Laro⚡️

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[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

Don't tell me the sky is the limit when there's footprints on the moon 😌

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

@spiffy21 Are we playing pretend now?

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

JJ was always gonna finish third. His second half was terrible. Sal deserved to win. He played consistent the whole season. Being a cardinals fan doesn’t mean you have to be biased all the time

[Brenden Schaeffer🎳 @bschaeffer12]

As a BBWAA member, I had a vote for NL Rookie of the Year.

My ballot looked like this:

Wetherholt
Rumfield
Benge
McLean
Stewart

I didn't know before the results were unveiled last night how others voted. I didn't know I would actually be the lowest voter on Sal Stewart, the only person to place him 5th on their ballot.

I've gotten some flak from disgruntled Reds fans about where I placed the eventual winner of the award. I wanted to outline some of my thought process.

I had a Rookie of the Year vote once previously, when Corbin Carroll won it. Making out a ballot that year felt a lot more straightforward compared to this loaded list of worthy rookies.

Wetherholt led all NL rookies in Wins Above Replacement and was one of the top 20 players in WAR in the NL, not just among rookies.

He was the best defensive player in the sport aside from PCA. His defensive metrics seemed to back this up, though he didn't win the Gold Glove at 2B (and no, I didn't have a vote in that).

In addition to the superlative defense, he remained an above league-average contributor offensively, particularly in his role. Wetherholt led NL rookies in runs scored, which seemed to me to be a similar valuation to the way Reds supporters view Stewart, who led rookies in RBIs.

For a leadoff man, runs scored is the goal. For someone in Stewart's position in the lineup, the goal is driving in the runs. Both thrived at their objective. I, clearly, put weight into JJ's defensive value vs. where Sal didn't carry value on that side of the ball.

Carson Benge was a blend of strong offensive numbers with plus defense in the outfield. Probably the most well-rounded rookie, but perhaps without any standout characteristic to push up to the top of the ballot.

The order of the top three was a real challenge that I wrestled with. Benge drew the second-most 1st place votes and I can't argue with the logic behind those selections. Benge had 4.3 WAR, only narrowly behind Wetherholt (4.6), but admittedly ahead of Rumfield, who was only 2.6 per FanGraphs but 3.5 per Baseball Reference.

But the more I looked into TJ Rumfield's season, the more I was impressed. Did you realize he led the National League in OBP this season? Not just among rookies -- he led the entire NL.

Additionally, the Coors Field bump wasn't responsible for his standout offensive season. He had a better OBP on the road. His OPS was easily above every other name on my ballot.

Nolan McLean came next on my ballot. I struggled figuring out exactly where to draw the lines and place the only pitcher on my ballot. His numbers were really strong, and it's an age-old question how to weigh position players against pitchers in this award race. Logan Henderson merited consideration, too, but with only five spots on the ballot, he fell victim to the workload conversation. He didn't reach 100 big-league innings, as he spent a stint in AAA during the season.

Sal Stewart, of course, was worthy of the ballot. And truthfully, I wouldn't have had a huge issue with any of the five names I chose ultimately winning. Stewart's 30-100 season obviously won over enough of the voters for him to be selected as the winner.

But of the five players on my ballot, he was lowest in WAR (2.0) by a considerable margin. He contributed power and RBIs that exceeded the other candidates, but ultimately, landed fifth on my ballot due to some of the rate stats and other underlying numbers that pushed other candidates above him, for me.

At the end of the day, Sal Stewart is a deserving winner of the award and I enjoyed the process of putting together what ended up being an especially challenging ballot.

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

And he was rewarded by being a gold glove finalist

[Willard Wilson @WIAC_Willard]

@MMGLaro Wetherholt was the far superior defender and baserunner

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

I’m a cardinals fans dumbass

[TC @TCRedbird]

@MMGLaro Says the bias refs clown

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

@STLSprtsCntrl Are you dumb? I’m a cardinals fan retard

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

I know they hate that I was broke and watched me come up

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

These James Gunn tweets are funny as shit

[Chris @HotRodChicago]

Every Division in the NFL has maybe one or two good/decent teams

Every team in the NFC North:

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

Excellent YAC from burden

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

Let them Roleplay. It’s not a big deal

[Tune, MBA, CISSP @CartuneNetwerk]

This black truck discussion needed to be had because why do so many average and below average people yearn for VIP treatment.

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

Well she was married before I was born. We have pictures though

[Nyj$ @NyjahMikami]

tryna tell a bitch how to be a wife and never seen they momma in a wedding dress

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

Folding all of them

[I'm a nerd ☆ @Im_a_nerd__]

Would Sanji reach the end?

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

He’s not getting past luffy.

[hasangoat @GoatHasan]

IQ test for op fans
Loki runs the gauntlet where does he stop or does he clear
#ONEPIECE1198

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

Venable for the win

[Talkin' Baseball @TalkinBaseball_]

Kevin Cash, Chad Tracy and Will Venable are AL Manager of the Year finalists

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

Massie was the only congressman to not take any aipac money. Israel still very much funds campaigns

[Tim Pool @Timcast]

Israel lost

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

Miller without a doubt.

[Talkin' Baseball @TalkinBaseball_]

Jhoan Duran, Trevor Megill and Mason Miller are finalists for the first ever NL Relief Pitcher of the Year Award

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

Go easy on that best hitter in baseball jargon. Aaron judge does exist

[SleeperAthletics @SleeperAth]

Nick Kurtz rejected the Athletics offer of $110-130 million, @ByJasonB says he’s probably valued closer to $140-$160…

The largest contract in A’s history is Sodey, at $86 million! 👀

Will John Fisher cough up the cash to secure our franchise player & the best hitter in baseball⁉️🤔

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

The miz

[Talkin' Baseball @TalkinBaseball_]

Jacob Misiorowski, Chris Sale and Cristopher Sanchez are finalists for NL Cy Young

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

Tell owners to spend money

[Codify @CodifyBaseball]

Completely fix baseball's labor dispute in five words or less.

[Laro⚡️ @MMGLaro]

PCA should win. 40-40 and an amazing defensive year.

[Talkin' Baseball @TalkinBaseball_]

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Shohei Ohtani and Brice Turang are finalists for NL MVP