Coghlan wins dumb award
Awards are dumb. MVP and Rookie of the Year are particularly dumb. At least the dumb Cy Young Award compares people who do the same job. But in weighing J.A. Happ versus Chris Coghlan versus Tommy Hanson versus Garrett Jones versus Andrew McCutchen, how do you compare a talented outfielder to a talented pitcher, anyway? That is just one of many reasons why I do not, and will never, vote for athletic awards. The news today is that Coghlan beat Happ (and the others) for N.L. ROY. I don’t care, and I don’t recommend that you get bothered over it (caveat--the players care, and there is nothing wrong with that; it always feels good to be recognized, whether or not the award is dumb. Philly.com could give me the Pointless Post of the Day Award, and I'd probably feel all good about myself for a few hours).
Coghlan wins dumb award
Andy Martino
Awards are dumb. MVP and Rookie of the Year are particularly dumb. At least the dumb Cy Young Award compares people who do the same job. But in weighing J.A. Happ versus Chris Coghlan versus Tommy Hanson versus Garrett Jones versus Andrew McCutchen, how do you compare a talented outfielder to a talented pitcher, anyway? That is just one of many reasons why I do not, and will never, vote for athletic awards.
The news today is that Coghlan beat Happ (and the others) for N.L. ROY. I don’t care, and I don’t recommend that you get bothered over it (caveat--the players care, and there is nothing wrong with that; it always feels good to be recognized, whether or not the award is dumb. Philly.com could give me the Pointless Post of the Day Award, and I'd probably feel all good about myself for a few hours).
But here’s the only important thing for baseball fans: All of these players will likely be fun and interesting to watch for several years. They are all talented, in different ways. They are all fun to watch, and they all deserve praise for strong performances in 2009. Why this annual need to categorize people with fuzzily-defined awards?
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The Phillies did some maneuvering of their 40-man roster today, removing utilityman Eric Bruntlett, RHP Tyler Walker, C Paul Hoover, INF Andy Tracy and RHP John Ennis. All are free agents.
If Bruntlett’s time in Philly is over—and he has seemed headed out of town for a while now--the Phillies Zone wishes him luck. A good guy, and scary smart (he holds a degree in economics from Stanford University, and scored a 1440 on his SATs), Bruntlett kept his on-field struggles in perspective this year, and always handled them with class.
Now, the Phils continue their search for a upgrade at the utility position—something that is increasingly essential, as Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins settle into baseball middle age and require more rest.
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Happ was robbed.— vc bear- Good article but I'm just sayin'-Is Mr. Martino a Mets or Yankees fan?— Rowland
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- wow, so when Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard won the Rookie of the Years in the past, was your title Rollins wins dumb award, Howard wins dumb award?— wolfburn
- Would have been if I were here.— Andy Martino
- And if Rollins had won.— Andy Martino
- vc bear is right and, give it up Rowland. Andy, congrats on your first year in Phil. You did a good job; esp. the Sunday columns.— oldecityslicker
- The way Coghlan hit against the Phillies, I would have given him the MVP. When are you going to remove the boxscore from the last WS game? It is painful to see everyday!— Air Force One
- Yes, it would have been nice if Happ won, but he lost to a position player who had a good year, and a great second half. How close was the vote, and where did Happ finish in the balloting?— MG44
- Andy that was one of your worst articles ever. Nice work loser— rw5381
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- I agree but it's nice when your guys win awards. I think September proved costly to Happ but he was fun to watch this year and I look forward to seeing him next year. This class of players with Happ, Hanson, McCutchen, Coughlan, etc...They are the players of the future and there is some good baseball ahead.— Greg V.
- Coghlqn was scary good all season long. Happ did not finish strong. Eric, thank you for the game-ending triple play in New York.— Ben Lee
- Andy Martino writes dumb article— reddog027
- Couldn't agree with you more. What in the world is a Rookie of the Year? How do you compare a pitcher to an outfielder? Nothing more than a popularity contest. Happ is a good guy with a bright future. Hope the Phils hang on to him.— CenterCityPhan
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- Agree with AF1 - lose the Phillies WS Scoreboard.... Go Army - beat Navy....— M60tanker
- They should bring the Brunt back as the resident groomer— Captain Splendor
- Anybody who reads the stats and doesn't realize that Chris Coghlan is far and away the best rookie in baseball this year loses all credibility in any real discussion of the game. Congratulations to the majority of writers for doing their homework and getting it right — again. But those writers — presumably here, in Atlanta and in Pittsburgh — who left Coghlan off their ballots entirely should hang their heads in shame. I'm glad your shameless homering got you nowhere.— possum
- Great job Andy as you continue to accumulate blogger names who will NOT appear on your Christmas card list. Have a Great Thanksgiving. Real Phils Phans will track the comings and goings of all baseball Hoovers over the long winter ahead. Hopeing for an update on the Mexican PCL and Mike Cervanek soon.— mick314
Obviously Charlie Manuel agrees with Happ not winning this award, based on how he was used in the post season. Had the other Phillies starters not gotten into ridiculous base-clogging failures, Happ would not have appeared anywhere after the regular season ended. What the Phillies did to Happ after a great season in which they would not have won the division without him is more despicable than what a bunch of Coke and hot dog eating writers could have ever done. JA--you deserved the Rookie of the Year award. Period.- It's been difficult to read some of the moronic comments on this blog this year. I don't understand all the negativity, but I guess it's fun for some people to anonymously takes shots. However, some of the comments have been insightful and thought-provoking. I nominate for Blog Commenters of the Year: Mick 314 and Olde City Slicker.— CenterCityPhan
- I blame Eric Bruntlett for JA Happ not winning the ROY award. I also blame Bruntlett for Andy Reid's play calling.— smel4727
- Thanks CCP. A guy simply could not have a better agent.— mick314
- Awards are tied to bonuses and arbitration rulings, for that reason only, not "dumb".— Mh225
