The MLB awards season is almost approaching, and although the Orioles were eliminated from the Gold Glove vote earlier this week, it’s likely that they will do much better in the balloting for the Baseball Writers Association of America. The three “finalists” for each category—Brandon Hyde for AL Manager of the Year and Gunnar Henderson for AL Rookie of the Year—were unveiled last night. The four major BBWAA awards will be given out the following week.
It is not surprising that the two were finalists. Henderson and Hyde are both well-deserving of the recognition; the only surprise will be if one of them doesn’t win. Playing exceptional defense at both third base and shortstop, Gunnar led all AL rookies in several important offensive stats, including runs (100), RBIs (82), and home runs (28). He also emerged as the team’s greatest player on the 101-win Orioles. Henderson’s 4.6 WAR, according to FanGraphs, is far higher than that of any other AL rookie, including the two other contenders, right-hander Tanner Bibee of the Guardians (3.0) and first baseman Triston Casas of the Red Sox (1.7), both of whom were on losing teams. It would be difficult for any voter, whether new or old school, to refute Henderson.
Barring a stunning upset, Henderson will be the first Orioles player to win a BBWAA award since Cal Ripken’s AL Most Valuable Player title in 1991. The Rookie of the Year winner will be revealed on Monday.
Hyde ought to win the Manager of the Year award as well when the winners are announced on Tuesday. The captain led the Birds to the best record in the American League and their first 101-win season in 44 years, despite what you may hear from the Twitter haters who rail over every O’s lineup Hyde publishes. that he accomplished it with a squad that was expected by analysts to finish below and had lost more than 100 games in a row three times in the previous five years.500 this year, which made the achievement even more noteworthy. I will state that the fact that the voting took place at the conclusion of the regular season rather than the postseason is definitely advantageous for Hyde. otherwise, given the Rangers’ World Series victory, Bruce Bochy would have a compelling argument.
The Orioles were as much of a non-factor in the BBWAA awards as they were on the diamond not so long ago. The Birds now have a winning ballclub and some outstanding individual performances to go along with their triumph. The situation has genuinely improved.
Connections
Orioles roundtable: Examining the main priorities for the offseason, possible fits, and more – Baltimore Sun
When asked what the Orioles’ biggest offseason priority is, each of the three panelists had a different response. The Orioles appear to have a lot of priorities for a team with 101 wins.
Jon Meoli: Other Orioles prospects may learn from Westburg’s debut season – The Baltimore Banner
As a rookie, Westburg did not experience a Colton Cowser-like flameout or a Gunnar-like breakout. He was a reliable player who simply put up good numbers, played solid defense, and hit a little but not amazingly. That shall do.
The Baltimore Banner: These five infielders would make sense in Baltimore
Although I don’t think the Orioles should be acquiring any outside infielders just yet, you never know if they’ll be scrounging about for the next Adam Frazier or Rougned Odor.
Birthdays and history of the Orioles
Is it your birthday today? Cheers to your birthday! On this day in history, three Orioles players were born: right-hander Kris Benson (49), outfielder Dariel Álvarez (35), and the late first baseman Bob Hale (b. 1933, d. 2012).
On this day in 1989, relief pitcher Gregg Olson of the Orioles became the first in history to win the AL Rookie of the Year award. Olson’s 1.69 ERA and 27 saves in 64 games earned him the title. Ken Griffey Jr., a 19-year-old center fielder for the Seattle Mariners, was one of the other AL rookies that Olson defeated in the poll. (He had an uneventful outcome.) It will be Olson’s 34th year as an Oriole and his last Rookie of the Year award; that run should come to an end in six days.
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