November 23, 2006  

As you sit down to your Thanksgiving left-overs, what better time to reflect on the 2006 season and, in particular, pick this year's winner of the Pat Listach Rookie of the Year Award!

Batters

The last two Listach Awards have gone to batters who wowed the voters by dominating rookies in a number of offensive categories while playing demanding defensive positions: Newark 2B Marcus Giles in 2004, and Vancouver C Victor Martinez last year. This year, however, a number of rookie batters put up outstanding offensive numbers in one or two categories, while others were solid across the board.

You can vote for any rookie, but here's who we feel are the top six candidates:

Robinson Cano: Hillsborough's 23-year-old second baseman was one of several Hired Hitmen putting up Listach-caliber numbers. Cano, taken in the 2nd round (#17 overall) of this year's draft, led all rookies with enough plate appearances to qualify in batting average (.309), and also in hits (196), runs (107) and hitting streak (14 games); he tied (with Philly's Jorge Cantu) for the rookie lead in doubles (45). He also had an .803 OPS and 94.9 RC. Defensively, Cano led rookie second baseman in fielding percentage (.979) -- but that's merely mediocre compared to all second baseman. He also had limited range, ranking near the bottom when it came to total chances and assists per game.

Jonny Gomes: The 25-year-old outfielder hardly looked like a ROY candidate after getting off to a so-so start with Las Vegas (.246 BA, .763 OPS, 4.6 RC/27 in 447 PA), but his numbers soared after he was traded to Marietta (.335 BA, 1.158 OPS, 12.8 RC/27 in 231 PA). Overall, Gomes -- a 2nd round pick (#19 overall) traded for Gary Sheffield -- hit .276 with 42 HR, 100 R and 110 RBI. He led all rookies in total bases (320) and HBP (18), tied (with South Boston's Dan Johnson) for the rookie lead in runs created (113.6), and was first among rookies with enough plate appearances to qualify in OPS (.896), slugging percentage (.539), secondary average (.364) and total average (.902). However, he also led all batters in strikeouts (205), and defensively, tied for the league lead in most errors (12) and lowest fielding percentage (.963) by a rightfielder.

Ryan Howard: Drafted in the 12th round (#155) last year as an ineligible prospect, Hillsborough's 26-year-old first baseman led rookies in home runs (46), extra base hits (70) and RBIs (119). He also would have led them in batting average (.320), OPS (1.053), total average (1.077), RC/27 (9.2) and the entire league in slugging percentage (.689), but he had just 472 plate appearances, 30 shy of qualifying, and played in just 117 games. The reason? Howard was strictly platooned, getting just 18 plate appearances against lefties -- and going 0-for-17 with 1 BB and 9 K.

Dan Johnson: Unlike Howard, South Boston's 26-year-old first baseman does qualify for the batting title -- in fact, he led all rookies in plate appearances (690). Johnson, taken in the 3rd round (#32 overall) of this year's draft, hit .294 (.870 OPS) with 40 doubles, 27 HR, 85 R and 97 RBI, led all rookies with 75 walks and tied (with Gomes) for the rookie lead in runs created (113.6). Defensively, he led all rookie first basemen in fielding percentage, total chances per game and assists per game; among all first baseman, however, he ranks around the middle of the pack.

Joe Mauer: Hoping to become the second catcher in a row to win the Listach, Las Vegas's Mauer led all rookies with enough plate appearances to qualify in on-base percentage (.384) and RC/27 (7.2). Surprisingly quick for a catcher, the 23-year-old also tied (with Arkansas's Antonio Perez) for the rookie lead with 13 stolen bases, and he was caught just once. Overall, Mauer hit an even .300 (.867 OPS) with 34 doubles, 14 homers, 83 runs and 56 RBIs. Defensively, he showed off one of baseball's strongest arms, ranking behind only the legendary Ivan Rodriguez when it came to gunning down would-be basestealers (.553 SB% allowed). Mauer has been long-heralded as one of baseball's top prospects -- the Phoenix Dragons drafted him as a 19-year-old ineligible prospect with the 173rd pick (13th round) of the 2003 draft, but couldn't hold onto him. The following year, Las Vegas -- then known as the Harrison Rats -- took him as a prospect in the 5th round (#58 overall) of the 2004 draft, then stashed him away on their protected list for two seasons before he made his debut this year.

Grady Sizemore: The Mudcats' front office displayed similar foresight when they drafted Sizemore as an ineligible prospect in the 15th round (#207 overall) of the 2004 draft, but had to let him go. Last year, they grabbed him again, this time in the 9th round (#122 overall), and stashed him away on their protected list. The 22-year-old outfielder repaid their investment by hitting .312 (.880 OPS) with 20 2B, 19 HR and 11 SB, and led all rookies with 9 triples. However, he missed qualifying for the batting title by 13 plate appearances -- like Hillsborough's Howard, he was heavily platooned against his fellow southpaws, with just 27 plate appearances against them this year. Overall, he played in just 128 games, with 489 plate appearances.

Other rookie batters of note: Las Vegas SS Jhonny Peralta hit just .256 (.778 OPS) with 169 Ks against 155 hits, but when he did connect, the results were impressive: He slammed 35 doubles, 2 triples and 30 home runs, good for 74 runs and 96 runs batted in. Philly 2B/3B Jorge Cantu also was an all-or-nothing hitter, posting a .230 BA (.619 OPS) with 108 Ks, but with 45 2B, 1 3B and 14 HR, for 58 R, 68 RBI... Arkansas 2B Antonio Perez had a solid if unspectacular debut, hitting .261 (.635 OPS) with 10 2B, 3 HR and 13 SB... Marietta OF Victor Diaz hit .254 (.765 OPS) with 27 2B, 20 HR, 61 R and 77 RBI and surely would have been the team's top rookie batter if not for Gomes... South Boston had four rookies in the lineup at times, but only Johnson is likely to get attention from the voters. The others were 3B Garrett Atkins (.228, .610 OPS), OF Ryan Langerhans (.227, .645 OPS) and 2B Rickie Weeks (.248, .743 OPS)... SS Clint Barmes split his rookie season between Arkansas and Philly; the results weren't pretty for either team (.243, .640 OPS)... Newark OF Ryan Church (.344, 1.142 OPS, 15 HR in 230 PA) and Carolina OF Jeff Francouer (.323, 1.052 OPS, 17 HR in 206 PA) had outstanding numbers in limited duty.

Pitchers

One starting pitcher had an outstanding rookie campaign, while several others proved at least good enough to take the mound every fifth day. Several rookie relievers also were impressive, including a pair who ranked among the league's top closers. While it may be difficult for a rookie pitcher to succeed, hurlers have won the Pat Listach Rookie of the Year Award four times over the years.

As noted above, you can vote for any rookie, but here's who we feel are the top six candidates among the starters and relievers:

Zach Duke: The expectations couldn't have been higher for this 22-year-old lefty after Westwood selected him with the first pick overall in this year's draft. But after going 8-8 with a 4.74 ERA, 13.8 R/9, and the Deductions looking at another rebuilding year, the southpaw was shipped off to Newark. The change of scenery apparently agreed with him, as he went 5-1 with a 3.40 ERA, 13.6 R/9. Duke's overall numbers (13-9, 4.37 ERA, 13.7 R/9, .563 QS%) are impressive only in the context of a rookie southpaw starting pitcher taken with the first overall pick -- the last one was Dontrelle Willis (4-16, 6.05 ERA, 16.0 R/9).

Felix Hernandez: Born just five years before the league was founded, "King Felix" was a teen-age Double-A pitcher when Hillsborough drafted him as an ineligible prospect in the 4th round (#43 overall) of last year's draft. The 20-year-old right-hander led all rookie starters in just about everything, including wins (17), ERA (3.47), R/9 (12.0), slugging percentage allowed (.374), OPS allowed (.688), innings (223.1), strikeouts (220), K/9 (8.9), quality starts (22) and quality start percentage (.667). Among all pitchers, Hernandez is 3rd in strikeouts; 4th in innings, QS, QS% and K/9; tied for 5th in wins and OPS allowed; and is 6th in ERA. He also led the league in decisions (29) and tied for the league lead in starts (33).

Fernando Rodney: Few notice the pitchers who toil in the anonymity of middle relief, but this 29-year-old right-hander was one of the reasons the Golden Falcons reached the post-season for a league-record 14th straight year. Rodney, taken in the 11th round (#153 overall), proved to be a great value pick, leading all rookies who qualified in fewest inherited runners allowed to score (.158 IR%) -- just 6 of the 38 men already on base when Rodney entered the game would cross home plate. He ranked second among all pitchers -- not just relievers -- in that critical but unheralded statistic. Rodney (3-4, 5 saves, 8 holds) also struck out 64 men in 63.2 innings while posting a 4.38 ERA, 12.4 R/9.

Huston Street: South Boston's 22-year-old right-handed closer, taken with the sixth pick overall in this year's draft, led all rookies with 23 saves and tied for the rookie lead (with Derrick Turnbow) with 36 relief points. He led rookies in save percentage (.767), but that was by default, as no other rookie had enough save opportunities to qualify; among all closers, Street's percentage was second-to-last, and in fact, he tied for the rookie lead with two others with 7 blown saves. His 3.62 ERA, 11.9 R/9 and .260 IR% weren't overwhelming either, though he did strike out 89 batters in 82.0 IP (9.8 K/9).

Brad Thompson: The Dragons' workhorse led the league -- not just rookies -- in relief innings (145.2). The 24-year-old 5th round pick (#58 overall) also led all rookie relievers in vulture wins (8) and was second in appearances (91). He also picked up 5 saves and 9 holds, and posted a 3.95 ERA and 11.2 R/9. However, he wasn't too good at stranding inherited runners (.346 IR%) and he also struck out just 61 men (3.8 K/9).

Derrick Turnbow: As the closer for the league's worst team, Honolulu's Turnbow didn't have many opportunities -- but he made the best of them. With 19 saves in 22 chances, Turnbow's .864 SV% would have ranked second in the DMBL, but he didn't have enough opportunities to qualify. As it was, he ranked second among rookies in saves and tied (with Street) for the rookie lead in relief points with 36. Turnbow's 2.85 ERA and 8.9 R/9 were the best among all rookies with at least 25 IP. The 28-year-old righty was taken in the first round (#11 overall) of this year's draft.

Other rookie pitchers of note: Las Vegas SP Joe Blanton (11-9, 5.37 ERA, 12.8 R/9, 60 BB, 90 K in 179.1 IP) didn't live up to the hype after being taken with the fourth pick overall in this year's draft, but the 25-year-old right-hander likely has a bright future ahead... Vancouver SP Brandon McCarthy went 10-9 with a 6.60 ERA and 14.8 R/9... Newark SP Chien-Ming Wang had a moderately successful debut season (11-6, 4.80 ERA, 13.5 R/9) but also spent a total of 40 days on the D.L. due to injuries... Phoenix SP Robinson Tejeda will be looking forward to his sophomore year after going 3-13 (5.30 ERA, 14.7 R/9), with 101 walks in 171.2 IP... Hillsborough RP Bobby Jenks (7-5, 1 SV, 11 holds, 7 BSV, 5.05 ERA, 13.5 R/9) had one impressive statistic -- he struck out 141 batters in 112.1 IP (11.3 K/9)... South Boston had the unusual situation of a rookie closer (Street) being set-up by two rookie middle relievers: Kameron Loe (3-4, 5 SV, 6 holds, 3.87 ERA, 13.2 R/9) and Wil Ohman (0-1, 3 SV, 17 holds, 4.84 ERA, 15.5 R/9)... Newark's Brian Shackelford (4-1, 2 SV, 12 holds, 3.76 ERA, 11.8 R/9, .130 IR%) was a key component in the league champion's "no-name" bullpen... Vancouver's David Cortes (2-1, 1 SV, 1 hold, 2.42 ERA, 9.7 R/9 in 22.1 IP) was terrific in limited duty.

Phil Plantier, one of the top prospects of the last decade, was picked by baseball guru Bill James in 1991 as the player most likely to lead the majors in HRs during the 1990s. In 1994, at age 24, he hit 47 round-trippers with 118 RBIs for the Charleston Chiefs, his first and last DMBL season. He's currently an analyst for Fox Sports Net. Click Here for past articles.