Trio of Diamondbacks up for awards

Sep 27, 2011, 11:04 PM | Updated: Sep 28, 2011, 12:04 am

With a great season comes great reward, and the Diamondbacks have the potential to clean up in the coming weeks.

There is a chance Justin Upton could win the NL MVP, Ian Kennedy the NL Cy Young and Kirk Gibson the Manager of the Year award.

According to FoxSports.com, two of the three should happen.

For instance, Upton is the NL’s most valuable.

OK, others have more eye-popping numbers, but no other hitter had the lack of protection of Upton in NL West champion Arizona’s lineup. With Stephen Drew suffering a broken leg, Upton’s primary lineup protection came from Miguel Montero and free-swinging Chris Young.

Furthermore, Gibson should get the award for the league’s top manager, and odds are he will.

Thanks to support of new GM Kevin Towers, Gibson was able to change a losing culture created by the previous administration and pulled off the biggest surprise of the major-league season by taking the Diamondbacks to the NL West title.

Unfortunately, Kennedy is not likely to win the Cy Young award, and with good reason. Clayton Kershaw has had an unbelievable season for the Dodgers, probably doing enough to stay ahead of the D-backs’ ace.

That doesn’t mean Kennedy has had a disappointing season.

And there were giggles when manager Kirk Gibson made Kennedy the Opening Day starter? After going 9-10 last season, he matched Kershaw for the NL lead in wins and became the anchor for a division-champion rotation.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Gabriel Moreno #14 of the Arizona Diamondbacks works out at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on F...
Kellan Olson

Arizona Diamondbacks believe Gabriel Moreno is ready for bigger role

Gabriel Moreno will be the Arizona Diamondbacks' everyday catcher soon enough but it might happen even sooner than expected.
22 hours ago
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo speaks with reporters after a 7-4 spring training loss t...
Jake Anderson

Diamondbacks still have major roster questions as Opening Day looms

With only six days until Opening Day, D-backs skipper Torey Lovullo still has to get the active roster down from 36 to 26.
22 hours ago
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Luis Frias (65) shakes hands with Diamondbacks catcher Grayson Greiner...
Arizona Sports

D-backs option Ps Luis Frias, Kyle Nelson to Triple-A Reno

The Arizona Diamondbacks optioned pitchers Luis Frias and Kyle Nelson to the Triple-A Reno Aces on Friday.
22 hours ago
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen throws against the Colorado Rockies during the fir...
Arizona Sports

D-backs name Zac Gallen as Opening Day starter for 2023

Zac Gallen will start for the Arizona Diamondbacks next Thursday for Opening Day against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
22 hours ago
Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. speaks, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, during ...
Arizona Sports

Timing makes D-backs media rights complex for MLB to obtain

Why would the Padres become the first team ahead of the D-backs that triggers MLB to head to court in an attempt to obtain their rights?
22 hours ago
Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Rojas (10) celebrates his home run against the Colorado Rockies with Dav...
Haboob Blog

D-backs’ Josh Rojas calls David Peralta ‘a traitor’ while mic’d up vs. Dodgers

D-backs 3B Josh Rojas didn't mince his words on Thursday when talking about former teammate and current Dodger David Peralta.
2 days ago
Trio of Diamondbacks up for awards