There are prizes involved. Not for any of us, but the Rookie of the Year gets a shiny trophy. Who's it going to be?
The pre-season favourite in the AL was Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Red Sox, and the Dice-man does lead all rookie pitchers in IP, W, and Ks among other things. I seem to remember some voices being raised in support of Alex Gordon. Delmon Young had a fairly impressive debut last September. No matter. Someone else should win.
1. Dustin Pedroia, Boston (6 HR, 42 RBI, 68 R, .324 / .393 / .447) - After a slow start, it looks to me like he's zipped to the head of the class. And is the AL East loaded at second base or what? Pedroia, Cano, Roberts - Aaron Hill is by far the weakest with the bat, but he can hit a little himself and he's the best with the glove. And the best hitter of all is B.J. Upton, who has played more 2b than any other D-Ray. (He's also played more CF than any other D-Ray - they have stuff to figure out down there.)
2. Brian Bannister, Kansas City (12-7, 3.16, 148.1 IP, 72 Ks, 36 BB) - I don't feel that great about him next year unless he can raise his strikeouts a little- but he can probably do that. He certainly could strike out hitters in the minors, and he could always throw strikes. His teammate in the bullpen, Joakim Soria, has also given a fine account of himself.
3. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston (13-11, 3.88, 176.1 IP, 174 Ks, 66 BB) - He didn't tear the league apart, but he's had a very nice season. And I expect he'll have years that are much, much better than this.
Rookies having seasons that were good enough to actually win this thing if they'd chosen another year: Delmon Young, Jeremy Guthrie, Josh Fields, Alex Gordon, Reggie Willits, Akinori Iwamura, Joakim Soria.
In the other league, we don't really have an outstanding candidate from this year's crop of pitchers - Tim Lincecum and Kyle Kendrick didn't get their seasons started along with the other kids. Peter Moylan has been brilliant in the Atlanta bullpen but no one's even heard of him.
1. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee (26 HR, 71 RBI, 66 R, .330, .375, .634) - Yup, the Brewers third baseman has basically the same slugging percentage as the guy who plays third for the Yankees. You know, that A-Rod fella? Braun didn't make his ML debut until May 25, which gives him a disadvantage in the counting numbers. But he's hit so well that he's going to end up leading the way in them anyway. He's making me think of Richie Allen, and like Allen, there are some concerns about his work at 3b. He's fielding .893, his range is not impressive, and they can't move him to first base.
2. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado (18 HR, 74 RBI, 77 R, .289 / .357 / .459) - What's not to like? He plays at Coors, true - but this year Coors is playing as a fairly ordinary good hitter's park. His defense is very impressive. He's still just 22 years old (turns 23 next month.). Yeah, I'd like a do-over, too!
3. Hunter Pence, Houston (14 HR, 53 RBI, 49 R, .322, .360,. .533) - Like Braun, he started the year in the minors. He came up a month earlier, at the end of April, and has been by far the best news in Texas this year.
Good enough to win in some other season: Chris Young (who leads all major league rookies in HRs and SBs, and can't even crack the top three?), Josh Hamilton (feel-good story of the year?), Yunel Escobar, Tim Lincecum, Kyle Kendrick, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Peter Moylan.
The pre-season favourite in the AL was Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Red Sox, and the Dice-man does lead all rookie pitchers in IP, W, and Ks among other things. I seem to remember some voices being raised in support of Alex Gordon. Delmon Young had a fairly impressive debut last September. No matter. Someone else should win.
1. Dustin Pedroia, Boston (6 HR, 42 RBI, 68 R, .324 / .393 / .447) - After a slow start, it looks to me like he's zipped to the head of the class. And is the AL East loaded at second base or what? Pedroia, Cano, Roberts - Aaron Hill is by far the weakest with the bat, but he can hit a little himself and he's the best with the glove. And the best hitter of all is B.J. Upton, who has played more 2b than any other D-Ray. (He's also played more CF than any other D-Ray - they have stuff to figure out down there.)
2. Brian Bannister, Kansas City (12-7, 3.16, 148.1 IP, 72 Ks, 36 BB) - I don't feel that great about him next year unless he can raise his strikeouts a little- but he can probably do that. He certainly could strike out hitters in the minors, and he could always throw strikes. His teammate in the bullpen, Joakim Soria, has also given a fine account of himself.
3. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston (13-11, 3.88, 176.1 IP, 174 Ks, 66 BB) - He didn't tear the league apart, but he's had a very nice season. And I expect he'll have years that are much, much better than this.
Rookies having seasons that were good enough to actually win this thing if they'd chosen another year: Delmon Young, Jeremy Guthrie, Josh Fields, Alex Gordon, Reggie Willits, Akinori Iwamura, Joakim Soria.
In the other league, we don't really have an outstanding candidate from this year's crop of pitchers - Tim Lincecum and Kyle Kendrick didn't get their seasons started along with the other kids. Peter Moylan has been brilliant in the Atlanta bullpen but no one's even heard of him.
1. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee (26 HR, 71 RBI, 66 R, .330, .375, .634) - Yup, the Brewers third baseman has basically the same slugging percentage as the guy who plays third for the Yankees. You know, that A-Rod fella? Braun didn't make his ML debut until May 25, which gives him a disadvantage in the counting numbers. But he's hit so well that he's going to end up leading the way in them anyway. He's making me think of Richie Allen, and like Allen, there are some concerns about his work at 3b. He's fielding .893, his range is not impressive, and they can't move him to first base.
2. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado (18 HR, 74 RBI, 77 R, .289 / .357 / .459) - What's not to like? He plays at Coors, true - but this year Coors is playing as a fairly ordinary good hitter's park. His defense is very impressive. He's still just 22 years old (turns 23 next month.). Yeah, I'd like a do-over, too!
3. Hunter Pence, Houston (14 HR, 53 RBI, 49 R, .322, .360,. .533) - Like Braun, he started the year in the minors. He came up a month earlier, at the end of April, and has been by far the best news in Texas this year.
Good enough to win in some other season: Chris Young (who leads all major league rookies in HRs and SBs, and can't even crack the top three?), Josh Hamilton (feel-good story of the year?), Yunel Escobar, Tim Lincecum, Kyle Kendrick, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Peter Moylan.
