Sunday, November 16, 2003
MLB "Awards"-ha!
MLB's awards have been released over the last week, and I don't know whether to laugh or cringe. Angel Berroa won the AL Rookie of the Year award, apparently because a few writers decided to redefine the meaning of a rookie. I wouldn't have necessarily chosen Hideki Matsui, but the reason given by several who left him off their ballots was that they don't think he should be considered a rookie. That's ok to think that, but to vote based on your own definition seems like the kind of thing that should get your voting privileges revoked. Matsui is a rookie by definition, and therefore is eligible for the award. Voters do not determine who is eligible, they pick the most worthy among eligible candidates.
In the NL, Dontrelle Willis was named Rookie of the Year, as expected. I enjoy watching Willis pitch, and I am totally aware of the excitement he generated in the Marlins surprisingly successful season. But the award is not "Most Exciting Rookie," or "Most Valuable Rookie on a winning team." As long as the award is called Rookie of the Year, I will interpret it as meaning the most productive rookie in a given season. I don't feel Willis was that player.
So who, in my expert opinion, should be the NL Rookie of the Year? Brandon Webb. Hands down. I'm aware that he had only a 10-9 record, which doesn't look too impressive compared to Willis's 14-6 mark. While Willis had a very good ERA (3.30), Webb's was significantly better (2.84). Webb allowed just 140 hits in 180.2 innings, while striking out 172. Willis pitched 20 fewer innings, but surrendered 8 more hits and struck out 30 fewer batters. Opponents hit .212 with a .295 OBA and .307 against Webb. Batters hit .245/.313/.385 against Willis.
Willis's numbers were very good, especially for a rookie. In no way do I wish to diminish his fine season. But I think Webb was clearly more effective. Willis won based on media hype and the overreliance on deceiving Win-Loss records. A look at past confirms this pattern in such awards, but I'm not any less disappointed.
How good do I think Brandon Webb was this season? Good enough to warrant consideration for NL CY Young, and certainly better than the winner of the NL CY Young Award. Eric Gagne undoubtedly had one of the best years for a reliever in recent memory. I can't criticize the performance of a player who had a .120 ERA, held opponents to a .372 OPS, struck out 14.98 batters per 9 innings, and converted every save opportunity. I can criticize the selection of him as the best pitcher in the National League.
Gagne threw just 82.1 innings. He appeared in 77 games, meaning he rarely threw more than one inning. Meanwhile, starters like Livan Hernandez, Javier Vazquez, Mark Prior, Kevin Brown and Jason Schmidt had excellent years and threw 233.1, 230.2, 211.1, 211, and 207.2 innings respectively.
Personally, I would have voted for Jason Schmidt, who led the NL with a 2.34 ERA, and struck out over a batter an inning (208) while allowing less than one baserunner per inning (.95 WHIP). Yet I wouldn't argue too strongly if one were to choose and of the pitchers I just mentioned. Though it makes him no more qualified for the award, it is amazing that Schmidt performed so well with a torn tendon in his arm. 2003 was clearly a career year, and it will be interesting to see if he can replicate his success in 2004. Regardless, I believe he is one of at least 6 candidates more qualified for the Nl Cy Young Award than Eric "This time it counts" Gagne.
Just as a quick note, I think they got the AL CY Young winner right. While Pedro Martinez is certainly the most dominant starter in the game, Roy Halladay threw 79.1 more innings, which arguably makes up for the 1.03 difference in ERA. I am surprised Halladay won in such a landslide however. My top 5 would have been Halladay, Martinez, Tim Hudson, Esteban Loaiza, and Jamie Moyer.
Also, I thought it slightly odd that Andy Pettite received several votes, while teammate Mike Mussina did not. And though I wouldn't have voted for him, I was glad to see that Johan Santana got some recognition for an excellent year.
I agree with both picks for Manager of the Year, and I'm just awaiting the announcement for MVP. In an earlier post (check the archives) I detailed the AL race, with Carlos Delgado my pick. I don't see how Barry Bonds wouldn't win in the NL...but we'll just have to wait and see.
More to come, so check back soon.
MLB's awards have been released over the last week, and I don't know whether to laugh or cringe. Angel Berroa won the AL Rookie of the Year award, apparently because a few writers decided to redefine the meaning of a rookie. I wouldn't have necessarily chosen Hideki Matsui, but the reason given by several who left him off their ballots was that they don't think he should be considered a rookie. That's ok to think that, but to vote based on your own definition seems like the kind of thing that should get your voting privileges revoked. Matsui is a rookie by definition, and therefore is eligible for the award. Voters do not determine who is eligible, they pick the most worthy among eligible candidates.
In the NL, Dontrelle Willis was named Rookie of the Year, as expected. I enjoy watching Willis pitch, and I am totally aware of the excitement he generated in the Marlins surprisingly successful season. But the award is not "Most Exciting Rookie," or "Most Valuable Rookie on a winning team." As long as the award is called Rookie of the Year, I will interpret it as meaning the most productive rookie in a given season. I don't feel Willis was that player.
So who, in my expert opinion, should be the NL Rookie of the Year? Brandon Webb. Hands down. I'm aware that he had only a 10-9 record, which doesn't look too impressive compared to Willis's 14-6 mark. While Willis had a very good ERA (3.30), Webb's was significantly better (2.84). Webb allowed just 140 hits in 180.2 innings, while striking out 172. Willis pitched 20 fewer innings, but surrendered 8 more hits and struck out 30 fewer batters. Opponents hit .212 with a .295 OBA and .307 against Webb. Batters hit .245/.313/.385 against Willis.
Willis's numbers were very good, especially for a rookie. In no way do I wish to diminish his fine season. But I think Webb was clearly more effective. Willis won based on media hype and the overreliance on deceiving Win-Loss records. A look at past confirms this pattern in such awards, but I'm not any less disappointed.
How good do I think Brandon Webb was this season? Good enough to warrant consideration for NL CY Young, and certainly better than the winner of the NL CY Young Award. Eric Gagne undoubtedly had one of the best years for a reliever in recent memory. I can't criticize the performance of a player who had a .120 ERA, held opponents to a .372 OPS, struck out 14.98 batters per 9 innings, and converted every save opportunity. I can criticize the selection of him as the best pitcher in the National League.
Gagne threw just 82.1 innings. He appeared in 77 games, meaning he rarely threw more than one inning. Meanwhile, starters like Livan Hernandez, Javier Vazquez, Mark Prior, Kevin Brown and Jason Schmidt had excellent years and threw 233.1, 230.2, 211.1, 211, and 207.2 innings respectively.
Personally, I would have voted for Jason Schmidt, who led the NL with a 2.34 ERA, and struck out over a batter an inning (208) while allowing less than one baserunner per inning (.95 WHIP). Yet I wouldn't argue too strongly if one were to choose and of the pitchers I just mentioned. Though it makes him no more qualified for the award, it is amazing that Schmidt performed so well with a torn tendon in his arm. 2003 was clearly a career year, and it will be interesting to see if he can replicate his success in 2004. Regardless, I believe he is one of at least 6 candidates more qualified for the Nl Cy Young Award than Eric "This time it counts" Gagne.
Just as a quick note, I think they got the AL CY Young winner right. While Pedro Martinez is certainly the most dominant starter in the game, Roy Halladay threw 79.1 more innings, which arguably makes up for the 1.03 difference in ERA. I am surprised Halladay won in such a landslide however. My top 5 would have been Halladay, Martinez, Tim Hudson, Esteban Loaiza, and Jamie Moyer.
Also, I thought it slightly odd that Andy Pettite received several votes, while teammate Mike Mussina did not. And though I wouldn't have voted for him, I was glad to see that Johan Santana got some recognition for an excellent year.
I agree with both picks for Manager of the Year, and I'm just awaiting the announcement for MVP. In an earlier post (check the archives) I detailed the AL race, with Carlos Delgado my pick. I don't see how Barry Bonds wouldn't win in the NL...but we'll just have to wait and see.
More to come, so check back soon.
