Kelly Johnson question

[Brainofj21]

Is Kelly Johnson still considered a rookie or did he get too many at bats back in 2005?

Because if he's still a rookie he's got a really good shot at the NL rookie of the year if he keeps it up.

[McCarroll21]

KJ is no longer a rookie.

[Brainofj21]

KJ is no longer a rookie.


Thanks for the reply. That sucks that's he's not considered one anymore.

[Jsh1284]

Yep.

I'll be rooting for Josh Hamilton of the Reds to win it. The guy definitely deserves it after all he's went through. Plus, he's on my fantasy team. :)

[lavell12]

Ya my boy Josh hit his sixth homer tonight and that is tops for all rookies and he also leads rookies in rbi

[lavell12]

McCarroll, how bout Kyle Davies?

[Jsh1284]

If your asking about his ROY status .. he's not eligible either.

[vnodnarb]

Ya my boy Josh hit his sixth homer tonight and that is tops for all rookies and he also leads rookies in rbi


you said you knew him personally, right? how do you know him, just curious?

[C-Dawg]

Yep.

I'll be rooting for Josh Hamilton of the Reds to win it. The guy definitely deserves it after all he's went through. Plus, he's on my fantasy team. :)

How does he "deserve" it? I mean, I'm kinda rooting for him to make a comeback, but I'm always hesitant to say that anyone "deserves" anything. The guy dug his own grave--probably with a similar sense of entitlement or invincibility--and now we'll see if he can get out of it. But he doesn't deserve anything any more than any other player who works hard and puts himself in position to compete for the award just because he was dumb/weak enough to get hooked on drugs.

[MSU Bulldog]

He is being rewarded with a book and movie deal. At least he cleaned himself up. Hopefully he will not relapse with all the attention and notoriety he is receiving.

[vnodnarb]

i see c-dawg's point, i want to see him win it as an example, like a role model type of thing for so many others

[BravePiKapp]

Do guys think Hamilton could possibly win the Comeback Player of the Year Award? I had an argument with a friend that said he would easily win that award because he is coming back from the drug abuse. But I argued that the award is given to a player that has already proven himself in the majors and had an off/down period then came back and put up some good numbers, like Nomar and all the other previous winners.

[David_Strate]

maybe Huddy for CPoY - after the downswing of the past year, he's making up for it bigtime (*too bad about yesterday*)

[C-Dawg]

maybe Huddy for CPoY

Good call! I will def be pulling for him to get it, although I do still want to see Hamilton do well.

[Jsh1284]

How does he "deserve" it? I mean, I'm kinda rooting for him to make a comeback, but I'm always hesitant to say that anyone "deserves" anything. The guy dug his own grave--probably with a similar sense of entitlement or invincibility--and now we'll see if he can get out of it. But he doesn't deserve anything any more than any other player who works hard and puts himself in position to compete for the award just because he was dumb/weak enough to get hooked on drugs.

Just the kind of reply I'd expect from you.

I've been around drug/alcohol dependence for years now, and I can honestly tell you most of the people with the disease of addiction are neither dumb nor weak. They've got a literal disease of the mind which causes them to obsess over the chemicals that they are addicted to.

Josh DESERVES the award just because he fought off his disease and made it to the major leagues instead of becoming just another statistic.

[C-Dawg]

Just the kind of reply I'd expect from you.

I've been around drug/alcohol dependence for years now, and I can honestly tell you most of the people with the disease of addiction are neither dumb nor weak. They've got a literal disease of the mind which causes them to obsess over the chemicals that they are addicted to.

Josh DESERVES the award just because he fought off his disease and made it to the major leagues instead of becoming just another statistic.

I'm so glad you'd expect such a logical, well-reasoned response from me. But don't talk to me about chemicals and dependence, etc. Like I said in another post, I quit smoking about a year ago, so I know what it's like. And just because cigarettes are legal doesn't mean that addiction is any easier to break than any other. However, I readily admit that I was the weak, and idiotic dumbass who did it to myself. I didn't get an award for quitting, nor would I want one! My reward will hopefully be 20 or so extra productive years of life. He gets the same reward, plus the OPPORTUNITY to prove he deserves the CbPOY award on the field. But beating drug addiction does not itself warrant such an award.

[Jsh1284]

Yeah, I wouldn't call your generalization of the chemically dependant as dumb and weak as logical or well reasoned.

I also quit abusing chemicals. Prescription painkillers, actually. I dropped this problem after seven years of abuse, and I've studied the theory of addiction ever since. I understand that this had nothing to do with my intelligence (or lack-thereof) .. instead, the chemicals I abused and obsessed over simply cured a chemical imbalance in my mind.

[lavell12]

you said you knew him personally, right? how do you know him, just curious?

I am from Raleigh just like him, and a we shared the same hitting instructor and a few summers ago I played on a summer team (semi-pro) and since he wasn't allowed to play in the minors he played on the same team as me.

[C-Dawg]

instead, the chemicals I abused and obsessed over simply cured a chemical imbalance in my mind.

That's one way of looking at it...at least if you don't want to take personal responsibility. I sincerely hope that you are able to stay off the drugs because I know that I tried several times to quit smoking, but it wasn't until I stopped making excuses for myself, and accepted responsibility that I was actually able to quit for good.

But I do recognize that pain pills may be a bit different from other addictions, such as mine and Hamilton's. Presumably, you started taking them due to a medical need and the addiction developed. This is different from someone like me who stupidly, consciously made a lifestyle choice because I was a dumbass, and then was too weak to break the cycle.

Ultimately, I didn't mean to call you personally dumb, but that's just the way I look at it. I see that your situation may be different.

[vnodnarb]

I am from Raleigh just like him, and a we shared the same hitting instructor and a few summers ago I played on a summer team (semi-pro) and since he wasn't allowed to play in the minors he played on the same team as me.

ahh very cool, how bad did he dominate that league?

[FalconPride]

Josh Hamilton should not win the Comeback Player of the Year award...not because he hasn't been through hell (because he has) or that he was too weak/dumb to quit drugs before (because that's pretty weak/dumb in itself).

The Comeback Player of the Year Award (sponsored humerously by Viagra) is presented to a player that has re-emerged on the baseball field during the season. Since Hamilton never was a star, therefore can not re-emerge, he is not a candidate for this award if we stick to the traditional definition. That does not take away what Hamilton has done and will hopefully continue to do.

As for the Rookie of the Year...well, I won't value Hamilton higher because of his drug history. Don't see why that is a valid point. If he outplays other rookies, good for him.

[McCarroll21]

I made a point in the gamethread yesterday about Hamilton winning the comeback player of the year... Jsh said something that is true, if he has never been in the league, how can he "comeback." While Hamilton's story may win the award if he were a 3 year vet, his rookie status will prevent him from winning the award ... UNLESS no one else makes a case for it.

[Jsh1284]

This thread has gone too far off topic already, so I'll make my point clear and that will be all.

There are huge differences between nicotine addicts vs opiate addicts (like me) and cocaine addicts (Josh Hamilton). I hope you'll never be able to comprehend the torment and pain that one goes through living for nothing but your next high. It's agony at an incomprehensible level for one who's never been through it.

Like Josh, I lost everything. My opportunity for education, my job, home, family's respect, and my fiance .. all due to drugs. You can't say nicotine did you the same way.

Kudos to you for quitting. I'm trying to quit smoking and it's proving to be harder than painkillers. However, it hasn't destroyed my life.

Hopefully, you understand a bit better now. Thanks

[lavell12]

ahh very cool, how bad did he dominate that league?

sad to say this is funny but I had a better batting avg then Josh, he just got up and tried to hit homers everytime and his timing was really off until the last week he started to dominate.

[C-Dawg]

Kudos to you for quitting. I'm trying to quit smoking and it's proving to be harder than painkillers. However, it hasn't destroyed my life.

Thanks, although I'm sure it will be a life-long effort for both of us. I just thought I'd mention some things that helped me: the nicotrol inhaler--absolutely the best nicotine replacement system out there. Then of course there's all the obvious things such as hard candy and chewing gum, etc, and I also recently discovered that sunflower seeds help to deal with the oral fixation part.

Good luck with this and staying off the pain killers!

[C-Dawg]

I am from Raleigh just like him, and a we shared the same hitting instructor and a few summers ago I played on a summer team (semi-pro) and since he wasn't allowed to play in the minors he played on the same team as me.

Are you still in Raleigh or are you in Atl now? I am moving back to Atl after graduation next week and was kinda hoping to catch on to an adult/semi-pro team....I figure I might as well put all my exercising and working out to some kinda use. Anywho, if you are in Atl or anyone else out there and can recommend such a league/team, please let me know!

[lavell12]

Are you still in Raleigh or are you in Atl now? I am moving back to Atl after graduation next week and was kinda hoping to catch on to an adult/semi-pro team....I figure I might as well put all my exercising and working out to some kinda use. Anywho, if you are in Atl or anyone else out there and can recommend such a league/team, please let me know!

nope I still live in Raleigh but right now I am going to college in Virginia

[cjones1999]

is Thor elligible this year?

[McCarroll21]

is Thor elligible this year?
I don't think Thorman is either...

Rookie of the Year eligibility rules state that...
a rookie was formally defined as a player with less than one-hundred thirty at-bats, a pitcher with less than fifty innings pitched, or anyone with less than forty-five days on any Major League roster.He only had 128 ABs but he played in 55 games last year, so obviously he passed the 45 day limit.

[cjones1999]

He only had 128 ABs but he played in 55 games last year, so obviously he passed the 45 day limit.
damn.....

[Nasadega]

I think he's elligible because I remember seeing Thor in CBS predictions for runner ups for the ROTY award this year

edit : found it
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10096564
Rookie of the Year: Chris Young, Arizona.

The reviews are rave. But San Diego third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, Colorado catcher Chris Iannetta, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Arizona's Quentin are names to watch, and Atlanta's Scott Thorman and Martin Prado, too.

[lmartin6]

I think Tim Hudson's making a pretty damn good case for Comeback Player of the Year to this point

[GTBrave]

I think Tim Hudson's making a pretty damn good case for Comeback Player of the Year to this point

He is making a pretty good case for Cy Young to this point

[Vuchato]

Thor isn't a rookie.

also re: KJ, he's 2nd among 2B in OPS, only after Kinsler, 5th among leadoff men, only after HanRam, Reyes, Granderson, and Rollins. only behind Hanley in OBP also.

[Rynliquid]

Thor isn't a rookie.

also re: KJ, he's 2nd among 2B in OPS, only after Kinsler, 5th among leadoff men, only after HanRam, Reyes, Granderson, and Rollins. only behind Hanley in OBP also.

And yet, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN (quite possibly one of the worst baseball writers in history) doesn't have KJ even in his top 14 best leadoff men in baseball.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=2848182

[lmartin6]

And yet, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN (quite possibly one of the worst baseball writers in history) doesn't have KJ even in his top 14 best leadoff men in baseball.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=2848182

Yeah, I read that article a couple days ago, and the only thing I took out of it was that it was just another excuse for ESPN to suck Jose Reyes' dick

[Chopaholic]

Yeah, I read that article a couple days ago, and the only thing I took out of it was that it was just another excuse for ESPN to suck Jose Reyes' dick


True.

[McCarroll21]

Yeah, I read that article a couple days ago, and the only thing I took out of it was that it was just another excuse for ESPN to suck Jose Reyes' dick
It's nearly as bad as Chip Caray.

[grafe]

And yet, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN (quite possibly one of the worst baseball writers in history) doesn't have KJ even in his top 14 best leadoff men in baseball.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=2848182
haha david eckstein is awful

[lmartin6]

haha david eckstein is awful

Is that why he has a WS MVP to his credit? He doesn't have a ton of tools, but he gets absolutely the most out of what he has