guys who come to mind are Josh Hamilton for the Reds and Rick Ankiel for the Cardinals. IMO, Ankiel and Hamilton deserved it over Young. Ankiel and Hamilton was a much bigger deal than Young returning to play.
Young completely deserved it. He had major, major problems last year. He overcame numerous issues to turn in a full season of good work. Ankiel only played a couple months. Hamilton, I will assume, finished 2nd in the voting.
I'm a little uncomfortable about giving the comeback player of the year award to a guy who's problems included domestic abuse.
If I know 3rd he's gonna feel the same way about Giambi as he does Young. Although I thought Giambi had health related issues and the steroid stuff only came out after the award was given.
yes, but they were amazing months, and he not only came back from injuries, he switched from pitcher to outfielder entirely.
Not saying what he did is any worse than what Young did I think MLB and the people who decide these awards are very aware of Ankiel and the growth hormone rumors. Besides he was a great story but didn't do nearly as much as Young or Hamilton.
I would've voted for Ankiel because of the story and even though he played less than two months, what he did was much more remarkable than Young, and even Hamilton. I would've went 1)Ankiel 2)Hamilton 3)Young
Ive never been much of a fan of this reward. so basically, to be in contention you have to suck really bad the year before? or get hurt? ehhhhh stupid award
Shortly after I signed off last night, I was thinking Hamilton should not be in the discussion. What is he coming back from? He never played in the Major Leagues before this year. (Note: I am well aware of his past problems. What I mean is, how could he come back when he was never here in the first place?)
A better coincidence is that they're both former Tigers 1st basemen who are way better than Mayor Sean Casey.
Pena deserves it. He had a helluva season. Ankiel could have been mentioned, even though he played a few months, but all was lost for him when the HGH rumors came.
Jon Lester anyone? By the way Giambi's issues were not related to Steroids at all.... it was related to "doing that stuff" and an intestinal parasite he got from intercoursing Kevin Brown on their trip to Japan. Geez! Get your facts straight guys.
I don't think he should win it over Pena, but I think Josh Beckett should at least be MENTIONED. He had an ERA of 5.00 last year and is a leading Cy Young contender this year.
His record was 16-11 last year even with that 5.01 era. It was 20-7 this year. Doesn't seem like a huge difference. Not enough to win that award anyway.
I agree but the parameters around winning that award usually requires seeing an all around striking difference.
I think going from a 5.01 ERA and giving up 36 home runs to a 3.27 ERA and about half that many homers is a striking difference.
