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Two ROYs In A Row
2005-11-07 12:07
by Ken Arneson

For the second year in a row, the A's have the AL Rookie of the Year. Huston Street follows up Bobby Crosby's win from last year.

It also marks the fourth year in a row that the AL Rookie of the Year is a product of the A's farm system. 2003 winner Angel Berroa was traded to Kansas City in the Johnny Damon/Mark Ellis trade, while 2002 winner Eric Hinske was traded to Toronto for Billy Koch.

Joe Blanton and Nick Swisher finished tied for sixth. Dan Johnson did not receive any votes. I would have voted for Johnson before Swisher, but I guess Swisher gives the writers who vote on this award better quotes or something.

I do agree with the writers giving the award to Street. Yeah, Blanton had a higher VORP, but Street came in and did something special. Was there any reliever in the American League, with the possible exception of Mariano Rivera, who was better than Street last year? Blanton established himself as a solid pitcher, but Street showed himself to be an elite one. It's a rare achievement, and very much worthy of celebration.

In 1986-88 the A's won three straight ROYs: Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, and Walt Weiss. It was also a sign of good things to come; with that core of young players in place, the A's went on to win three straight pennants.

That worked out quite well. Hey, let's do it again. Daric Barton, anyone? Andre Ethier? Dan Meyer?

 

Comments
2005-11-07 14:26:14
1.   Voxter
Yeah, but the Dodgers won it 5 years in a row from 1992-1996, and it got them squat, in the end, other than a great catcher who had to wait till he was in New York to see a World Series.

That said, I think Crosby & Street (sort of like Canseco & McGwire) are a different caliber of player than the Dodgers' four non-Piazza winners.

2005-11-07 18:53:23
2.   The Real Neal
I don't know if I would describe Eric Hinske or even Street 'Products of the A's farm system'. Hinske made a year pit-stop in the A's minors and Street less than that- essentially being ready-made when he was drafted - 26 innings of minor league ball that was essentially unecessary.

Never-the-less, congratulations. I think Street probably deserved the award too, especially since the Japanese players no longer seem to qualify.

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MLB Heavyweight Champion

If MLB champs were decided like boxing: beat the champ, and you're the champ.

The 2008 season started with the Red Sox as champs. They were beaten by the A's, who were beaten back by Boston, who were then swept by Toronto, who lost to Oakland, who lost to Cleveland, and so on, until we reached our current champion.

The Heavyweight of the Year is the team that wins the most title bouts at the end of the season.

Current Champion (as of 5/17):
Cincinnati Reds

2008 Title Bout Records:

teamwl
Athletics1313
Red Sox117
Angels64
Indians46
Rangers46
Blue Jays33
Reds20
Yankees11
Tigers12
Orioles03

2007 Heavyweight of the Year:
Seattle Mariners

2006 Heavyweight of the Year:
Oakland Athletics

2005 Heavyweight of the Year:
Oakland Athletics

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