Judge is hitting .406!

Here we go — our up-to-the-minute JoeBlogs Weekly Awards:

American League MVP: Aaron Judge, Yankees
(Previously: Kyren Paris)

Yeah, fine, I know it’s still April — but Aaron Judge is hitting .406. Also, Aaron Judge is hitting .406. And beyond that, AARON FREAKING JUDGE IS HITTING .406! What, the biggest, strongest and most powerful hitter who ever lived is now Ted Williams too? Are you kidding me?*

National League MVP: Fernando Tatis, Padres
(Previously: Corbin Carroll)

There’s a strong argument to keep Carroll at MVP. And there’s a strong argument to put the delightful Pete Crow-Armstrong in this slot. But I’ll go with Tatis, who is looking again like the phenom he once was.

American League Cy Young: Hunter Brown, Astros
(Previously: Chris Bassitt)

Brown finally gave up a run on Sunday — that ended a 28-inning scoreless streak, the fifth-longest in club history. His secret is no secret at all — he throws a high-90s four-seam fastball and nobody can touch it. The league’s hitting .075 against that fastball.

National League Cy Young: Jesús Luzardo, Phillies
(Previously: Spencer Schwellenbach)

When the Phillies traded for the Lizard King in December, I remember thinking: Why didn’t a team that actually NEEDS starting pitching make that deal (I think you know which team I’m looking at, cough cough, rhymes with Shmaltimore). Luzardo is 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA and has looked fantastic pretty much every time out.

American League Rookie of the Year: Kristian Campbell, Red Sox
(Previously: Jacob Wilson)

We’ll put Campbell back into the Rookie of the Year lead because he’s playing great … but watch out for Tampa Bay’s Kameron Misner, who’s hitting shots all over the park.

National League Rookie of the Year: Chad Patrick, Brewers
(Previously: Max Kranick)

How do the Brewers always manage to find some new starter who can get outs? Chad Patrick is 26 years old, he was drafted by Arizona and then he went to the Athletics and finally he was traded to Milwaukee for Abraham Toro — so far in his big-league career he has made five starts and has yet to give up more than two earned runs in any game.

American League Manager of the Year: A.J. Hinch, Tigers
(Previously: Ron Washington)

It’s all clicking in Detroit thanks mostly to an absolutely fabulous starting rotation — Tarik Skubal’s in Cy Young form, Casey Mize and Jackson Jobe are living up to their prospect hype, Jack Flaherty is just humming along — and they’re getting enough hitting to have the best run differential in all of baseball.

National League Manager of the Year: Carlos Mendoza, Mets
(Previously: Bob Melvin)

I was tempted to give Melvin the award for the third straight time — I mean, how in the heck are those Giants leading the National League West? — but it’s time to full acknowledge the wonders happening Queens. The Mets are 19-9 even though Juan Soto hasn’t even started hitting yet. Pete Alonso and Francisco LIndor getting off to MVP starts cetainly helps.

Best American League Team: Detroit Tigers
(Previously: Detroit Tigers)

Do I believe the Tigers are the best team in the league? Maybe not. But they’re playing the best baseball, and their sweep of Baltimore over the weekend was a statement.

Best National League Team: New York Mets
(Previously: San Diego Padres)

Meet the Mets!
Meet the Mets!
Step right up and greet the Mets!
Bring your kiddies
Bring your wife!
Guaranteed to have the time of your life!

I never fully appreciated just how 1960s Mad Men “Meet the Mets” is.

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