I like it and I don't like it that MLB is now doing a week of postseason awards shows where they present both the American and National League versions of an award on the same day in a show broadcast on MLB Network. I like it that they've made it more of an event and that they award the same award twice on the same day. But what I don't like is that they also announce the finalists for these awards ahead of time. That takes some of the fun out of projecting these awards away.
Regardless, the fun starts on Monday with the announcement of the Rookies of the Year. I think the AL winner is pretty clear, but the NL race is going to be a close one. Jose Fernandez and Yasiel Puig both had sensational rookie seasons. With that in mind, let's start in the National League.
The third finalist is Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller. Miller earned a spot in the Cardinals' rotation out of Spring Training and ended up winning 15 games for the NL champions. Although, he was nowhere to be seen in the postseason, when another Cardinals rookie starter--Michael Wacha--took over the spotlight. Miller had a fine season, but he's going to finish third. Even he knows that. This is a two-man race.
No rookie in either league made a bigger impact than Yasiel Puig. When he was called up in June (as an injury replacement for Matt Kemp), the Dodgers were a high-priced, underachieving last-place team that was about to fire their manager. Then Puig arrived on the scene and LA took off. And so did Puigmania. He was simply sensational in helping the turnaround that ended up with the Dodgers playing in the NLCS. Last year we had two rookie sensations, and both Mike Trout and Bryce Harper ran away with the award. This year's rookie sensation was clearly Yasiel Puig. Puig would be my choice for the award.
However, I don't have an NL Rookie of the Year vote. And I think the guys that do voted for somebody else. I think the winner will be the Marlins' Jose Fernandez. Fernandez had a 2.19 ERA and went 12-6 for a Marlins team that was above .500 when he pitched and something like 40-90 when he didn't. He's something else. And it's fun to watch him pitch. I was convinced that Puig was going to be the winner until they announced the finalists last week. Fernandez is also a finalist for the Cy Young. While there's no way he wins that, the fact that he's a finalist is what leads me to believe Fernandez won Rookie of the Year over Puig. And he would definitely be a worthy winner.
There's a pretty good chance both Rookies of the Year will be from the State of Florida. One of the reasons the Rays manage to be competitive year after year is the strength of their farm system and the contributions they get from younger players. This year was no different, which is how the Rays landed two Rookie of the Year finalists.
One of those finalists is Wil Myers, who's my pick to win. Myers was the best everyday player in a rookie lot that wasn't really super impressive. Like Puig, he wasn't called up until midway through the season. But Myers sure made an impact once he landed in the Bigs in June. He hit .293 with 13 home runs and led all AL rookies with 53 RBIs while holding down right field for the Rays. Joe Maddon showed so much confidence in him at the plate that Myers was often batting either second or fourth on either side of Evan Longoria. The only thing that might be held against him is that he didn't join the team until June, but that can also work in his favor. Because the Rays were a much better and much more complete team once Wil Myers joined the roster.
Tampa Bay's other finalist is starter Chris Archer. Archer tossed two shutouts (which I think were both against the Yankees, they couldn't buy a hit off him all season) and had the best rookie ERA in the American League. Of course, the Rays are built on their young pitching. Jeremy Hellickson has already won this award and David Price is a Cy Young winner. Archer's the latest guy to join that list. But if given my choice of Rays rookies, I'm taking Myers over Archer.
Rounding out the list is Jose Iglesias, the guy who made Jhonny Peralta expendable in Detroit. He started the year in Boston, playing third base when Will Middlebrooks was injured, then was sent to the Tigers in that three-team trade that sent Jake Peavy to Boston. That deal worked out for both teams, as Detroit found its shortstop of the future and Boston won the World Series (beating the Tigers in the ALCS in the process). Iglesias has an impressive glove and did OK with the bat, hitting a combined .303. He's got a nice-looking career ahead of him.
If I had a vote, my selections would be Yasiel Puig and Wil Myers. I don't think they'll be the two winners, though. I think Myers wins in the AL, but in the NL, I'm going with Jose Fernandez. (For the record, my vote would be: NL-1. Puig, 2. Fernandez, 3. Miller; AL-1. Myers, 2. Iglesias, 3. Archer).
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