NL & AL Rookies of the Year

[metsguy234]

Yeah, there shouldn't be any surprises here.

When ESPN's "experts" unanimously pick one of the awards, and come damn close to unanimously picking the other (shame on the two that picked Alexei Ramirez!), you know it's obvious.

What's so bad about Alexei Ramirez? Longoria only did a tiny bit better, and his position (3B) is more known for good hitting then Ramirez' (2B)

[EVEN11323]

A .317 OBP for one.

[HoustonGM]

What's so bad about Alexei Ramirez? Longoria only did a tiny bit better, and his position (3B) is more known for good hitting then Ramirez' (2B)

Ramirez wasn't BAD, but he wasn't close to Longoria.

.272/.343/.531, 125 OPS+
.290/.317/.475, 103 OPS

Add in that using most advanced defensive metrics, Longoria was solid or better and Ramirez was below average....and then further add in that Ramirez went 13 for 22 on the basepaths against Longoria's 7 for 7.....It's really not close.

VORP compares players offense to their own position. Ramirez had a VORP of 20.7. Longoria had a VORP of 34.8.

Using WARP3, Longoria comes out to 9.2 and Ramirez comes out to 3.8. Defense plays a part in that, and Fielding Runs Above Average is the metric used in WARP, and Longoria came out to +21, while Ramirez was at -12.

Longoria was heads and shoulders above the rest of the league. Ramirez wasn't even the second best choice. That'd be Mike Aviles.

[KowboyKoop]

Mike Aviles > Alexi Ramirez


Yup, I said it.

[HoustonGM]

Mike Aviles > Alexi Ramirez


Yup, I said it.

You'd be 100% correct. There's really no disputing that if you're using any actual facts.

[RedsoxRockies]

What's so bad about Alexei Ramirez? Longoria only did a tiny bit better, and his position (3B) is more known for good hitting then Ramirez' (2B)

Why do you always deny reality?

[justanewguy]

Mike Aviles > Alexi Ramirez

Yup, I said it.

Yes, he was a more valuable player on the whole.

Ramirez benefited from his "clutch hitting," pure power numbers, and his versatility in the field.

However, I actually believe that in the future, Ramirez could end up being the most valuable player out of himself, Aviles and Longoria. Ramirez is definitely an exciting player to watch, and his physical talent is absolutely sickening. The fact that he can play CF, 2B and SS AND hit for power is huge beyond words. If this guy learns some plate discipline so he could get on base more and find better pitches to crush, he could be an absolute stud in the future.

I'd project him as an ARod LIGHT, with more versatility and ability in the field, but significantly less plate patience and a little less power.

[HoustonGM]

However, I actually believe Ramirez could be the most valuable player out of himself, Aviles and Longoria.

Aviles, yes. Longoria, no.

Ramirez is definitely an exciting player to watch, and his physical talent is absolutely sickening. The fact that he can play CF, 2B and SS AND hit for power is huge beyond words.

He doesn't play any of those positions particularly well though...

If this guy learns some plate discipline so he could get on base more and find better pitches to crush, he could be an absolute stud in the future.

That's a HUUUUUGE if. Players with such an extreme lack of plate discipline rarely develop it. Jose Reyes is the only example off the top of my head as a guy to look up too...the difference, though, besides the glaring factor of age, I think, is that Reyes was groomed as a leadoff hitter, it was his duty to get on base, so he worked at it. Ramirez is going to be groomed with power in mind, so I don't see him focusing hard on the plate discipline aspect. Anything's possible, of course.

I'd project him as an ARod LIGHT, with more versatility and ability in the field, but significantly less plate patience and a little less power.

I wouldn't project him anywhere near A-Rod, light or not. Honestly, scouts have been throwing out the Alfonso Soriano comparison since he first made himself available to Major League teams, due purely to their very similar physical makeup. And, take a look at their first full seasons:

Ramirez, age 26: .290/.317/.475, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 65 R, 18 BB, 61 K, 13 SB
Soriano, age 25: .268/.304/.432, 18 HR, 73 RBI, 77 R, 29 BB, 125 K, 43 SB

Ramirez has the benefit of being a better contact hitter, with Soriano having a huge advantage in speed. I think a Soriano-type career would be the best-case scenario for Ramirez. I'd project him as Soriano-lite. I think he'll post a bunch of seasons like Soriano's 2004. .280/.320/.500, 30 HR, 10-15 SB. Very good player, especially as a second basemen, but a far cry from A-Rod light.

[Reade]

Alfonso Soriano

He's the first that came to my mind when someone said compare him to...