By Daniel Johnson, Staff Writer

Published in print Nov.12, 2014

With the Major League Baseball season over, awards for the past season began to be announced last week. Though not as traditional, below are my awards for the 2014 season. But my awards are somewhat unorthodox compared to the archaic Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards. These awards, according to my perspective, will both celebrate and lambaste players and teams over the season depending on their yearly performance. Some awards are similar to the long-established awards given out; others come straight out of left field.

The Hold it Award: Giancarlo Stanton

This award is for players who, when they are on the television, you stop what you are doing and watch. Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers is too out of control and inconsistent for this award. All Starts such as Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera were close. However, nothing makes me cross my legs and pause conversations more than Florida Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. With the body of The Rock, Stanton average about 414 feet per homer, and had three of the ten longest home run balls last year. 

Worst Team: Philadelphia Phillies

Quick background, I’m a die-hard Phillies fan. I choked up when they won the World Series in 2008. My first little league team was the Phillies. But last year, the team from the city of Brotherly Love hit rock bottom. On the field, they finish last in their division. The team has been able to sign free agents to correct the issues they have since they are weighed down with the miscalculated contracts of Ryan Howard, Jon Papelbon and Cliff Lee. Though it is an end of season award, the Phillies won this award at the trading deadline, when their head-in-the-clouds General Manager, Ruben Amaro Jr, decided not to trade any of their players, all who had suitors and value, and keep them instead of bringing in young talent and money.

He Did What! Award: Victor Martinez

In the 2013 offseason, the Tigers, feeling that Victor Martinez had a good enough season, traded all star 1st baseman Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers so Martinez could be an every day player. Two years ago, Fielder was seen as the Robin to Miguel Cabrera’s Batman. After season though, Martinez is Superman to the back-to-back MVP Cabrera as the duo was highly succesful. Martinez proved his doubters wrong as he led the team with 32 home runs, a .335 batting average, .409 OBP, .565 Slugging percentage, and 70 walks. As much as baseball fans and purist want to give Mike Trout his first MVP award, Martinez clearly had the better season, and was more valuable to his team.

Old Habits are Hard to Kick Award: Detroit Tigers’ Bullpen

What the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers have proven is that in the postseason, the strength of a team’s bullpen is the more important factor between closely matched teams. While the Royals’ bullpen sparked a team to a World Series, the Tigers’ showed that no matter how good a team is, the bullpen can destroy everything. Their two biggest signings were supposed to be relief pitchers Joba Chamberlain and Joe Nathan. Maybe three years ago, both players could make a difference, but this year, the players finished far below expectations.

Best Contract: Mike Trout

After his breakout rookie year, the countdown for Mike Trout’s contract to expire began. His next year in 2013 just sped up the clock. The Angels over the past years have done a Yankeesque job in money managing, given overpriced contracts to aging stars like Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, and CJ Wilson. However, they did the correct move in re-signing players like Jered Weaver, and Howie Kendrick. With signing Trout to 6 years and 144.5 million, he repaid them with another strong season.

Worst Contract: BJ Upton & Ryan Howard    

As easy as it is to criticize Alex Rodriguez’s and Albert Pujols’ contracts, when healthy, they can still produce good numbers, even if is not their MVP numbers. With both Howard and Upton, their respective teams are doing anything they can to get rid of their contracts. With Howard signed through 2016, and Upton through 17, the players still have a combined $95.15 million left on their contracts, and their teams hate every cent they have spent on these underachieving players.