Monday, January 16, 2012

ROY Favorites

Someday when I'm retired and can write blog posts for HBD every day, you'll have more to read here. Until then, you're stuck with what you get. Which, well, isn't much. But what I lack in quantity, I more than make up for in quality, am I right? No?!?! Why I oughtaaaa!!

Anyway, here's a look at a few of the ROY favorites.

Jacob Vanguri
Anaheim
Tiger Blood
Age: 24B/T: R/R
Born: Uwajima, JP
Position(s): 1B/COF/DH
View Hardball Dynasty Profile


After struggling to even make the 40-man roster with the Yankees, Vanguri was snatched up by the Tiger Blood in the Rule 5 draft and has made an immediate impact at the Major League level. The free-swinging righty has jacked 28 HR in 319 AB, posting an OPS of .968. He may struggle to stay at 100% for an entire Major League season, but when he's in the lineup, he's been producing. The questions about his ability to produce at the highest level have been answered. The only questions that remain are: 1) With a name like Jacob, can we be sure he is really from Japan? and 2) Is he the only Japanese man with sideburns?


Harry Wilson
Nashville
Sound
Age: 24B/T: S/L
Born: Downs, IL
Position(s): CF/1B/LF/DH
View Hardball Dynasty Profile


Harry "Patch-stache" Wilson has become one of the more well-rounded players in the league this year. He's a lock for a 20-20 season, and will flirt with 30-30. He's been a run-producing machine in his rookie season, and doesn't show any signs of slowing. He completely by-passed AAA on his way to the Majors, so his success should come as no surprise. His defense, while good, still has some room to grow, so Wilson's contributions will only continue to grow...just like his 'stache.


Nicholas Walters
Wichita
Learjets
Age: 25B/T: R/R
Born: Gibraltar, MI
Position(s): P (SP4)
View Hardball Dynasty Profile


Nicholas Walters is...ummm, sorry, Mr. Walters has been posting...uhhhhh, Nick...what the (bleep) are you thinking with those glasses? Seriously, it looks like you took a crow bar, colored it red, and wrapped it around your face! What's that? This is supposed to be about your contributions as a baseball player in your first Major League season? Alright...but you're gonna have to take those ridiculous things off, at least for the next few minutes. Like I was saying, Nicholas Walters has done what some said was impossible, and that's improve his production after taking the leap to the Majors. He's posted career bests in OAV, OBP, and ERA (and all previous seasons were in AAA). He's using finesse pitches and relying on a good defense to take care of opposing hitters. But it's hard to argue with success. He's 10-4 in 18 starts, and even has 80 Ks through 115 innings. Keep it up Walters! But, dude...use some of that pay raise to buy some new specs.


Al Gonzales
Anaheim
Tiger Blood
Age: 21B/T: R/R
Born: Ingenio Quisqueya, DO
Position(s): P (SP1)
View Hardball Dynasty Profile


Al Gonzales, out of the Dominican Republic, may have gotten a fat pay check during season 1, but he hasn't let that make him lazy. He's put in the work, and has succeeded at every level. He, too, skipped AAA completely, and is tearing it up for Anaheim. Posting a 1.08 WHIP, .193 OAV, and nearly 1 K/Inning, Gonzales has been showing why he's worth the $20MM signing bonus. And the scariest part is, he's only getting better. He does throw the occasional dud, but always comes back to remind us he belongs among the best.



So who get's your pick for ROY? One of these? Someone else? Still don't know? Luckily we've got the second half to work all that out.

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