With less than a week left before Opening Day, the writers that you find here at the Twins page of BaseballDigest.com will be making predictions on the 2009 season. We will start the week with some league-wide award predictions before diving into that playoffs. Later in the week, we will start making some Twins-specific predictions. So be sure to continue to check here throughout the week. Be sure to click on the writers’ name to learn more about each of them.
After making our MVP Predictions on Monday, and our Cy Young Predictions yesterday, we will attempt to predict the American League and National League Rookie of the Year winners:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Seth Stohs – Nick Adenhart, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Angels need starters and Adenhart will get a chance. Last year wasn’t pretty, but he’s clearly a strong prospect and would be on a good team. It’s just too easy to say “David Price or Matt Weiters, whoever is called up first.”. Runner Up – David Price, Matt Weiters.
Parker Hageman – Travis Snider, Toronto Blue Jays
In a late season call-up by the Blue Jays saw the 20-year-old Snider hit .301/.338/.466 in 80 plate appearances. One would be hard-pressed to place the culpability of sample size on those numbers as Snider hit .299/.375/.513 – covering five levels in three years – in 1,302 minor league plate appearances. The kid is legit.
Josh Johnson – Matt Weiters, Baltimore Orioles
Nick Nelson – Matt Weiters, Baltimore Orioles
I picked Longoria last year because he was the sure thing. Wieters seems the same way.
John Meyer – David Price, Tampa Bay Rays
Matt Wieters will make an impact in 2009, but Price will be why the Rays make it back to the playoffs.
Alex Halsted – Matt Weiters, Baltimore Orioles
It’s hard to go out on a limb much with this choice, Weiters is the clear favorite. The one other option would be shortstop Elvis Andrus of the Rangers.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Seth Stohs – Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves
As good as David Price, in my opinion. Hanson is one of the special prospects that only comes around about twice a year! Runner Up – Cameron Maybin, Jason Motte.
Parker Hageman – Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals
Motte is the inverse Rick Ankiel in the Cardinals system. After four muddling seasons as a catcher in the organization, Motte took off his gear and took the mound. In 66 innings in Memphis (AAA), Motte struck out a 110 and walked just 24. So far this spring, Motte is looking like the Cardinals closer. Because of manager Tony LaRussa’s usage of his closers to save situation-only roles, expect Motte to challenge Gregg Olson’s rookie record for saves.
Josh Johnson – Cameron Maybin, Florida Marlins
Nick Nelson – Dexter Fowler, Colorado Rockies
Good speed and patience, and Coors Field will pad his power numbers.
John Meyer – Cameron Maybin, Florida Marlins
The Marlins are working their way back to another World Series title. Maybin will be the catalyst to a great 2009 club.
Alex Halsted – Cameron Maybin, Florida Marlins
The former first round pick is finally going to get a chance to play this year is Florida. If he’s as good as advertised, he’ll blow away the rest of the field.
Again it is now your turn. Make your pick. Leave your votes in the comments today, and we can always revisit them later in the season.
Topics: Cameron Maybin, David Price, Dexter Fowler, Jason Motte, Matt Weiters, Nick Adenhart, tommy hanson, Travis Snider
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[...] · Over at Baseball Digest, our Twins writers continued our predictions of the major baseball awards. The series continued today with our predictions for the Rookie of the Year Awards. [...]
Unlike the CY and MVP awards, where any top tier ballplayer can step up and win the award in a given year, it seems like ROY usually turns out to be much more predictable. I’d have to go with Weiters and Maybin. It’s not that someone else COULDN’T win, but they go in to the season with a lead just based on reputation and expectations.
Man alive I need to consult BR.com before posting. Change Gregg Olson to read Kaz Sasaki (37 saves in 2000)…that seems more like a stretch to challenge now. Motte’s still good.
[...] events, and I wish we could remember it without these events. At BaseballDigest.com, Adenhart was my choice for AL Rookie of the Year this year. Obviously I send my sympathies to his family and friends in and around [...]