Some perspective on ROY

Here are the 12 MLB, non-pitcher, non-Japanese ROY winners since 2000:

Player H 2B 3B HR SO BA OBP SLG OPS

Hinske 158 38 2 24 138 .279 .365 .481 .845

Berroa 163 28 7 17 100 .287 .338 .451 .789

Crosby 130 34 1 22 141 .239 .319 .426 .744

Pedroia 165 39 1 8 42 .317 .380 .442 .823

Longoria 122 31 2 27 122 .272 .343 .531 .874

Furcal 134 20 4 4 80 .295 .394 .382 .776

Pujols 194 47 4 37 93 .329 .403 .610 1.01

Bay 116 24 4 26 129 .282 .358 .550 .907

Howard 90 17 2 22 100 .288 .356 .567 .924

Ramirez 185 46 11 17 128 .292 .353 .480 .833

Braun 146 26 6 34 112 .324 .370 .634 1.00

Soto 141 35 2 23 121 .285 .364 .504 .868

Then, there's this guy, through 161 games:

Cogs 159 31 6 9 77 .319 .388 .459 .847

By way of comparison, and pointing out ONLY his positives vis a vis previous ROYs:

Only 4 had more hits.

Only 6 had more doubles.

Only 2 had more triples.

Only 1 struck out less.

Only 2 hit for a better average.

Only 2 had a better OBP.

Regardless of the fact that Cogs is evincing less power than the typical ROY, he fits right into this group, and, overall, is better than many, if not most of the last 9 years' worth of ROYs.

These are the stats that the actual voting writers are going to look at, not some pile of statistical stuff nobody has ever heard of, never mind pays any attention to.

The simple fact is that he's leading ALL of MLB in hits since the break with 110 and set 60+ year records with 47 hits in August and 47 more in September.

His BA is 5th in the ENTIRE NL, never mind rookies. The guy has been nothing short of amazing. Never mind that he's playing a position he never played before and hitting lead-off, also something new to him.

Most coaches and managers would call that setting a guy up to fail.Twice. Instead, he has succeeded beyond anyones wildest dreams, both in the field and at the plate. What more could one possibly expect from one lousy rookie?

Simply put, he's put the rest of the potential ROY hitters in the running to shame offensively and he holds his own defensively. The pitchers are notable, but not ROY quality. If he doesn't win it, it'll be a total travesty.