tigerkid23
11-02-2006, 03:33 PM
Apparently, the Rookie of the Year wasn't Verlander. It wasn't Papelbon. It wasn't even Liriano. It was Kenji Johjima, the 31 year old catcher who had a very good season, but not as good as the ones JV, Papelbon, and Liriano had. What a joke.
Of all the awards available each Major League season, only one of them is a one-time deal.
Every player has just one chance in his MLB career to be selected Rookie of the Year. And based on what has happened this season, the American League has several talented first-year players. Choosing just one of them as the best would be difficult, at best.
Some terrific young arms emerged from Spring Training and dominated big-league hitters throughout the season. Also, a few first-year position players, including the first catcher from Japan to test his wares in the Majors, opened some eyes with steady bat work.
The scuttlebutt when Kenji Johjima signed with the Seattle Mariners last November after an 11-year career with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks was that a language barrier might be too much for him to overcome.
But communication wasn't an issue. He learned enough English and Spanish to communicate with the pitchers, and performed well on offense, making him a candidate to become the third Japanese-born player to capture the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Previously, former Mariners reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki (2000) and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (2001) won the award.
In the 57 years that the AL has presented what is now called the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, only three catchers -- Thurman Munson in 1970, Carlton Fisk in 1972 and Sandy Alomar Jr. in 1990 -- have won it.
The qualifications for rookie status are simple: A player must not have had 130 career at-bats, pitched 50 innings, or spent 45 days (excluding September) on an MLB roster.
Some great players, like Pete Rose in 1963 and Cal Ripken Jr., in '82, became the top rookies in their first-year class, while other great players, like Hall of Famers George Brett, Robin Yount, and soon-to-be HOF inductee Tony Gwynn did not.
Here's a quick look (alphabetically) at the field of first-year players in the AL during the '06 season:
Head of the class:
Kenji Johjima, C, Mariners: In any language, one of the most important jobs for a catcher is to be on the same page as his pitching staff. While Johjima experimented a little more than desired -- he once called a series of pitches that went against the scouting report, just to see if the report was accurate -- he performed better all-around than most expected. He worked hard to gain the confidence of the Mariners pitchers and was a big hit with the bat, as well.
Francisco Liriano, LHP, Twins: The switch that turned on one of the hottest streaks of the season came on May 19, when Liriano made his first start of the season and beat the Brewers, ending a five-game Twins losing streak and propelling the Twins on their way back into the AL playoff picture. For the next two months, he was among the best starters in the big leagues, posting a 12-2 record before an aching elbow sent him to the disabled list in early August.
Jonathan Papelbon, RHP, Red Sox: The game plan going into Spring Training was to put Papelbon in the starting rotation, replacing departed Bronson Arroyo. But an injury to veteran closer and 2004 World Series hero Keith Foulke forced the Red Sox to change plans and the 25-year-old with one Minor League save on his resume became the closer. He converted all 10 save chances he had in April, allowed his first earned run on May 3 and went into the All-Star break with 26 saves, a 0.57 ERA and an invitation to the Midsummer Classic in Pittsburgh. A "tired" shoulder put him on the shelf in early September.
Justin Verlander, RHP, Tigers: One reason the Tigers went from a team that lost 119 games three years ago to one that made the playoffs this season is this lanky right-hander who had been among the elite AL hurlers since early May. He rattled off an 11-1 record from May 4 to Aug. 9 and helped lead the Tigers' unexpected pursuit of the AL Central title.
Jered Weaver, RHP, Angels: Imagine what might have happened had Weaver started the season in the Angels' starting rotation. He didn't join the team until May 26, won his first four MLB starts, returned to the Minors for two weeks, came back on June 30 and won five more games before absorbing his first loss. Nine wins in nine consecutive starts tied the MLB record for most wins to start a career, a mark Weaver now shares with Hall of Fame left-hander Whitey Ford.
Others who have made good first impressions:
Pitchers
Jon Lester, LHP, Red Sox: Anaplastic large cell lymphoma cancer ended the left-hander's season in September, but he was a force in the Red Sox rotation in June and July, posting five consecutive wins and seven overall.
Jeremy Sowers, LHP, Indians: Pitched back-to-back shutouts and carried a six-game winning streak into the second week of September. Doesn't throw hard, but knows how to pitch.
Joel Zumaya, RHP, Tigers: He was one of the most reliable setup men in the Majors this season, striking out more than one batter an inning and surrendering about one hit every two innings he pitches. The fireballing Zumaya was a rock-solid bridge to closer Todd Jones.
Hitters
Melky Cabrera, OF, Yankees: He is not the Most Valuable Player on a team of MVPs, but Cabrera could be the most appreciated after filling in so admirably for injured left fielder Hideki Matsui.
Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers: An injury robbed him of valuable playing time from April 12 to May 10, but he could be a fixture at his position for many years. He had a tough act following in the footsteps of Alfonso Soriano.
Nick Markakis, OF, Orioles: Got off to slow start and was batting .219 at the end of May. But he got hot in June and stayed hot in July and August, batting .403 and .354, respectively. Hit 10 home runs in August, including three in one game.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060911&content_id=1657172&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Of all the awards available each Major League season, only one of them is a one-time deal.
Every player has just one chance in his MLB career to be selected Rookie of the Year. And based on what has happened this season, the American League has several talented first-year players. Choosing just one of them as the best would be difficult, at best.
Some terrific young arms emerged from Spring Training and dominated big-league hitters throughout the season. Also, a few first-year position players, including the first catcher from Japan to test his wares in the Majors, opened some eyes with steady bat work.
The scuttlebutt when Kenji Johjima signed with the Seattle Mariners last November after an 11-year career with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks was that a language barrier might be too much for him to overcome.
But communication wasn't an issue. He learned enough English and Spanish to communicate with the pitchers, and performed well on offense, making him a candidate to become the third Japanese-born player to capture the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Previously, former Mariners reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki (2000) and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (2001) won the award.
In the 57 years that the AL has presented what is now called the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, only three catchers -- Thurman Munson in 1970, Carlton Fisk in 1972 and Sandy Alomar Jr. in 1990 -- have won it.
The qualifications for rookie status are simple: A player must not have had 130 career at-bats, pitched 50 innings, or spent 45 days (excluding September) on an MLB roster.
Some great players, like Pete Rose in 1963 and Cal Ripken Jr., in '82, became the top rookies in their first-year class, while other great players, like Hall of Famers George Brett, Robin Yount, and soon-to-be HOF inductee Tony Gwynn did not.
Here's a quick look (alphabetically) at the field of first-year players in the AL during the '06 season:
Head of the class:
Kenji Johjima, C, Mariners: In any language, one of the most important jobs for a catcher is to be on the same page as his pitching staff. While Johjima experimented a little more than desired -- he once called a series of pitches that went against the scouting report, just to see if the report was accurate -- he performed better all-around than most expected. He worked hard to gain the confidence of the Mariners pitchers and was a big hit with the bat, as well.
Francisco Liriano, LHP, Twins: The switch that turned on one of the hottest streaks of the season came on May 19, when Liriano made his first start of the season and beat the Brewers, ending a five-game Twins losing streak and propelling the Twins on their way back into the AL playoff picture. For the next two months, he was among the best starters in the big leagues, posting a 12-2 record before an aching elbow sent him to the disabled list in early August.
Jonathan Papelbon, RHP, Red Sox: The game plan going into Spring Training was to put Papelbon in the starting rotation, replacing departed Bronson Arroyo. But an injury to veteran closer and 2004 World Series hero Keith Foulke forced the Red Sox to change plans and the 25-year-old with one Minor League save on his resume became the closer. He converted all 10 save chances he had in April, allowed his first earned run on May 3 and went into the All-Star break with 26 saves, a 0.57 ERA and an invitation to the Midsummer Classic in Pittsburgh. A "tired" shoulder put him on the shelf in early September.
Justin Verlander, RHP, Tigers: One reason the Tigers went from a team that lost 119 games three years ago to one that made the playoffs this season is this lanky right-hander who had been among the elite AL hurlers since early May. He rattled off an 11-1 record from May 4 to Aug. 9 and helped lead the Tigers' unexpected pursuit of the AL Central title.
Jered Weaver, RHP, Angels: Imagine what might have happened had Weaver started the season in the Angels' starting rotation. He didn't join the team until May 26, won his first four MLB starts, returned to the Minors for two weeks, came back on June 30 and won five more games before absorbing his first loss. Nine wins in nine consecutive starts tied the MLB record for most wins to start a career, a mark Weaver now shares with Hall of Fame left-hander Whitey Ford.
Others who have made good first impressions:
Pitchers
Jon Lester, LHP, Red Sox: Anaplastic large cell lymphoma cancer ended the left-hander's season in September, but he was a force in the Red Sox rotation in June and July, posting five consecutive wins and seven overall.
Jeremy Sowers, LHP, Indians: Pitched back-to-back shutouts and carried a six-game winning streak into the second week of September. Doesn't throw hard, but knows how to pitch.
Joel Zumaya, RHP, Tigers: He was one of the most reliable setup men in the Majors this season, striking out more than one batter an inning and surrendering about one hit every two innings he pitches. The fireballing Zumaya was a rock-solid bridge to closer Todd Jones.
Hitters
Melky Cabrera, OF, Yankees: He is not the Most Valuable Player on a team of MVPs, but Cabrera could be the most appreciated after filling in so admirably for injured left fielder Hideki Matsui.
Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers: An injury robbed him of valuable playing time from April 12 to May 10, but he could be a fixture at his position for many years. He had a tough act following in the footsteps of Alfonso Soriano.
Nick Markakis, OF, Orioles: Got off to slow start and was batting .219 at the end of May. But he got hot in June and stayed hot in July and August, batting .403 and .354, respectively. Hit 10 home runs in August, including three in one game.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060911&content_id=1657172&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb