My picks for the National League's postseason awards:

• MVP:
This pick is a bit easier than the AL. While several players have had huge seasons — Prince Fielder in Milwaukee, Mark Reynolds in Arizona, Philly’s Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez, Florida’s Hanley Ramirez — the pick HAS to go to two-time winner Albert Pujols. Simply the best hitter in either league, Pujols has put of some sick numbers for a first place, likely World Series-bound Cardinal team. He may win four or five more of these before he’s done.
My pick: Pujols

• Cy Young:
I wish San Fran’s Tim Lincecum had been healthy all year. He’d have won his second straight. I like what Jason Marquis has done in Colorado and Javier Vasquez was good this year, but we go back to St. Louis for this pick. Question is: whom do you choose? The third-best pick, Joel Pineiro, isn’t a bad choice. But is comes down to Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. Wainwright has the edge in wins, Carpenter in ERA. Wainwright has the edge in strikeouts, Carpenter in allowing fewer walks. As I write this, Carpenter has just hit a grand slam and is shutting out the Reds, making my decision even tougher. However, I give the edge to the kid, since he’s started six more games than Carpenter. Plus, I can say I saw the Cy Young winner in person this year (Aug. 25 vs. Houston: 8 innings, three hits, zero runs, 1-0 win).
My pick: Wainwright

• Rookie of the Year:
He’s had way less at-bats than everyone else, but Pittsburgh’s Garrett Jones has put up some nice numbers. In a little more than 300 plate appearances, he’s already got 20 home runs and nearly as many doubles. But Dexter Fowler has put up a solid year for Colorado and he’s played longer, has better speed numbers and as good an on-base percentage. Also Chris Coghlan in Florida deserves some recognition, leading all rookies in batting average (.318). With that, I’ll give it to a Phillies pitcher. J. A. Happ had a top-five ERA and has helped solidify Philly’s rotation for the playoffs.
My pick: Happ

• Manager of the Year:
Another tough one. Do I give it to Joe Torre, who got the Dodgers limping into the playoffs but survived the Manny Ramirez-steroids scandal? Or to Tony Larussa in St. Louis for having the most exciting team in the NL? To Philly’s Charlie Manuel for having the best team? Maybe Bobby Cox for making Atlanta relevant again, even if they are shut out of the playoffs? Or Colorado’s Jim Tracy, who somehow went from coaching the Pirates to 67- and 68-win seasons to getting the Rockies into the playoffs? Nope. I’m going with Bruce Bochy in San Francisco, a two-time winner who made a lot out of very little and had to deal with multiple injuries during the season. It helps that he had two of my favorite pitchers — Tim Lincecum and Randy Johnson — on staff.
My pick: Bochy