The Federalbaseball.com '08 MLB Rookie of the Year Discussion...

e chigliak - "So who'd you cast your vote for as NL Rookie of the year, Mr. Smith?"

Winston Smith (Editor, Federalbaseball.com) - "Do you want the real answer or should I just explain why I chose who I did?"

e chigliak - "Why not both?"

Winston Smith - "Well, I voted for Geovany Soto, but only because Jair Jurrjens faded in the second half, after the All-Star Break..."

STAT CHECK - Jair Jurrjens -

Before ASG - (9-4) in 18 starts, 3.00 ERA in 111.0 IP. 

After ASG - (4-6) in 13 starts, 4.66 ERA in 77.1 IP. 

e chigliak - "I used the "everyday player" rationale in choosing Soto..."

Winston Smith - "That and the fact that he was on a Division winner." 

e chigliak - "Yeah, a rookie catcher who hits .291 with 35 doubles, 2 triples, 23 HR's, 86 RBI's...and only 5 errors all season?" (ed. note - "'All Season' for Soto = 142 G.")

Winston Smith - "How many errors did each of the Nationals' catchers have?"

e chigliak - "Why would you ask that? You know what I have to do now..."

STAT CHECK -

Jesus Flores - 5 errors in 82 games. 

Wil Nieves - 3 errors in 61 games.

Paul Lo Duca - 0 errors in 20 games*

Johnny Estrada - 2 errors in 2 games. 

Luke Montz - 1 error in 8 games. 

(ed. note - " * = Lo Duca had 3 errors at first, 1 error in LF, 1 error as DH...I kid.")

e chigliak - "What did that prove?"

Winston Smith - "Well at least we got to talk about the Nationals. Did McCann(Braves' catcher Brian) win rookie of the year his first season...just as a comparison with another catcher?"

e  chigliak - "No, but his first full season, 130 games in '06, McCann hit .333 with 34 doubles, 24 HR's and 93 RBI's...So who was the last catcher to win ROY in the NL? You're on the clock, Mr. Smith?"

Winston Smith - "Piazza..."

e chigliak - "Oh, what a guess...yes, in '93 with LA."

Winston Smith - "Guess, I sounded pretty sure to me...And what were Piazza's numbers compared to Soto's?"

e chigliak - "Already looking...uh...149 games, 24 doubles, 2 triples, 35 HR's, 112 RBI's...and a .318 AVG." 

Winston Smith - "So Soto's in good company. Who were your other two picks...?"

e chigliak - "Johnny Cueto, Jair Jurrjens, Soto."

Winston Smith - "I went with Joey Votto, Jair Jurrjens and Soto."

e chigliak - "I know you liked Cueto, though, right?"

Winston Smith - "...Cueto just had a terrible two month stretch where he was giving up all kinds of homers...I thought Votto was pretty steady, I don't recall #'s to back it up but..."

e chigliak - "That's what the stat check is for...Yeah, Cueto had two stretches over two months, the first three starts of both May and June where he gave up 6 HR's, and in June he walked 12 in 3 starts while allowing...11 runs, the 6 HR's, and 17 hits in 18 innings...but the Reds still won 2 of the 3 games..."

Winston Smith - "And what were Votto's month-to-month splits?"

e chigliak - "Votto hit..."

STAT CHECK - Votto's Spilts...

April- .308 AVG, 6 doubles, 4 HR's, 13 RBI's. 

May - .281 AVG, 4 doubles, 6 HR's, 16 RBI's. 

June - .257 AVG, 7 doubles, 2 HR's, 9 RBI's. 

July - .261 AVG, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 8 RBI's. 

August - .382 AVG, 4 doubles, 2 HR's, 18 RBI's. 

September - .309 AVG, 8 doubles, 2 triples, 9 HR's, 20 RBI's.

Winston Smith - "See, Votto's September alone could've won him ROY!"

e chigliak - "...but if that's the case how about Hinckley? Can I change my pick to Mike Hinckley?"

Winston Smith - "Hinckley only came up in September, a little different, so no, stick with Cueto...but you should have picked Votto..."

e chigliak - "I was kidding with Hinckley, but he was nasty...13.2 scoreless, 8 hits, 1 unearned run...9 K's, 3 walks, 1 HBP...but I was kidding..."

Winston Smith - "Yeah...I got that..."

ON FRIDAY, The SBN's blog about Sabermetrics, "Beyond The Boxscore" will be releasing the results of the SBN '08 ROY voting...so click on the site link above or HERE if you're one of those don't look back types...To see what those SBN bloggers with teams still in the playoffs are writing (and even a few whose teams aren't still in, but who are following the Postseason action anyway) , click below at the SB Nation's Playoff Hub...(ed. note - "Sorry to anyone who already clicked through looking for the results, some miscommunication had me thinking it was announced today, when it's just the beginning of the discussion. THE WINNER OF THE SBN's ROY IS ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY. Again, Sorry.")