Posey, Feliz named Rookies of the Year

November 15, 2010 by Mike Axisa 82 Comments

Buster Posey of the Giants and Neftali Feliz of the Rangers were named the Rookie of the Year in their respective leagues this afternoon. Posey, who racked up a .368 wOBA and 3.9 fWAR in 108 games, narrowly beat out Jason Heyward of the Braves for the award (129-107 voting). Feliz, 2.96 FIP and 1.7 fWAR in 70 appearances, edged former Yankee farmhand Austin Jackson for the AL crown (122-98). A-Jax received eight first place votes, and no Yankees appeared on the ballot. I’m not even sure who would have been a candidate. Maybe Ivan Nova? Yikes.

Anyway, congrats to Posey and Feliz.

http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig

Good choices. I’m glad AJax didn’t win, simply because I wouldn’t be able to deal with the zomg cash is teh sux0r posts.
- vin
  
  There’s still hope for Arodys. Not sure if Dunn will qualify next year.
pat

Law was tweeting that three people voted for someone other than Posey or Heyward for NL Roy and one person didn’t have Posey on their ballot at all.
- eckss
  
  Nothing surprises me about the bullshit voting anymore.
http://twitter.com/Mattpat11 Matt DiBari

I’m just impressed that the BBWAA finally ditched the neon green website
http://www.secondavenuesagas.com Benjamin Kabak

True story: Someone left Posey off his ballot entirely. And somehow Gaby Sanchez got two first place votes while Jaime Garcia received one. It’s awfully hard to take the BBWAA seriously when they pull those sorts of shenanigans. I guess there’s hope for CC’s Cy Young Award yet.

Meanwhile, I fully expect Jesus Montero to win the 2011 ROY. Hello, high expectations.
- http://www.twitter.com/jordansmed JGS
  
  Someone left Heyward off entirely too. Both of them were only named on 31 ballots.
- ZZ
  
  Who do you think will be Montero’s biggest competition next year?
  - http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno
    
    Edinson Volquez.
    - vin
      
      How about Montero for Volquez? I just blew everyone’s mind.
      - http://www.twitter.com/jordansmed JGS
        
        Other than the awesomeness on Volquez’s part to be able to say he was traded up front for both Josh Hamilton and Jesus Montero…no.
  - Ghost of Scott Brosius
    
    The Anti-christ.
  - http://www.secondavenuesagas.com Benjamin Kabak
    
    That’s a good question. I’m not sure which top prospects will get that shot, but Hellickson and Desmond Jennings are two that come to mind.
    - JobaWockeeZ
      
      Carlos Santana if he’s eligible.
      - ZZ
        
        That’s a good one, but I don’t think he is eligible. IIRC 130 at bats is the limit and he had 150 this year.
        
        http://www.twitter.com/jordansmed JGS
        
        Either that or days on the active roster, and I think DL days count for that.
      - Avi
        
        Carlos Santana not eligible. He’s over the 130 AB’s
    - ZZ
      
      Yeah, I had Hellickson and Jennings in mind and couldn’t really come up with anyone else. Personally though I am not nearly as high on Jennings as the consensus, but he is probably one of the pre season favorites as of today.
    - Avi
      
      I would add Mike Moustakas of KC, big time power hitting 3rd baseman. Other guys that have a shot? Eric Hosmer (1B,KC) Kyle Drabek, Jake McGee (tampa) if he closes for them, Chris Sale (wht sox).
      Montero has as good a shot as anyone and will prob be the favorite.
      But of course no one stands a chance to win the ROY, MVP or Cy Young if Casey Kelly is promoted.
      - ZZ
        
        You think Hosmer spends significant time in the majors next year? I’m not sure.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        I agree, 2012 seems like a more likely ETA.
        
        But if there’s anyone capable of bullying his way into the bigs, it’s Hosmer. When they’re 20 games out by July, I wouldn’t be that shocked if they moved Billy Butler and/or Ka’aihue to teams desperate for a bat and kickstarted the Moose/Hosmer era.
        
        Avi
        
        Could be. He raked at double A and was named KC’s Best prospect in baseball’s best farm system by BA today (Hosmer). It Would be foolish to count him out.
      - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        I was just about to say Moustakas. It’ll depend on how early they bring him up, but he’s in the upper tier of ROY prospects.
        
        Likely:
        Montero
        Moustakas
        Hellickson
        Jennings
        
        Dark Horses:
        Tanner Scheppers
        Michael Pineda
        Chris Carter
        J.P. Arencibia
        Zack Britton
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        Oh, and Dustin Ackley. He’ll be starting for the M’s by July at the latest, in all likelihood.
        
        Avi
        
        Good Dark Horses.
        I loved Scheppers last year (very hard throwing righty reliver, TX) but he fell off really badly in the second half.
        
        ZZ
        
        Good list.
        
        Darkest Horse: Andrew Brackmonster
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        Darkest Horse: Eduardo Nuñez
        
        http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig
        
        That’s racist.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        I was going to go with that initially (in response to the Brackman dark horse comment), but I wanted to get the Nuñez reference in there.
        
        http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig
        
        high five.
        
        http://twitter.com/joero23 The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        Elaine: (To Jerry) You couldn’t just give him one high-five?
        
        Jerry: And where does it end? Then, everyone’s doin’ it. It’s like the wave at ball games. Air quotes. The phrase, “Don’t go there.” – Someone’s gotta take a stand!
        
        George: (Munching on a hamburger) This Arby’s is good.
        
        http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
        
        Oh why don’t they just give it to Hellickson already?
        
        Thomas
        
        Historically, starting pitchers haven’t won the ROY as much, likely due to not playing everyday.
        
        http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
        
        Agreed. ‘Twas a joke though, but poorly played by me because I forgot the /Bret’d part. =P
        
        Thomas
        
        Aaaah.
        
        http://www.twitter.com/jordansmed JGS
        
        Historically, starting pitchers haven’t won the ROY as much, likely due to not playing everyday.
        
        Last AL pitcher to win was Verlander in 2006, but before him yo uhave to go back to Righetti in 1981.
        
        Chris in Maine
        
        Pretty sure Gre Olsen won ROY for Baltimore as a closer in 1989
        
        Chris in Maine
        
        I meant Gregg Olson.
    - kosmo
      
      Chris Sale ?
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    Casey Kelly. He’ll win the MVP too.
    - Reggie C.
      
      As a shortstop no less.
      - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        Kelly will play SP, RP, closer, SS, and DH, all simultaneously. Every day, for the next 30 years, shattering Ripken’s record.
        
        Selig has announced the creation of a new position for Kelly to reflect his all-encompassing greatness: DW.
        
        Designated Winner.
        
        Thomas
        
        Every day, for the next 30 years
        
        Not even off days can stop Kelly from kicking ass on the diamond.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        FACT: Casey Kelly lead the 2010 IL in outfield assists, despite not playing in the outfield.
        
        Avi
        
        Or DH, as in Designated Hype.
  - Reggie C.
    
    Ben nailed the guy I think will win the AL ROY nxt season.
    Jeremy Hellickson. Jennings i expect will struggle at the plate for long stretches and it’ll kill his candidacy. BBWA wont care if Jennings put up a +20 UZR.
    
    NL ROY will be … Jennry Mejia?
    - http://www.twitter.com/jordansmed JGS
      
      Pretty sure Mejia isn’t eligible. He spent way too many days on the roster.
    - Thomas
      
      I think Domonic Brown has to be the front runner for NL ROY.
      - Avi
        
        My money is on the guy that throws 105.1 MPH
        
        http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig
        
        If his arm is still attached by the end of the year I’ll be surprised.
        
        Avi
        
        Something tells me he’s gonna stay healthy. He’s very long and lanky and to me it looks like he’s built to throw that hard more than say a Strasburg.
        
        http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig
        
        Two words:
        
        Dusty Baker
        
        Avi
        
        Ooh, Strong comeback. The abusive one. You’re absolutely right.
        Dusty has to be a huge source of concern for Chapman’s future.
        
        Thomas
        
        I don’t think so.
        
        Chapman will be limited by either his role or the minors. If Chapman stays as a reliever, he won’t pick up the stats, since he likely won’t close over Cordero. If he starts, he’ll probably spend some time in the minors (if not the majority of the season). If he doesn’t start in the minors (and even if he does), his lack of secondary pitches and command will probably limit his success as a rookie starter. Also starters rarely win ROY.
- vin
  
  I don’t necessarily have a huge problem with Garcia receiving a 1st place vote. It’s always impressive when a rookie pitcher can perform as well as he did (even if its not necessarily sustainable). But Gaby Sanchez over Posey and Heyward (and Garcia) is crazy.
http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama

Heyward and Posey were both on 31/32 ballots. That means someone didn’t vote for one of them on one ballot. Wut

(Also I pretty firmly believe Heyward should’ve won, and I’m fully expecting someone to bust out the “but the Giants wouldn’t have made the playoffs without him!” explanation to defend voting for Posey over Heyward. But Posey is still a very good choice.)
- http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig
  
  Couldn’t go wrong with Posey or Heyward.
  - http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
    
    Agreed. But if someone says “the Giants wouldn’t have made the playoffs without Posey” to explain why they voted Posey over Heyward, well that is dumb. (Also, vice-versa. But I saw a lot of that argument for Posey, and none of it for Heyward)
  - Avi
    
    It would be nice if one of the reasons these guys voted for Posey over Heyward is positional value.
Spencer

Don’t forget another Yankees farmhand, “Crazy” Jose Tabata also received ROY votes. He did have a good year with the Pirates.
- http://www.twitter.com/jordansmed JGS
  
  I thought his wife was the crazy one.
  - http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig
    
    She steals babies if I’m not mistaken
Spencer

True. She is a nut and about 20 years older than him. He also stormed off the Riverdogs and went home one day after striking out.
But I’d rather have him in the Yankees farm than Damaso Marte on the shelf.
- pat
  
  Isn’t hindsight grand?
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  Welcome aboard. Please use the reply button, it helps keep the conversations organized. Thanks in advance.
Monteroisdinero

Meh. Posey can’t carry Montero’s jockstrap. Jesus-a man among boys.
http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama

The guy who didn’t vote for Heyward was from Pittsburgh and voted for Posey, Neil Walker, and Tabata. lol
- http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig
  
  Reminds me of the 2007 MVP voting. Everyone but 2 Detroit voters voted for A-Rod. Claiming they saw Magglio play every day and he was more valuable than Arod. (not verbatim)
  - Johnny O
    
    Or you have the guys who didn’t vote for Godzilla for ROY because they self-righteously felt they could change the rules.
    
    /BBRAA’d
ROBTEN

Whatever one thinks about the vote, I’m glad to see that the BBWAA is finally recognizing the contribution of zombies by voting for Ike Davis, who just recently turned a youthful 26 years dead.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2010.shtml#NLroy

(Hopefully the glitch is not fixed in the time it takes to write this.)
- http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig
  
  LOL awesome.
- http://danielslifka.wordpress.com Jerome S
  
  http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davisik02.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker&utm_campaign=Linker
  - http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig
    
    oh they fixed it. Darn.
    
    This was the original link:
    http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davisik01.shtml
    - MikeD
      
      If they fixed it, they unfixed it again. As of 9pm, old-man Ike is still the link…and still 26 years dead. Maybe it was meant as a joke all along.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  Clearly, Ike Davis has old man name skills.
- JAG
  
  Hey, if he did anything of note after having been cremated for half a century, I’d vote for him to win anything he’s eligible for.
http://yanksgoyard.com Andy_C_23

Has there ever been a year before where the two ROY winners were from the World Series teams?
- http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
  
  1981 (Valenzuela and Righetti) and 1951 (Mays and McDougald)
  - http://yanksgoyard.com Andy_C_23
    
    Thanks!! Much appreciated.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    You left out:
    
    2011 (Jesus Montero and Domonic Brown)
    2012 (Manny Banuelos and Rex Brothers)
    2013 (Graham Stoneburner and Donovan Tate)
    2014 (Cito Culver and Bryce Harper)
Big Stein

Democracy is overrated.
- Sweet Dick Willie
  
  “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”
  
  Sir Winston Churchill