The Rookie of the Year award can be a harbinger of great things to come (Ryan Howard) or of stunning, dramatic collapse (Eric Hinske). It’s hard to imagine that this year’s candidates have anything other than great careers ahead of them. But then again, somebody probably said that about Jerome Walton, too.

Without further ado, the picks.

The NL

3. Dan Uggla (.281/.337/.474, 26 HR, 89 RBI)
2. Ryan Zimmerman (.289/.354/.475, 20 HR, 109 RBI)
1. Hanley Ramirez (.292/.353/.481, 17 HR, 51 SB)

Dan Uggla was an all-star this season and a legit slugger in the middle of the Marlins lineup. He was also solid defensively and, with the exception of Chase Utley, was probably the league’s best 2B. But he wasn’t this year’s best rookie.

It’s tempting to give the ROTY to Ryan Zimmerman in anticipation of the career he’s going to have, just as it’s tempting to give Derek Jeter the MVP award as a sort of career achievement award. Zimmerman’s got to be the surest thing among all of the talented rookies in the class of 2006. But he wasn’t this year’s best rookie, either.

Hanley Ramirez’s VORP (value over replacement player) this season was 50.7. The rookie with the next highest VORP was Uggla, at 38.6. In other words, it wasn’t even close. Ramirez hit for average, played above average defense and stole an obscene number of bases. He’s a game-changing player. And before all is said and done he’s going to be the biggest reason we’ll look back and say, “Man, the Red Sox got hosed in the Josh Beckett trade!” His biggest shortcoming is that he strikes out too much, 150 times this season, or around 25 percent of the time. But the long and short for Hanley is this: if he gets on base, he’s dangerous. And he gets on base a lot.

The AL

3. Justin Verlander (17-9, 3.63 ERA, 186 IP)
2. Jonathan Papelbon (35 SV, 0.92 ERA, 75K/68.1IP)
1. Francisco Liriano (12-3, 2.16 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 121 IP)

How do you know there are a lot of great rookie pitchers in the American League? When the top three candidates for AL Rookie of the Year are all pitchers, that’s how. And Jered Weaver, if he had gotten a few more starts, could have easily made this list.

Justin Verlander was the Tigers’ ace this season, stepping up when others faltered and leading Detroit to its first playoff appearance since…ummm…I have no idea when. But it’s been a long time.

Jonathan Papelbon had an ERA of less than one. I mean, really, how do you have an ERA under one and not win a major award?

I’ll tell you how. You go head to head with Francisco Liriano, who, along with Johan Santana, strapped the Twins on his back and led them to the post season. Liriano got hurt late in the season, but when he was healthy, he was untouchable. And there is plenty of precedent for giving the ROTY to a rookie who doesn’t play a full season. Ryan Howard won last season, even though he only played in 88 games. Liriano was dominant as a reliever early in the season and he was dominant as a starter in the second half. And he’s your 2006 AL Rookie of the Year.

Tim McCarver, who I think most of us will agree is an idiot, brought something up during today’s Phillies-Marlins game that I thought was interesting. And that, frankly, is a first.
The Marlins, McCarver pointed out, have a payroll of about $15 million. That is by far the lowest in baseball. There are several players on other teams who make more money than the entire Marlins roster.

But, because Florida is so poor/bad, they receive $30 million in revenue sharing. So, even if they don’t sell a single ticket, they stand to make at least $15 million.

I know what you’re saying. My math doesn’t include the costs associated with paying employee salaries, stadium improvements, field maintenance, or marketing. But it also doesn’t factor in revenue from TV contracts, ticket sales, or concession sales.
Last season, the Marlins lost $11.9 million. So before this season started, the team cut $75 million from its payroll. Now I guarantee they won’t lose money.

So my question is this: is it possible for a major league team with a low payroll to lose money? And if not, what’s to stop owners who only care about profit and not about winning from employing a bunch of rookies every year?

It was the wise Gary Payton who once dubbed a young rook by the name of Steve Francis, a naïve mind of sorts, a “Punk-ass bitch” for dissin’ the then Vancouver Grizzlies and forcing a trade to the Houston Rockets – at draft night.

But this is UmpBump; and before I stray too far away from the point (because, frankly, I had to do serious homework for this one) I shall nominate my Rookie of the Year candidates and other Punk-Ass Rookie Bitches – otherwise referred to as PARBs.

Instead of concentrating solely on stats and numbers, I decided to look for names that, during the course of the season, caught my eye for having a certain level of maturity and consistency.
Players like Matt Cain, the Giants’ rookie starter, who came close to a no-hitter, but sucked balls for my Fantasy team when I added him soon after, will not qualify for my list.

I’ll briefly elaborate on the PARBs that I think deserve some recognition for their skills; but before that, here’s who I think will win the ROY award in each League.

AL

Justin Verlander, SP Detroit Tigers

Verlander was unhittable during the first half of the season. A starter with a 95+ mph fastball is no joke. Being a rook, his arm fatigued towards the end, but his 17 wins will sure get him the ROY award.

NL

Hanley Ramirez, SS Florida Marlins

So apparently, the entire Marlins’ infielder squad could receive the ROY award as a team, since they are among the top rookies in hitting. I had to pick one of ‘em, and what the hell, I went with Ramirez because he has the higherst BA amongst NL rookies (AVG .294 | HR 17 | RBI 59 | OBP .355 | SLG .485 ). I just as well could’ve picked Dan Uggla (AVG .282 | HR 26 | RBI 89 | OBP .338 | SLG .478).

Now here are who I think are other notable rooks:

• Joel Zumaya, RP Detroit Tigers
(right)

Buster Olney had a ho-hum feature for ESPN.com Insiders about the 20 best weapons in the post-season (I mean, c’mon, Chase Utley’s energy?!?), but he did strike a chord with Joel Zumaya’s fastball. The kid has a flame tattooed around his glove hand, so when he’s ready to delivery his 100-mph fastball, it looks as if he garners his strength from the flames around his glove. Nice.

He also leads the league in Holds with 29 (a semi dubious stat; but quantifiable none-the-less; and he’s tied for second in innings pitched with 79.0 (before Friday’s game).

It was common knowledge towards the end of the season that if a Tiger’s starting arm faltered, they only had to stay in the game until Zumaya was summoned.

• Melky Cabrera, OF New York Yankees

Suuuuure, tha Yankees are done this year, suuure with Matsui an’ Sheff done fo’ da year you can almost bet them’ Sawks will win the division.

And then The Milk Man came on the scene. Not only did Cabrera fill in nicely for Matsui, the Yankees had a hint of a Left-fielder controversy when Matsui was able to return. While his numbers were not astronomical (.279, 7 hr, 50 rbi, 451 ab, unlike, say Ryan Howard); his contribution was more than enough to solidify the Yanks’ conquest of the AL East crown once again.

• Anibal Sanchez, SP Florida Marlins

Well I gotta include the kid, the no-hitter kid; how could I not? His numbers are decent (10-3 with 114.1 IP and 18 starts), but remember, we’re looking at the bigger picture here. What rooks are going to have the composure to carry their careers into the next level. Besides, his middle name can only help.

Honorable mention: Francisco Liriano SP Minnesota Twins, Prince Fielder 1B Milwaukee Brewers, Ryan Zimmerman 3B Washington Nationals.

Last week, we here at umpbump gave you our hard-hitting MVP picks, so this week, we’ve decided to unveil our picks for NL and AL Rookie of the Year picks. I’ll get things started today, with picks from Alejandro, Coley, and Sarah to follow over the weekend.

National League

3. Ryan Zimmerman (.289/.354/.475, 20 HR, 109 RBI)
2. Hanley Ramirez (.292/.353/.481, 17 HR, 51 SB)
1. Josh Willingham (.277/.358/.494, 25 HR, 78 RBI)

I’m as surprised as anyone that I ended up picking two Florida Marlins as my top two picks. The Rookie of the Year race in the NL this year was bursting with potential contenders, and it was up and down all year, and I really thought someone like Andre Either, Prince Fielder, or Ryan Zimmerman would come out on top, but now here we are with four games left to play, and it seems clear that Josh Willingham was the best young rookie on the Senior Circuit in 2006.

True, Zimmerman’s RBI total is impressive, but as we know, RBI is the mainstream stat least indicative of a player’s actual performance. Meanwhile, Willingham bested Zimmerman in both OBP and SLG, and hit five more homers than Zimmerman in more than 100 fewer at bats.

Hanley Ramirez proved he is a complete player this season, showing the ability to hit for average and power, and steal loads of bases, but Ramirez’s totals were bolstered by the numerous extra at bats he had as a leadoff batter. Meanwhile, Willingham showed the killer combination of both power and patience at the plate, leading all batting-title qualified rookies in OPS and establishing himself as a legitimate heart-of-the-order threat down the stretch for the Marlins.

American League

3. Kenji Johjima (.291/.334/.455, 18 HR, 76 RBI)
2. Jonathan Papelbon (35 SV, 0.92 ERA, 75K/68.1IP)
1. Justin Verlander (17-9, 3.63 ERA, 186 IP)

Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis and Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima put up remarkably similar numbers in this year, but Johjima gets the nod for third place because he plays catcher.

Jonathan Papelbon was an absolute revelation as the closer for the Red Sox in the first half of the season, but faded down the stretch and ultimately had to be shelved due to an impingement in his shoulder. Still, his first half performance was so dazzling, it was enough to earn him second place on my ROY ballot.

The clear winner in the American League has to be Justin Verlander. Not only did he provide nearly 200 IP and 17 wins to his team, but he also served as de facto staff ace for much of the year when Kenny Rogers was struggling, and helped lead the Tigers to their first pennant since god knows when. Basically he pitched like a Cy Young candidate in his rookie season.

It’s too bad Francisco Liriano got hurt and the Angels ridiculously sent Jared Weaver down to the minors for five starts. Otherwise, the AL top three would have almost certainly been all starting pitchers.

Today, L.A. Times columnist Bill Platschke brings us this story from the Dodgers clubhouse — further evidence that the team is too hot for it’s own good. 

DENVER — How hot are the Dodgers?

They are so hot that, on Wednesday night, one of their best players was on fire.
“Literally,” Derek Lowe said.

For all the silliness they survived Thursday afternoon, nothing compared to the incident 18 hours earlier, when Lowe accidentally set his pants ablaze in the dugout.

“Craziest thing I’ve ever seen,” Manager Grady Little said.

In the top of the fifth inning, Lowe was standing in the corner of the dugout preparing to step into the on-deck circle.

Next to his right leg was a large space heater.

Lowe was so intent on watching the game that he didn’t feel the heat or smell the smoke.

Then teammate Matt Kemp saw his polyester pants leg burning, and cried out.

“He said, ‘Dude, you’re on fire,’ ” Lowe recalled.

At first, Lowe thought he was just being complimented on his pitching.

“Then he said, ‘Literally,’ ” Lowe said.

Lowe jumped away from the heater and the flames subsided but not before the fire had burned holes in his pants and socks.

With his teammates in stitches, Lowe ran into the tunnel and changed into a new pair of pants that Mitch Poole, the Dodgers clubhouse manager, had rushed into action.

Poole was not exactly surprised.

Believe it or not, this was the second time a Dodger had caught fire from a space heater. Last season, it happened to pitching coach Jim Colborn.

Lowe was uninjured and finished his six innings for the 100th victory of his career.

He autographed the toasted pants as a memento.

“It’s that time of year,” Poole said, shaking his head.

In what continues to be a common pattern where Major League Baseball is divorced from reality – not to mention shutting out fans, it has asked Apple to remove all content created by the league’s Advance Media arm.

From AppleInsider

The Internet arm of Major League Baseball has pulled podcast clips of its games from Apple Computer Inc.’s iTunes Store, in a move to exercise greater control over how its games are presented online, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Bob Bowman, chief executive of Major League Baseball Advance Media, told the Journal that Apple declined to give its podcasts better visibility on the site when the league asked for it. It’s reported that Apple does not accept monetary offers for improved placement.

Bowman also said Apple wouldn’t give the league a say in where promotions for its podcasts would appear on iTunes, leading to situations in which the league’s content was adjacent to podcasts by individual baseball fans.

Not that many people cared for MLB Radio Daily or Radio Rewind; but Selig and Bowman should take note of what the top sports podcasts are right this instant – almost all come from ESPN. Why wouldn’t the boys from Bristol have a problem with their suff freely distributed all over the iTunes Store, beating out low quality indy baseball podcasts?

Because they probably realize that ads within podcasts is the sure way to cover their production costs (although it’s true that almost all of ESPN’s content was already produced for Radio and TV; any internet dissemination is better than having it archived where no one can reach it).

MLB Radio is solely produced by the league; by pulling its podcasts from iTunes, they’re going to experience a drop in susbscriptions and downloads. Do they trust that people will go the extra click just to listen to Vinny Miccuci’s whiny-ass voice?

I am so sick of Barry Bonds. I am so sick of him that I needed to take a Nyquil just to write this post. I am so sick of him I am keeping a trash can by me right now in case I need to vomit and can’t make it to the bathroom in time. I am so sick of him that I have a rash.

But he just. Won’t. Go. Away.

From the LA Times:

Barry Bonds will continue his pursuit of all-time home-run leader Hank Aaron next season, with contract discussions expected to begin with the San Francisco Giants as early as next week, the agent for the 42-year-old slugger said Tuesday.

Bonds recently expressed optimism for a 22nd major-league season after two years spent battling knee injuries, recovering from subsequent surgeries and managing the fallout from implications that he used steroids for at least several seasons….

“Barry’s going to play in 2007,” Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council said Tuesday. “I’ve had many discussions with Barry and he’s going to play. My intentions are to see to it he’s in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders.”

Bonds, who is in the final days of a five-year, $90-million contract with the Giants, can become a free agent after the season. His 26 home runs this season, including nine in his last 66 at-bats, give him 734, 21 behind Aaron.

No, no, no. NO.

If some team is soulless enough to sign Barry Bonds next year, he better set a new single-season record for intentional walks. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going out for a bottle of Vicks VapoRub, a box of Kleenex, and an IV drip. 

It appears that Juan Pierre, the Cubs’ lead-off man – and free-agent-to-be – would “not mind” playing for Ozzie Guillen.

It seems that a slight rumor at the end of a disappointing (’embarrasing‘ sez the hyperbolic moron, Marriotti – for whom, you Jay?) season is the only good news the South Siders have heard in a while.

From the Sun-Times:

‘Yeah, I love Ozzie,” Pierre said of Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, his former third-base coach during the Florida Marlins’ World Series championship season in 2003. ”I know how he is as a person. He talks, but you go out there and play hard with no excuses, and you get along with him. Just knowing him and being around him for so long, and winning the World Series with him, yeah, I definitely wouldn’t mind playing for Ozzie.”

For the record, I may have given up before the ChiSox were mathematically eliminated, simply because I realized this team was going nowhere; but embarrassed? Mariotti, you dumb pundit, we won the World Series last year, we a have chest-deep rotation signed through 2007, we may sign a true lead-off man in Pierre, we set records in attendance this year; why would the Sox be an embarrassment?

The train carrying the Washington Nationals from NYC to D.C. derailed this morning. Nobody was hurt, but Nationals players and fans have to be asking themselves, “how’s that for symbolism?”

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies, who play the Nationals today, tomorrow and Thursday, are no doubt hoping that the Nationals’ hot play was lost in all the commotion. The Nationals have won four in a row and the Phils could really use a sweep to bolster their chances of winning the NL wild card.

Eric Byrnes is a wild man. He crashes into walls with a wreckless abandon. He pours half a bottle of baby powder down his pants before games (evidently). But he’s so much more than just a ball player. Recently, he did an interview with mlb.com that showed just a few ways he’s more complicated than you may have expected.

Eric on his hobbies:

Karate was fun. My dad was a fourth degree black belt in karate and was a karate instructor. I loved it, I just think I got to the point of whatever my parents wanted me to do, I wanted to do the opposite. I eventually strayed away from karate and tennis. The other thing was that in karate I was always getting disqualified for head contact. I kept hitting the other kid in the head and you’re not supposed to. I loved playing tennis and I played it very competitively until I was about 16 years old, and then I gave up everything else for baseball and football. I made it all the way to brown belt in karate and probably, when I’m done playing ball, I’ll go back and get my black belt. I still play a good game of tennis. My serve is still there. My forehand is good and I used to have a two-handed backhand — you can now throw that out the window, that doesn’t exist anymore. I’ve gotten a little bigger and I use a one-handed, sliced backhand, I need to work on it. Tennis was probably the most competitive game I played when I was growing up. It was intense.

Eric on his dogs:

My two bulldogs are the pride and joy of my life. I love them. They are the cutest little things that you will ever see and even through all the drooling and slobbering and farting and snoring that they do, they are just a joy to be around. I just like to kick it with them and take them down to the beach, let them go crazy in the waves — they run and hit the waves and run back because they get scared. They love to go out on walks and because they’re big, they like to wrestle and get after it a bit. We’ve definitely gone a few rounds wrestling. My girlfriend takes care of them when I’m on the road. It’s a pretty good deal. Without her I wouldn’t be able to have them, it would just be too tough. The joke that I’ve always told her is that the dogs are what’s held our relationship together … uh, she obviously doesn’t find that very funny.

Eric on the media:

I watch Fox News. That’s all, no TV series, no CNN, just Fox News. I leave the TV on it all day.

Eric on what could have been:

If I hadn’t been a baseball player I would have been a bridge toll taker. I’m not kidding. I always wanted to be a bridge toll taker when I was a kid in the Bay area. I would see those people kicking it in the booth and I thought that would be a really cool job. Just sitting there with your music, reading, watching TV, do whatever, take the money. Looked like a good job to me.