All Rookie Team, 2001

Jason Michael Barker

I haven't written about rookies in awhile, but it seems like a good time to do so, seeing as we're in that lull between the post-season and free agency really getting going. That's not to say Jason Giambi won't have signed with the Yankees by the time you read this, but I don't expect much to happen in free agency this week. But you go, Todd Van Poppel!

Without further ado, here's a look at my All Rookie Team for 2001.

Toby Hall, C, Tampa Bay
In a year devoid of rookie catching talent -- no, Paul Lo Duca doesn't count -- Hall stands out despite logging just 188 at-bats this season. In that time, he hit .298 and showed some pop, with four homers and 16 doubles. Unfortunately, he only drew four walks, and has never walked much in the minors. His defense isn't great, but at 26 he's not young enough to learn another position, and he isn't likely to hit enough to play somewhere else anyway. Like I said, there wasn't much rookie catching talent this year.

(Don't worry -- our own David Cameron is here to tell you there's some catching on the way up).

Craig Wilson, 1B, Pittsburgh
Wilson played even less than Hall last year, but he hit 13 homers in 158 at-bats and played four positions for the Pirates. His line -- .310/.390/.589 -- would likely slip with increased playing time, but that shouldn't stop some smart team from giving him 300 at-bats behind the plate, particularly against left-handed pitching, which he pounds. In the meantime, however, he's here manning first base.

Alfonso Soriano, 2B, New York
I'm not the biggest Soriano fan, which you should know if you've read any of my writing on him earlier this year. All that said, he really did have a nice year for a rookie at his position. Soriano's .268/.304/.432 line really doesn't look like much, but he did show a decent power-speed combo with 55 extra-base hits and 43 steals. Those sorts of skills have value, particularly at the bottom of the batting order. Finally -- if Soriano ever learns the strikezone, he'll be a star.

Albert Pujols, 3B, St. Louis
I toyed with not listing Pujols at third, but then I would have had to find someone else at this position, and the pickings were slim. He also spent the most innings at third of any of the four positions he played, so it's not a ridiculous choice. There really isn't much to say about Pujols that isn't shown in his stellar .329/.403/.610 line. Walks, power, average -- he was the complete package last season.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia
Like Soriano, Rollins put together a year better than his .274/.323/.419 line would suggest. In addition to stealing 46 bases in 54 attempts (85%), he pulled off the triple-double of extra-base hits -- double figures in doubles (29), triples (12) and homers (14). His walk rate was also quite a bit better than Soriano's leading me to believe he might add walks to his arsenal in the near future.

Adam Dunn, OF, Cincinnati
Dunn didn't make it to the majors until late July, but he made his presence known by belting 12 homers in August alone. He finished with a .262/.371/.578 line, with 19 homers and 38 walks in 244 at-bats. Dunn generates tremendous power from his 6-6 frame and is still only 22 years old... there's really nothing here not to like. Pujols and Roy Oswalt had great years in 2001, but I think I'd go with Dunn over the course of their respective careers.

Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Seattle
It shouldn't have been a surprise that he won American League Rookie of the Year, but to call his Most Valuable Player award "unexpected" is the understatement of the year. Yeah, he's overrated and the award was largely a product of the "Ichiro!" hype. That's not to say he's not a good player, however -- he did hit .350 and steal 56 bases, and of course there's his now legendary .449 batting average with runners in scoring position. All of those things have value, and he was certainly the top rookie outfielder in MLB this year.

Aaron Rowland, OF, Chicago
Say what? Go ahead -- you try to find a decent third outfielder among 2001's rookies. That's what brings me to Rowland, who hit .293/.385/.431 in 123 at-bats while spending time at all three outfield positions. He hit for average, drew some walks, and stole five bases in six attempts. Ideal starter? Of course not, but look what I have to work with here.

Roy Oswalt, RHP, Houston
Take away Albert Pujols and Oswalt walks away with the National League Rookie of the Year award, no questions asked. In addition to his gaudy 14-3 record, he posted a 2.73 ERA in 141.2 innings with 144 strikeouts and just 24 walks. Opposing batters hit just .235/.273/.361 against him, and if you watched him at all last year you saw his devastating, hard-breaking curveball.

C.C. Sabathia, LHP, Cleveland
That "other" AL rookie, Sabathia finished the year with a 4.39 ERA in 180.1 innings. There's tremendous value in a pitcher who can make 33 starts in a season, particularly with an ERA under the league average. There's no doubt he walked too many hitters, but his strikeout rate was very good and he didn't allow many hits. At the tender age of 21, he has plenty of time to learn to harness his stuff and cut down on the walks.

If there's somebody you think I missed, be sure to drop me a line.

about the author

Jason Michael Barker is no rookie, but he'd be happy to be included on your All-Cookie Team. Remind him at jmb@strikethree.com that you're saving room for chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin, not to mention snickerdoodles.

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