Unlike its counterpart, over in the National League the race for Rookie of the Year honors is being hotly contested. While the Junior Circuit has a clear cut winner in Mike Trout; the battle for rookie supremacy continues for three National Leaguers.
The ROY race is down to the Washington Nationals Bryce Harper, Cincinnati Reds Todd Frazier and the Arizona Diamondbacks Wade Miley. All three would be deserving candidates; one a 15 game winner with an ERA just over 3.00 and two young hitters with similar slugging numbers. Who is the deserving ROY?
Wade Miley
This 2008 Supplemental round pick up by the Diamondbacks has paid some serious dividends this season. Wade Miley leads the D-backs with his 15 wins; all this for a team that only has 65 wins collectively. Miley’s 3.10 ERA also leads the team and his is third on the staff in strikeouts. After starting 26 games this year, Miley kept his WHIP to a stingy 1.16. In short, Miley had a terrific year for a horrific team.
The Diamondbacks have themselves an ace for the future in this 26 year old left-handed pitcher. Miley’s performance bodes well for his 2013 campaign, as he will be called upon to lead this pitching staff. Unfortunately for this season, he’s up against two solid rookies in the National League that have figured prominently in their teams playoff quests.
Todd Frazier
When Scott Rolen went down to injury followed by Joey Votto, the Reds were in need of some offence to fill those voids in the lineup. Todd Frazier did more than just fill in; he put up some solid numbers. So much so that Dusty Baker had to find this kid some consistent playing time once his regulars were back. It would appear as though the 37 year old Scott Rolen will become a roster casualty in the near future to allow for a permanent home at third base for young Frazier.
Frazier could see a 20 HR, 70 RBI season if he swings the bat well in the remaining games. Even if he falls a bit short there, his season rip line is an impressive .280/.341/.510 with a .851 OPS. Also working in Frazier’s favour is the fact that the Cincinnati Reds have clinched a playoff spot, making his contributions even more relevant.
The future is very bright for this 26 year old; he’s tall and strong but not too bulky to play the hot corner. His defense will get better the more innings he gets; but he has shown that he definitely belongs. Frazier will be the everyday starting third-baseman for the Reds next season there is no question about it. Frazier’s rookie campaign earns him some love from the writers, ultimately getting him runner-up status for ROY.
Bryce Harper
The anticipated arrival of Bryce Harper to the Major Leagues was not disappointing. This everyday outfielder for the Nationals plays the game in an all-out old-school style with some new-age attitude and flare added for good measure. At times a lightning rod for controversy, he’s also a highlight reel waiting to happen. I can’t recall seeing Bryce Harper ever finish a game with a clean uniform; this kid just gets down and plays.
Harper put up some decent numbers, and I think they could have been better had opposing pitchers not had such good scouting reports on him from the start. Nonetheless, his rip line was .260/.331/.455 with a .786 OPS. Harper will finish the season with fewer homeruns and RBI’s than Frazier, and his stat line is not as good either.
The way Harper plays and his contribution to the Washington Nationals has meant more to his team’s success that Frazier’s did to the Reds. I hate to use sabermetrics to determine a player’s value, but it proves a point here. Harper’s offensive WAR is 4.1, Frazier’s is 1.7. Harper’s defensive WAR is 1.5 while Frazier’s is -0.6. The value of having Bryce Harper in the lineup is greater than that of Todd Frazier’s.
This is a close race. Let’s ask Bryce Harper his thoughts on who should win. Harper, should you win ROY? “That’s a clown question bro”, oh, OK thanks Bryce.
NL ROY SHOULD BE: Bryce Harper
NL ROY WILL BE: Bryce Harper