Since the trophies that the Cardinals really wanted to win—namely the NL Championship and World Series trophies—won’t be making appearances in St. Louis this year, it’s time to focus on the achievement awards many Cards players are in line to win for their efforts in 2009.

The Players Choice awards were announced last week, and the NL list was dominated by Cardinals. From the “Thank you, Captain Obvious” file, Chris Carpenter won Comeback Player of the Year. After missing nearly all of the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Carpenter put up a record of 17-4 with a 2.24 ERA and 144 strikeouts over 192.2 innings. And that was with a stint on the DL early in the season. Adam Wainwright took home the Outstanding NL Pitcher award after a 2009 record of 19-8 with a 2.63 ERA and 212 strikeouts over 233 innings. Albert Pujols took home both the NL Outstanding Player and Player of the Year (both leagues) awards. Pujols hit .327 with 47 home runs and 135 RBI.

These awards are voted on by the MLP Players Association. Carpenter also won Comeback Player of the Year in 2004, which is somewhat bittersweet considering the excellent seasons that were rewarded had to follow seasons lost to injury. For Pujols, it’s the third time he’s taken home both player awards. Charitable donations are made by the MLBPA in the names of the award winners.

This weekend, Pujols was also honored as the NL recipient of the Hank Aaron award. Fan votes determine the winners, and nominees are picked based on offensive achievement throughout the season. Pujols also won the award in 2003.

This is just the beginning of what should be an award season full of Cardinal players. The biggest awards are almost certainly in the bag already. Pujols will be the NL MVP for the third time in his career, and either Wainwright or Carpenter should take home the NL Cy Young. Pujols should also win the Silver Slugger award, given to the player with the best offensive numbers at his position, and he and Yadier Molina may again take home Gold Glove awards. A couple of dark horse candidates for awards include Brendan Ryan winning a Gold Glove at shortstop, and Tony LaRussa winning Manager of the Year.

Those awards are all well and good, but maybe the Cards should lighten the emotional load of going 0-fer in the NLDS by creating some new awards for the 2009 season:

Outstanding Facial Hair: Tie – Brendan Ryan and Ryan Franklin. Most of the players took on the team-building exercise of growing mustaches early in the season, but only Ryan kept his cookie duster through the end of the year. And Franklin’s goatee became a legend in its own time. Everyone knows Franklin’s All Star season came to be because of what should now only be referred to as The Beard.

Tantrum of the Year: Dave Duncan, when his son Chris was traded for infielder Julio Lugo. We can only speculate as to what was said behind closed doors, but the elder Duncan was nothing short of livid with the front office when the trade with the Red Sox happened. Cooler heads have prevailed since, but I wonder just how close the Cards were to losing their pitching coach that day.

Least Valuable Performance in a Playoff Series: Matt Holliday. From the strikeout in the first inning of Game One to the crotch catch at the end of Game Two, Holliday really blew it in the NLDS. I realize that without Holliday the Cards probably don’t win the NL Central title, and many more factors contributed to the sweep by the LA Dodgers. But considering what the Cards gave up to get him, and taking into account that they brought him in to try to win it all, the Holliday gaffes really stood out.  

“Drop the Piano” Award: Yadier Molina. I’m OK with Molina getting a pass on some of the less important physical aspects of the game. Catcher is easily the most grueling position on the field, and Yadi’s defense is second to none—he’s a game changer with even sub-pedestrian offensive numbers. But dammit, Yadi…at least make it look like you’re trying. We all accept that you’re not fast. And this is the major leagues, so the vast majority of lazy fly balls and slow rollers will be easy outs. You don’t have to sprint to first base every time. But walking halfway up the line with your bat still in your hand while your fly ball comes down is unacceptable. Hustle isn’t just about speed; it’s about effort. Jog, Yadi. We love everything else you do, I promise. Just toss the bat and jog through the base and that will be fine.