NL ROY Runners Up

Before I write anything related to the actual column I want to write, I want to say this. I feel that the NL Rookie Of the Year was incredibly deserving. But I do want to highlight the spectacular play of runners up Willy Taveras and Jeff Francoeur.

I've written about Taveras earlier this year. Here's how he finished for the year

   G   AB   R    H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  SB    BA   OBP   SLG
+----+---+---+----+---+---+---+----+---+-----+-----+-----+
 152  592  82  172  13   4   3   29  34  .291  .325  .341
+----+---+---+----+---+---+---+----+---+-----+-----+-----+
  89  351  49   96  13   3   1   26  33  .274  .338  .336
 152  599  84  164  22   5   2   44  56  .274  .338  .336

The second line is Ricky Henderson in his rookie year, the third is Ricky projected to a 152 game season. Clearly Rickey hit for more power early on, but with Taveras' speed, he'll be able to create a lot of doubles.

Francouer clearly had more impressive power numbers than Taveras.

    G   AB   R    H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  SB    BA   OBP   SLG
+----+----+---+----+---+---+---+----+---+-----+-----+-----+
   70  257  41   77  20  1   14   45   3  .300  .336  .549 
+----+----+---+----+---+---+---+----+---+-----+-----+-----+
  151  557  97  161  28  4   49  118   1  .289  .370  .618
   70  258  45   75  13  2   23   55   0  .289  .370  .618

The last two lines are for Mark Maguire in his first full season with the A's, and then a line adjusted for the number of games that Francouer played. Now I know that the comparisons I've made here are not perfect analogs and either one of these players might fade into obscurity, but both looked very good this season. I wrote a longer post on Taveras with several other comparisons, and he finished the season as good as he started. Both of these players are going to have an effect on their franchises, and I can't wait to see it.