Comeback Awards

Zack Greinke

Frankly I don't think it's close either. Overcame a serious case of depression (or something like that, don't know the exact diagnosis) that almost caused him to quit baseball.

Though, I wouldn't sweat if Lester got it either. He is deserving.

by doublestix on Sep 14, 2007 5:08 PM EDT reply actions

We may be biased, as Royals fans, but for a guy who nearly quit baseball last year because of pyschological problems to be dominating as both a reliever, and, more recently, a starter is pretty amazing.

by ajohnst1 on Sep 14, 2007 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

+2

Totally agree. Frankly, I'm stunned that he's not even on the ballot.

by Bowser on Sep 15, 2007 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Yea

I see the main problem here is that he has got virtually no attention in the media outside of the KC area. I think since the fans vote on this thing, they will have heard Lester's story, and Hamilton, and Ankiel, and very few have heard about Zack.

I think he is deserving or more deserving of the award than anyone, but he just hasn't gotten the attention.

by doublestix on Sep 15, 2007 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Curious

I didn't know the type or severity of the cause of failure or time away had anything to do with the award. I thought the only criterion had to do with how the player performed on the field. I'm not sure Grienke is the best candidate using that criterion.

I would think you could find a player who didn't play much at all last year and performed at a very high level this year. Grienke doesn't quite fit the second condition. He was a good reliever, but not a star.

cmathewson

by cmathewson on Sep 17, 2007 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Dmirti and Pena

Maybe Perez and Guillen.

Guys like Carmona and Kelly Johnson have no chance. They were never good before, so they can not come back. They just got better.

by nyy601 on Sep 14, 2007 5:13 PM EDT reply actions

A clarification regarding your words!

Carmona.

Hello nyy601,

I know what you're referring to, but your words, in my opinion, aren't quite accurate, no offense.

Carmona had never been a good ML starter, and he failed in the closer's role, but he was one of the better setup men in the AL last season before he was moved into the closer's role after Wickman was traded.

Between May and June 2006 when he was the setup man:

18.1 IP/16 H/3 ER/0 HR/6 BB/19 K, ~.230 BAA.

So, your sentence, "They were never good before, so they can not come back," isn't quite accurate in my opinion. I know what you mean though about Carmona not being a good starter before, and I agree that Carmona probably won't get it over some of the other choices, but Carmona had been a good pitcher in one role, so I don't think it's totally out of the question he could win it and be a worthy choice, but over some of the other choices, probably not.

Just my 2 cents - no offense.

Take care and have a great day!

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Sep 14, 2007 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Carmona

could get most improved player (does MLB even have this?). But my I look at comeback player as a guy that had a good year, then a bad one, then a good one. Or someone who got hurt and cameback. In Carmona's only previous year in MLB he had an ERA well over 5. He had a couple good months, but his overall numbers last year were terrible.

I understand what you are saying, however. Just two differnet views of what 'comeback' means.

by nyy601 on Sep 14, 2007 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Understood!

Hello nyy601,

I see what you are saying, and like I mentioned, I doubt Carmona will get it.

I'm not sure - I don't think MLB has a "Most Improved Player" award - perhaps they should, though. :-)

Just my 2 cents.

Take care and have a great weekend!

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Sep 14, 2007 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Surprised

over both Lester and Dmitri Young. Lester because he didn't have much success (and feel it's all about the Cancer). If Lester is there then Hamilton should be IMO.

And Dmitri Young - didn't he get arrested for beating his wife? At least that is what I recall.

I also agree Greinke should be listed. But Pena is having a huge year and hard not to vote for him.

by pedrophile on Sep 14, 2007 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

Hamilton

From Jim Molony of MLB.com

Cincinnati's Josh Hamilton's comeback from personal problems is inspiring, but because Hamilton is a rookie who had not appeared in a Major League game before the current season, he is ineligible for the award.

Now can we put the calls for Hamilton to be comeback player to rest. Please.

by JFP on Sep 14, 2007 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

wasn't suggesting Hamilton

just saying Lester didn't make any more sense since he never accomplished anything prior to this year.

by pedrophile on Sep 14, 2007 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Perez and Pena

I think it's pretty clear cut. Oliver Perez should win the NL award as he's a major reason New York is in first. He's been solid all year and has really bounced back from 3 bad years when most had written him off.

Pena has been simply HUGE down in Tampa. Carlos is having a career year and should finish the year with 40+ Hr's and 120 RBI. He definately deserves to be awarded for his play despite playing for the lowly Rays.

I'm no commie, but the Reds shall be the best again!

by RedHopeful on Sep 14, 2007 5:29 PM EDT reply actions

+2

those would be both my choices as well BUT I think Dmitri Young and Kotchman deserve some praise here also, especially for dmitri, hes having a solid year. I think Kotchman is going to bust out of the gate next year and make '08 the year he gets serious attention. He was in a groove when he got hurt mid season, and it appears he is the kind of player that needs to feel 100% healthy to get his bat going so barring a setback next year, id expect a spike in all his stats.

Babe Ruth and Travis Snider back to back!!!

by realityconquest on Sep 14, 2007 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup

Well said, RedHopeful. You've been on fire recently...

by Yakker on Sep 17, 2007 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Pena

Pena, absolutely. He's been one of the best offensive players in the league. He has a 1.013 OPS. That's getting into ARod and Magglio territory.

by BenB on Sep 14, 2007 5:45 PM EDT reply actions

Ankiel

How does this guy not get votes? Is it the HGH scandal?

Even with the HGH I'd have to say Ankiel for coming back from a complete melt down to make it back to the majors and have some good success.

For the AL got to go with Pena.

by bunner19 @ Minor League Ball on Sep 14, 2007 6:10 PM EDT reply actions

+1

You realize that prospect lists have a time horizon of like 5-10 years, not 5-10 days, right?

by slurve on Sep 14, 2007 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions

+2

Curtis Granderson fan

by jrose643 on Sep 14, 2007 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

ankiel

he doesnt get votes because he's not even going to play 50 games in the bigs this year...great story and certainly a great comeback to work his way up through the system, but he shouldnt get the award just for hitting a few big league HR's

by nyybaseball99 on Sep 14, 2007 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions

yea

he could next year though

by wildthang on Sep 14, 2007 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Disagree

Ankeil was a pitcher though - I think that will weight heavily. That coupled with most voters are aware of the "body of work" Ankeil has put up this year. His HR totals can't seem to get mentioned w/o them lumping in the minor league neumbers. You always hear how "he's hit 40 HR" this year in the media.

Personally, he's my choice, but wouldn't be shocked it Perez got it.

You realize that prospect lists have a time horizon of like 5-10 years, not 5-10 days, right?

by slurve on Sep 14, 2007 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions

respone

i cant say this with certainty, but i would assume the award was created and intended for just major league performances, while ankiel's minor league numbers are important in his comeback story, i dont think they count for anything in the award consideration

by nyybaseball99 on Sep 14, 2007 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I know that

as do most here probably. You have think like Joe Voter when trying to predict these. That's my overall feeling as to where the award goes.

That said, if I was to vote, I would look what he did in the minors - I do think it deserves some weight. Dude was rakin' there for about a month. Then he came up and kept right on goin'. Imagine a wave pattern; I think the magnitude/amplitude of his rise - descent - rise is greater than anything I've seen. He's the prototype/archetype this award was created for in the first place.

You realize that prospect lists have a time horizon of like 5-10 years, not 5-10 days, right?

by slurve on Sep 14, 2007 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

you act like this

is the Cy Young award. It's pretty much a joke of an award anyways, I think "story" has a lot of merit, it's not like most awards are actually awarded by performance anyway

by Trenchtown on Sep 14, 2007 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

OK....

major league players would disagree about which criterion fans care more about: stories or stats?

this is one case where i think it is 100% fair to say: "why do I care what players think any more than posters on this board?"

you did know that fans have the final vote on this award, didn't you?

by bleedjaxblue on Sep 14, 2007 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions

joke of an award

by that logic, it shouldn't matter who wins it anyway, right?

by nyybaseball99 on Sep 15, 2007 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

yep

Seriously, if for some reason they decide to give the award to Derek Jeter, I certainly am not going to lose sleep over it

by Trenchtown on Sep 16, 2007 2:12 AM EDT up reply actions

IMO

HGH + Sample size means probably no award for Ankiel. IMO he is the best story out there though. Him and Lester.

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Sep 14, 2007 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Dumb Awards

What exactly is the criteria, is it how serious the situation was that you are coming back from. How bad you were then, compared to how good you are now. Or is just simply whatever story just "feels" like the best. Baseball has a lot of dumb awards but this one might be the dumbest.

by jlost284 on Sep 14, 2007 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

Here's a reference point

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Comeback_Player_of_the_Year

I'm no commie, but the Reds shall be the best again!

by RedHopeful on Sep 15, 2007 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Sammy Sosa?

does he qualify???

by LCT on Sep 15, 2007 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

hate to say it

But he probably should.

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Sep 15, 2007 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

i don't see why not

didn't giambi win comeback player a few years ago?

by jpahk on Sep 15, 2007 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

re: sosa v. giambi

well giambi actually had a decent year:

.271/.440/.535

meanwhile, sosa's been a one dimensional player in every sense of the word...

.253/.310/.468

but people see 19 HR and 83 RBI in 106 games and think he's had a good year

by nyybaseball99 on Sep 15, 2007 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

eh

For being out of the loop for an entire year, and for someone that almost everyone including me thought was completely washed up, Sosa has had a pretty damn good year.

by limozeen on Sep 18, 2007 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions