You might have noticed I didn’t post yesterday. Today might be a little light as well. Work and life just getting the better of me right now, hopefully we’ll get back to normal soon.
Just to remind you, though, the MLB season is coming to a close, and several of our rookies (see sidebar) are in dogfights to make the playoffs. Not the Devil Rays guys, of course, but the rest of them. Pedroia is in, but Braun’s Brewers are starting to falter. C.B. Young and Kouzmanoff are battling to see which can take the division – leaving the wild card to the other. Unless, of course, the Rockies and T3 add to their epic ten-win streak and snake it away. Whichever scenario happens, we’ll be able to root for at least one of these guys, maybe two. Of course, the whole Phillies/Mets drama could derail that, but I’m being optimistic.
Sadly, Josh Hamilton is injured and will be out for the rest of the season, but his numbers while healthy were admirable indeed. Pence was a stud for Houston, but the team was so bad, most of his effort was completely wasted – very few runs or RBIs despite all of the hitting he did.
I’ll keep an eye on the race this week, and when the season is over and all stats are in, I’ll check out which rook won each category we tracked this year.
I’ll be shocked if Braun doesn’t win the NL ROY. Much like Phat Albert in 2001, he came out of nowhere. Plus it helps that the Brew Crew are in the playoff race. Tulowitzki won’t win it because he’s in Colorado; Kouzmanoff and Young are on the Left Coast; and the Astros and Reds are awful, so that counts out Pence and Hamilton.
So will I, Bruce. Though I will say, the NL all around has had some incredible challengers for that honor. But nobody can approach the actual value of what Braun is doing – he’s scored more often and driven in more runs by virtue of his teammates doing their jobs as well.
That said, I’d love to have a chance to see more of these young guys play, and the playoffs may be my only chance right now.
There are going to be some pretty big prospect bats coming out that may see the light of the Majors next season. If not right out of spring training, then they will at some point in the season. I’m not so sure any will burst on to the scene like Braun, but there will be some noise that will be made.
Oh, and since you like my prospect info, here’s a couple of college hitters to keep your eye on that will be top 5 in next year’s draft (in case you haven’t heard of them yet):
Kyle Russell, Texas and Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt
You think I’ve forgotten about your Rockie-affection? Hardly. I have no love for Diamondbacks or Padres. How about a continuation of their already-crazy winning streak, and some bombing out by the Pads? We’ll meet you in October.
For the stupid Extra P/TC bet potential alone, it has to happen.