The Football Fan Spot

AL Rookie of the year

March prediction: Matt Wieters

July prediction: Andrew Bailey

October pick: Gordon Beckham- Chicago White Sox

Beckham didn’t even play in a game until June 4th, but he batted .270 with 43 extra base hits in 378 at bats this season. He hit 14 homeruns and drove in 63 men, to go with 58 runs scored, despite batting from the #2 whole for most of the season. He played great defense at 3rd and really established himself as one of the game’s best young players. He showed surprising plate discipline for a 23-year-old rookie with 41 walks to 67 strikeouts and also stole 7 bases.

NL Rookie of the year

March prediction: Andrew McCutchen

July prediction: Colby Ramsus

October pick: Tommy Hanson- Atlanta Braves

Tommy Hanson did what highly hyped pitching prospect rarely do, he fulfilled every last bit of that potential. He won 11 games to 4 losses and had an ERA under 3. His WHIP was 1.18 and he held batters to a batting average of .225. He showed great command for a rookie with 116 strikeouts to 46 walks in 127 and 2/3 innings pitched. He looks like a future ace if he isn’t already one at the moment.

AL Comeback player of the year

March prediction: Ken Griffey Jr.

July prediction: Brandon Inge

October pick: Aaron Hill- Toronto Blue Jays

This is not a prediction because this award was already announced today, but just a pick if I had a vote. I think the voters got it right picking Aaron Hill. Not only did Hill come back, he exceeded anything he had every done. After only playing 55 games in 2008, Hill had a career high 36 homeruns, 108 RBIs, 103 runs, and 6 stolen bases. And it wasn’t even close. He had 19 more homeruns this year than ever before, 30 more RBIs, and more 16 runs. Oh, and he’s a 2nd basemen. 2nd basemen just aren’t supposed to put up those numbers, especially after a major injury.

NL Comeback player of the year

March prediction: Chris Carpenter

July prediction: Chris Carpenter

October pick: Chris Carpenter- St. Louis Cardinals

Carpenter also won this award today and I really feel the voters got it right. He hasn’t pitched more than 16 innings in a season since 2006, yet this year he has pitched 192 and 2/3 innings, and ranks 2nd in the NL in wins, WHIP, and ranks first in ERA and winning percentage. That is beyond amazing.

AL Coach of the year

October pick: Ron Gardenhire- Minnesota Twins

No one, year in and year out, does more than less. This year, he took a young patchwork team that lost its best power hitter late in the season, and turned it into a team that is playing for a playoff spot tomorrow. Some have said that he needs to make the playoffs to get this award, but to those people I say this. Should we really judge him on one game? Does one loss make him a less impressive candidate? No. No of course not.

NL Coach of the year

October pick: Jim Tracy- Colorado Rockies

The Rockies simply became a different team when he took over. He took over a 18-28 team in late May and turned it into a 93 win playoff team. Yes, he hasn’t been there all year, but it shouldn’t matter. His presence for 4 months as head coach was enough to make this team a playoff team. Its not his fault he wasn’t head coach to start the season.