A's' Andrew Bailey Wins American League Rookie Of The Year Award

My Preseason AL Rookie of the Year Pick: Travis Snider

AL Rookie of the Year Winner: Andrew Bailey

Here is what I wrote back in August about the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

“Once I looked deeper into the numbers, I have realized there might not be a better choice than the Oakland A’s closer. His biggest competition will come from Elvis Andrus, Gordon Beckham, and fellow pitcher Rick Porcello. David Price and Matt Wieters will get some votes as well because voters will look at the names instead of the numbers.”

-snip-

“I know it’s hard to compare closers versus position players, but if I had a vote, I would vote for Bailey. Despite playing on a bad A’s team, he has had a great season, has been a stud at the end of games, and I think it should be recognized.”

Well today, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America recognized Bailey’s accomplishments in 2009. Bailey was voted American League Rookie of the Year today, receiving 13 first-place votes and 88 total points.

Texas Rangers’ shortstop Elvis Andrus finished second with 65 total points.

This vote came down to–do you vote for the guy who had a great year on a bad team or do you vote for the guy who had an average year and was a key part of a good team?

The voters went with the guy who had a great year on a bad team.

Bailey appeared in 68 games for the A’s in 2009, finishing with 26 saves, a 1.84 ERA, a ridiculous 0.876 WHIP, and 91 K’s in 83.1 innings.

Bailey really came out of nowhere to win this award. He wasn’t even ranked in the top-10 A’s prospects in 2008 or 2009 by Baseball America. Heck, he wasn’t even the A’s closer going into the season.

That job was Brad Ziegler’s.

Bailey just proves that you don’t have to be a top prospect to have success in the major leagues. Bailey was drafted in the sixth round out of Wagner College in New York.

Minus the four years I went to college in Massachusetts, I have lived in New York my whole life, and I have no idea where Wagner College is. It may be in Staten Island, but don’t quote me on that.

Bailey becomes the seventh A’s player to the win the Rookie of the Year award since 1986. That’s pretty impressive.

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