Andrew Bailey and Chris Coghlan win the AL and NL Jackie Robinson Award for Rookie of the Year respectively. I have to say I’m quite surprised by both picks. Bailey, as a relief pitcher simply did not play that much. I had Andrus, Anderson and Beckham ahead of Bailey, and probably would have voted for Niemann ahead of him as well. I don’t think it’s a poor pick, it’s just that relievers have a long way to go to live up to the amount of time starters and position players put in.
In the NL, I had the same top three as the BBWAA voters, just in a different order, Coghlan third. I am glad they voted Happ in front of Hanson. That’s one place where I differ strongly from my internet counterparts. Hanson won in both the IBWAA poll and the SBN poll. Like Baily, Coghlan hit very well in 2009, although he lacked power. Happ, however, pitched very well both out of the pen and when the Phillies needed a starter. He’s one of the big reasons Philadelphia made it to the playoffs this season.
Congratulations to both Andrew Bailey and Chris Coghlan on their outstanding rookie seasons!
Posted by David Pinto at 4:01 pm | Awards | Permalink | 3 Comments
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November 16th, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
You’d vote for Niemann ahead of Bailey, but not Rick Porcello? Porcello compared quite favorably to Niemann. He had 1 more win, slightly higher ERA (3.96 vs 3.94), and slightly lower WHIP (1.33 vs 1.35) while at a much younger age and throwing in a tighter race down the stretch.
November 17th, 2009 @ 12:01 am
Regarding your view that ‘relievers have a long way to go’, I see in BR that in 2005 Huston Street won in the same role while pitching fewer innings, 78.1, than Bailey who pitched 83.1. There were other deserving AL rookies this year, it is true. They made compelling cases for themselves for reasons other than the number of innings in which they appeared.
November 17th, 2009 @ 7:57 am
Niemann pitched in a tougher park and was more consistent during the season.