Do the Bus a Bus
Rookie of the Year Awards are out – in the NL, the Giants’ Buster Posey beat out Jason Heyward for the prize, while Neftali Feliz takes home the honors in the American League.
I’m okay with these picks – there’s a very good argument to be made for Heyward, who had more time in the majors, but I think I give Posey the edge for coming in as a rookie catcher and handling the Giants’ staff beautifully. And Feliz over Jackson is tough because he’s a reliever, whereas ex-Yankee Austin Jackson played every day for Detroit, but I think Feliz is the more impressive player.
Also, of course, he has the better name. So.
What do you guys think? Let’s hear it for the kids…
Outside of Edinson Volquez getting votes again, they would have had a real hard time making a bad choice.
Austin did fade a bit towards the end, and he probably split votes with Brendan Boesch. But I'd have gone with Austin -- played every day.
[2] Definitely a fair argument. The RoY qualifications are a little vague - does it mean the most valuable player to their team (and then of course, what does THAT even mean, exactly)? Or the best player, period? Or just the most impressive debut season?
Austin Jackson was almost certainly more valuable (as an above-average position player will always be worth more than an above-average reliever). So I wouldn't have had any problem with him winning - but I guess I feel like Feliz is more impressive as a reliever than Jackson is as an outfielder.
Not sure if that makes a lick of sense.
[3] But isn't it a matter of degree?
Posey had a OPS+ of 129, outstanding for a Catcher, and even more so for a rookie.
Jackson had an OPS+ of 102. That's certainly nice for a Rookie, to be 'above average', but that's not that FAR above average.
Neftali Feliz had an ERA+ of 183 and a WHIP of 0.817. Even for a Reliever, that is well above average, bordering on elite.
Hey Emma .... Posey wins the ROY, and the representative picture of him is one apparently losing his bat in the stands?
(j/k)
[3] Fair argument either way.
Now, on to Al MVP -- Hamilton or Cano?