baseball MVP & CY YOUNG: who do you like?

(Actually I think Cabrera should be MVP, but I doubt the Tigers will make the playoffs, and that counts)

Finalists announced for Baseball Writers' Association
of America postseason awards

For the first time Wednesday, the BBWAA announced finalists for its awards. The winners will be revealed
next week live on the MLB Network, beginning Monday with the two rookies of the year and concluding
Thursday with the MVPs.

Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera is one of five finalists for the AL MVP award in voting by the Baseball
Writers Association of America.

The Detroit third baseman is joined by Texas' Adrian Beltre and Josh Hamilton, the New York Yankees'
Robinson Cano, and Los Angeles Angels rookie Mike Trout, who also is one of three nominees for AL
Rookie of the Year.

Milwaukee's Ryan Braun has a chance for a repeat as NL MVP. He's pitted against San Diego's Chase Headley,
Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen, St. Louis' Yadier Molina and San Francisco's Buster Posey.

Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is among the three finalists for the NL Cy Young Award. Washington's
Gio Gonzalez and 2011 winner Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers are also competing.

Detroit's reigning AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander has another shot for top pitcher in the AL.
Tampa Bay's David Price and the Angels' Jered Weaver are the other two finalists. The winner in each league
will be picked Wednesday.

David Price wins AL Cy Young

Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price won the American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday,
edging 2011 winner Justin Verlander.

Price, who went 20-6 with a league-leading 2.56 ERA this past season, received 14 of 28
possible first-place votes and finished with just four more points than Verlander, who
received 13 first-place votes.

Los Angeles Angels ace Jered Weaver finished third in the voting.

R.A. Dickey wins NL Cy Young

Two years after R.A. Dickey was the first player cut by the New York Mets in spring training,
the knuckleballer now has a Cy Young award on his résumé.

Dickey won the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, becoming the first knuckle-
baller to receive the award.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw finished second, followed by Washington
Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez.

Buster Posey named NL MVP

San Francisco's Buster Posey has been voted the NL Most Valuable Player after returning from a
devastating leg injury and becoming the first catcher in 70 years to win the league's batting title.

Posey received 27 of 32 first-place votes and 422 points from the Baseball Writers' Association of
America, outdistancing 2011 winner Ryan Braun of Milwaukee, who was second with 285 points.

The 2010 NL Rookie of the Year, Posey set career highs with a .336 average, 24 homers and 103 RBIs
for the World Series champion Giants. His 2011 season was cut short by a collision with the Marlins'
Scott Cousins on May 25 that resulted in a fractured bone in Posey's lower left leg and three torn
ankle ligaments.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen finished third in the voting with 245 overall points.
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was fourth with 241 points and received two first-place votes.
Padres third baseman Chase Headley was fifth with 127 points.

Miguel Cabrera named AL MVP

Miguel Cabrera was named the American League's MVP on Thursday, beating rookie phenom
Mike Trout by a much wider margin than most anticipated.

Cabrera, baseball's first Triple Crown winner since 1967, received 22 out of 28 possible first-place
votes for the award. The Detroit Tigers slugger batted .330 with 44 home runs and 149 RBIs.

Trout received the other six first-place votes three days after being named the AL Rookie of the Year.