BBA AL Goose Gossage Award Ballot 2011

Ah, the good old reliever of the year ballot. The BBA has to remind me every year this is NOT for best mustache. Oh, and saves are a stupid, stupid stat. Let's roll...

1. Jonathan Papelbon, Boston
I don't have any clue how other BBA members vote for reliever of the year. I'm not against voting for a closer, despite the very defined role, if he was the best reliever in the league. In this case, Papelbon had a monster year. Strap on your nerd boots. The 2.94 ERA might scare off some voters but he had 1.53 FIP, 2.16 xFIP, 1.88 tERA and a 1.58 SIERA. What put Paps over the top for me was his 8.70 K/BB ratio.

2. Mariano Rivera, New York
I feel a little dirty putting two closers in the top two spots but I don't like my relievers to walk hitters and Mo don't walk hitters. He had just a 3.4 BB% but when you throw just one pitch, I guess you get pretty good at locating it. The saves and 1.91 ERA will probably get him some first place votes too. I'm afraid I'm conforming.

3. David Robertson, New York
There is plenty to like about Robertson. He had a 1.08/1.84/2.46 (ERA/FIP/xFIP) line to go with a 13.5 K/9 and an 89.8 LOB%. I actually said I'd vote for him first on a podcast a few weeks ago. So Dave, if you were listening, sorry bro. You might win anyway, I'm terrible at the Goose Gossage award. Much better at mustaches.

BBA AL Goose Gossage Award Ballot

Baseball's award season is upon us and we finally have a vote that counts for something this year. We're proud members of the Baseball Blogger Alliance and they've been kind enough to give us ballots. The only thing the BBWAA ever gave us was a bread maker that I'm pretty sure they regifted. Today we'll be unveiling our AL Goose Gossage ballot for reliever of the year. Note: I completely ignored saves.

1. Matt Thornton
I didn't want to make my ballot a closer fest but they often are a team's best reliever even if they aren't used in the highest leverage situations. Thornton was my only non-closer who made either ballot. Statistically, he was easily the best pitcher you could have brought out of any American League bullpen. Strap on your nerd boots, we're going for a hike. Thornton led the AL with a 2.2 WAR for relievers and posted a 2.67/2.14/2.62 (ERA/FIP/xFIP) line. He also struck out 12.02 per 9 innings with his devastating fastball. He even had a normal .297 BABIP.

2. Neftali Feliz
I left Feliz off of my Willie Mays ballot for rookie of the year because he was a reliever. But he's a damn good one. He threw 69.1 innings of 2.73/2.96/3.68 ball for a 1.8 WAR. He got some help from his .234 BABIP but he also plays in a hitter's park. Feliz struck out 9.22 over 9 innings and, frankly, I'm surprised it wasn't higher. Feliz pitched so well out of the bullpen that he might have hurt his long term value. The Rangers might feel obligated to leave Feliz in a closer role instead of stretching him out and using him as a starter. I'm tempted to give Texas the benefit of the doubt though considering their usage of C.J. Wilson.

3. Rafael Soriano
It's a good thing Derwood hasn't been around lately because Mariano Rivera would have occupied this spot. Soriano and Rivera finished with the same WAR (1.7) and identical FIP (2.81) but the Tampa Bay closer struck out more over 9 innings, 8.23 to Mo's 6.75. Soriano's final regular season line was 1.73/2.81/3.81 which had to have been aided by his .212 BABIP. Soriano should buy Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton dinner for making the third spot on this ballot. Or, I guess, he can wait until he signs a ridiculous contract this winter.