FOX Sports: Perry: Handicapping the Rookie of the Year races

or...Holy crap, I forgot Jim Lefebvre was a ROY!

The NL is much more complicated. In a just and meaningful universe, Reds center fielder Jay Bruce would be the heavy favorite. He’s got exceptional skills and a peerless track record, he’s playing a key defensive position, and Cincinnati provides a great hitter’s environment. However, Cincy manager Dusty Baker isn’t inclined to trust young talent, and he’s got other, veteran options in center (to wit, Ryan Freel and Corey Patterson). Worse yet, Bruce is presently sidelined with a strained quad, so he’s falling even further behind.

Similarly, Reds first baseman Joey Votto is competing against a veteran — Scott Hatteberg in this instance — so he may not get the chance he needs to mount a charge for ROY. Some of Baker’s recent comments imply that he cares neither for Votto’s lack of foot speed or patient approach at the plate. Tell us again why you’d hire Baker to manage a young roster?

...Elsewhere, keep a particular eye on Cubs catcher Geovany Soto, who might just be the favorite. You won’t see his name bandied about in most lists of ROY favorites, but he’s got a lot of factors in his favor. One, he’s a darn good hitter (he led all of Triple-A in SLG last season), two, he plays a key defensive position, and three, he’s going to be in the Chicago lineup on a regular basis. Given a full season of playing time in a home park that’s friendly to right-handed power hitters, don’t be surprised if Soto reaches the 25-homer threshold. Doing so, while manning catcher, would make him the top contender for NL ROY.