Individual pieces that led to San Francisco’s unexpectedly successful season are starting to get recognized with awards. How much respect they receive is the next question.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced the finalists for the Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Manager of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards Monday. Giants earned consideration for each of the first three distinctions, but Gabe Kapler is the only one still in contention to win.
Kapler, an architect of SF’s historic season, is one of three finalists for National League Manager of the Year. Brandon Crawford and Kevin Gausman, despite being two of the most vital components of the Giants’ franchise record season, both missed the top-three cut for the National League MVP and Cy Young awards respectively.
All three awards are regular season honors voted on by BBWAA beat writers.
Brandon Crawford was the one of the best all-around players in the National League during the 2021 season, picking up his fourth Gold Glove Award while leading the Giants to the NL West title. But the Baseball Writers’ Association of America named Fernando Tatis Jr., Bryce Harper and Juan Soto as the top-three for the award.
Throughout the season, Crawford’s teammates caped for his MVP case. It was a compelling one, for sure: Crawford was the best player on the winningest team in baseball. He recorded career-highs in batting average (.298), OPS (.895), home runs (24), runs batted in (9) and stolen bases (11) while playing an elite shortstop.
But the voters decided Tatís Jr., Harper, and Soto are more deserving. They each posted stronger offensive statistics, but none of their teams reached the postseason.
The three finalists for NL Cy Young, meanwhile, are Los Angeles’ Max Scherzer, Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler, and Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes. It was one of the most competitive awards of the season, and Gausman’s numbers stack up similarly to all three.
Gausman’s 4.8 WAR and 2.81 ERA both ranked sixth in the National League. Wheeler (2.78 ERA), Burnes (2.43) and Scherzer (2.46) each edged Gausman out after the Giants starter couldn’t replicate his elite first half.
Both Crawford and Gausman will likely finish close behind the top-three when the final votes come in later this month. Crawford’s previous best in MVP voting was 12th in 2016, while Gausman has never received Cy Young votes.
MIlwaukee’s Craig Counsell and Mike Shildt are the other two finalists for NL Manager of the Year, but Kapler is considered the frontrunner. He’d be the first Giants skipper to win the award since Dusty Baker in 2000 (Baker also won it in 1993 and 1997).
The final Manager of the Year Award will be announced on Nov. 16, with the Cy Young released the day after and MVP on Nov. 18.
