Rookie of the year?

Dylan Rice

Staff Writer

YES

When looking at favorites to win the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year, two names seem to find their way instantly into the conversation, and they both happen to play for your hometown Atlanta Braves. Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman have each exceeded expectations in their freshmen campaigns, but when lining these two outstanding young ballplayers side-by-side there is a clear choice for who deserves the hardware, Craig Kimbrel. The thing that separates these two players is the scale on which they are dominating. While first baseman Freeman is outperforming his fellow rookies, Kimbrel is arguably the best closer in all of baseball, rookie or otherwise. At 23-years-old, Kimbrel is already handling the pressure of the closing job as good as any wily veteran. He wants to be on the mound and takes pleasure in lifting the team on his back in key moments. Every save he piles up as the season winds down is adding to his already record setting, National League leading total. He has an outside chance of hitting the 50 save mark, and if it weren't for the Braves sub-par play as of late it would be a sure thing. He has a sub-2.0 ERA, a WHIP just under one and piles up strikeouts with a dominating fastball that seems to explode out of his armpit. He possesses one of the league's lowest batting averages when he's on the mound and provides a calming effect upon the mind of the starter of the day with thoughts of the cushion he provides easing their stress. Freeman will finish the year batting around .300 with about 20 homers and 80 RBIs and has been more often than not spectacular with the glove at first base. He provides Atlanta with a first baseman of the future, which is comforting for fans considering how they have run through more players at that position than Hogwarts has run through Defense Against the Dark Arts professors. Despite the injuries that have plagued the Braves this season and last and could very easily shorten what could have been a deep foray into the postseason, with young stars like Freeman and Kimbrel and an army of other future Rookie of the year candidates biding their time in the minors (Julio Teheran anyone?) things are looking bright.   If Freeman had been a rookie any other year he would be a sure thing for the award, but he picked the wrong season to enter the big show.He has his own teammate to thank for that. But when Freeman takes his spot on the field in the ninth inning with his Braves nursing a one-run lead, he hears "Welcome to the Jungle" begin to blare through the Turner Field speakers and sees Kimbrel begin that jog from the bullpen to the mound, it's probably not the worst problem to have.

D.J. Dunson

Associate Sports Editor

MEH...

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel is having a historic season. On all but six occasions during the season, Kimbrel has sent the opposing team home with a loss. However, his season also raises the old philosophical question of whether a closer can be among the top players in the game, if they're not considered talented enough to become aces on their own pitching staffs. Closers have gained mythical status since the save became an official Major League Baseball statistic in 1969, but they are usually brought in when opposing teams have been battered and bruised for the knockout punch. Kimbrel's season has been historic but saves are an overrated statistic. One could argue closers are the kickers of the baseball universe. Instead of three points, they simpler deliver three outs. For comparisons sake, NBA forward Robert Horry was one of the best 4th quarter performers in NBA history. However, he was rarely a starter. While Kimbrel has excelled when brought in for "save situations", he's not the even the best rookie pitcher within the division. Phillies pitcher, Vance Worley has a 2.92 ERA as well as an 11-2 record as a starting ace on the Philadelphia's division leading roster. Between June and early September, Worley delivered 14 straight victories. However, the Phillies will likely demote Worley to the bullpen for the playoffs. Voters will hesitate to give Rookie of the Year to a pitcher, who was demoted to the bullpen by his own club. Ultimately, an Atlanta Brave will bring home the NL Rookie of the Year—but it won't be Kimbrel. It will be their 21 year old, 6-foot-5 first baseman Freddie Freeman. Since Fred McGriff's departure in 1998 the Braves have seen more first basemen than Hogwarts' Sorting Hat has seen scalps. It's a list that includes Andres Galarraga, Ryan Klesko, Rico Brogna, Julio Franco, Robert Fick, Adam LaRoche, Scott Thorman, Mark Teixeira, Casey Kotchman, Troy Glaus and Derrek Lee. Freeman didn't arrive with the same hype as Jason Heyward did in 2010 but has been even better than Heyward's rookie season. Freeman doesn't have any records to boast about but he does lead all NL rookies in hits, doubles, home runs, on base percentage and RBI's. In his first 43 games as a Brave, Freeman hit .227 with four homers and 14 RBIs in his first 43 games this season. Since the All-Star Break, Freeman has hit .318 and batted in 29 runs. In the month of July, Freeman hit 6 home runs home runs and batted .362. The Washington Nationals rookie first baseman, Danny Espinosa has been comparable to Freeman statistically but has done so in the obscurity of a sub-.500 team. Freeman has seamlessly handled the pressure of being the most consistent everyday hitter on a Wild Card leader. Freeman sees as many pitches a night as Kimbrel tosses from the mound.