AL Rookie Round-Up

Jason Michael Barker

In the latest edition of the Rookie Roundup, we take a look the cream of the American League's crop, including two new entries. But unlike the National League, the race for Rookie of the Year isn't getting complicated. Oakland's Ben Grieve looks like a runaway fave early in the season, although a certain venerable rookie is making a case for himself down in Tampa Bay.

Ben Grieve, Oakland
G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	AVG
42	171	38	55	17	2	5	27	19	30	0	.403	.532	.322

April 19, 1998 - Oakland had just split a four-game series with Kansas City, but the American League's top rookie was struggling mightily. After going 1 of 18 in the series, Grieve found himself hitting just .226 for the season with but four extra base hits. It was surely frustrating for a player who's never really struggled any level, even in his brief stint in the majors last season. But never fear, sports fans. In the A's next series, Grieve went 8 for 14 with his first home run of the season, and he hasn't looked back. He's still the odds-on favorite for AL Rookie of the Year.

Todd Greene, Anaheim (AAA numbers)
G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	AVG
1	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1.000	1.000	1.000

Todd Greene is putting up Hall of Fame type numbers. OK, so he's doing it in AAA. And OK, he's only played one game. The Angels catcher of the future has finally started his rehab assignment with Vancouver of the Pacific Coast League, although no timetable has been set for his return. Anaheim will need his bat in the lineup if they hope to keep pace in the West.

Magglio Ordonez, White Sox
G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	AVG
39	145	24	36	7	1	6	14	9	20	2	.295	.434	.248

Ordonez has done his best hitting this season out of the sixth spot in the batting order, but for some reason White Sox first-year manager Jerry Manuel has moved him to the number two slot. It probably has something to do with "protection" - the idea that he'll hit better if he's batting in front of a good hitter like Frank Thomas. It hasn't worked so far, as Ordonez is hitting .300 but has just a .314 OBP while hitting second. His power has increased, however (3 of his 6 home runs, and a .580 slugging percentage in the two spot), lending some credibility to the theory that he'll see more fastballs hitting in front of Thomas.

Ken Cloude, Seattle
G	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	W	L	SV	ERA
9	9	0	0	44.1	53	31	30	10	29	25	3	2	0	6.09

Whoops. Cloude has gone from mediocre to just plain bad this season, and it's easy to see why. Allowing 17 baserunners per nine innings just isn't getting the job done. He has also been plagued by the home run ball this season (10 allowed in just 44.1 innings), and he's walking more batters than he's striking out. Considering these numbers and his ERA over 6, Cloude's 3-2 record is much more a testament to the Mariners' offense than to his own pitching performance. Seattle manager Lou Piniella seems to be losing patience and hasn't allowed Cloude to get out of the third inning in his past two starts. Much of Seattle's chances in the West hinge on Cloude getting his act together.

Roland Arrojo, Tampa Bay
G	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	W	L	SV	ERA
9	9	2	2	59.1	55	20	19	3	11	40	6	2	0	2.88

A rookie in name only, the Devil Rays' 29 year-old ace has been one of the better pitchers in the AL this season. A native of Cuba, Arrojo has won five of his last six starts, including back-to-back three-hit shutouts on April 30th and May 6th. Contrast these numbers with those of our last rookie, Ken Cloude: just 3 homers allowed in 59.1 innings, and a nearly 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio. He also has lowered his ERA in each of his last seven starts, and his solid pitching is one of the biggest reasons why Tampa Bay is off to a respectable 20-22 start.

David Ortiz, Minnesota
G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	AVG
28	98	17	30	10	0	4	20	10	27	0	.375	.531	.306

Before being placed on the 60-day DL with a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist, Ortiz was one of the league's top rookies. After making the jump from single-A ball to the majors last season, he posted an .802 OPS in 15 games, and expectations for this season were high. Ortiz didn't disappoint, hitting .306 with 14 of his 30 hits going for extrabases. The 6'4", 240-pound 1B has been especially tough on left-handed pitching this season, posting a 1.012 OPS and getting on base over 41% of the time. Baseball in Minnesota isn't much to be excited about, but once Ortiz comes off the DL, at least fans will have an exciting young player to watch. Until the team moves, that is.

Jason Michael Barker is planning a summer trip which will take him to every Stuckey's in the country. Offer him traveling companionship at jmb@strikethree.com.