ROY Update

Freddie Freeman leads all MLB rookies in every offensive category, except triples, homers, and stolen bases (he’s a close second in homers). Plays Gold Glove defense. With Chipper and McCann out he’s been batting cleanup for the second-best team in the league. While he has surged, Espinosa’s batting average has slipped to .228.

PL…AB…hits…runs..2B…HR…BI…BB…K…AVG…OB…SLG…OPS

FF…392…116…50…26…15…52…39…100…296…363…477…840

DE…395….90…49…16…17…55…36…107…228…315…423…738

The national media is already going out of their way to pump life into Espinosa’s fading candidacy. On July 27 ESPN Insider Matt Meyers devoted an entire column on why Espinosa was the “clear ROY choice, though the numbers aren’t obvious.” At the time the Nationals infielder was batting .234. The numbers look obvious to me.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel may split the ROY first-place votes with Freeman, giving the award to Espinosa. Kimbrel has already broken two MLB records: fastest ever to 100 strikeouts, and most saves before the all-star break by a rookie.

Kimbrel: 31 saves, 2.04 ERA, 84 K’s, 21 BB, 53 innings

Guerra: 9 saves, 1.78 ERA, 19 K’s, 7 BB, 25 innings

Gee: 10 - 3, 3.69 ERA, 70 K’s, 43 BB, 107 innings