I Looked at the 2001 NL ROY Voting for a While Today

The 2001 NL Rookie of the Year voting will be remembered for....wait, do people remember rookie of the year voting?

Let me start over.

Some people voted for the top five rookies in the National League in 2001 and Albert Pujols won unanimously after putting together one of the most ridiculous rookie seasons ever-.329/.403/.610, 37 HR, 6.9 WAR. Pujols has gone on to a certain Hall of Fame career, and three of the four players who finished behind him in the voting-Roy Oswalt, Jimmy Rollins and Adam Dunn-have put together really good careers themselves. Also, Bud Smith received votes.

Here's a look at the top five.


1st - Pujols

Not much else needs to be said about the St. Louis first baseman, so I'll pick something at random. At baseballreference.com they have the following players as the top seven 'similar to Pujols through age 30':

Jimmie Foxx
Frank Robinson
Ken Griffey Jr.
Lou Gehrig
Hank Aaron
Mickey Mantle
Mel Ott

Talk about associating yourself with a bunch of losers.

2nd - Oswalt

The former Astro has been one of the better pitchers in the NL since his excellent rookie season in '01-2.73 ERA, 144 K-24 BB IN 141 2/3 IP. Oswalt collected 143 wins with Houston and had a great 2005 NLCS against the Cards before struggling in his only Series start against the Whitesox. Houston traded Oswalt to Philadelphia mid-way through the 2010 season for two minor leaguers and J.A. Happ, who should not be confused as a major leaguer. According to baseballreference, Oswalt's nickname is 'Wizard of Os'. Anyone who can confirm this nonsense, please email confirmingnonsense@offbasepercentage.com.

3rd - Rollins

This was the first of two J.R.C.O's (Jimmy Rollins? Come On!) votes. See: MVP, 2007. Rollins was a 22-year old shortstop for the Phillies and he led the league in triples (12) and stolen bases (46), but his percentages were mediocre-.274/.323/.419. I guess he gained some points because his name was Jimmy. People love guys named Jimmy.

T-4th - Dunn

Much has been made of Dunn's horrendous, Derwood-on-the-JV-team-like 2011 season with the Palehose, and it's been really bad (57 OPS+, -2.4 WAR), but he burst onto the scene in 2001 with excellent numbers-.371 on-base percentage, .578 slugging, 19 home runs in just 286 plate appearances. Dunn would go on to club 335 more home runs over the next nine seasons with Cincinnati, Arizona and Washington before this season's debacle on the South Side.

T-4th - Smith

Oh yes, it's Bud Smith. The Cardinals' answer to the question: who the hell is Bud Smith?

A: it's that guy, right over there. THAT'S Bud Smith!

I was all ready to make a bunch of Bud Smith jokes until I looked at his appearances in 2001 and realized in only three of his 14 starts did he give up more than three earned runs. He also pitched a complete game, shut out against San Diego September 3. You know who finished up that game for the Padres? Rookie Wascar Serrano.


Official Offbase 2001 NL ROY voting

1. Albert Pujols
2. Roy Oswalt
3. Adam Dunn
4. Bud Smith
5. Jimmy Rollins
6. Wascar Serrano

J-Roll Has A Stake In Justin Bieber

Jimmy Rollins doesn't want to be just another former baseball player after he retires. He has big plans involving the music industry. Now, I couldn't name a Justin Bieber song but he seems like a safe bet since that kid is always trending on Twitter and Tom Brady apparently stole his haircut. Rollins has tried to develop his own music stars but let's just say he isn't quite P-Diddy yet so he turned his attention to buying in on established artists. And I'm using "artist" in the loosest sense with Bieber. Here's the deal...

Rollins owns 5 percent of the publishing rights to Justin Bieber's "Eenie Meenie," a hit duet with Jamaican chubster Sean Kingston. The song appears on Bieber's platinum album, "My World 2.0."

*snip*

Rollins indicated that his investment in Bieber's song cost him about $20,000. Rollins' attorney, Christopher Cabott, who also teaches entertainment and sports law at Temple, yesterday presented to the assemblage a formula that, for that 5 percent stake, recoups about $10,000 per million units sold.

I guess the $20,000 investment in Bieber isn't a bad move for a guy who bought a $350,000 Bentley with his 2008 World Series check. Instead of me alienating my 13-year-old girl fan base by filling the rest of this post with Bieber jokes, I decided to focus on my other problem with the Phillies short stop. And if you read me at all, you should know where I'm going with this.

I'm still upset about the 2007 NL MVP results. That voting was worse than a grown man buying a single ticket to a Justin Bieber concert. Let's just move right past the fact that Albert Pujols should have won with his .327/.429/.568 line instead of finishing NINTH, and focus on the Phillies. Rollins hit 30 home runs and a .296/.344/.531 line for a good .378 wOBA. Sure, maybe he deserved some MVP votes but he wasn't the most valuable player on his own team let alone in the league.

Ryan Howard finished fifth thanks to 47 homers even though he struck out 37.6% of the time. But the real crime here was that Chase Utley finished eighth in the voting despite finishing both third in WAR (7.7) and wOBA (.420) while playing Gold Glove defense at second (which he didn't win either).

It boggles my mind how Utley doesn't get more MVP love. He's been one of the top five players in the National League for the past five years. He's clearly the Phillies best positional player but still can't beat out Howard in MVP voting. It makes me sad. And whether you agree with me or not, you have to be impressed that I managed to turn a Justin Bieber post into a Chase Utley love fest.

At least Utley finally got to be on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

Editor's Meeting

MTD lives in New Orleans and Derwood built a cabin out of sticks and mud in Atlanta, so occasionally they have to communicate through email. Here's the latest back-and-forth entitled "Epic Moments in Poor MVP Voting", but which quickly morphs into something much more ridiculous.


from MTD
to Derwood Morris
date Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 9:35 PM
subject Epic Moments In Poor MVP Voting

Your Jimmy Rollins MVP rant from our last little email session got me thinking. Since I don't have a date tonight (getting black out drunk and incoherently mumbling about the overthrowing of the Spanish Monarchy of 1807 does NOT impress the ladies), I spent some time over at Baseball-Reference. It didn't take me long to find a worse offense than the Rollins MVP voting. He was plenty valuable in 2007 with a 6.1 WAR. He wasn't Pujolsian, but still hit 30 home runs while playing shortstop. Dustin Pedroia in 2008: yikes. Fack you MTD fah nawt believin Pedroiahr. I know, settle down Boston. A 5.2 WAR and 122 OPS+ doesn't scream MVP to me. Joe Mauer had an 8.7 WAR and a 134 OPS+ and led the AL in batting average at .328 while catching. Mauer was robbed in 2006 too when his 7 WAR came in 6th to MVP Justin Morneau's 3.8 WAR. Well played, Mauer. *chugs vodka* I'm ready to discuss Napolean's invasion of Spain now.


from Derwood Morris
to MTD
date Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 10:30 PM
subject Re: Epic Moments In Poor MVP Voting

The 2008 AL MVP voting was full of nonsense and not the good kind. Pedroia finishing 1st wasn't the biggest catastrophe either. It was Pedroia finishing 1st and Morneau finishing 2nd. Mauer was obviously the best player in the league that year, Youkilis, who finished third, the ugliest. Here's the worst part: Francisco Rodriguez not only finished sixth (single season saves record!!), but he got a first-place vote. It's amazing that Francisco Rodriguez not only received votes but also was a voter. That's got to be a conflict of interest.


from MTD
to Derwood Morris
date Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 10:58 PM
subject Re: Epic Moments In Poor MVP Voting

Oh, now you're going to blast the single season saves record? Not just anyone can protect a three-run lead for one inning, am I right Brian Fuentes? Yeah, saves are a stupid stat and it shows how much voters love their counting numbers. I'm surprised Josh Hamilton didn't get more votes for his home run derby performance in 2008. You know what I forgot to tell you about your boy J-Roll? You have to go back to 1987 and Andre Dawson to find an MVP with an on base percentage lower than Rollins' .344. But Dawson is a Hall of Famer. *cleans vomit off of keyboard*


from Derwood Morris
to MTD
date Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 12:17 AM
subject Re: Epic Moments In Poor MVP Voting

True, Dawson is a Hall of Famer. So is Bill Mazeroski, who had a CAREER .299 on-base percentage. Shows how stupid we are for caring about on-base percentage. I want to continue a discussion we were having yesterday about the Angels and their unwillingness to go the sabermetrics route and just do whatever the hell they feel like and still win. Does it have to do with Mike Scioscia's giant face and head, or is it something else?


from MTD
to Derwood Morris
date Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 12:30 AM
subject Re: Epic Moments In Poor MVP Voting

Oh, believe me, I'm going to have plenty on the Angels and their clutchiness. And yes, I'm starting to believe they are cultivating clutch. I'm not completely sure it doesn't have anything to do with Scioscia's lack of neck. Look for a post tomorrow.

I don't know what to think about MVP voting. And the Hall of Fame voting is another conversation entirely. But yeah, we should probably change the subject before I want to fire bomb Jim Rice's house or anyone who's still not voting for Bert Blyleven. Besides, the donkey and I have been getting hammered while celebrating Mark Reynolds' second golden sombrero of the season.


from Derwood Morris
to MTD
date Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 12:49 AM
subject Re: Epic Moments In Poor MVP Voting

When I was playing adult league baseball a few summers ago, I tried to cultivate clutch on my back porch, even skipped our team batting practice sessions to water the plants and give them care. Still hit .190, last in the league, 40 points behind that guy who used to hold the barrel end when he hit.

Anyway, I think clutch only exists when people remember that it exists. Like some Yankees fans, who shall remain nameless because really they're just Cowboys fans, will always remember Derek Jeter as a CLUTCH PLAYER because he made a fantastic play in the Division Series against Oakland in 2001, and in a regular season game against Boston, dove into the stands and caught a foul ball and came out with cuts on his face. I love Jeter, but he isn't a clutch player any more than Johnny Jeter was a clutch player.

Also: Jeter should've moved to third and Alex stayed at shortstop when Rodriguez signed before the '04 season. I've been saying it for seven years, just ask the little man that lives in my arm pit.


from MTD
to Derwood Morris
date Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 1:03 AM
subject Re: Epic Moments In Poor MVP Voting

I'm certainly not getting tricked into talking to your armpit again. I have a hard time believing in clutch. But the Angels are doing doing something weird in Orange County. We'll continue this later.

Don't try to get me started on Jeter this late. I'm too drunk to blast off 1,500 words.


from Derwood Morris
to MTD
date Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 1:23 AM
subject Re: Epic Moments In Poor MVP Voting

That's best, because I'd fire right back with 2,000 on Garret Anderson.

Editor's Meeting

MTD lives in New Orleans and Derwood built a cabin out of sticks and mud in Atlanta, so occasionally they have to communicate through email. Here's the latest back-and-forth entitled "The Greatest Individual Season of All-Time", which tackles Bonds, Ruth, hot dogs, and of course raccoon humping.


from MTD
to Derwood Morris
date Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 12:41 PM
subject The Greatest Individual Season Of All Time

Sometimes, when I get sad, I go look at the stat line from the greatest season of all time. What Barry Bonds did in 2004 wasn't human. I don't care if he was eating babies and doing lines of coke off of a toilet. He hit 45 home runs and .362/.609/.812 for an OPS+ of 263. Getting on base at a 61% clip was aided by 262 walks (120 intentional), but he also only struck out 41 times. I think that sound you heard was Yuniesky Betancourt's head exploding. His 12.5 WAR is only 7th all time, but it's behind four Babe Ruth seasons and Mantle and Hornsby seasons. His OPS+ is second all time to his 2002 season but I think it's the OBP that puts 2004 over the top for me. What do you have? And you better not say something like the year Scott Brosius managed to put together a 121 OPS+ for the Yankees. *shakes fist*


from Derwood Morris
to MTD
date Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 1:30 PM
subject Re: The Greatest Individual Season Of All Time

You look at Bonds' '04 season when you get sad, I watch tapes of the 1998 World Series, or The Brosius Series, when I get sad. Yes, Barry Bonds in 2004 was very alien-like; the numbers are absolutely ridiculous (especially his +17 Eaten Babies, which led the NL), and I don't think a similar season is coming any time soon. Yet, in the spirit of this cheap wine-induced debate, I give you Babe Ruth's 1920 campaign as the greatest single season of all time.

Barry's walk total (262) and OBP (.609), completely absurd. I'm not going to touch those. But the other numbers are really close.

BA: Ruth, .376, Bonds, .362
SLUG: Ruth .847, Bonds, .812
OPS: Bonds, 1.421, Ruth, 1.379
OPS+: Bonds, 263, Ruth 255
HR: Ruth, 54, Bonds, 45

Pretty tight in those five categories, plus if you believe idiots, Bonds was a dope fiend who would hump a raccoon for a fix, while Ruth just ate hot dogs and drank beer. It was a clean era, man!

Except for the rampant gambling.


from MTD
to Derwood Morris
date Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 4:00 PM
subject Re: The Greatest Individual Season Of All Time

Whoa, those raccoon humping charges got dropped, sir. Plus we don't know what else the Babe was on in the 20s. Sure, he ate hot dogs and drank a lot of beer (we do that too and hit no home runs), but he could have easily been hopped up on, um, weed? People in the 20s thought cigarettes were good for you. In 10 years, everybody will be taking HGH. I'm hoping it will help heal the damage I'm doing to my liver. What were we talking about?


from Derwood Morris
to MTD
date Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 6:14 PM
subject Re: The Greatest Individual Season Of All Time

We were talking about raccoon humping, but I don't think we should be anymore. I once ate a hot dog, drank a beer and hit a home run, but I was playing RBI Baseball.

You know, people in the 2000s also think cigarettes are good for you. Those people are: me. Can we get into an MVP voting discussion please? I'll get it started with Jimmy Rollins in 2007. Apparently, it doesn't matter if your on base percentage is .344 and your OPS is .875, YOU can be National League MVP. Well, not you. Jimmy Rollins. Plenty of people have already attacked the Rollins MVP vote, but I don't think many of them have pointed out that he finished 21st in 2006 with very similar statistics.

And if Albert Pujols is alive and putting up these numbers: .429 OBP, .997 OPS and 8.3 WAR, he should be MVP every single time. But he can't beat me in RBI Baseball.


from MTD
to Derwood Morris
date Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 6:25 PM
subject Re: The Greatest Individual Season Of All Time

I think cigarettes are an important cog in the writing and attracting ladies process. I also enjoy a little vodka in my breakfast orange juice. There are some insane stat lines throughout the history of baseball but 2004 Bonds is as good as it gets. Agreed? Good. Let's move on.


from Derwood Morris
to MTD
date Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 8:20 PM
subject Re: The Greatest Individual Season Of All Time

I think it may be time for me to call those people again and have them bring the wagon over. They'll give you the jacket without the sleeves and the big orange pill with the dolphin on it. Everything is going to be OK.