2011 NL Rookie of the Year

[asumike83]

We are 100 games into the season and still have plenty to be decided in the Rookie of the Year race in the NL. I think it is a 3-man race between:

Craig Kimbrel, ATL - 31 Saves, 2.16 ERA, 79K/31BB
Danny Espinosa, WAS - .236 BA, .314 OBP, 17 HR, 55 RBI, 12 SB
Freddie Freeman, ATL - .279 BA, .339 OBP, 15 HR, 51 RBI

Kimbrel is on pace for about 50 saves and 100+ strikeouts. If his final clip is in that range and Atlanta makes the playoffs, I think he'll take the award. Freeman and Espinosa are not far behind though, and there is still time for somebody to separate themselves.

Any other realistic candidates I'm sleeping on?

[citdog]

freeman wins it because espinosa plays for a minor league team. the nats are a GARBAGE team.

[ngineer]

The only other guy who could make noise if the Kimbrel and Freeman faulter, would be Vance Worley of the Phils. Currently the "fourth starter" since May has gone 6-1 with an ERA of barely over 2.00. If he'd continue near that pace for the next 10 weeks, then that would be interesting.

[PaladinFan]

I think you give an edge to Kimbrel and Freeman right now. Both have been center pieces to what will likely be a playoff team. Espinosa and Worley have been good, but have not borne the weight of expectation. Espinosa plays on a team not in competition, and Worley is the 5th starter on the best team in the majors. Neither has the pressure day in, day out like Freeman and Kimbrel.

At the end of the day, if things keep trajecting this way, I think it will be Kimbrel. The guy is on pace to shatter the rookie record for saves. He also has been a cornerstone in the Braves success this year. The award tends to not only go to a very good player, but a very good player who was the focal point of his team's success.

[asumike83]

Gotta figure that Kimbrel and Freeman are neck-and-neck at the moment, with Worley lurking a bit behind. Espinosa has dipped down into the .220's and hasn't driven in a run in a month. I think it's safe to count him out for good.

[eiu1999]

Kimbrel

[TTUEagles]

I would vote for Kimbrel - it's a role (closer) that you rarely see a lot of rookies excel in.... And, it's not just saves vs opportunities as much as the staggering K numbers...

[eiu1999]

Not that he's going to win, or should really be seriously considered, but a small bright stop for the Cubs:
Darwin Barney- very solid defense.
GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS
2011 Regular Season 106 398 52 116 17 4 1 35 16 46 5 2 .291 .326 .362 .688

[PaladinFan]

The Cubs have some bright young talent up the middle.

I really was suprised after they left Atlanta how poor their record is. They have some talent.

[eiu1999]

The Cubs have some bright young talent up the middle.

I really was suprised after they left Atlanta how poor their record is. They have some talent.

That's what a 126 millions team gets you.

[ngineer]

There should probably be two awards for ROY--one pitching and the other a positional player. Very difficult to compare without the ability to compare. However, I'd certainly give the nod to Kimbrel at this juncture. His performance has been very solid.

[PaladinFan]

Hard to argue with Kimbrel. It's been neat to watch him grow into the role. He started the season kind of feeling his way around, and now has become nearly untouchable out there.

They should probably give both an award, makeup for the hose job that was giving the award to Hiedo Nomo in 1995 over Chipper Jones.