By the time you are reading this, you have already seen the names of the Rookies of the Year and probably uttered the words “Who?”  In hearing the numbers for Chris Coghlan ( which is a little like a NY sport talking head, Craig Coughlan), I agree he has to be the Rookie of the Year.  I thought the award would go to Tommy Hanson, and in the AL thought Rick Porcello- guess that’s east coast bias.

Tyler Kepner writes a piece today about the ambiguity of the award.  Sometimes it is given to a player who goes on to compete at a high level, in other years it marks a moment in time for a career that never quite lives up to that high water mark again.  Kepner does a nice job of putting the award in perspective.  A player who his 130th at-bat in a season, his 50th inning pitched in a season, or has spent 45 days on his team’s 25-man roster is eligible. He uses Scott Rolen, who had his 129th at-bat one season, before being hit by a pitch which ended his season, and then coming back the following year to take his 130th at-bat, and then going on to be the rookie of the year.  Had he had his 130th the year before, he never would have won the award, because he would have been ineligible his first full season.

We will have to wait and see what become of Andrew Baily and Chris Coghlan.  Baily’s number, which outshine the great Mariano in opponents Batting average, on-base, and slugging, sure seems, sure put him on the radar.  Coghlan put up his numbers while learning a new position.  The Marlins have a way of producing some exciting unknowns who continue to play at a high level- think Dan Uggla.  It will be interesting to see where these two players journeys go.