How we voted for National League MVP:

Mike: 1) Kemp  2) Braun  3) Upton  4) Votto  5) Halladay

Griff:  1) Kemp  2) Braun  3) Upton  4) Votto  5) Tulowitzki

Dee:   1) Kemp  2) Braun  3) Votto  4) Upton  5) Halladay

Jim:    1) Kershaw  2) Kemp  3) Braun  4) Votto  5) Upton

Towel:  1) Braun  2) Kemp  3) Upton  4) Votto  5) Pujols

National League Stan Musial Award Final Vote:

1)    Matt Kemp, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

2)    Ryan Braun, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

3)    Justin Upton, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

4)    Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds

5)    Roy Halladay, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

With the Fall Classic kicking off tonight, I felt compelled to make my predictions for this exciting World Series. Let me start off by saying that I am rooting for Texas. For starters, as an Astros diehard I would not be able to look myself in the mirror if I rooted for those bastards from the Midwest. Iʼve been raised better than that. Secondly, being from Texas has always allowed me to have a reason to root for an American League team, so long as they were not actually playing my beloved Astros. That appears to be changing though. With news last week of new ownership taking over (finally) and Houston headed for the AL West, this may be my last chance to cheer for the other team from Texas. Unless something drastic happens they will become my new division rival (read: mortal enemy). On the other hand, the Cards will begin fading away as an enemy in my mind. Now I will be able to cheer out loud for Albert Pujols and not have to feel guilty about it. I can watch Lance Berkman and not resent his resurgence, because it will not be at the cost of my team. It seems almost fitting then, that this final series of baseball for 2011 pits my arch nemesis from the past against the arch nemesis of my future. Or, maybe I am just grabbing at air as I try to ascend from the endless abyss known as Astros fandom.

For my predictions:

Rangers win in 7

Josh Hamilton wins MVP with 7 homeruns, including 2 in Game 7.

Danny Hultzen, the second-overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, has made two starts for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League. In his professional debut against the Surprise Saguaros, a team loaded with prospects like Tim Beckham, Wil Myers, and Matt Dominguez, the left-hander allowed one run on three hits while issuing a walk and fanning two over two innings.

Hultzen’s second start against the Mesa Solar Sox was a bit rockier, as he allowed one run on six hits and one walk over three innings.  Although he didn’t record a strikeout, Hultzen escaped serious damage thanks to seven groundball outs.

Through two, brief starts, his line reads: 5 IP, 3.50 ERA, 9 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 4.50 GO/AO

Courtesy of MLB Prospect Portal, here is a clip of Hultzen warming up before his start against the Solar Sox:

Top 2: Nick Punto struck out swinging against Chris Narveson

Top 3: hit a sacrifice fly to right field against Narveson

Top 5: struck out swinging against Kameron Loe

Top 7: called out on strikes against Takashi Saito

Top 9: called out on strikes against John Axford

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K, RBI

Notes: Punto’s golden sombrero against the Brewers on Sunday night was his first of the season, as well as the first by a National League player this postseason.  In a game where the Cardinals pushed across 12 runs on 14 hits, Punto was the only starter that failed to record a hit.

His four-strikeout performance was the third of his 11-year career, with the other two occurring as a member of the Twins in 2006 and 2008.  After striking out in 12.7% of his at-bats during the regular season—his career mark is 16.3%—Punto has struck out in 11 of his 21 at-bats this postseason.

Most importantly, Punto’s postseason sombrero gives me a chance to drop this graphic once again:

Total 2011 Sombreros: 125

Total 2011 Postseason Sombreros: 2

And be sure to check out The Flagrant Fan for a great article on Ankiel’s legendary arm, complete with videos of his most famous throws.