MLB Rookies of the Year (by Todd Newville)

Which players do you think deserve to win the Rookie of the Year awards this year in both the American League and National League? I’ve got an opinion on this subject. I’ll go ahead and share it.
Okay, over in the American League, I think it’s a foregone conclusion that Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays is going to top rookie honors in the Junior Circuit. Longoria is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound third baseman who was listed No. 1 among Tampa Bay prospects this year in Baseball America. He started the year with the bang before breaking his wrist in August - which shelved him for about a month.
But, now he’s back for Tampa Bay’s run at the AL East championship and a playoff berth. Longoria is hitting .282 at the moment with 22 home runs and 74 RBI - totals that would probably be even higher had he not gotten injured and placed on the disabled list.
Nevertheless, Longoria seems to be the safe - and obvious - pick for AL Rookie of the Year. I think Chris Davis of the Texas Rangers may get some attention from voters since he’s hitting a solid .271 with 15 homers and 46 ribbies at the moment. But, if I had a vote, I’d cast it for Longoria.
In the National League, pitcher Edinson Volquez of the Cincinnati Reds would get the nod from me. Volquez was part of the deal which brought slugger Josh Hamilton to the Rangers. Volquez was the top pick for Texas in the draft in 2006 and was listed No. 3 in 2007 among Ranger prospects according to Baseball America.
Volquez (like San Diego’s Chris Young, Chisox pitcher John Danks, and Detroit’s Armando Galarraga) is a former Ranger prospect that could have helped Texas tremendously. But, now he’s with the Reds and he is 16-5 with 184 strikeouts. Both his win and strikeout totals are among the NL leaders. He may even garner consideration for this year’s NL Cy Young Award. We’ll wait an see.
Jay Bruce of the Reds along with Chicago Cub teammates Geovany Soto and Kosuke Fukudome should get some consideration for the NL award this year. Bruce (listed No. 1 before this season in Baseball America as the Reds’ top minor league prospect) was called up about mid-year and has been sensational - both on the field and (from what I’ve seen and heard on TV) among the ladies, too!
Soto and Fukudome both started in the All-Star Game this year - quite an accomplishment for a couple of rookies. But, again, if I had a vote (which I don’t but wish I did), I would cast my ballot for Mr. Volquez and his stout showing on the mound for Cincy.
While I’m at it, let me just throw in a few more things - my votes for MVPs and Cy Young Award winners. In the NL, I think Albert Pujols of the Cardinals, Ryan Howard of the Phillies, and Chipper Jones of the Braves have a chance for the MVP - but I would vote for shortstop Jose Reyes of the New York Mets. He has 101 runs scored, 187 hits, 49 stolen bases, and 18 triples from the leadoff spot and has helped keep the Mets in contention for the NL East flag.
In the AL, I like Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox. He’s hitting .328 with 112 runs scored and has helped keep Boston in the thick of things. Catcher Joe Mauer of the Twins provides solid hitting and defense behind the plate and Josh Hamilton of the Rangers is having a monster year - but Pedroia has been the most valuable in my opinion.
Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians and Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants would be my Cy Young Award winners. Lee is 22-2 with a 2.36 ERA. Lincecum is 16-3 with 225 strikeouts. Francisco Rodriquez ought to get some heavy consideration for the AL Cy Young; afterall, he did set a MLB record this year with 58 saves and counting. But, Lee and Lincecum would get my votes.