(Updated with Cy Young) 2013 National League Awards

Cy Young -- Clayton Kershaw


Clayton Kershaw was amazing this year. Amazing. Pitching to a 16-9 record with a 1.83 ERA, Kershaw became the first player since Roger Clemens in 2005 to post a sub-2 ERA in the regular season. He struck out 232 hitters (NL Leader) in 236 IP, and was the Dodgers stud pitcher in a dominant rotation. He delivered a quality start 82% of the time and was always able to complete five innings in all of his starts. Kershaw, against the 908 hitters he faced, only allowed a whopping 11 home runs. That's one homer allowed over every 82.5 hitters. If Kershaw faced 27 hitters a start, it would take him almost four entire starts to give up a homer. Clayton Kershaw's best month was in August, when he went 3-2 with a 1.01 ERA in five starts (4 ER in 35.2 IP). Clayton Kershaw is hands-down my Cy Young, as he just pitched beautifully in his 33 starts. There was no way I could choose anyone else. 



Manager of the Year -- Clint Hurdle

The Pirates were finally able to end their run of missing the playoffs from 1992. Improving from 79-83 in 2012, the Pirates went 94-68 in 2013, with Hurdle being a large part of their success. He was a motivator and a leader, and was able to lead the Pirates to the first Wild Card and the NLDS. He and the Pirates hope to take the NL Central next year.

Comeback Player of the Year -- Marlon Byrd

In 2012, Byrd only played in 47 games, and seemed to be on the downfall, moving from the Chicago Cubs to the Boston Red Sox, but was a good utility player and could probably buy himself a contract that winter. The 35 year old did that with the Mets, and had a career year, posting a three slash line of .291/.336/.511 this season, while also driving in 24 homers and 88 RBI. He played so well that he earned a trade to the contending Pittsburgh Pirates, and got into the the playoffs for the first time in his lenghty career. And, he homered in his first at bat. What a story from Byrd. That's why he's my Comeback Player of the Year.


Rookie of the Year -- Jose Fernandez


Jose Fernandez was downright dominant. The 20 year old who had never pitched above High-Single A, was fantastic in his 28 starts, going 12-6 with a 2.19 ERA in 172.2 innings, with 187 strikeouts. He took the league by storm, and was able to get major league hitters out over an extended period of time. He's the future stud starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins, and is an awesome pitcher, and could only get better.