultra-durable Hill leads the majors with 406 at-bats.

NL Breakout Player of the Half

Pablo Sandoval, Giants (.326, 15 HR, 56 RBI)

The rotund 22-year old slugger has provided the Giants with some much needed pop in the lineup, and has given manager Bruce Bochy flexibility in the field. Playing catcher, first base, and third base, Sandoval has proven to be the player that preseason pundits were raving about. Would be front runner for Rookie of the Year award but was 15 at bats over the ML limit of 130 last season, making him ineligible for the award.

Key Stat: Three triples and four stolen bases seem like pedestrian stats, but they are a considerable accomplishment for the Prince Fielder-esque Sandoval, who weighs in at 5'11'' 246 pounds.

Has Joe Dumars lost his touch?

The year was 2004 and everything was coming up roses in Detroit. 

The Pistons had famously dismantled the superstar-laden Lakers in a dramatic NBA Finals, thrusting the team concept back into the league's spotlight. After clinching the series at home, head coach Larry Brown gushed about his team's unselfish play, saying "This sport is about players playing the right way and showing kids that you can be a team and be successful and it's great for our league."

Brown, Chauncey Billups, and Ben Wallace drew praise from fans across the league, but writers across the country hailed front office man Joe Dumars as the true hero for assembling the unlikely cast of giant-killers. The 2002-03 executive of the year seemed to have discovered a new formula for winning by valuing chemistry over stand-alone talent. Instead of Kobe, Shaq, and rotating three decoys into the mix, Billups and crew epitomized the phrase "you're only as strong as your weakest link". The man everyone was talking about had found a new way to win, and he would ride that same roster to six straight conference championship appearances.

Five years have now passed since that group took home the title, and frankly, Dumars seems to have the Pistons on the wrong course. The team that once was a well-oiled machine is now a jumbled mix that lacks the chemistry of its predecessors. 

The reason? Dumars ignored his own golden rule: Team over talent.  

The 2004 Pistons were a group of unselfish, versatile players who knew their role and contributed nearly equally to the team's scoring column (Case in point: Each member of the starting five averaged double digit scoring for the '04 Finals). When Ben Wallace left for the Bulls and '04 linchpin Rasheed Wallace saw his scoring totals fade with his youth, Dumars seemed to forget that what made the 2004 group special was the way in which the starting five fit together. With that chemistry out the window, the team's lack of talent was exposed and Dumars reacted by throwing players ill fit for the team-first Pistons. The championship runs would fall short from there on out, culminating in an embarrassing first round sweep at the hands of Lebron and the Cavaliers this past season. 

The Report examines Dumars' post-championship miscues.

The Rap Sheet

4) Failure to rejuvinate an aging frontcourt

Many of the Pistons' struggles can be attributed simply to poor timing. As talented a big man as he is, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess will both turn 35 this September and are well past their prime. Experience is essential come playoff time, but these aging veterans should not be relied upon to the tune of 30+ minutes a game. The Cavs are by no means a young team, but having fresh legs on their front line helped them blow past the aging Pistons in their landslide first round series. Plus, the fact that Wallace will reportedly look to sign elsewhere this offseason means that the Pistons will have let another star get away with nothing to show for it. Dumars would have been wise to ease the transition by acquiring a pair of replacements for 'Sheed and McDyess to play with the duo for a year before their departure. Paul Millsap and Troy Murphy are two names that come to mind. He could have packaged the duo with draft picks for durable, team-first players when Wallace's stock was still moderately high. His skills are coveted by many executives in the league and his expiring contract would have made him all the more attractive as trade bait.

3) The draft

Now that the core has dissipated, Dumars' drafting ability is becoming more and more under question. Dumars assembled the "Fab 5" of Richard Hamilton, Billups, the Wallaces, and Tayshaun Prince, but Prince is one and only starter whom Dumars drafted of the bunch. Yes, 2007 pick Rodney Stuckey has fared moderately well in his two seasons in the league, averaging around 13 points and 5 assists for the 8th place Pistons last season, but aside from the Eastern Washington product, the list of Dumars' first round selections sounds more like the scrap heap than the next generation of Pistons stars: Arron Afflalo, Jason Maxiell, Carlos Delfino, Rodney White, and the immortal Darko Milicic. Drafting miscues are excused by fans when the team is winning, but now that the Pistons have fallen from grace, look for Dumars' decisions to come under greater fire.

The team drew praise for drafting Gonzaga sophomore Austin Daye with the 15th pick in this year's draft, but the jury is still out as to whether or not the wiry three man will develop. His offensive skill is unquestioned, but at this point he appears to be a less aggressive Tayshaun Prince without the defensive ability. Daye represents a virtual 180 from the mold of player Dumars put a premium on during the 2004-08 seasons.

Drafting Georgetown forward DaJuan Summers with the 35th pick could turn out to be the best pick of the draft for the Pistons. Summers has an NBA-ready body, a quick-release from behind the arc, and an underrated slashing ability, all of which has sturdy player written all over it. Jonas Jerebko, a 6-9 forward from Sweden, was the team's selection at No. 39 overall, but he looks to be another Carlos Delfino despite rave reviews from ESPN foreign expert Fran Fraschilla. Bottom line: Summers is the only one who seems to fit the Pistons image of old, but then again the roster has morphed into a virtual mish-mosh of raw offensive talent.

2) Signing Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva

The team made a big splash right off the bat in the 2009 Free Agent signing period by acquiring a pair of Central Division foes. The 6-3 Gordon has reportedly agreed to a five-year deal worth between $55 and $60 million, and the 6-11 Charlie Villanueva has agreed to a five-year $40 million deal. While the signings may provide Pistons fans with a short-term buzz, the fact of the matter is that they carry a whiff of haste. The team is drawing criticism for acting on impulse when next year's crop seemed to be a better fit for the team. Likewise, the team gobbled up cap room while the rival Bulls and new GM Gar Forman appear poised to make a big splash in the much-anticipated Free Agent signing period of 2010, when Bulls targets Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer will become available.

For one, there is no telling how the trigger-happy Gordon and the frail Villanueva will jell with the franchise that made its name on the Bad Boy image in the 80s and 90s. Gordon seems to be an awkward fit in the backcourt, where pet project Rodney Stuckey and fan favorite Rip Hamilton appear to have a hold on the starting spots. When he does get floor time, Pistons fans that are accustomed to the steady play of Billups and Hamilton likely will balk at Gordon's notorious shot selection. Though he sunk highlight reel shots at key moments in the Bulls' playoff series with Boston, what many didn't see was the slew of possessions in which he hastily took shots at inopportune moments, jeopardizing the team's chances in several of the close games in the series. Villanueva will likely start with Prince in a suddenly less-formidable frontcourt anchored by a combination of Fabricio Oberto and Kwame Brown. 

If Dumars' goal this year was to abandon its emphasis on defense and team play then he has succeeded. The bottom line is that Hamilton and Prince are the lone representatives of the old regime in Detroit, and after this season Dumars could be facing the hot seat if Villanueva and Gordon's scoring doesn't overshadow the defensive weakness that will be sure to plague this team.

1) The AI debacle

In perhaps the most egregious of Dumars' personnel decisions, the President of Basketball Operations drew the ire of the Pistons' fan base in November of 2008 when he traded away team captain Chauncey Billups to the Nuggets in return for the controversial Allen Iverson. At the time, Dumars cited a need to shake up a team he felt was merely going through the motions. "We have been extremely successful for a long time. But I also think what comes with that is a little bit of predictability," he said when the deal was announced, adding that he was drawn by Iverson's ability to create shots for himself on offense.

Well, the experiment failed, and the team was forced to take another step back in the playoff push. Not only did Iverson respond with a career-low 17.4 points per game, but his presence threw the team's offensive chemistry out of whack. To make matters worse, Billups proceeded to lead Denver to the two seed in the Western conference and the squad narrowly missed a trip to the Finals. Fortunately for Dumars, AI's gargantuan contract has expired, effectively ending his relationship with the Pistons. However, the damage had been done and the Pistons now are wishing then had their floor leader back in the blue and red.

What to Watch for

The G. Voit Report previews the weekend in sports. All times Eastern (ET).

Friday

7pm NBA All-Star Celebrity Game (ESPN)

Dallas Cowboys wideout Terrell Owens will try to claim his second consecutive MVP trophy after his 18 point showing in the 2008 game in New Orleans. Other notable stars in the event this year include NBA legends Clyde Drexler and Dominique Wilkins, actor Chris Tucker, and Scrubs star Donald Faison.

7pm Old Spice High School Showcase: 

Lincoln H.S. (Brooklyn) vs. (4) St. Patrick's (NJ) (ESPN2)

High school hoops fans will get a glimpse of two East coast powerhouses when senior phenom Lance Stephenson and the Lincoln Railsplitters take on North Carolina recruit Dexter Strickland and a hot St. Patrick team at Fordham University.

Who's hot: Junior point guard Kyrie Irving scored 21 for the Celtics in their 88-62 blowout win over then No. 2 St. Benedict's (NJ) on Feb. 4. 

In need of a win: No. 2 Lincoln picked up the Brooklyn AA title with wins over No. 6 Boys and Girls and No. 8 Jefferson (NY Daily News state rankings), but has dropped eight games this season playing on the national circuit.

9pm T-Mobile Rookie Challenge (TNT)

Derrick Rose and O.J. Mayo headline a Rookie squad looking to break the Sophomores' six-game win streak. Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson took home MVP honors last season after shooting 11-20 from behind the arc on his way to 33 points.

Saturday

4pm (25) Florida State at (8) Wake Forest (ESPN360)

Upstart Florida State squad led by sweet-shooting senior Toney Douglas will try to take advantage of struggling Wake Forest who has lost three of four. X-factor will be Wake point guard Jeff Teague, who leads the team in both points (20.4) and turnovers (3.4). Free throws hurt the Demon Deacons in their loss to NC State in Raleigh, where they managed only 56.3% and 15 fewer attempts than the Wolfpack.

7pm NBA All-Star Saturday Night (TNT)

-Haier Shooting Stars

-Playstation Skills Challenge

-Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout

-Sprite Slam Dunk

Picks to click:

Shooting Stars- Team Phoenix: Leandro Barbosa, Dan Majerle, and Tangela Smith

Skills Challenge- Tony Parker (SA) squeaks by Derrick Rose (CHI)

Three-Point Shootout- Roger Mason (SA) upends 6'10'' Rashard Lewis (ORL)

Slam Dunk- Dwight Howard (ORL) fends off upset-minded Nate Robinson (NY) to claim second straight title 

Sunday

12:30pm Philadelphia Flyers at NY Rangers (NBC)

Two crucial Atlantic Division points are on the line in this Game of the Week matchup between rivals locked at 65 points apiece. A win is a must to keep pace with a red hot Devils team that has won 11 of 13 games. The Rangers have had little to cheer about offensively this season but have the advantage with Henrik Lundqvist in the net taking on the Flyers' shaky tandem of Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki.

5:30pm Duke (5) at Boston College

Kyle Singler and Duke will look to take their frustration out on the Eagles after a 14-point loss at home to North Carolina. The Eagles come into the game sitting at 6-5 in the ACC and hope to stay in tournament contention with the upset. Key to the upset: Senior guard Tyrese Rice needs to keep North Carolina counterpart Ty Lawson from getting into the open court or it could be off to the races for the Tar Heels.

8pm NBA All-Star Game (TNT)

The East will make a push for its fourth All-Star win in five years with a young roster that includes first-time participants Danny Granger (IND), Jameer Nelson, (ORL), Mo Williams (CLE), and Devin Harris (NJ). Story line to follow: Lebron and Kobe will square off for the second time in a week. Bryant will particularly be one to watch given his limited participation in last year's event due to ligament damage and a fracture in his right pinky. 

Stoudemire the antidote to Bulls' woes

Bulls GM John Paxson has one stone and two birds to kill. The sixth year front man is on the verge of being thrust into the proverbial hot seat after a series of questionable personnel decisions, but can save both the roster and his job with one simple move.

With a talented yet undersized core, the Bulls remain one low post scoring threat from ascending to their 2006-2007 form and beyond. Lucky for Paxson, the bird of a lifetime is circling the Berto Center just waiting to be plucked from the sky.

Earth to Pax: land the big man.

Bulls fans need no reminder of the team's low post futility. The center has eluded the franchise much like the quarterback has eluded the Bears and the ring has eluded the Cubs. It's not for a lack of trying, seeing as big men have graced the United Center floor in droves, only to have their flaws exposed with every failed post move. Fine, but that's all in the past. Two decades of nonperformance can be erased in one move, and that move is to get Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire.

Stoudemire is everything the Bulls lack and more. Star power. Explosiveness. And last but not least, scoring in the paint. He has asserted himself as one of the elite power forwards in the game and has Father Time on his side. The deal seems too good to be true, but that shouldn't stop Paxson from throwing every roster member that isn't named Derrick into trade talks with Suns GM and former Bulls teammate Steve Kerr. It's not as if the Bulls couldn't present an attractive offer, the only question is whether or not they can offer a package more attractive than the other potential players in the deal. At this point, Kerr could be looking at a deal with anyone from the Pistons to the Thunder, though the organization has yet to publicly acknowledge any front runners.

Whatever team Stoudemire ends up going to, assuming the deal does in fact get done, they will have to offer upwards of $10 million in expiring contracts, a rising star, and any number of draft picks. With a payroll of $75 million and an underperforming roster, the Suns management is looking to lower the team's expenses by tens of millions while receiving a potential star in return.

The Bulls have the young pieces to move in the form of Thabo Sefolosha and Tyrus Thomas, and have the expiring contract of Drew Gooden to dangle, but the big question could be whether or not the Bulls can offer enough in expiring contrats. Gooden, who has averaged close to a double-double in 31 injury-plagued games this season, would give the Suns a $7 million contract to dump at the end of the season, but other teams could potentially offer more in that regard. However, what the Bulls lack in quality they make up for in quantity, with six players averaging double figures in scoring, and all but one on the table.

One popular rumor that has surfaced is a deal with the Pistons, who would presumably offer Rasheed Wallace and his $14 million expiring contract. Stoudemire would likely welcome a trade to the Motor City and expressed his interest in the prospect of playing there in an interview with WXYZ-Detroit's Don Shane.

Aside from the familiarity between the two GMs, one potential boon to the Bulls' chances could be head coach Vinny Del Negro's ties with his old employer. Del Negro gives the Bulls a unique perspective on Stoudemire, and unless he was for some reason turned off by Stoudemire in their overlapping time in Phoenix, then it figures to be an advantage come negotiation time.

Whatever happens in the days leading up to the February 19 trade deadline, one thing is for sure: if John Paxson wants to put all questions to rest concerning his job security, he will do whatever is in his power to land Stoudemire.