NL ROY

With four weeks left, Ramirez has pushed ahead for me. Wonderful offensive numbers in addition to great defense.

103 R
13 HRs
49 RBI
44 SB

.287 BA
.814 OPS

 

Hanley's been tremendous; did not think he'd hit for power so soon.

I'm going with Zimmerman, though: Good offensive numbers (particularly doubles, RBIs) in a horrible ballpark/lineup. Defense isn't bad at third, either.

Fanboy pick, er, runner-up: Ronny Paulino, Pittsburgh

 

Marlins ballpark is a worse hitters park.

Unlike MVP, I DO believe rookies contributing to a playoff drive should get extra consideration. To succeed in the crucible your first time through is pretty incredible.

Fielder folded like a pup tent as Milwaukee collapsed, and Ethier, to me, doesn't have the at-bats... though you are right, at this moment, they should be options other than Olsen and Willingham.

Zimmerman? OPS is a mere .15 better than Hanley, Ramirez plays a tougher position.

Oh, and then you have to toss in the SBs at some point.

 

Are you saying MVP votes SHOULDN'T take playoff position/drives into account, but ROY votes SHOULD?

 

Cubs SS Ronny Cedeno.

 

Good choice, but ...

... that's damning him with faint praise. Zimmerman is already one of the best defensive third basemen to ever take the field. He has made plays this season which just have not been seen before.

 

Forgot to use the sarcasm font, shot. He's fantastic over there.

I'm just shocked he lasted until the fourth overall pick last year. I'd much rather have Zimmerman than Alex Gordon -- a fine prospect in his own right -- the next 5-7 years.

 

Great. Just great. Now I feel stupid, and it's all your fault.

 

I wrote that poorly.

I meant that I would give it greater weight for a rookie.

 

Great crop of rookies.

I'll add one more name to the list: St. Louis Cardinals OF Chris Duncan.

In 66 games, Duncan is hitting .323 with 15 home runs, 31 RBIs and 45 runs scored.

I don't think he deserves the award more than Hanley Ramirez or Ryan Zimmerman, but he should be somewhere in the conversation. If he's able to finish the season strong, he could end up with good numbers and make sure the Cardinals win the NL Central.

 

Just not enough at-bats to compete with this crew, I feel.

Also, his largely platoon status, mentioned on another thread, hurts him too.