2008 MLB Comeback player of the year?

by nyy601 on Feb 26, 2008 10:21 PM EST

Who do you think will win the comeback player of the year this year?

My vote: Vernon Wells.

In his first year of a huge new contract Wells had a down year that ended with surgery on a torn labrum. Should come back healthy this year. I think another 30 homer season may be coming for him. For fantasy players, I think he would be a steal if he slips far enough and you could probably trade for him for cheap.

(honorable mention: Francisco Liriano, if he can stay healthy)

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Nick Johnson

Just a hunch he becomes healthy this year and has a .310/20/90 type year with 100 walks. Hey even the most injured get at least one full year of health right?

by dlpme77 on Feb 26, 2008 10:22 PM EST reply actions

Uh

Last year he played 146 games with a .948 OPS, 46 doubles and 23 HR in a pitcher's park

by Fett42 @ Minor League Ball on Feb 27, 2008 8:09 AM EST up reply actions

uh

Nick Johnson did not play last year which makes the PERFECT example of a comeback player of the year candidate

by dlpme77 on Feb 27, 2008 8:18 AM EST up reply actions

Eric Chavez

I just think he will have a breakout year. Not sure why. Maybe it's more of a hope.

by asyouwish33 on Feb 26, 2008 10:47 PM EST reply actions

Pedro Martinez

He should rack up plenty of wins if he stays healthy.

by AdRoK on Feb 26, 2008 11:00 PM EST reply actions

Wins

HOF voter?

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. George Carlin

by GregJP on Feb 27, 2008 1:23 AM EST up reply actions

Not the point

The people who decide these awards are easily distracted by things like wins. Or batting average/RBI's/homers.

by demondeaconbaseball on Feb 27, 2008 8:03 AM EST up reply actions

re

K BB H ERA
32 7 33 2.571

In his return last season these are his numbers after 28 innings. If he puts up numbers that are anything like those then how doesn't he win?

by AdRoK on Feb 27, 2008 8:09 AM EST up reply actions

+1

Based on his September last year, Pedro still has the stuff to get strikeouts and he's on a team that can get him wins, even if he only averages less than 6 innings per start. I think his ERA will go up from last season but that's to be expected. If he can finish with a sub 4.00 ERA, 150 K's and, say, 12-13 wins, he's a contender.

by Lunkwill Fook on Feb 27, 2008 9:12 AM EST up reply actions

Mike Hampton

by mraver on Feb 26, 2008 11:03 PM EST reply actions

+1

by Jay212033 on Feb 26, 2008 11:34 PM EST up reply actions

If he can just pitch

100 innings it would be a great comeback. But after 2 1/2 years off, it will be very hard for him to succeed.

by nyy601 on Feb 26, 2008 11:38 PM EST up reply actions

I was completely joking...

I'll be impressed if he makes 10 effective ML starts.

by mraver on Feb 27, 2008 10:00 PM EST up reply actions

Jason Bay

A Marlins fan in exile. Keep the Fish in Miami!

by jdelavalle on Feb 26, 2008 11:04 PM EST reply actions

+1

Go Pirates!!!

by cool hand Charlie on Feb 27, 2008 10:37 AM EST up reply actions

Hank Blalock

by goose102977 on Feb 26, 2008 11:08 PM EST reply actions

Manny Ramirez?

I by no means think he will win, but he should definitely have a much better season.

by kofanis0880 on Feb 26, 2008 11:08 PM EST reply actions

Joke?

The guy hit .296/.388/.493/881 without suffering a major injury. I don't think he qualifies. This is an award for guys who either missed significant time or just had a really off year. 881 is not a really off year, even for a future first-ballot HOFer like Manny.

cmathewson

by cmathewson on Feb 26, 2008 11:45 PM EST up reply actions

Just a shot...

Bobby Crosby finally plays 150 games and has a nice year.

I won't get married until the Red Sox win the World Series. AGAIN!!

by Shep on Feb 26, 2008 11:16 PM EST reply actions

He could breakout

not sure he is a comeback guy, since he has never really done anything in the majors. His rookie year was ok but he did only hit .239.

by nyy601 on Feb 26, 2008 11:21 PM EST up reply actions

Nomar

I think it would be really, really dumb for the Dodger not to play LaRoche. If he get his ABs I think he could run away with ROY (depending on how good his competion does). I could see him hitting .300 with 30 homers if given a chance. When smashed the ball last year when he was healthy. At worst you know he will have a good OBP and give them some power.

by nyy601 on Feb 26, 2008 11:30 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, not a comback kid

I never understood why everyone fawned over this guy. He's never had 400 PAs in a season. He doesn't really have the range of a short stop. And, except for his rookie year, he's been at or near the bottom of the league in OPS at his position. I guess it's reverse MoneyBall hype for guys who prefer walks to hits.

cmathewson

by cmathewson on Feb 26, 2008 11:49 PM EST up reply actions

He's never had a second full season

you're talking about his first half season.

by nyy601 on Feb 27, 2008 12:00 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I meant after the ROY year

Three straight half seasons, getting progressively worse. I suppose if he returns to ROY status he could win the award. I'd bet a paycheck against it.

My vote is for Liriano. The Twins handled him differently. I think that will allow him to be more successful than typical in his first year back from TJ.

cmathewson

by cmathewson on Feb 27, 2008 12:06 AM EST up reply actions

sounds more like

a pipe dream

by yoshimi on Feb 26, 2008 11:27 PM EST up reply actions

Mark Kotsay

Coming off a horrible season, if he can come back, play good defense in center, and hit at a decent level I think he's got a shot.

by was385 on Feb 26, 2008 11:41 PM EST reply actions

Anyone else think Wells will have a good year?

or did he pull a Andian Beltre and play for a contract in 2006?

by nyy601 on Feb 26, 2008 11:47 PM EST reply actions

wells is well

I'm all over this guy. I'm thrilled about his crappy year last year 'cause this year his owner in my league will not keep him, so I've got a chance to get him. And get him I will.

by journeymen on Feb 27, 2008 12:06 AM EST reply actions

Good choices already...

My first thought was Nick Johnson too. But I also like the Bay and Blaylock choices. Liriano is a great choice if he can pitch 120 innings with a sub 3.50 ERA and 12 or more wins. I'm hoping for Bay though (in the NL) since I have him on my Sim Team.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Feb 27, 2008 12:11 AM EST reply actions

fatso

bartolo colon

This is me being polite.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Feb 27, 2008 1:04 AM EST reply actions

haha, not a chance

Mark Prior has a better chance of making a big comeback this year. Put both of them together and you still don't get a healthy right arm.

Baseball Instructor - www.frozenropes.com

by HuskerBob on Feb 27, 2008 1:34 AM EST up reply actions

My super wildcard guess

Hideo Nomo

by RollingWave on Feb 27, 2008 1:12 AM EST reply actions

I'll see that wildcard

and raise you Juan Gonzalez. Talk about improbable...

by demondeaconbaseball on Feb 27, 2008 8:05 AM EST up reply actions

Dusty Baker

in reality, though, i'm not sure.

i'd say Tejada if it weren't for the Mitchell report, i guess, but we're looking for "feel-good stories" here. like if Cory Lidle were to come back from the dead and win it.

maybe Hafner has a chance? but i'm not sure he was bad enough.

i suppose Lester would fit the bill of "feel-good," but it wouldn't be a comeback.

i guess, along with Crosby, it's worth throwing Chavez and Dan Johnson out there. Kotsay too, even though (or because?) he's no longer an A.

really, there's no more difficult award to predict. the only safe guess was "Eric Davis," and he's not around any more.

by bleedjaxblue on Feb 27, 2008 1:20 AM EST reply actions