The AL/NL Rookie Races: Home Stretch!

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Well it's September, and the season is winding down. With just two weeks left before the postseason, we will be reexamining both the AL and NL Rookie Races that we touched on earlier in the season! We will touch on the top 5 players in both races, along with some outsiders just missing out.[/center]

The AL Race[/size]

What happened?: SP Carlos Zambrano, C Victor Martinez

Outside Looking In: 3B Steve Cox, SP Brian Lawrence, SS Jimmy Rollins, SP Michael Bacsik, SS Alex Gonzalez, MR Geoff Geary


5. SP Grant Balfour - Cleveland Indians
Age: 22
Ratings: B/G/B/G/G, D Duration
Stats: 10-8, 3.05 ERA, 120 K, 1.04 WHIP
His limitations finally caught up to him. Amidst lack of decisions, and lack of run support, Balfour dropped off a bit since the last rankings. Going 4-6 since then, Balfour still demonstrates awesome pitching ability, posting a 3.05 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He's obviously dropped a few places in the rankings, but not too far, since the AL's Rookie crop this season is a bit dry. Not going to lead Cleveland back to the postseason this year, and isn't going to take home any trophies. Sorry Balfour! Better luck next year!


4. LF Matt Holliday - Texas Rangers
Age: 20
Ratings: B/B/F/G/A/G, D Range, C Arm
Stats: .265 AVG, 15 HR, 72 RBI, 14 SB, .732 OPS
Big Daddy fell off a lot from his amazingly hot start, but still ended up posting some very respectable numbers. His average took a big dive, but some growing pains are to be expected. Texas could really use the Holliday of earlier this season, as they are still entrenched in a race for the AL Wild Card. Holliday will finish with respectable power totals, but not that amazing OPS he was boasting earlier on. Obviously still a very bright future for Holliday in Arlington.


3. DH Pat Burrell - New York Yankees
Age: 23
Ratings: G/G/P/G/G/A, E Range, D Arm
Stats: .274 AVG, 15 HR, 53 RBI, .761 OPS
Burrell also cooled off a bit, in terms of HRs, but overall he's been one of the more consistent rookies this season. That consistency, coupled with the inconsistency of his competition, lead Burrell to quite a jump, going up six spots in the rankings. The Yankees just couldn't get it together even in a down year for the AL East, and will miss the postseason again. Burrell should be a nice part of the Yankees rotation for years to come.


2. 1B David Ortiz - Oakland Athletics
Age: 24
Ratings: G/B/P/G/G/A, D Range
Stats: .283 AVG, 18 HR, 76 RBI, .777 OPS
¡Oy caliente Big Papi! Ortiz has caught fire for Oakland and really bounced back after his rough start. He hit .330 and .400 in July and August, respectively, along with 7 HRs each month. With a sky high OPS both months, he's elevated his numbers tremendously after his lackluster start to the season. He now sits on one of the highest HR and RBI totals for rookies, along with a respectable .283 AVG. I had a feeling he'd bounce back, but not quite to this extent! Sadly he won't win the ROY because he is still miles behind the frontrunner, but his rebound is nothing to scoff at.


1. CF Carlos Beltran - Kansas City Royals
Age: 23
Ratings: G/G/A/G/G/F, A Range, C Arm
Stats: .345 AVG, 22 HR, 108 RBI, 9 SB, .972 OPS
Is there any doubt Beltran has this in the bag? I called it in my last article. Not only did he not slow his pace, he elevated it! He improved his average, and went on an absolute tear driving runs in. His OPS has dipped a bit, but still sits at a stellar .972. He has single-handedly kept Kansas City afloat, but he isn't done yet. I expect him to really push the pace these final two weeks and get those numbers looking even better. Regardless, he will be the 2000 AL Rookie of the Year!

The AL had a disappointing bunch of rookies, or maybe they just look it when compared to the NL, but Beltran is far away the standout in the AL. I'd put him #1 if he were in the NL, too.

Highest Jump: 1B David Ortiz (+11)
Furthest Fall: C Victor Martinez (-6)

The NL Race[/size]

What happened?: C Josh Bard, LF Endy A Chavez

Outside Looking In: CF Juan Pierre, SP Mike Gonzalez, 2B Orlando Husdon, SP Braden Looper, 2B Alex Cora, SP Damian Moss, SP Mike Kusiewicz, SP Matt Morris, CF Corey Patterson


5. Derrick Gibson - Colorado Rockies
Age: 25
Ratings: G/A/P/G/F/G, E Range, A Arm
Stats: .312 AVG, 20 HR, 84 RBI, .821 OPS
Gibson bumped up a spot in the rankings, as he continued to do what is expected of him in Denver. He's taking advantage of a hitter's park, but that doesn't disqualify him from winning awards. His numbers look great, and his ratings are solid too. The Rockies will get a nice boost to their rebuild this offseason in the draft, but Gibson should still be a part of their future for the long haul. Gibson could very well win the ROY if he can impress voters by outslugging Guillen.


4. CC Sabathia - Florida Marlins
Age: 20
Ratings: G/B/G/B/B, A Duration
Stats: 19-8, 3.47 ERA, 247 K, 1.16 WHIP
Sabathia is well on his way to a 20+ Win rookie campaign, and is also deep in a race for the Strikeout title with San Francisco's Jim Pittsley. He's dropped his ERA by roughly .4 since the last rankings, and has gone 10-5 since. He WHIP went up very slightly, but other than that CC has improved as the year has gone on. It'll be a close call this season in who gets the ROY, whether the voters prefer pitching or offense this season. If the current pattern continues, it's a pitcher's time this season, but with so many fantastic NL rookies, we'll see what happens.


3. Dennis Stark - Florida Marlins
Age: 25
Ratings: G/A/G/G/G, C Duration
Stats: 18-9, 3.07 ERA, 176 K, 1.10 WHIP
CC's pitching competition comes from within his own team! Dennis Stark has rebounded very well since the last rankings came out, going 13-3 since then, dropping his ERA .6, and dropping his WHIP. I said he'd always be in Sabathia's shadow, but I could be wrong about that. Stark and Sabathia could form one of the better young pitching tandems in the league in a few seasons. It'll be a close race this season between the dueling friendly pitchers, but no matter what, if the NL ROY goes to a pitcher, they'll be from Miami.


2. Eric Chavez - Florida Marlins
Age: 22
Ratings: G/G/F/G/A/A, B Range
Stats: .305 AVG, 14 HR, 92 RBI, 78 SB, .818 OPS
Another Marlins standout rookie sensation, Eric Chavez has been crucial to their success. He leads the league in runs (131) by a pretty large margin, and he's second to his teammate, Pierre, in the league in steals (78). He has a spectacular 94% SB rating, and he's only a few RBIs off top 10 in the league as well. He's still hitting above .300 and has also hit 14 HRs. It's a very narrow margin between him and the frontrunner, and Chavez could very easily get the nod due to his massive SB number, but for now he sits at #2.


1. Jose Guillen - Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 24
Ratings: G/G/P/G/F/B, E Range, C Arm
Stats: .347 AVG, 20 HR, 74 RBI, 1.004 OPS
Guillen I knew you'd improve as the season went on, but I had no idea you'd make this kind of run! Take a look at this: July he hit .345 with 4 HRs, August he hit .397 with 7 HRs, and he's currently hitting .436 with 5 HRs in September! Guillen has been on fire, to put it very mildly, and has come roaring up the rankings. I don't know if he'll end up with the award due to a few factors (Late start, awesome competition) but if he did, you'd hear no complaints from me. Guillen has a very bright future in Pittsburgh, there's no disputing that.

The NL Rookie Race is exciting to watch! Really, it's still a 5 horse race at this point, in my mind. All five of these rookies can still win the NL ROY. Two pitchers who will hit 20+ Wins with ERAs in the 3s, two sluggers posting awesome power number, and a balanced hitter with amazing speed. It'll be a photo-finish for sure.

Highest Jump: LF Jose Guillen (+13)
Furthest Fall: SP Mike Gonzalez (-6)