Still, you have to give credit where it’s due.
Here are my midseason awards as we head into the second half.
MVP: Mike Trout, OF, Angels. Trout was the No. 1 pick in our SN Experts’ draft, and his owner a half-point outside of second place. Trout also is the top player among hitters in our Roto Rater . and was named the All-Star Game MVP. He’s hitting .310 and on pace for 38 home runs, 126 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.
MORE FANTASY BASEBALL: Pitcher awards | Hitter rankings | Hitter prospects
Top Rookie: Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox. Abreu leads the majors at the break with 29 homers, and he has double-digit homers in two different months. He could challenge Mark McGwire’s record for home runs by a rookie (49 in 1987).
Bust: Chris Davis, 1B, Orioles. Davis has close competition here from Cincinnati’s Joey Votto , but both first-round picks have flopped. Davis hit his 15th homer Sunday, but he’s still hitting just .199 and ranks third in the league with a 32.0 strikeout percentage.
Surprise: Todd Frazier, 3B, Reds. Who had Frazier penciled in for the Home Run Derby? Frazier – one of baseball’s good guys – has already matched his career high in homers with 19, and he’s hitting .290. Frazier continues to mash at home (.294-15-35), and should make a run at 30 homers. He’s the top-ranked third baseman in our Roto Rater .
Favorite Pick: Yasiel Puig, OF, Dodgers. Regular readers here know I have an infatuation with Cuban players . After a rough start, Puig has settled in as a reliable, elite player. He could still enjoy a 20/20 season, and for all the drama, he’s hitting .336 with runners in scoring position. He’s turned out to be a fine second-round pick.
