MLB Awards

Joe Maddon, manager of the defending AL champion Tampa Bay Rays, has won the American League Manager of the Year. Maddon led a team that was last place in the AL East division to the World Series in a year. The Rays' franchise has never won more than 70 games in a season prior to this season, and they won 97 games this year. Lou Piniella, manager of the Chicago Cubs, won the National League Manager of the Year. For Piniella, it was his third time winning the award. He won in 1995 and 2001 with the Seattle Mariners. Piniella led the Cubs to a 97-64 record, which was the best in the National League. They ended their season in disappointing fashion, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a sweep. Also, San Francisco Giants' pitcher Tim Lincecum has won the National League Cy Young award, beating out Arizona Diamondbacks' pitcher Brandon Webb and New York Mets' pitcher Johan Santana. Lincecum was probably the lone bright spot for a Giants team that lost 90 games. Lincecum went 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA, and had a major league best 265 strikeouts. Cliff Lee, pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, won the American League Cy Young award. Lee beat out Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher Roy Halladay and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim closer Francisco Rodriguez for the award. Lee went 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA. This is the second straight season an Indians pitcher has won the AL Cy Young award. C.C. Sabathia won the award for the Indians last year. Were these people deserving of their respective awards? Should the Cy Young award be awarded to the best pitcher or the most valuable pitcher?