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Jacob deGrom Wins IBWAA Rookie Of The Year Award

Kathy Willens/AP The little-known Jacob deGrom turns plenty of heads in his Major League debut.The IBWAA, of which I am a member, is the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America and released the results of their Rookie of the Year balloting today. I can’t speak to how it mirrors the official award, but I’m happy with the result.

 

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in the Rookie of the Year category Monday, with the Chicago White Sox’ Jose Abreu winning the group’s American League award, and Jacob deGrom, of the New York Mets, being selected in the National League.

Jacob deGrom received 105 first place votes and beat out Billy Hamilton by 130 points.

My ballot:

  1. Jacob deGrom
  2. Billy Hamilton
  3. Travis d’Arnaud

and AL:

  1. Jose Abreu
  2. Kevin Kiermaier
  3. Collin McHugh

Jacob deGrom was a no-brainer for me, and though it may be tinged with a little home-town favoritism, it can’t be understated how good Travis d’Arnaud was after his demotion, and at a critical position.

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Letters to the NL East, Part 3/5

(To read past year’s letters, click here)

Letters to the NL East, Part 3 of 5. (part 1, part 2)

atlantabraveslogo

Dear Atlanta Braves,

Oh how the mighty have fallen! I barely even have any ill will towards you anymore.  It’s been five years since you won the division and it’s been a long five years.  You don’t appear to have the tools to make it this year either, although the rotation does have some promising young arms in it.  Had you not traded Vazquez, I’d almost be worried.

I don’t have a lot of faith in your bullpen holding up long term, as it feels like you downgraded there as well.  Your offense has long been a weak point, and it probably still will be barring Heyward having a rookie season to rival Pujols and Reyes for the MVP and Larry Jones being healthy enough for the entire season.

You’re one of those middling teams that no one really wants to play because you’re not a push over, but you’re also not good enough for a rivalry either.  Just boring.  It’ll be interesting to see if you guys finish above .500 this year or not, and maybe you can help out the Mets a little by playing the Phillies hard.

One thing for sure, Bobby Cox is not getting another title before retiring this year.  Maybe you should’ve beaten the Yankees another time in the 90s.  Oh well.

Your former rival,

Optimistic Mets Fan

Feel free to head over to The Real Dirty Mets Blog for discussion.  Once the season finally starts, I’ll be contributing (at least) a weekly Optimism Report over there.