AL Rookie of the year

[riverside sluggers]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AgWS8rYcq3xigfPEFp6tAy8RvLYF?slug=jp-alroy090207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

As the season nears its end, thought it would be good time to have a Rookie of the Year thread. Yahoo's Jeff Passan listed his top 10 AL rookies of 2007. No debate for the NL ROY as it is clearly Ryan Braun

 

1. Brian Bannister- Royals

2. Dustin Pedroia- Red Sox

3. Daisuke Matsuzaka- Red Sox

4. Hideki Okajima- Red Sox

5. Jeremy Guthrie- Orioles

6. Joakim Soria- Royals

7. Josh Fields- White Sox

8. Delmon Young- Devil Rays

9. Reggie Willits- Angels

10. Alex Gordon- Royals

[YAZMAN]

Pedroia is my clear favorite.

 

While Bannister is having a fine year, what's the argument?

"Without Bannister, we'd be WAY more than 17 games out of first place." - KC manager Buddy Bell

[Cocos Disciples]

Dice has the highest VORP for an AL rookie.

[TheKilo]

Dice has the highest VORP for an AL rookie.

 

Pedroia plays every day.

 

One of those two will win although I still think Okajima should be in the conversation.

[Cocos Disciples]

I also think either Matsuzaka or Pedroia wins. My initial reasoning was that Bannister plays in KC and most writers forgot they had a team. Then I remembered the whole Berroa/Matsui s***. Whatever, it's not important.

 

On the other side, holy f***ing s*** Ryan f***ing Braun. What the f***? I mean he didn't come out of nowhere, he was a fairly highly regarded prospect, but still, nobody could have expected this. In just 355 at bats, more than 100 less than Ortiz, he has the same amount of homers as Papi. And his OPS is over 1.000.

[.406]

Dice-K may get it because he had all that hype and for the most part had does well with the transition to the big leagues. I'd personally take Pedroia.

[Thumper]

Pedroia or Dice-K.

 

I'd mostly say Pedroia because as Kilo said, he plays every day pretty much.

[Rodney Harrison]

I also think either Matsuzaka or Pedroia wins. My initial reasoning was that Bannister plays in KC and most writers forgot they had a team. Then I remembered the whole Berroa/Matsui s***. Whatever, it's not important.

 

On the other side, holy f***ing s*** Ryan f***ing Braun. What the f***? I mean he didn't come out of nowhere, he was a fairly highly regarded prospect, but still, nobody could have expected this. In just 355 at bats, more than 100 less than Ortiz, he has the same amount of homers as Papi. And his OPS is over 1.000.

 

The 2003 Royals finished above .500. That's why people talked about them then.

 

Braun is the hands-down choice in the NL. And to think he had a late start to the season.

[Ray10]

I pick Pedroia easily. I think he's got a really solid chance of winning it this year.

[a700hitter]

He should run away with the award.

[SoxFan25]

Pedroia

[yankees228]

Pedroia is my clear favorite.

 

While Bannister is having a fine year, what's the argument?

"Without Bannister, we'd be WAY more than 17 games out of first place." - KC manager Buddy Bell

 

I think the ROY is clearly based on individual performance, and team performance should not be factored in.

[See Red]

I think the ROY is clearly based on individual performance' date=' and team performance should not be factored in.[/quote']

 

But it's also easier when there's no pressure. Dustin Pedroia is getting big at bats in a pennant race, when failure is more than just "oh well, we're 17 out anyway".

[yankees228]

But it's also easier when there's no pressure. Dustin Pedroia is getting big at bats in a pennant race' date=' when failure is more than just "oh well, we're 17 out anyway".[/quote']

 

My point still stands, where your team is in the standings should not effect the vote. On top of that, who's to stay that that is his attitude. There is no way to know that for sure what the players are thinking, so it shouldn't be factored into the equation in my opinion.

[See Red]

In my opinion, a rookie having success and being a key element, both offensively and defensively, to a team competing in a pennant race is more impressive than doing so in a looser atmosphere where there's no pressure at all and nobody outside of the organization cares.

[riverside sluggers]

I think the ROY is clearly based on individual performance' date=' and team performance should not be factored in.[/quote']

 

Ok still Pedroia is clearly having a ROY type of season. Yes Bannister was an unknown, but heck look at Pedroia. Last season he didnt have the best of debuts, the guys on WEEI , good number of fans (on this board as well) wrote this kid off before he had a chance. He started off the 2007 season with a sub mendoza average which led to fans imploring that Cora be subplanted as the everyday 2nd baseman. Since May 1 he's been batting close to .350! He's also one of the top defensive 2nd basemen in all of baseball

 

Just like the MVP, ROY tends to go more towards the every day players

[yankees228]

Ok still Pedroia is clearly having a ROY type of season. Yes Bannister was an unknown, but heck look at Pedroia. Last season he didnt have the best of debuts, the guys on WEEI , good number of fans (on this board as well) wrote this kid off before he had a chance. He started off the 2007 season with a sub mendoza average which led to fans imploring that Cora be subplanted as the everyday 2nd baseman. Since May 1 he's been batting close to .350! He's also one of the top defensive 2nd basemen in all of baseball

 

Just like the MVP, ROY tends to go more towards the every day players

 

I never said it should be Bannister. I was simply pointing out that I would discredit Bannister because he plays on a losing team.

[TheKilo]

Doesn't Matsuzaka have a higher VORP than Bannister anyways?

[yankees228]

Doesn't Matsuzaka have a higher VORP than Bannister anyways?

 

Yeah, I think Coco pointed that out on page one.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Not that I think VORP is the best way to compare SP, but Bannister has the lead on him now

[Taliesin]

I was patently wrong about Pedroia. I was one of those who thought he should be benched for Cora early in the season. There was cautious optimism w/ him because of his history, but I thought he needed more seasoning. Wrong. First to admit it and couldn't be happier. He's clearly the ROY in the AL. The same argument that goes for MVP (which by the way..the conventional arguments I do not adhere to ala: He doesn't play every day) will hold true here.

 

These awards in any case are subjective to the collective whims of a biased media and are sound and fury signifying zilch and nada. Like the MTV music awards w/ less pomp and less circumstance.

[Jim_Chandley]

Pedroia, easily. He has carried this team for 2 week stretches when almost no one else was hitting. He has had months where he was an MVP candidate. There can be no doubt. I also hope that the voters realize something; A Japanese import of Matsuzaka or Okajima's ages should not be considered if there is a comprable candidate that is younger and homegrown. Akinori Iwamura also should be removed from the discussion. Only in the absence of a player like Pedroia should one of those gentlemen be considered.

[das11209]

Makes sense guys?

 

Brad (St. Paul, NE): Who will win the AL ROY this year? Pedroia or Bannister?

 

Keith Law: (1:50 PM ET ) I think the Red Sox players split the votes - by VORP, Matsuzaka is actually ahead of Pedroia, and Okajima has a lot of media support - and Bannister wins. Jeremy Guthrie also deserves votes.

[ksushi]

Bannister won't log near 200 innings and even if he does, at his K-rate, he probably won't even strike out 100 batters. He has a nice ERA, but a lot of that can be random. Dice-K has had a way better season than Bannister has and if Dice-K wins it over Pedroia its a crock. Pedroia wins this award.

[das11209]

Bannister won't log near 200 innings and even if he does' date=' at his K-rate, he probably won't even strike out 100 batters. He has a nice ERA, but a lot of that can be random. Dice-K has had a way better season than Bannister has and if Dice-K wins it over Pedroia its a crock. Pedroia wins this award.[/quote']

 

I agree - but you may want to change that Cora for short stop - and Lugo for ball boy thing.

[riverside sluggers]

Makes sense guys?

 

Brad (St. Paul, NE): Who will win the AL ROY this year? Pedroia or Bannister?

 

Keith Law: (1:50 PM ET ) I think the Red Sox players split the votes - by VORP, Matsuzaka is actually ahead of Pedroia, and Okajima has a lot of media support - and Bannister wins. Jeremy Guthrie also deserves votes.

 

No it doesnt. Keith Law is one of the nation's sports writers I dont have respect for. Pedroia easily beats out Bannister

[MDF3530]

(Talksox's resident White Sox fan chiming in)

 

Josh Fields.

 

If I heard correctly, he's leading all AL rookies in HRs, BA, and OPS.

[Cocos Disciples]

I'm not feelin it. .238 average, .291 OBP, 104/23 K/BB ratio.

[riverside sluggers]

I'm not feelin it. .238 average' date=' .291 OBP, 104/23 K/BB ratio.[/quote']

 

Pedroia (118 games)- 142 for 432 (.329 avg) (.396 obp) (.451 slg) (.848 ops) 33 Doubles, Triple, 6 HRs, 45 RBIs, 71 Runs, 5 SBs, 5 errors--- 36/43 K/BB ratio

 

Fields (81 games)- 72 for 303 (.238 avg) (.291 obp) 12 Doubles, 18 HRs, 54 RBIs, 34 Runs, 1 SB, 8 errors

 

Yeaa, Boston fan aside, still say Pedroia is having the more worth ROY

[BoSox21]

his power numbers are nice but thats about it. Pedroia trumps him easily