Well, if you have had the chance to review the comparative stats that I posted last night, perhaps you may have guessed as to the identities of the four rookies listed.
Player A is Neil Walker, or Pine Richland's Neil Walker as he is often referred to in the local media. The one thing these numbers do not show is how well he is playing second base, a position where he had virtually no experience prior to coming to the big leagues. Walker seems to be showing he was worth that #1 draft slot, despite the fact that the current Bucco Brain Trust were projecting him as utility guy in spring training.
Player B is Jose Tabata. His low HR and RBI totals reflect that he has been batting lead off most of his time with the Pirates. He has also shown to be a pretty good glove guy in left field. He is making the Xavier Nady trade look pretty good.
Player C is Pedro Alvarez. The batting average is poor, but getting better, and is actually following a pattern of his previous stops up the ladder of the organization. He does strike out a lot, and perhaps that is something that we will have to just accept (like we did with Willie Stargell), but can he launch the ball! I have been on hand at PNC Park for three of his HR's and they are rockets. This is another guy who, based on very early returns, appears to be well worth the #1 draft choice.
Player D is the Braves' Jason Heyward, the "Jay-Hey Kid" and the subject of posts in The Grandstander earlier in the season. Heyward has been the presumptive NL Rookie-of-the-Year since spring training. Hey, if the talking heads at ESPN decree it, it must be so, right? Anyway, Heyward will probably win the award, and he is not undeserving, but I suggest to you that perhaps he should not be the runaway winner that he probably will be. If you project Walker's numbers out over a similar number of at bats, Heyward's numbers aren't all that much better. I will also bet anyone who is interested a dinner at McDonald's that Alvarez will finish with more home runs than Heyward when the season is over. And it should be noted that Heyward also will strike out well over 100 times this season, so Alvarez is not the only rookie slugger prone to the dreaded K.
Makes you wonder what kind of props Walker, Tabata, and Alvaraz would be getting if they (a) played for a good team, and (b) played anywhere else but Pittsburgh.
Don't over look Tyler Colvin of the Cubs. 261 AB's - 17 HR - slugging at .525 and an OPS of .838. And Gaby Sanchez of the Marlins is having a nice rookie season as well, but since he's not on my NPL fantasy team - well, I really don't care too much about promoting him!!
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