Hideo Nomo Has a Posse

The award’s interesting to me, historically, as it’s awash with folks who either lead middling careers (Eric Karros, Eric Hinske) and others who dropped out entirely (Ben Grieve) so perhaps like the Heisman, I wouldn’t say it’s a great predictor of future success, but it always generates excitement.

2009′s Rookie of the Year awards were handed out today to Andrew Bailey in the AL and Chris Coghlan in the NL. I’ve got nothing much to say on the latter: I liked Tommy Hanson because I like pitchers and thought he demonstrated brilliance and OK, let’s be honest, I don’t think I saw but an inning or two of the Marlins. Did anyone? Did Marlin fans? Hanson, however, still finished second to JA Happ: Happ had a smidgin more strikeouts (119 to 116) but in far more innings (166 to 127.2), giving Hanson the better K/9 rate at 8.2. Hanson also posted a smaller WHIP. So, whatever, the awards aren’t science, they are awarded by old men who write words for a living. About baseball. Lucky bastards.

HOWEVER, Bailey over Elvis Andrus? That’s something else. Baily became Oakland’s closer, saving 26 of 30 opportunities, striking out 9.8 per nine innings, which puts him only 12th of any closer with more than 20 saves. Great stuff for a rookie, but  he’s no Andrus.

Andrus lead all AL rookies in hits (128), runs (72), triples (8), total bases (179), and stolen bases (33) despite somehow earning a reputation of being less than stellar with his bat. And he absolutely shone brilliantly with the glove: third among all shortstops with a 10.7 UZR, playing in 150 games. I’m not sure how you choose Andrew Bailey over Elvis Andrus.

Tomorrow is the AL Cy Young. There shouldn’t be any competition. It should go to Zack Greinke. I love Felix Hernandez to death but there’s no argument for either him or CC Sabathia, not against Greinke’s 2009. ¶