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Considering a National for a Major Award
By Jamie Mottram | August 11, 2008
I don’t really think Nats starter John Lannan deserves to win Rookie of the Year, but he should at least be part of the conversation and just may wind up winning the damn thing.
Despite Lannan’s ERA (3.40; 14th-best in the NL) and WHIP (1.30; 22nd) placing him among the finest rookies, the only mention of it I’ve seen is by Mark Zuckerman at the Washington Times. Zuckerman rightly blames the disparity between Lannan’s performance and recognition on a rather cruel and unusual win-loss record (6-11), but that’s no excuse.
MLB’s NL Rookie of the Month honors haven’t even included Lannan on the ballot, not once, even though he had a terrific April (2.64 ERA) followed by solid showings in June (3.60) and July (3.82). The problem, again, is that he didn’t post a winning record in any of those months.
If we’re being fair, a data-driven look at the NL’s best rookies of 2008 concludes with three guys: Lannan, Atlanta’s Jair Jurrjens (whose numbers, aside from wins and losses, are similar to Lannan’s) and Chicago’s Geovany Soto (who started in the All-Star Game but has tailed off since May).
Regardless of who wins the award (likely Soto or Jurrjens), the important thing is that Lannan’s performance in his first full season, at the age of 23, makes him part of the Nats’ Plan, if it ever comes together. I made this same post last year about another Beltway bloomer, and look at Jeremy Guthrie now. He’s one of the finest starters in baseball, and imagining the same fate for John Lannan is easy if you try.*
* As a Beatles fan, I just couldn’t help myself. Profuse apologies.
Topics: John Lannan, Nationals, Stats Are Cool | 4 Comments »
August 11th, 2008 at 9:58 AM
John Legend has a better chance at making the ballot.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:58 AM
Lannan would have a stronger argument if the other two guys in front of him did not have such cool names.
August 11th, 2008 at 11:38 AM
So, you mean to tell me wins aren’t the best way to gauge a pitcher’s effectiveness? Joe Morgan would like to have a word with you, sir.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:42 AM
[...] did this with Guthrie in ‘07 and Lannan in ‘08, so we might as well with Bergesen in ‘09. He’s been the O’s best starter (5-2 [...]