MLB is still going on! Rookie of the Year lists!

Before everyone forgets, the baseball season is still in progress. I know many of us got carried away with the beginning of the NFL season, but there are few things that need to be determined in baseball...like season awards and playoffs. Today, I'm presenting nominees for AL and NL Rookie of the Year. We'll start in the American League.

I have 5 different players that could win: Orioles OF Nolan Reimold, White Sox 3B Gordon Beckham and 2B Chris Getz, Rangers SS Elvis Andrus, and Rays P Jeff Niemann.

Some may think I'm leaving out a couple of pitchers in Rick Porcello of the Tigers and Ricky Romero of the Blue Jays. About a month ago you would have been right, but both have tailed off.

Here's how they compare:
1. Reimold: 15 HR, 45 RBI, .279 BA, .365 OBP, .470 SLG, .835 OPS, 8 SB
Reimold was brought to Baltimore in mid-May and he's performed well for the O's. Among O's starters, he's 3rd in BA, 5th in HR and 6th in RBI.
2. Beckham: 11 HR, 53 RBI, .279 BA, .353 OBP, .471 SLG, .824 OPS, 7 SB
The former first round pick has lived up to expectations from the plate. It's his glove that's shaky. Beckham should be glad that's not part of the equation to winning.
3. Getz: 2 HR, 31 RBI, .267 BA, .326 OBP, .359 SLG, .686 OPS, 24 SB
Getz has come from nowhere to be the 2B for the Pale Hose. This afforded Ozzie Guillen to put Alexei Ramirez at SS and that has given the Sox a decent middle.
4. Andrus: 6 HR, 33 RBI, .277 BA, .338 OBP, .395 SLG, .732 OPS, 26 SB
Andrus was the preseason favorite and he's not really disappointed. What will be in his favor is that the Rangers are still battling for a wild card spot and this will give him added exposure.
5. Niemann: 12-5, 3.57 ERA, 1.283 WHIP, 106 K
Niemann was a main reason the Rays stayed alive in the wild card hunt as long as they did. With all the other staters struggling, Niemann has been the Rays best pitcher, period.

Usually choosing this award is almost solely based on stats. I think this will be really close. My pick would be the Rays P Jeff Niemann. The White Sox duo will split votes.
1. Niemann
2. Reimold
3. Andrus
4. Beckham
5. Getz

There's also 5 dseserving players in the National League: Phillies P J.A. Happ, Cubs P Randy Wells, Marlins OF Chris Coghlan, Rockies OF Dexter Fowler, and Cardinals OF Colby Rasmus.

Here's the comparison:
1. Happ: 10-4, 2.77 ERA, 1.182 WHIP, 104 K
Happ has been under pressure all season considering the Phillies starters have not performed well in 2009. He's been their most consistent pitcher all year.
2. Wells: 10-8, 2.96 ERA, 1.252 WHIP, 84 K
Wells has been steady for the Cubs and that's all you can really ask for in a rookie. With a team that has so many expectations on it, Wells has fulfilled his end of the bargain.
3. Coghlan: .306 BA, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 7 SB, .381 OBP, .443 SLG, .824 OPS
The Marlins were up in the wild card race until about a week ago. Coghlan was a main reason. Nothing fancy and he just plays baseball.
4. Fowler: .265 BA, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 27 SB, .366 OBP, .412 SLG, .778 OPS
Just like Andrus in the AL, Fowler is still in a race and that could lead to him taking a few votes from others. Lots of great things were expected from him and he's performed.
5. Rasmus: .256 BA, 14 HR, 47 RBI, 3 SB, .311 OBP, .418 SLG, .729 OPS
Rasmus gets a bit lost in Tony LaRussa's managerial style...that and getting Matt Holliday did cut into his playing time.

For me, it's Happ and I don't think it's really close. Coghlan and Fowler should prove to be his main competition.
1. Happ
2. Coghlan
3. Fowler
4. Wells
5. Rasmus