DeMarco: Some surprises among MLB's early award winners

Atlanta's Beachy a Cy Young contender, while Wright's bat carrying Mets

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

Mets slugger David Wright is flirting with .400 during the first third of the season.

ANALYSIS

By Tony DeMarco

NBCSports.com contributor

updated 6:19 p.m. ET May 24, 2012

Tony DeMarco

Memorial Day weekend means the season's rapidly rolling along ? the one-third mark rapidly is approaching. In other words, general managers have had enough time to know what they have on their rosters, and more importantly, what they still need in what surely will be wide-open playoff chases.

And, we've had enough time to make the following observations that have gone beyond the it's-still-early category:

AWARD LEADERS

AL MVP: When you're a couple of batting average points from having a Triple Crown winner, this one is obvious. Josh Hamilton is the best player on what clearly has been baseball's best team. Not to ignore the great starts for Paul Konerko and Adam Jones, though. Konerko actually led Hamilton in batting average and on-base percentage through Wednesday.

NL MVP: It was unanimously Matt Kemp in April. Then he slumped, went on the disabled list and the Dodgers won six in a row without him. So at this point, we'll go with David Wright, who through Wednesday had the remarkable slash line of .399/.497/.601 in leading the surprising Mets.

AL Cy Young: Nothing mysterious here ? Justin Verlander is first or second in the AL in innings, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP and wins. Much more surprising are the great first two months of Jake Peavy, Derek Lowe, Brandon Morrow and Chris Sale.

NL Cy Young: The statistical difference between favorite Clayton Kershaw and still-unknown Atlanta pitcher Brandon Beachy boils down to Kershaw's better strikeout-walk ratio (4-1 to 3-1). Which makes Beachy's story all the better: Undrafted free agent out of Indiana Wesleyan University, signed for $20,000, started his minor-league career in the bullpen, and four years later, a Cy Young-caliber starter.

AL Manager of the Year: It can only be Buck Showalter, as the Orioles were a near-unanimous spring choice for another last-place finish in the AL East. Nobody knows how long they can hang around, but there are enough positive signs throughout the organization for legitimate optimism. This also could be the year Manny Acta gets his due, while Joe Maddon remains the most interesting manager in the world.

NL Manager of the Year: Nobody was paying attention when the Dodgers turned the corner last August and went 34-20 down the stretch. But everybody is aware of Don Mattingly's team now, as it sat 30 games over .500 at 64-34 in its last 98 games through Wednesday.

It's who Mattingly is winning with that makes his case. Kemp, Mark Ellis, Juan Rivera, Juan Uribe, Jerry Hairston Jr. currently are on the disabled list, Dee Gordon was benched then dropped to eighth in the order, and James Loney's power struggles continue. Yet the wins keep mounting with lineups including Jerry Sands, Justin Sellers, Elian Herrara, Scott Van Slyke and Ivan DeJesus.

AL Rookie of the Year: He's no rookie, of course -- not when it took over $100 million to get him out of Japan. But Yu Darvish is eligible for the award and gets it at this point. But Mike Trout is making it interesting, isn't he?

NL Rookie of the Year: We know where this likely is leading as the season unfolds -- Bryce Harper. Especially when this isn't a particularly strong year for NL rookies. Wade Miley, Yonder Alonso, Zack Cozart and Kirk Nieuwenhuis are off to nice starts.

Best surprise team: Given what's written above in the NL Manager of Year category, the Dodgers shouldn't be a huge surprise. But they have built a solid lead in both the division and wild-card races, and new ownership will add at the trade deadline.

Also, the Nationals have risen to the top of the NL East behind great starting pitching ? and without Michael Morse (expected back in June), Drew Storen (expected back in July) and Brad Lidge (expected back in June).

Most disappointing team: Tie: Angels and Tigers. Albert Pujols has been far from alone, as Erick Aybar, Ervin Santana, Dan Haren and Peter Bourjos also have underachieved. Injuries/losses of Chris Iannetta, Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells have been costly. The bullpen had to undergo a reconstruction and appears to be settling. The infusion of Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo in the every-day lineup has lit some recent offensive sparks.

As it's turning out in Detroit, Miguel Cabrera playing third base has been less of an issue than Prince Fielder playing first base. The offense's problems lie with the supporting cast ? with the obvious exception of Austin Jackson. The bullpen could be bolstered by the trade deadline, but there is hope for the rotation with Doug Fister's return and the expectation that Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello will lower current 5-plus ERAs.

The two-month All-Stars
AL? 1B: Paul Konerko, 2B: Robinson Cano, SS: Derek Jeter, 3B: Adrian Beltre, OF: Josh Hamilton, Austin Jackson, Adam Jones, C: Joe Mauer, SP: Justin Verlander, Closer: Jim Johnson.

NL ? C: Carlos Ruiz, 1B: Brian LaHair, 2B: Omar Infante, SS: Rafael Furcal, 3B: David Wright, OF: Matt Kemp, Melky Cabrera, Ryan Braun; SP: Clayton Kershaw, Closer: Jonathan Papelbon.

Biggest disappointments: 1B: Albert Pujols; 2B: Rickie Weeks; SS: Erick Aybar; 3B: Pedro Alvarez; OF: Jeff Francouer, Logan Morrison, Peter Bourjos; C: Nick Hundley; SP: Tim Lincecum, Clay Buchholz, Francisco Liriano; RP: Carlos Marmol, Francisco Cordero.

By the numbers: How much better are the Rangers than the rest of the AL?: Through Wednesday, they led the majors with a +79 run differential. The next-highest AL team was Toronto at +35, and no other team was better than +17.

How much worse are the Twins than the rest of the AL? Through Wednesday, they sported a -69 run differential. Next worse in the AL were the Royals at -22.

Which surprise team is least likely to sustain its current winning percentage? Taking nothing away from the job Terry Collins has done in a very tough situation, the Mets had a 24-20 record despite a -29 run differential through Wednesday.

With the exact same run differential, the Brewers were 18-26. And the Rockies were 16-27 with a -27 run differential. How have the Mets gotten there? They're 9-5 in one-run games, but have lost by scores of 8-2, 14-6, 9-3, 6-1, 7-2, 18-9, 8-1, 8-0 and 14-5.

? 2012 NBC Sports.com? Reprints

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The story of Yuna defeating Sin, and bringing the eternal calm is legendary. She obtained the title of High Summoner, and all cheered her name in the land of Spira. This isn't her story though, this story took place long before the time of Yuna, or even Braska her father. The story begins two years after the second Calm. A young girl has chosen to take up the title of summoner and defeat Sin. She won't do it alone though, aided by her four loyal guardians, she will make the perilous journey to receive the blessings of all the fayth of Spira. Her Pilgrimage will be a hard one, with forces hindering her path constantly, but with determination and the help of friends, she may just succeed. A long journey awaits, one filled with hardship, lost, and pain, but one also willed with happiness, discovery, and even love.
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I'm looking for a partner for a 1x1 who would like to play the part of a female summoner. Myself playing a guardian who protects her during her journey. The story has a twofold plot involving the adventures through Spira, and the romance between the summoner and her guardian. I want this to be a story characterized not just by lovey dovey moments, but true action and intense battles.

What I am looking for in a partner:
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King Felix outduels Rangers' Darvish

By TIM BOOTH

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Associated Press Sports

updated 1:05 a.m. ET May 22, 2012

SEATTLE (AP) - Felix Hernandez said the hype and attention paid to Texas star Yu Darvish had no bearing on his level of intensity heading into Monday night.

Seattle's ace was too focused on making sure the best offensive team in baseball didn't continue Hernandez's unusual run of rough starts.

"Attack and just throw strikes," Hernandez said. "If you get behind against this lineup, it's a problem."

Hernandez shut down Texas' sluggers for eight innings, while Ichiro Suzuki and the Mariners bats were chasing Darvish after just four innings in the shortest start of the season in Seattle's 4-1 win over the Rangers.

Seattle became the first team that Darvish had to face for a second time and for a second time he struggled to solve the Mariners. Darvish (6-2) labored through 96 pitches and a season-high six walks and was denied the chance to become the first seven-game winner in the majors.

Only Seattle's inability to take advantage of a bases-loaded situation in the fourth inning kept Darvish's line from being worse. Suzuki singled and tripled off his countryman, driving in a pair of runs as Seattle built on its three-game sweep of Colorado over the weekend.

"He can throw anything at any time, obviously has a good arm and keeps the ball down for the most part," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. "But you really have to tip your hat to our guys offensively. Our guys went up there, made him come into the zone and when he didn't, took the passes when we could."

While most of the attention went to Darvish and his impressive run of success, Hernandez was trying to atone for a pair of forgettable starts against the Yankees and Cleveland where Hernandez allowed a combined 21 hits and 10 earned runs.

He was back to his top form against the Rangers. Hernandez allowed six hits, struck out seven and walked two. He took a shutout into the eighth before Mitch Moreland hit a leadoff homer to deep right-center field. It marked the 15th straight game Texas hit at least one homer, but Hernandez finished off the inning, and his night with his second strikeout of slugger Josh Hamilton.

"How hot (Hamilton) is right now that was pretty good," Hernandez said.

It helped Hernandez that he was playing with a lead and thanks in part to some lessons learned from the first time Seattle saw Darvish. Namely patience.

While Darvish was off to a solid start - subtract the five runs in the first two innings against the Mariners in his debut and his ERA since then is 1.94 - all of his starts were against teams seeing the Japanese star for the first time.

And Seattle had plenty of success - for two innings - when they saw Darvish for the first time back in April. The Mariners rattled Darvish for eight hits and five earned runs that day, but the Rangers gave Darvish enough offense to make that first start a victory.

This time, Seattle had nearly as much offensive success - trading hits for walks - but the Rangers bats were getting silenced by Hernandez.

Darvish's troubles started almost immediately. He walked Michael Saunders with one out in the first and Suzuki immediately ripped a shot over first base and down the right field line. But instead of bouncing off the short-wall in foul territory and into the outfield, the ball hit and stayed at the base of the wall. Saunders scored from first and Suzuki strolled into third and an early lead for Hernandez.

Seattle gave Hernandez a bigger cushion in the third inning. With two runners on and one out, Suzuki sent a single into shallow center that scored Dustin Ackley from second. Saunders was aggressive and tried to go first to third on the hit, and instead jogged home when Hamilton's throw from center soared over third baseman Adrian Beltre and into the Rangers' dugout on the fly. Rookie Jesus Montero followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center that scored Suzuki.

Darvish continued to struggle in the fourth, walking the bases loaded to start the inning. Ackley's RBI single scored John Jaso, but Darvish got infield groundouts by Saunders and Suzuki and a strikeout of Kyle Seager to end the inning and limit the damage. Montero added an RBI double in the seventh off reliever Yoshinori Tateyama, who was called up on Monday after Neftali Feliz was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Darvish had pitched into at least the sixth inning of all eight of his previous starts.

"I was apologetic. I wasn't able to go deep in the game as a starter should," Darvish said through an interpreter. "Giving up those runs with only four hits; overall the approach and substance wasn't that good."

Notes: Texas' streak of 15 straight games with a homer is the longest in baseball this year and fourth longest in franchise history. ... With Feliz on the DL, the Rangers announced that Scott Feldman will start Wednesday's series finale in Seattle. ... Seattle C Miguel Olivo (groin) was 1-for-3 and caught five innings during his first rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma. Wedge said Olivo needs to catch a full nine innings before the Mariners consider bringing him back.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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