Winner: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay -- Story | Voting Results
User Choice: Evan Longoria
Danny Knobler's prediction: Evan Longoria.
It seems the Rays knew what they were doing when they used the third overall draft pick in 2006 on Longoria (after Luke Hochevar and Greg Reynolds went 1-2). It seems the Rays knew what they were doing when they signed Longoria to a six-year, $17.5 million contract after he had played just six big league games. It seems like manager Joe Maddon knew what he was doing when he made Longoria his cleanup hitter soon after the All-Star break. Now, unless a whole bunch of voters don't know what they're doing, Longoria will become the first Tampa Bay player to win a BBWAA award.
The candidates
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Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS |
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It’s hard to think of the center fielder as a rookie with all the attention he received on the 2007 championship team. Technically he’s still a rookie because his 2007 June 30 call-up limited him to 33 games and 116 at-bats, maintaining his rookie status. In 2008, his most notable accomplishment was his 50 stolen bases, third in the majors and first in the AL.
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| AB | AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
| 554 | .280 | 98 | 9 | 47 | 50 |
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Armando Galarraga, DET |
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The righty overcame Detroit’s underperformance this season with a breakout rookie year. His 13 wins not only led the Tigers, but he is the club's only pitcher with more than 13 starts to post a winning record. What’s even more impressive is the 26-year-old righty was acquired in February from the Rangers and opened the season at Triple-A. He only earned his spot in the rotation after Dontrelle Willis went on the DL.
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| IP | W-L | ERA | SV | BB | K |
| 178.2 | 13-7 | 3.73 | 0 | 61 | 126 |
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Evan Longoria, TB |
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Even before the season began there was talk of Longoria as a Rookie of the Year candidate. He certainly met, if not exceeded, these expectations and was catapult into the limelight by his talent and the Rays’ unbelievable run to the postseason. His 27 homers led all major league rookies, and he did this despite spending the first two weeks in the minors and missing most of September with a wrist injury.
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| AB | AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
| 448 | .272 | 67 | 27 | 85 | 7 |
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Alexei Ramirez, CHW |
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It took no time at all for Ramirez to settle into the majors after coming straight from Cuba. He played mostly at second base for the White Sox but he appeared six times in center field and twice at shortstop. He continued to come up big for the White Sox, including four grand slams on the season, a rookie record. His biggest hit of the year was the tiebreaking grand slam against Detroit to force the one-game tiebreaker that eventually landed the White Sox the AL Central title.
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| AB | AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
| 480 | .290 | 65 | 21 | 77 | 13 |
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Poll
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Who will be the AL Rookie of the Year?
| 74% | Evan Longoria TB |
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| 13% | Alexei Ramirez CHW |
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| 12% | Jacoby Ellsbury BOS |
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| 2% | Armando Galarraga DET |
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| Total Votes: 921 |
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| Past Results | | Year | Winner | | 2007 | Dustin Pedroia, Boston | | 2006 | Justin Verlander, Detroit | | 2005 | Houston Street, Oakland | | 2004 | Bobby Crosby, Oakland | | Complete list | |
