Had voting for the National League Rookie of the Year award taken place on August 20, Stephen Strasburg might well have won.
Of course, the actual voting by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America took place right at the conclusion of the regular season, well after Strasburg had undergone Tommy John surgery. Thus, the Nats' young pitching stud fell back in the pack to a deep and talented rookie class that included Buster Posey and Jason Heyward, among others.
Way back in the pack.
The BBWAA just revealed the balloting for both the NL and AL awards. Posey, with 129 points, beat out Heyward (107) to win the NL award. Seven other players received votes: Jaime Garcia, Gaby Sanchez, Neil Walker, Starlin Castro, Ike Davis, Jose Tabata and Jonny Venters.
You'll notice Strasburg's name appears nowhere on that list. Thus, in the end, he wasn't even considered one of the top nine NL rookies this season. While I'm a little surprised at that, I'm not completely shocked. Writers only list three players per ballot, so Strasburg would have had to be considered the third-best NL rookie by someone to receive any votes at all. Given that he only pitched in 12 games over a 2 1/2-month span, it's understandable he didn't crack anyone's top three.
For those who don't know, two BBWAA members from each NL city vote for each of the organization's four season awards (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year). I did have a vote in one of the categories, but not this one. I'll reveal mine once it is announced.
Neftali Feliz, by the way, easily won AL Rookie of the Year honors. Austin Jackson finished second, with Danny Valencia third. Four other players got votes: Wade Davis, John Jaso, Brennan Boesch and Brian Matusz.
14 comments:
I was surprised until I checked Tabata and Walker's stats. Pretty impressive youngsters for Pirates, combined with their CF and another IF prospect, Pirates are not as bad as everyone tends to think. Pitching is where they lack.
Anyways, SS didn't deserve any votes since there were so many rookies who lasted more than he did.
Posey deserved it so glad he rightfully got it.
Strasburg didn't deserve the award but I would have bet he had gotten some votes so I was wrong there.
I always like these ROY votes as some of the winners go on to be busts although in recent times those ROY players have had fairly good runs.
The last outright disappointments looks like in the NL Jason Jennings or Dontrelle Willis and the unanimous winner in the AL would be Angel Berroa.
I may have said Geovany Soto who had a horrible sophomore year but he picked it back up last year.
NL ROY - Strasburg did not deserve a vote given he barely played. I would have thought the Posey-Heyward race would have been closer but SF made it further along (not that it is part of the criteria but it does matter in the unwritten criteria of most awards)
AL ROY - I would have given it to Jackson.
Anon @ 3:25. I think the votes are cast on the last day of the regular season so at that point Atlanta was the Wild Card and SanFran was the NL West winners so what they did in the Post Season had no influence on the voting.
I realize Desmond had way too many errors but I have a hard time thinking he was not one of the top nine rookies. I would think someone might have him in their top 3 but I guess that is the fate of being on a team that does not get a lot of ink. I am thinking that if we had contended for the wild card (quite a dream but let me dream) he would have a much better shot at his 2nd gold glove. Again, I am not pushing Desmond for any awards but I think he did have a rookie year worth noting. Now just cut the errors by 50% and we will really have something.
Steve M. you are correct. Votes are done prior to the post season.
sjm you have to realize it was a deep field in the National League this year. Posey and Heyward were probably on just about every voting ballot in either first, second or third. So that really leaves only one vote for the field. I agree with you, he had a fine year and has to cut down on the errors, but it was a tough year for him to get any sort of recognition.
Congrats to Posey! That kid is going to be around for a while. Not only is he a good hitter, it looks like he can handle pitchers, and toss out a few base runners.
It was a deep field for rookies in the NL this year - Strasburg came into the League late, and burned out quickly. I'm more suprised that Mike Leake didn't get a vote than I am that Strasburg recieved short shrift.
Buster Posey is just amazing. The more I think about it, the Nationals are being very short sighted, but not starting Harper as a catcher. When you can get a plus defender and a great hitter at a position like catcher, you do it. If the Nationals other cather prospects do pan out, then you think about changing his position, but not now.
That my two cents.
Almost every catcher who is a really great hitter is eventually shifted to another position so that his bat doesn't have to come out of the lineup on the many off days that catchers require and so that his body doesn't undergo the beating that catching entails. The Twins are talking about doing it with Mauer, and there is already talk of the Giants doing it with Posey. If Harper is as good a hitter as he is projected to be, then there's no reason the Nats should waste time making him a catcher. Catcher is a defense-first position. Any offense that happens to come out of there is secondary. You don't play your biggest offensive stud at catcher.
Feel Wood is absolutely correct. Were Harper a junior coming out of college as a catcher things would be different but since he's actually a senior in high school, the Nats are doing the right thing.
Tcostant, catching kills your foot speed over time and the wear and tear catches up with most players at the position of catcher.
Bryce Harper will be more valuable long term at RF; however, the Nats will most likely control him only for 6 years so should they really be concerned about his long term viability?
Tough call. I think with Ramos in Nats control also for 6 years and the ability to get Bryce Harper quicker to the Major League level at RF vs. Catcher then Rizzo probably made the right call.
Guys - you are missing the point. Getting power from the catcher position, gives a team an advantage. You right most teams don't have that, so advantage Nats. As for shifting position later, if we have a solid young catcher, fine than do it. But these guys are just prospects (Norris and Ramos) or an injury come back long shot (Flores).
As for the ML clock starting later, who cares? You want the best overall player when he is ready, and that would be as a catcher. You still get 6 + years once he arrives, before he is free to go elsewhere. Who cares if the Yankees get a bad year or two at the end of his career, because he caught early in career?
What I said, is dead on. Changing his position now, is short sighted in order to get him to the majors sooner, so you can all spend you on jerseys and the like.
Really, who cares (I guess some do) if SS is considered for ROY or made ROY. He still is going to pitch how he is going to pitch. His quality or lack of it won't change. Let's just hope he can come back from his operation. If not, well we are used to last place anyway.
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