As the 2018 has now concluded with all the awards having been handed out. Let’s check out how accurate or inaccurate our selections were. And look back at our picks for the award winners (ROY, MOY, CY, MVP) following the conclusion of the season.
So let’s begin with the Silver Slugger Award Winners.
National League Silver Sluggers Preseason Picks:
Catcher: Willson Contreras
First Base: Cody Bellinger
Second Base: Daniel Murphy
Third Base: Nolan Arenado
Shortstop: Corey Seager
Outfield: Rhys Hoskins
Outfield: Tommy Pham
Outfield: Bryce Harper
Pitcher: Madison Bumgarner
Actual 2018 NL Silver Slugger Winners:
Catcher: J.T. Realmuto
First Base: Paul Goldschmidt
Second Base: Javier Baez
Third Base: Nolan Arenado
Shortstop: Trevor Story
Outfield: Christian Yelich
Outfield: David Peralta
Outfield: Nick Markakis
Pitcher: German Marquez
American League Silver Slugger Preseason Picks:
Catcher: Gary Sanchez
First Base: Greg Bird
Second Base: Jose Altuve
Third Base: Jose Ramirez
Shortstop: Carlos Correa
Outfield: Eddie Rosario
Outfield: Mike Trout
Outfield: Aaron Judge
Designated Hitter: Giancarlo Stanton
Actual 2018 AL Silver Slugger Winners:
Catcher: Salvador Perez
First Base: Jose Abreu
Second Base: Jose Altuve
Third Base: Jose Ramirez
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor
Outfield: Mookie Betts
Outfield: Mike Trout
Outfield: JD Martinez
Designated Hitter: JD Martinez
Just a Brief Side Note:
I don’t agree with JD Martinez winning both Outfield and DH. JD was hands down far and away the best DH this season. But there were other outfielders that could have won the third Silver Slugger award. Players like Aaron Hicks, Mitch Haniger, Andrew Benintendi and Michael Brantley would all have worthwhile seasons worthy of the third AL Silver Slugger.
National League Gold Gloves Preseason Picks:
Catcher: Yadier Molina
First Base: Joey Votto
Second Base: Javier Baez
Third Base: Nolan Arenado
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford
Outfield: Marcell Ozuna
Outfield: Ender Inciarte
Outfield: Jason Heyward
Pitcher: Zack Greinke
Actual 2018 NL Gold Glove Winners:
Catcher: Yadier Molina
First Base: Freddie Freeman/ Anthony Rizzo (tie)
Second Base: DJ LeMahieu
Third Base: Nolan Arenado
Shortstop: Nick Ahmed
Outfield: Corey Dickerson
Outfield: Ender Inciarte
Outfield: Nick Markakis
Pitcher: Zack Greinke
American League Gold Glove Preseason Picks:
Catcher: Martin Maldonado
First Base: Joe Mauer
Second Base: Ian Kinsler
Third Base: Manny Machado
Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons
Outfield: Brett Gardner
Outfield: Byron Buxton
Outfield: Aaron Judge
Pitcher: Carlos Carrasco
Actual 2018 AL Gold Glove Winners:
Catcher: Salvador Perez
First Base: Matt Olson
Second Base: Ian Kinsler
Third Base: Matt Chapman
Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons
Outfield: Alex Gordon
Outfield: Jackie Bradley Jr
Outfield: Mookie Betts
Pitcher: Dallas Keuchel
MLB National League Rookie of the Year Preseason Pick:
Ronald Acuña
Actual 2018 NL ROY:
Ronald Acuña
MLB American League Rookie of the Year Preseason Pick:
Shohei Ohtani
Actual 2018 AL ROY:
Shohei Ohtani
MLB National League Manager of the Year Preseason Pick:
Gabe Kapler
Actual 2018 NL Manager of the Year:
Brian Snitker
MLB American League Manager of the Year Preseason Pick:
Alex Cora
Actual 2018 AL Manager of the Year:
Bob Melvin
MLB National League Cy Young Preseason Pick:
Clayton Kershaw
Actual 2018 NL Cy Young:
Jacob deGrom
MLB American League Cy Young Preseason Pick:
Luis Severino
Actual 2018 AL Cy Young:
Blake Snell
MLB National League Most Valuable Player Preseason Pick:
Bryce Harper
Actual 2018 NL MVP:
Christian Yelich
MLB American League Most Valuable Player Preseason Pick:
Mike Trout
Actual 2018 AL MVP:
Mookie Betts
