John Lannan over Edinson Volquez? I don't think so.

Volquez a rookie?

I don't think so.

Volquez isn't a rookie, by most definitions.

BaseballDIY must be a member of the BBWAA.

Jurrgens?

I always wondered what those little trophies meant.

Guy puts up the best ERA in 30+ IP (he had 45.2) since 1911, and he can't even make it as the RP on the rookie squad on his own team.

Guy puts up the most scoreless innings to begin a career in baseball history...and is named RP on the rookie squad. Seems fair.

Joey Devine gave up more unearned runs (4) than earned runs (3). If you calculate RA instead of ERA, Ziegler's is better. And he threw 30% more innings than Devine. And let fewer inherited runners score (5/22 compared to 7/22). And was a great story of perseverance etc. etc.

You know, that's a pretty good looking team right there. Lots of years, the #2 finisher in the rookie of the year is some guy with 350 PA much less the guys needed to fill out 10 roster spots. Murphy probably won't have much of a career and pitchers are pitchers, but I can see 5-6 of those guys making an all-star team and a couple might be perennials (Longoria and Soto) and there's not a name there I'd say "he's no good."

Last year's team:
* Carlos Ruiz, C, Philadelphia Phillies
* James Loney, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers (unanimous selection)
* Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox
* Ryan Braun, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers (unanimous selection)
* Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies
* Delmon Young, OF, Tampa Bay Devil Rays (unanimous selection)
* Chris Young, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks (unanimous selection)
* Hunter Pence, OF, Houston Astros (unanimous selection)
* Brian Bannister, RHP, Kansas City Royals
* Hideki Okajima, LHP, Boston Red Sox

Hunter Pence! I remember that guy!

Can David Murphy play CF well? I seem to remember him having a good defensive reputation on the Boston farm.

Well there must be something that Lannan did better than Jurrjens but hell if I can find it.

Last year's team:

And your point would be ;-)

1968 All-Rookie Team
C Johnny Bench, Cincinnati
1B Gary Holman, Washington
2B Dave Nelson, Cleveland
3B Bobby Cox, New York Yankees
SS Hector Torres, Houston
OF Dave Marshall, San Francisco
OF Bobby Bonds, San Francisco
OF Del Unser, Washington
LHP Jerry Koosman, New York Mets
RHP Stan Bahnsen, New York Yankees

1978 All-Rookie Team
C Bill Nahorodny, Chicago White Sox
1B Dave Revering, Oakland
2B Paul Molitor, Milwaukee
3B Bob Horner, Atlanta
SS Ozzie Smith, San Diego
OF Bob Molinaro, Chicago White Sox
OF Hosken Powell, Minnesota
OF Rick Bosetti, Toronto
LHP Rich Gale, Kansas City
RHP John Henry Johnson, Oakland
(note: 2B Lou Whitaker won ROY that year, and was not selected on the team!)

1988 All-Rookie Team
C Damon Berryhill, Chicago Cubs
1B Mark Grace, Chicago Cubs
2B Ron Gant, Atlanta
3B Chris Sabo, Cincinnati
SS Walt Weiss, Oakland
OF Dave Gallagher, Chicago White Sox
OF Cecil Espy, Texas
OF Jay Buhner, Seattle
LHP Paul Gibson, Detroit
RHP Tim Belcher, LA Dodgers

1998 All-Rookie Team
C AJ Hinch, Oakland
1B Todd Helton, Colorado
2B Miguel Cairo, Tampa Bay
3B Bobby Smith, Tampa Bay
SS Mike Caruso, Chicago White Sox
OF Magglio Ordonez, Chicago White Sox
OF Ben Grieve, Oakland
OF Mark Kotsay, Florida
LHP Jesus Sanchez, Florida
RHP Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs

Well there must be something that Lannan did better than Jurrjens but hell if I can find it.

Throw left handed?

They must be anti-Dutch Antillesites!

I didn't mean to suggest it was an all-time great all-rookie team. Still, you see some names in those that are what I'm talking about -- Cecil Espy (370 PA, 77 OPS+)? Dave Gallagher (nice season, 380 PA)?

Man, that 98 team was a doozy -- half those guys ended up stinking (I'm counting Grieve as a non-stinker). The 78 OF is awesome. And you'd have a hard time finding a wider variance in talent than the 68 team -- Bobby Cox only had 230 PA after that season.

1998 All-Rookie Team
C AJ Hinch, Oakland
1B Todd Helton, Colorado
2B Miguel Cairo, Tampa Bay
3B Bobby Smith, Tampa Bay
SS Mike Caruso, Chicago White Sox
OF Magglio Ordonez, Chicago White Sox
OF Ben Grieve, Oakland
OF Mark Kotsay, Florida
LHP Jesus Sanchez, Florida
RHP Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs

Jesus, that was 10 years ago. Ben Grieve and AJ Hinch!

Also: Ziggy!

I always wondered what those little trophies meant.

Those ones that said "Rookie" on them?