Cleveland Indians: End of award season just a formality

The Cleveland Indians remain well-represented when it comes to MLB awards this year. However, actually winning a major one remains unlikely as the award season comes to a close.

Wednesday night brought the news that Blake Snell was the winner of the 2018 American League Cy Young Award.

The Cleveland Indians had Corey Kluber finish third in the voting, while Trevor Bauer finished sixth. Kluber was considered a finalist, but that just meant he was in the top three. Simply a formality.

Tonight brings the announcement of the AL MVP. Jose Ramirez is also a finalist, but once again it likely means he will finish third.

The Indians also came away empty in the Gold Glove category, but Ramirez and Francisco Lindor did win Silver Slugger Awards. So it is not all doom and gloom, even though I look out my window while I write this and see ice falling from the sky.

I find myself almost taking for granted the fact that Indians players are up for so many awards. It is easy to see Kluber finish third and not get excited, but that is a crazy accomplishment. The same goes for Bauer finishing sixth when he missed a significant chunk of the season.

Unfortunately, being up for all the awards after another early postseason exit may have some fans declaring that individual awards are irrelevant if the team doesn’t win. I am not advocating for fans to celebrate in the streets about a Silver Slugger Award, but it is refreshing to know that the team is still supremely talented heading into 2019.

The MVP announcement comes later today and I am expecting Mookie Betts to take home the award. Either way, it is nice to know that Ramirez is considered one of the best in the game and may have not even hit his peak yet. Wait until he does. Hopefully that comes on a night in October.