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All right, it's All Star Tuesday, which means kicking back with a beer and watching the National League hopefully beat the American League again and, of course, midseason awards. My picks for the major awards in both leagues:

A.L. MVP: Josh Hamilton
And it isn't even close. The dude is leading the league in 2 of the 3 Triple Crown categories (HR and RBI), is in the top 10 in basically everything else and is leading the team with the second best record in baseball. If that doesn't make you an MVP, then I don't know what does. Honorable Mention: like I said, not close but if I had to pick a few then Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, and Paul Konerko.

A.L. Cy Young: Justin Verlander
My heart wanted to pick Jered Weaver of my hometown Angels, but with him having a brief DL stint I have to go with the guy who's 1st in K's, 2nd in ERA, 1st in Innings Pitched, and 3rd in Batting Average Against. He is down at 7th for Wins, but most of that has been bad luck. He has still been his dominant self. Honorable Mention: Jered Weaver, David Price, and Felix Hernandez.

A.L. Rookie of the Year: Mike Trout
Look out. If Hamilton goes down, Trout could become only the third player in history to win ROY and MVP honors in the same season. He's leading the league in Batting Average and Stolen Bases (which means he is messing with pitchers all over the field), and since his call up in late April, he has rejuvinated a severely underperforming Angels team from the important leadoff spot. Honorable Mention: Yu Darvish (although in my humble opinion, he doesn't count as a real rookie)

A.L. Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter
If the playoffs started today, the Orioles would beat out perrenial powerhouses Boston, Tampa Bay, and Detroit for the final spot. A lot of that has to do with the quiet perseverance of Buck Showalter. He has done this before (see Diamondbacks and Rangers), but now he is doing it in arguably the toughest division in baseball. He deserves some recognition for it. Honorable Mention: Robin Ventura, Ron Washington, and Joe Girardi

N.L. MVP: Andrew McCutchen
Believe it. A Pirate will win the MVP, especially if they hold on to that ever so tough first place slot in the Central. This was a close race, but it's hard not to pick a guy who signs an extension with one of the worst teams in baseball over the last decade and then leads them to first place in a brutal division. Oh, and by the way, he is in the top 5 in just about every statistical category while leading the league in hitting and playing a stellar center field. Honorable Mention: David Wright, Joey Votto, Carlos Beltran.

N.L. Cy Young: R.A. Dickey
Has a chance to win the pitching Triple Crown (Wins, ERA, K's) and, along with David Wright, has seemed to will the Mets into the playoff race. Joining the ranks of great knuckle ballers like Niekro, Wilhelm, and Wakefield, he could best them all by becoming the only one to ever win the Cy Young. Honorable Mention: Matt Cain, Gio Gonzalez, and Lance Lynn

N.L. Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper
Rarely does such a hyped prospect live up to expectations, but Harper has helped lead a young Nationals team to first place in the East since his call up in April. In only 63 games, his aggressive play has overshadowed his mature hitting approach (53 walks and a .280 avg), but his daring on the basepaths and in the field has invigorated a mediocre baseball town in D.C. Honorable Mention: Wade Miley

N.L. Manager of the Year: Clint Hurdle
Did I mention the Pirates are in first place? Go ahead, look it up. I'll wait. Another manager who's done it before (see Rockies), Hurdle has taken Pittsburgh from a laughing stock franchise to holy cow these guys are a good team. Outside of McCuthen, they don't have a single .300 hitter in their lineup. They don't have a single pitcher remotely in the Cy Young race. How are they doing it? Clint Hurdle. Honorable Mention: Don Mattingly, Davey Johnson, and Bruce Bochy.

There you go. I hope some of these picks hold up. I'd love to see the Pirates make a run and Andrew McCutchen get his due. I'd love to see Josh Hamilton run away with the MVP again. I'd love to see an old knuckleballer prove it's not just a gimmick pitch. I'd love to see the A.L. Cy Young race come down to the wire again between two of the most dominant pitchers in the game. I'd love to see the league's future talent become the talent of right now. This is why we love baseball.