MVP: Very tough call here. You can make a strong case for either Sean Casey or Adam Dunn.

Casey's average is 70 points higher than Dunn's. But Dunn has a slightly higher on-base percentage.

Runs and RBI are virtually the same. Dunn has 42 homers to Casey's 24. Casey has 44 doubles to Dunn's 32.

Dunn has been the most durable Red. Casey's an important leader.

Either is a good choice.

But I'm philosophically opposed to co-MVPs, so I'm going to go with Casey based on batting average with runners in scoring position (Casey's at .311, Dunn's at .246).

CY YOUNG: This is a tough one for different reasons. The Reds' stats are the Land of the Tall ERAs.

Danny Graves was on pace to break the club saves record. But he has nine blown saves and has a 1-6 record and a 3.95 ERA..

So let's go with Luke Hudson, who didn't become a Red until August and has made only eight starts.

His numbers are clearly the best on the staff: 4-2, 2.55 ERA, .211 opponent batting average.

MOST IMPROVED: Wily Mo Pena. If there were a National League award for this, he might win it.

Pena has 26 home runs and 66 RBI in 336 at-bats. That projects to 46 homers and 117 RBI over a 600 at-bat season.

He has gone from clueless to dangerous at the plate in one season.

And remember, Pena is 22 - four years younger than Pittsburgh's Jason Bay, the likely NL Rookie of the Year.

For his work with Pena and Dunn, Chris Chambliss deserves tremendous credit. Pena has raised his average 41 points from last year; Dunn's is up 48.

ROOKIE OF YEAR: Hudson.

MIP (Most Indispensable Player): Ryan Freel. Freel plays well wherever the Reds play him - be it the infield or outfield - and they've needed him all over the place because of injuries. He leads the club in highlights on Baseball Tonight because he leads the world in walls run into.

But the most impressive thing about Freel is his development as a leadoff hitter. He never walked more than 46 times in any minor-league stop. He has walked 66 times this year. That, along with 11 hit-by-pitches, has his on-base percentage at a respectable .375.

LOW POINT: At Milwaukee, April 27. That's the game in which Brandon Larson's throwing error on a routine play with two outs in the ninth led to an 8-7 loss.

The loss was devastating. But the harder thing to accept was that it was apparent Larson wasn't going to work out again. The commitment to him was going to hurt the Reds.

And it did.

HIGH POINT: The 8-7 victory over the Houston Astros on May 22. Roger Clemens started for Houston that night. Great American was sold out and rocking. And the game ended on Juan Castro's incredible stab of a line drive at third base.

The Reds went on to sweep four from the Astros to move into a tie for first place.

WOW POINT: Dunn's 535-foot homer that ended up in the river.

BEST MOVE: Re-upping Dave Miley and his staff.

WORST MOVE: Trading Chris Reitsma. When you trade away a 26-year-old established major-leaguer for young pitching, it doesn't send a good signal to the fans. Not to mention what Reitsma would have done for the bullpen.

WARM AND FUZZY MOMEMT(S): Ken Griffey's chase of 500. The fans of Cincinnati finally embraced Griffey again. And he was deeply touched by it.

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com