Twins
Awards Series
Minnesota
Twins Top Pitcher and Rookie
Yesterday, we looked at the Twins
2010 MVP. Today, we will go through our panel’s selections for Twins Pitcher of
the Year and Rookie of the Year.
I received 24 responses. A huge
Thank You to those who contributed to this:
·
Paul Allen is likely best
known for his role as the Voice of the Vikings for KFAN, but he does terrific
work on his nine to noon radio show at KFAN and KFAN.com. He also is the track announcer at Canterbury
Downs.
·
Darren
“Doogie” Wolfson works for KSTP-TV in the Twin Cities as well as
co-hosts Twins Wrap on 1500espn. He also writes a Your Voices blog for StarTribune.com.
·
Phil Mackey is on-air from
12-2 each weekday with Patrick Reusse and
writes extensively on the Twins at 1500espn.com.
·
Howard
Sinker was a Twins
beat writer for the Star Tribune, and now he does a great job with
startribune.com and blogs A Fans View from Section 219.
·
Phil
Miller was the Twins
beat writer for the Pioneer Press for a couple of years. He did help the
Startribune.com Twins coverage some this season, worked for FSNorth.com,
Baseball America and now covers Gophers football for the Star Tribune.
·
Dan
Hammer is the host of The Dan Hammer Show on am740
in Fargo, an affiliate of KFAN.
·
Judd
Spicer writes about
sports for the City Pages.
·
The TwinsCentric Guys:
o
Seth Stohs – SethSpeaks.net
o
Nick Nelson – Nick’s Twins Blog
o
Parker Hageman – OverTheBaggy
o
John Bonnes – TwinsGeek.com.
·
Twins Bloggers:
o
Andrew Bryz-Gornia – Off the Mark
o
Topper Anton – Curve for a Strike
o
Betsy Bissen – For the Love of the Game
o
John Meyer – Twins MVB
o
Andrew Kneeland – Twins Target
o
Shawn Berg – On the Road with Shawn…
o
Kirsten Brown – K-Bro Baseball Blog
o
Cody Christie – North Dakota Twins Fan
o
Josh Johnson – Josh’s Thoughts
o
Eric Johnson – Undomed
o Dan Wade – Baseball Daily Digest, among others.
Today, let’s start with the Twins
Pitcher of the Year. Below, I’ll also post the Twins Rookie of the Year.
This year’s SethSpeaks.net Twins Bloggers/Writers/Media Types
(SSTBWMT?) Minnesota Twins Pitcher of the Year is:
FRANCISCO LIRIANO.
One award presented, so let's
move to the second award, ,the Twins Pitcher of the
Year... goes too... Another drumroll please... Twins lefty Francisco
Lirano.
Liriano, at times, reminded Twins fans of his amazing 2006 rookie season.
At times, he dominated. He recorded over a strikeout per inning, issued few
walks and a miniscule number of home runs. His numbers looked very good, while
those advanced pitching statistics show he was as good as anyone in the league
at things he could control. He received 17 of the 24 first-place votes among
our panel.
Carl Pavano
provided
the veteran leadership that the Twins and their fans hoped for. He not
only pitched very well, but he pitched well over 200 innings. He frequently
saved the bullpen with complete games. He could be counted on nearly every
start for seven or eight innings and three runs or less. He received six first
place votes.
Brian Duensing
finished
in third place in our vote and received the final first place vote. Pitched
incredibly out of the bullpen and then really helped the team as a starting
pitcher in the second half.
In mid-May, most Twins fans,
bloggers, media and others had given up on Jesse Crain. Since then, he has been the
Twins best, most reliable relief pitcher. He earned a lot of fourth place
votes, a lot of third place votes and even a second place vote. He has been
vital to the Twins success.
Jesse Crain, Scott
Baker and Kevin
Slowey tied for fifth but were far
behind the top three.
Seth’s Top Five Vote:
1.
Francisco Liriano – He’s
dominant. He strikes out a lot and walks few. Very few home
runs, and held up throughout the season.
2. Carl Pavano – Pavano was so much more
than I would have ever hoped for. His consistency is incredible. Struggled
late.
3. Brian Duensing – Speaking of more than expected, no one could
have dreamed of what he’s done, both as a tremendous lefty reliever and one of the
best starters in the AL in the second half.
4. Jesse Crain – Crain
has been one of the most dominant relievers in all of baseball since early
June.
5.
Kevin Slowey – Someone had
to be #5. I realize he had very few quality starts, but before last night, he
had an ERA of just 4.18. How?
The
Ballot:
|
|
Total Points |
Seth Stohs |
Parker Hageman |
Nick Nelson |
Phil Mackey |
Andrew Bryz-Gornia |
Topper Anton |
Phil Miller |
Dan Wade |
Anthony Maggio |
Paul Allen |
Andrew Kneeland |
Shawn Berg |
Kirsten Brown |
Josh Johnson |
Eric Johnson |
Eric Olson |
John Bonnes |
Dan Hammer |
John Meyer |
Cody Christie |
Judd Spicer |
Howard Sinker |
Betsy Bitsen |
|
Francisco
Liriano |
106 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
|
Carl Pavano |
93 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
|
Brian Duensing |
66 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
|
Jesse
Crain |
51 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Scott
Baker |
7 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jon
Rauch |
7 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
Kevin Slowey |
7 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matt Guerrier |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Nick
Blackburn |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matt
Capps |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian
Fuentes |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
This year’s SethSpeaks.net Twins Bloggers/Writers/Media Types
(SSTBWMT?) Minnesota Twins Rookie of the Year is:
DANNY VALENCIA.
This was clearly the
easiest vote of the group. Danny Valencia received all 24 first-place votes,
and in fact, there was very little competition. That does not, in any way,
minimize just how terrific Valencia's rookie campaign has been. He has hit for
average, shown power of late, and despite recent struggles, his defense has
been remarkable.
Seth’s Top Three Vote:
1.
Danny Valencia – Hit for average, added power, and
very good defense at a position of need
2. Drew Butera – Terrific defensive performance all year. Doesn’t
hit much, but he did pick up a couple of very memorable.
3.
Alex Burnett – Was actually very good for the first
two months of the season.
The
Ballot:
|
|
Total
Points |
Seth Stohs |
John Bonnes |
Parker Hageman |
Nick Nelson |
Doogie Wolfson |
Phil Mackey |
Andrew Bryz-Gornia |
Topper Anton |
Dan Hammer |
Anthony Maggio |
Paul Allen |
Betsy Bissen |
John Meyer |
Judd Spicer |
Andrew Kneeland |
Shawn Berg |
Kirsten Brown |
Cody Christie |
Josh Johnson |
Eric Johnson |
Eric Olson |
Howard Sinker |
Phil Miller |
Dan Wade |
|
Danny
Valencia |
120 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Drew Butera |
32 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
3 |
|
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
1 |
|
3 |
3 |
|
|
Alex
Burnett |
18 |
1 |
|
3 |
3 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Matt
Fox |
14 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Jeff Manship |
6 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wilson
Ramos |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
3 |
|
Luke
Hughes |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
Trevor
Plouffe |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
So now you have had the chance to
review our 2010 Twins MVP, Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year. What do
you think of the results? How would you vote? What would your rankings be?
Leave your comments year.