The 2013 Greatness In Baseball Yearly (GIBBY) award winners were announced Tuesday afternoon. The GIBBY awards — which began in 2002, but were referred to as the ‘This Year In Baseball Awards’ until 2010 — are awarded annually for 23 different categories, including Rookie of the Year, Play of the Year, MVP of the Year, etc.
These awards are given to the players voted on by the fans at MLB.com, media, and front-office personnel, as the best for each category. I, as always, have my own opinions, and have included them below, along with the winners:
MVP OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Chris Davis
Winner: Miguel Cabrera
I originally picked Chris Davis for this award, however, I have no problem with Miguel Cabrera getting it instead. He was very deserving, batting .348 with 44 home runs and 137 RBI’s this season, coming up just short of a second straight Triple Crown award.
HITTER OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Miguel Cabrera
Winner: Miguel Cabrera
Though I didn’t necessarily deem him as the Most Valuable (the category above), I easily picked Miguel Cabrera as the best hitter of the 2013 season. Anytime you hit in the mid 300’s, launch over 40 home runs and drive in way over 100 runs, you have my vote.
STARTING PITCHER OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Clayton Kershaw
Winner: Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw had a career season; one of the best in MLB history for a pitcher. Kershaw is very deserving of this award, and there really wasn’t any competition, as no one could compete with his 1.83 ERA.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Wil Myers
Winner: Jose Fernandez
With three players having incredible rookie seasons — Wil Myers, Jose Fernandez and Yasiel Puig — it was difficult to pick just one. Therefore, while my original pick was Wil Myers, I feel Jose Fernandez is just as worthy. Fernandez’s 2.19 ERA over 28 starts is truly remarkable for a rookie.
CLOSER OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Craig Kimbrel
Winner: Craig Kimbrel
While Mariano Rivera was the most followed closer of the 2013 season, after announcing his retirement this year back in March, Craig Kimbrel continued to be the most dominant. Though there were a few other closers who had great seasons, Kimbrel stood above the rest, recording 50 saves with a 1.21 ERA.
SETUP MAN OF THE YEAR
My original pick: David Robertson
Winner: Mark Melancon
This was another difficult category to pick, but I feel the right player received the award. I didn’t originally pick him, however, Mark Melancon was truly remarkable this season as the setup man for the Pirates, with an ERA of 1.39. He should continue to help out the team moving forward.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Brandon Phillips
Winner: Yadier Molina
Though I don’t really agree with Yadier Molina winning this award, I do have to acknowledge his great defensive skills behind the plate, blocking pitches better than nearly any other catcher in the game. While I still think Brandon Phillips, or a few other players, should’ve received this award, Molina is still worthy of the honor.
BREAKOUT HITTER OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Matt Carpenter
Winner: Chris Davis
I really felt Matt Carpenter had a shot at this award, as he was a big part of the Cardinals’ success this season. But I suppose hitting 2o more home runs and 53 more RBI’s than 2012 stands out for Chris Davis deserving this award.
BREAKOUT PITCHER OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Koji Uehara
Winner: Matt Harvey
My original pick, Koji Uehara, had a great finish to the season, and a great postseason. I thought that would be enough, however, Matt Harvey ended up taking home the award. Harvey truly had a breakout year, lowering his ERA by nearly 50 points the year before, and I’m happy he received this award.
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Mariano Rivera
Winner: Francisco Liriano
I don’t think Francisco Liriano should’ve won this award, and I’m shocked that he did. Liriano had a come back year, no doubt, but Mariano Rivera had a better one, in my opinion. With the combination of coming of an injury in 2012, pitching another great season, and retiring after the year, I would’ve thought Rivera would’ve won easily.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
My original pick: John Farrell
Winner: John Farrell
John Farrell took a Red Sox team that finished in last place the season before and led them to winning the World Series. This was an easy category to predict, and Farrell deserves it, no question about it.
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Billy Beane
Winner: Ben Cherington
I’m a big fan of Billy Beane and the great work he does every year, but Ben Cherington, being the general manager of the Red Sox, had a few more accolades for the award than Beane. As with John Farrell, the Red Sox winning the World Series put Cherington over the top in this category.
POSTSEASON MVP
My original pick: David Ortiz
Winner: David Ortiz
David Ortiz stood alone for this category as no other player came close to posting the stats he did. All throughout the postseason, Ortiz came up big, posting a batting average of .353 throughout October, and he truly earned this award.
PLAY OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Ben Revere’s diving catch in Cincinnati
Winner: Manny Machado’s offbalance throw in New York
The play with the biggest “wow” factor for me all season long was the catch Ben Revere made up in Cincinnati. Running back on the ball and diving at the last second to make an unbelievable catch that ended in doubling off the runner at first, Revere’s catch was one of the most amazing I’ve ever seen. But Manny Machado’s throw from foul territory to first base to nail the runner, after bobbling the ball, was remarkable as well.
MOMENT OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Mariano Rivera pitching in his final All-Star Game
Winner: David Ortiz’s speech in first Red So game after bombing
I guess I’m such a big fan of Mariano Rivera that I felt he should’ve won every award he was nominated for. But instead, the award winner was David Ortiz, for his speech he made before the first game played at Fenway Park after the Boston marathon bombings.
STORYLINE OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Mariano Rivera’s final season
Winner: Pirates making the postseason
Again, as I stated in the last category, I thought Mariano Rivera should’ve won this award as well. But the Pirates were voted the storyline of the year, finishing above .500, and making the postseason, for the first time since 1992.
HITTING PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Alfonso Soriano’s 2-homer game with 7 RBI’s
Winner: Mike Trout’s cycle
Alfonso Soriano’s two home run game in which he notched seven RBI’s was impressive, and was the one I voted for, but I really didn’t have a favorite from this category. Mike Trout’s cycle at the age of 21 won the award, and I cant really argue with that.
PITCHING PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Tim Lincecum’s no-hitter
Winner: Tim Lincecum’s no-hitter
This was a fairly simple choice, as while there were several no-hitters, Tim Lincecum’s stood out the most, with his 13 strikeouts. While Lincecum has had some ups and down over the past couple seasons, I feel he’ll have a bounce back season in 2014.
ODDITY OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Ball goes through padding for ground-rule double
Winner: ‘Hidden Ball Trick’ by Evan Longoria & Todd Helton
My original pick was a ground rule double in St. Louis that bounced between two pieces of padding in the outfield wall — I mean, what are the odds of that? But, instead, Evan Longoria and Todd Helton received the award for the “hidden ball trick” performed flawlessly by both during the season.
WALK-OFF OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Giancarlo Stanton scores on wild pitch to clinch no-hitter
Winner: Giancarlo Stanton scores on wild pitch to clinch no-hitter
Giancarlo Stanton scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to secure Henderson Alvarez a no-hitter, who hadn’t allowed a hit but didn’t have any run support, was hands down the best walk-off of the year. That’s something you may never see again.
CUT4 TOPIC OF THE YEAR
My original pick: Carly Rae Jepsen’s bad first pitch
Winner: Munenori Kawasaki’s Speech
Carly Rae Jepsen throwing one of the worst first pitches in baseball history down at Tropicana Field was the one I originally selected, but Munenori Kawasaki’s speech up in Toronto was the winner. I’m actually glad Kawasaki won, despite not picking him, as he is one of the funniest guys in baseball, and I still get a laugh by watching footage of his speech.
POSTSEASON MOMENT
My original pick: Allen Craig scores on obstruction
Winner: Allen Craig scores on obstruction
This was one of the most unusual endings to a postseason game in baseball history. Allen Craig scored, tripping over third baseman, Will Middlebrooks, on an obstruction call to end game three of the 2013 World Series, and it was truly an incredible, and memorable, moment.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
My original pick: Mariano Rivera
Winner: Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is on his way to the Hall of Fame, after having one of the best careers for a pitcher in MLB history. The greatest closer in MLB history, with 652 career saves, Rivera won this award fairly easily, with the respect he has earned over the years and the stats he’s been able to put together for the Yankees.
The Unbiased MLB Fan 