Could this be true? We’re halfway through another baseball season already? It feels like just last week I was roaming around spring training, waiting for Manny Machado and Bryce Harper to sign.



But you know what happens when we realize we’ve survived another first half, right? Awards happen. So here they come, those midseason award picks I’m gracious enough to unveil every July, just so you have something to rant about (and rave, too, if you really get worked up). As always, I’ll be really disappointed if you don’t agree with every one of these.



AL MVP of the Half-Year



MIKE TROUT, ANGELS



It’s almost hilarious that Mike Trout isn’t closing in on his eighth consecutive MVP Award. Or close to it, anyway. Of course, barring some crazy development, he is on his way (while he’s still just 27!), to his seventh top-two MVP finish. Only Stan Musial, Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds (nine) have ever...