MANAGER: Jack McKeon, Florida. Felipe Alou is probably a shoo-in if the Giants keep it up. But if the surging Marlins continue their run and make the postseason, 72-year-old “Trader Jack” would deserve the nod for taking a raw team and molding it into a winner.
Everyone made fun of McKeon’s age when he was hired. Who’s laughing now?
Most valuable player: Albert Pujols, St. Louis. It’s a two-man race for MVP, and Pujols has better numbers than San Francisco’s Barry Bonds. That, and Bonds practically begs people not to like him.
Rookie: Dontrelle Willis, Florida. Unless the kid flops in the last two months, the award should be all his. A former Cubs minor leaguer,Willis (10-2, 2.50 ERA) has become the talk of baseball since being called up in early May, and the left-hander may yet save Marlins baseball.
Cy Young: John Smoltz, Atlanta. The one-time starter has 42 saves in 45 chances, a stingy 0.78 ERA, and is the anti-Bonds in dealing with the media.
