Yahoo Sports: Brawny Braun is NL's top rookie

[Mags FTW]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

[MickeyDavis]

It's a good year for rookies in the NL but Braun is damn good. So are Young and Pence.

[Howling Mad]

Braun is it for me.

Young swings only for power. For a lead off guys batting .230 something with an OBP under .300 is pathetic. I know he's young but leadoff. Gimme a break.

Pence is ok but being injured for a couple weeks will fade him away in people's minds.

Plus Braun is playing for winning(oops) team... or at least contending.

[WEFFPIM]

It's a good year for rookies in the NL but Braun is damn good. So are Young and Pence.

Don't forget Tulowitski in Colorado. I'd take him over Hardy

[trwi7]

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Don't forget Tulowitski in Colorado. I'd take him over Hardy

Not me. The guy can't hit outside of Coors.

[risktaker91]

Braun's the best NL rookie, there was no doubt about that.

[Buck You]

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Not me. The guy can't hit outside of Coors.

Well Hardy can only hit fastballs so I guess it's kind of a tossup. But I would still take Hardy since I see him more.

[livestrong4ever]

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Not me. The guy can't hit outside of Coors.

His offense will improve just like hardys has. But Tulowitski defense is amazing. So I would take Tulowitski over hardy too.

[Black Jesus 1]

Braun is it for me.

Young swings only for power. For a lead off guys batting .230 something with an OBP under .300 is pathetic. I know he's young but leadoff. Gimme a break.

Pence is ok but being injured for a couple weeks will fade him away in people's minds.

Plus Braun is playing for winning(oops) team... or at least contending.

He's batting .257 with a .310 OBP leading off. Give him a break, only a rookie, 23 years old, his numbers will only rise.

I see him being a .270-.280 hitter, .350 OBP, 25-30 HR/ 30 steals

Braun is easily ROY with Tulowitzki behind him.

Braun
Tulowitzki
Young
Pence

[trwi7]

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He's batting .257 with a .310 OBP leading off. Give him a break, only a rookie, 23 years old, his numbers will only rise.

I see him being a .270-.280 hitter, .350 OBP, 25-30 HR/ 30 steals

Braun is easily ROY with Tulowitzki behind him.

Braun
Tulowitzki
Young
Pence

You know a .310 OBP for a leadoff hitter is horrible right?

[Black Jesus 1]

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You know a .310 OBP for a leadoff hitter is horrible right?

Obviously. But Young was never a leadoff guy at any point in his life. He was a middle of the order guy. He's going to adjust and only get better like I've said.

[skitch815]

I thought some would be interested in this and didnt want to start another thread for it, so I'll put it here. I know its a Denver writer, but some of what he says is just insane

Tulowitzki Clearly Best Rookie

FWIW I remember this guy when he wrote in Chicago...I never liked him then either.

[MickeyDavis]

Lincicome is an idiot. He basically says Braun will win because he's Jewish. And he talks about how Tulowitzki has more hits, runs, etc.. while dismissing the fact that Braun has played 40 less games. How about a .326 to .292 average advantage for Braun, a .370 to .360 OBP advantage for Braun and a whopping .640 to .475 slugging pct advantage for Braun? Tulowitzki is a better fielder, and that's it.

[ReasonablySober]

I sent him a lengthy email. It forced me to check out the stats and do a comparison. Wow. I'm not even sure how there's even a discussion.

[Ayt]

If you really want a chuckle, check out Tulowitzki's home/road splits.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/785 ... 5UOrKFCLcF

[ReasonablySober]

If you really want a chuckle, check out Tulowitzki's home/road splits.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/785 ... 5UOrKFCLcF

Oh yea, I made sure that was a prominent part of the email.

Here's what I wrote him:

Tulowitski over Braun?

Let's just pick this one apart...

it is true that he does have a better back story.

What the hell does that mean? He went to college. He was drafted by the Brewers in the first round. What story? Is it any different than Tulowitski, who after a career at LBS went two picks after Braun?

Ohhh...I get it. It's the nickname! That's why he has it over Tulowitski, apparently. Let me clue you in on something...nobody calls him that unless you're an obnoxious hack named John Kruk. I watch every Brewers televised game. I don't even need fingers to count the number of times he's been referred to by that, or any other Jewish inspired nickname. It never happens.

and to have the same original surname as Sandy Koufax

Right, again, the Jewish thing. Had I not been listening to ESPN radio one evening I never would have known that. It's not like they advertise that (very) little known fact on a daily basis at Miller park.

to be hitting home runs at a rookie ratio unseen since Mark McGwire, to be considered the new Albert Pujols,

Now you're getting somewhere.

well to overcome that Tulowitzki would have to be the best all-around, full-tooled shortstop to come to the big leagues since Cal Ripken Jr., which he could very well be.

He isn't even the best since 2006. Check out a Florida Marlins game sometime.

The prevailing notion that young Tulo is getting less national attention because of our time zone or because the Rockies aren't big winners or because the Rockies do not have the proper general pedigree

It's not as if Milwaukee's a market that's getting 'round the clock coverage on all major networks.

that anything the Rockies do is still considered a gimmick elsewhere, not real baseball, all of that makes sense.

Funny you mention that:

Tulowitski at home:
.337 AVG
.401 OBP
.573 SLG
.973 OPS


Tulowitski away from Coors:
.249 AVG
.322 OBP
.385 SLG
.707 OPS

Do you honestly wonder why people still think baseball in Colorado is a gimmick? Really?

To anyone who has followed the dogged season of the Rockies and seen Tulowitzki field flawlessly and hit timely, only an unnatural and unsupportable bias could be the reason to consider any other rookie.

Tulo is certainly a great fielder with a significant edge of Braun. But there's the lone advantage he has. You can't even say "timely hitting" is one.

Tulo with RISP:
.267 AVG

Braun with RISP:
.333 AVG

or...

Tulo with RISP w/ 2 outs:
.242 AVG

Braun with RISP w 2 outs:
.302 AVG

But am I just being "unnatural" and "unsupportable"?

So, when the issue seems settled in many other places in favor of Braun, well, a little research is obligatory.

No ****.

But on actual comparison with Tulo-witzki, going into Sunday's games, judging the whole season and not some fanciful projection of it, Tulowitzki has more RBI, more runs scored, more hits, a respectable total of home runs and a range and arm at shortstop that anchors the best fielding team in the league.

Well, for one, they're now tied for RBIs.

But the number of games is what makes Braun's season so remarkable. He's played 40 less games. But he's got 9 more home runs, twice as many stolen bases, only 11 fewer runs scored and 28 fewer hits.

Not to mention, and this seems never to be mentioned, an unassisted triple play.

That's because it's only one play. Who cares?

But if the judgment comes just because there was a movie - mostly unseen, but still . . . - actually called The Hebrew Hammer, let us offer one called Troy, not to recommend either.

The movies, not the ballplayers. Tulo-witzki is the clear choice there.

Congrats. In one article you've made more Jewish references to Braun than I've seen in an entire season. But I guess to support your ridiculous article you needed some kind of hook. The facts certainly don't help you any.

[Buck You]

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Now that is great. Great job DB.

[LUKE23]

I also sent him an email, listing some of the same stuff as you DB.

Here's mine:

Congratulations my friend, you have managed to write probably the worst editorial piece in sports history. The hardest part for me is to decide where to start ripping it to shreds.

Lets start with actual numbers (since you seem to be infatuated with Braun being Jewish for God knows what reason):

Braun in 40 LESS GAMES (something you conveniently forget to mention), has more HR, same RBI, better batting average, better slugging percentage, better average with RISP, better average with RISP and 2 outs, more steals. The ONLY thing Tulo is better at is fielding, END OF STORY.

Now, the next thing I want you do to is look at Tulo's home and road splits. Go ahead, yahoo.com is a very easy site to use. They are ridiculous splits. Tulo is just another hitter taking advantage of Coors field. I can't even fathom the numbers Braun would be putting up there this year in a FULL SEASON. Good god. He'd have a shot at 50 HR, no doubt about it. He's at 30 right now, and he came up in May.

Easily the most homer piece of writing I've ever seen.

Braun should and will win the NL ROTY in landslide. Be sure to email me back once I'm correct.

[Nowak008]

I sent him this.