Which Orioles rookie isn't Topps? (Updated)
By Roch Kubatko
Topps is unveiling its 51st All-Rookie team this morning, and a certain highly touted and much-publicized Oriole went ignored.
Matt Wieters didn't make the list.
I'll take my eggs over-easy, with a side of outrage.
The New York Mets' Omir Santos beat out Wieters for top (or Topp) rookie catcher after batting .260 with 14 doubles, seven homers, 40 RBIs and a .688 OPS in 281 at-bats. Wieters batted .288 with 15 doubles, nine homers, 43 RBIs and a .753 OPS in 354 at-bats.
I forgot that Santos, who appeared in 11 games with the Orioles in 2008, qualified as a rookie because he's bounced around a few organizations. He's been in pro ball for nine seasons.
Santos had 660 games of minor league experience before reaching the majors, compared to 169 for Wieters. The Orioles ditched him, in part, because they needed to make room for Wieters.
Nolan Reimold was chosen among the outfielders, so at least the Orioles didn't get shut out. But the award has taken a serious credibility hit without Wieters. And that's an honest appraisal, not the words of a "homer" who covers the team.
Would you honestly have taken Santos over Wieters?
Among NL rookies, Santos ranked eighth or better in one statistical category. Among AL rookies, Wieters ranked eighth or better in 12 (including highest average).
Santos deserves credit for piecing together a nice season after signing with the Mets as a minor league free agent and being reassigned to minor league camp in spring training, having failed to beat out Ramon Castro and Brian Schneider. Not many of us could have predicted it. He seemed like just another "catch-and-throw" guy who passed through the Orioles organization, destined to be forgotten or confused with Guillermo Quiroz. Then I'd tune into a Mets game and see him getting a clutch hit.
Heck, just the fact that he was getting another start impressed me. But I wouldn't place him ahead of Wieters. Absolutely no way.
Here's the entire list:
1B Travis Ishikawa, San Francisco (120 games, 9 HR, 39 RBI, .261)
2B Chris Getz, Chicago (A.L.) (107, 2, 31, .261)
3B Gordon Beckham, Chicago (A.L.) (103, 14, 63, .270)
SS Elvis Andrus, Texas (145, 6, 40, .267)
OF Chris Coghlan, Florida (128, 9, 47, .321)
OF Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh (108, 12, 54, .286)
OF Nolan Reimold, Baltimore (104, 15, 45, .279)
C Omir Santos, New York (N.L.) (96, 7, 40, .260)
RHP Tommy Hanson, Atlanta (127.2 IP, 11-4, 2.89, 116 K, 46 BB)
LHP J.A. Happ, Philadelphia (166 IP, 12-4, 2.93, 119 K, 56 BB)
Shameless plug alert: I'll be sitting across from Scott Garceau today beginning at 3:30 p.m. on MASN. Coppin State men's basketball coach Fang Mitchell is scheduled to call into the show, which means I better start doing some research.
Also, be sure to check out Steve Melewski's recent interview with Andy MacPhail.
I forgot that Santos, who appeared in 11 games with the Orioles in 2008, qualified as a rookie because he's bounced around a few organizations. He's been in pro ball for nine seasons.
Santos had 660 games of minor league experience before reaching the majors, compared to 169 for Wieters. The Orioles ditched him, in part, because they needed to make room for Wieters.
Nolan Reimold was chosen among the outfielders, so at least the Orioles didn't get shut out. But the award has taken a serious credibility hit without Wieters. And that's an honest appraisal, not the words of a "homer" who covers the team.
Would you honestly have taken Santos over Wieters?
Among NL rookies, Santos ranked eighth or better in one statistical category. Among AL rookies, Wieters ranked eighth or better in 12 (including highest average).
Santos deserves credit for piecing together a nice season after signing with the Mets as a minor league free agent and being reassigned to minor league camp in spring training, having failed to beat out Ramon Castro and Brian Schneider. Not many of us could have predicted it. He seemed like just another "catch-and-throw" guy who passed through the Orioles organization, destined to be forgotten or confused with Guillermo Quiroz. Then I'd tune into a Mets game and see him getting a clutch hit.
Heck, just the fact that he was getting another start impressed me. But I wouldn't place him ahead of Wieters. Absolutely no way.
Here's the entire list:
1B Travis Ishikawa, San Francisco (120 games, 9 HR, 39 RBI, .261)
2B Chris Getz, Chicago (A.L.) (107, 2, 31, .261)
3B Gordon Beckham, Chicago (A.L.) (103, 14, 63, .270)
SS Elvis Andrus, Texas (145, 6, 40, .267)
OF Chris Coghlan, Florida (128, 9, 47, .321)
OF Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh (108, 12, 54, .286)
OF Nolan Reimold, Baltimore (104, 15, 45, .279)
C Omir Santos, New York (N.L.) (96, 7, 40, .260)
RHP Tommy Hanson, Atlanta (127.2 IP, 11-4, 2.89, 116 K, 46 BB)
LHP J.A. Happ, Philadelphia (166 IP, 12-4, 2.93, 119 K, 56 BB)
Shameless plug alert: I'll be sitting across from Scott Garceau today beginning at 3:30 p.m. on MASN. Coppin State men's basketball coach Fang Mitchell is scheduled to call into the show, which means I better start doing some research.
Also, be sure to check out Steve Melewski's recent interview with Andy MacPhail.
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