Braun named Rookie of the Year in closest NL vote ever

[tomwopat]

Congrats to Braun, but I probably would have voted for Tulo. It was really too close to call, though.

[Mr QL]

Congrats to Braun. It is deserved. Fix that defense and keep that bat and you'll some more hardware next season.

[And That]

Now after all these years, I can finally fulfill my dream of calling someone on the Brewers "Roy" for an entire season, even though that's not his name. Thanks, Ryan, er, Roy!

[Schlitz001]

And how do we know it wasn't a Milwaukee writer voting for Kendrick over Tulo?

[brwrsfan]

So I just received an email from brewers.com about Braun winning the award and in the email it has links to two of his "best plays" of the year. One of them says "Braun's 28th Homerun". So I click on it and it's his huge 3-run homerun against the Astros, the one where he "shows up" the pitcher and all that jazz.

 

Anybody else find that at all odd? He got ripped on for a solid couple of weeks about it, gets talked to by Ned, gets beaned the next time we faced the Astros, yet thats the highlight that they choose to include in their "congrats" email about him? They just as easily could have picked the 3-run shot in Houston earlier this year, or any of his other 30+ homeruns...I just find that odd.

[iluvlamp]

This is fantastic news! I would have been disappointed if Ryan would not have won. Now on to his 2008 MVP season.

[brwrsfan]

You're right Schlitz, we don't know yet at this point which writer voted him third, I think we're all just speculating (and bascially unfairly assuming) that it was him based upon based articles and/or the fact that he could have handed Tulo the award had they tied for first.

[jlau20]

And how do we know it wasn't a Milwaukee writer voting for Kendrick over Tulo?

Tulo didn't get any 3rd place votes, and odds are the Milwaukee voters had Braun 1st, Tulo 2nd. If they voted for Kendrick ahead of Tulo, that would give him a 3rd place vote.

 

I'm not convinced it was a Colorado voter, but I don't see why it couldn't have been.

[bork]

Brewers third baseman Ryan Braun became the first Brewers

Rookie of the Year since Pat Listach in 1982

In an e-mail from brewers.com. Guess they still have 1982 on the brain.

[brewcrewreview]

Anyone think a writer from Philly had Braun third?

[Team Canada]

The JSonline blog seemed to indicate that as well, that it was a Philly writer. Either way, that's absurd and that writer should lose his vote.

[AdvantageSchneider]

In terms of production, home and away, Braun was much more consistent that Tulowitzki, who batted .326 with 15 home runs and 60 RBI in 77 games at Coors Field, compared to a .256 average, nine homers and 39 RBI in 78 games on the road.

 

Braun posted nearly identical numbers, home and away, batting .326 with 17 homers, 49 RBI and a .660 slugging percentage in 56 games at Miller Park, and .322 with 17 homers, 48 RBI and a .610 slugging percentage in 57 games on the road.

 

There's your difference, and justification, right there.

I think actually the justification should have been this

 

Braun committed 26 errors, tying the Twins' Jason Bartlett for most in the Majors. Braun's .895

fielding percentage ranked last among regular Major League defenders, and he was the only player under .900.

 

Tulowitzki, the Rockies' shortstop, proved a superior defender in 2007. His .987 fielding percentage and 5.39 zone rating led Major

League shortstops, and Tulowitzki committed only 11 errors in 155 games.

 

Tulo got jobbed. He was clearly the more valuable player this year. But as usual the writers got it wrong.

[And That]

As has been gone over time and time again, it's about what you value more:

 

A very good offensive campaign and a very good defensive campaign, or;

A special offensive campaign and a terrible defensive campaign.

 

It's consistency vs. specialness and it's a toss-up to me.

[mls4]

Congrats to Braunie! Just as long as his career is better than Pat Listach's, I'll be happy.

I think Braun's career is already better than Listach's... oh that's right, Listach's defense was better and he played shortstop.

 

[homer]

I can honestly see both sides of this argument. I'm glad Braun won but it doesn't surprise me it was this close. No way did anyone get 'jobbed'.

[trwi7]

Keith Law is on the Hotlist right now and he is saying from people in the Brewers organization that he's talking to the Brewers are almost for sure going to move Braun to left field but Law would like them to try him in center.

[dadofandrew]

If Keith Law said the sky was blue, I'd look up. Unless I have my guys mixed up, he's as loud and unknowing as there is.

[trwi7]

If Keith Law said the sky was blue, I'd look up. Unless I have my guys mixed up, he's as loud and unknowing as there is.

 

He's not really loud. I have no idea how reliable he is but I have to turn up the volume on the TV just to hear him. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[AdvantageSchneider]

Now that is great news. Did Law follow up with the Brewers plans for 3rd? Hall or somebody else?

[brettac1]

I think they got it wrong (what's new, though?), but I'll take it since Braun's a Brewer.

 

I also agree with Keith Law - I have liked the idea of Braun as a CF for a while.

[Fatter than Joey]

Unless I have my guys mixed up, he's as loud and unknowing as there is.

 

I can think of worse.

 

Glad to see someone in the front office fogged a mirror.

[trwi7]

Now that is great news. Did Law follow up with the Brewers plans for 3rd? Hall or somebody else?

 

No he basically just said they plan on moving him to the outfield and then they went on to talk about Santana trade rumors, Posada etc.

[hawing]

I'm dorky enough to have checked the internet kiosk at 1:05 during lunch to see the results (but couldn't get back here to post until now).

I've had "Go Getta" playing in my head all afternoon. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

Congratulations Ryan! May you be special longer than Pat Listach was.

[TerraceReserved]

I think actually the justification should have been this

 

Braun committed 26 errors, tying the Twins' Jason Bartlett for most in the Majors. Braun's .895

fielding percentage ranked last among regular Major League defenders, and he was the only player under .900.

 

Tulowitzki, the Rockies' shortstop, proved a superior defender in 2007. His .987 fielding percentage and 5.39 zone rating led Major

League shortstops, and Tulowitzki committed only 11 errors in 155 games.

 

Tulo got jobbed. He was clearly the more valuable player this year. But as usual the writers got it wrong.

This is how I look at the situation. If Tulo played in a different park, and put up the exact same numbers, he should probably win. Think about it this way: if he played in any other park than Coors, he wouldnt be talked about. He'd be an incredible fielding shortstop who can't hit much. He had a .706 OPS away from home! But since he plays at Coors, he all of a sudden is a good hitting shortstop who is an incredible fielder. He shouldn't be awarded for playing in a park that greatly increases his hitting, so he does not deserve the ROY.

[brewmann04]

Congrats to Ryan and here looking to a full season with Weeks ,Hardy Braun,And Prince.

 

Best offseason news in a long time