Should Matsui be elligible for Rookie of the Year?

[BeTheReds]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/column...son&id=1609390

Interesting article. Not to take anything away from Matsui, but he isn't really a rookie, and the rookie of the year award should go to a real rookie, like Rocco Baldelli.

[Faithless]

That's interesting. If he aint played a lick in MLB prior, why not?

After all we like to think every other league is minor, even the Japanese leagues.

[Niki]

The way the current rules define "Rookie," Matsui is a "Rookie." I think a lot of younger MLB players get overlooked but jumping into the MLB from Japan is not easy. Players like Ichiro and Matsui just made it look easy and unfair with their talent.

What about the black players from the old negro league who won Rookie awards after joining the MLB. Same circumstances. The negro league was argueably just as good the MLB, right?

But I would think it's fair to have two "rookie" awards, one for international players and one for the U.S. players. Two different awards for players that entered the MLB from different origins or routes. Makes sense.

Good post Red.

[BeTheReds]

Originally Posted by Niki

The way the current rules define "Rookie," Matsui is a "Rookie." I think a lot of younger MLB players get overlooked but jumping into the MLB from Japan is not easy. Players like Ichiro and Matsui just made it look easy and unfair with their talent.

What about the black players from the old negro league who won Rookie awards after joining the MLB. Same circumstances. The negro league was argueably just as good the MLB, right?

But I would think it's fair to have two "rookie" awards, one for international players and one for the U.S. players. Two different awards for players that entered the MLB from different origins or routes. Makes sense.

Good post Red.

Well even with this rule, up and coming non-americans in the Majors will still be blocked by the future Matsuis and Ichiros. Lots of dominicans enter the MLB every year without having once played in any other league.

[Niki]

Originally Posted by BeTheReds

Well even with this rule, up and coming non-americans in the Majors will still be blocked by the future Matsuis and Ichiros. Lots of dominicans enter the MLB every year without having once played in any other league.

So what's your suggestion?

[DonDaBomb2]

I think that Matsui should be eligible for rookie of the year. Ichiro and Sasaki have already set the precident. Even if they have played in another league, they still are rookies in the majors. He may have played professionally but it's still not the best league. Besides, people forget that the rookie of the year is not about being a young, green up and comer. After all, the first rookie of the year was Jackie Robinson coming from the Negro Leagues. What's the difference?

[BeTheReds]

Okay then create a rookie of the year for real rookies, and create the league transitional player of the year award...

[Niki]

Originally Posted by BeTheReds

Okay then create a rookie of the year for real rookies, and create the league transitional player of the year award...

Does "transitional" include those Dominican players you mentioned above?

If yes, then "transitional" would be all players that did not enter the MLB via a MLB minor league teams, right? Or in other words, all players from foreign countries. Correct?

[BeTheReds]

No, it would mean all players who entered MLB after having played in the top level baseball league in another country. Not just foreign players.

For instance, take the Orioles relief pitcher Travis Driskill, who started his pro-career playing for the Yakult Swallows in Japan. Now if he didn't suck ass, he could win the transitional player award.

Sure, the pool of transitional players would be very small, and most likely every year a foreign star will win, however, there is a slight chance that an American could win also, as there are many Americans playing in both Korea and Japan.

[Niki]

Originally Posted by BeTheReds

No, it would mean all players who entered MLB after having played in the top level baseball league in another country. Not just foreign players.

For instance, take the Orioles relief pitcher Travis Driskill, who started his pro-career playing for the Yakult Swallows in Japan. Now if he didn't suck ass, he could win the transitional player award.

Sure, the pool of transitional players would be very small, and most likely every year a foreign star will win, however, there is a slight chance that an American could win also, as there are many Americans playing in both Korea and Japan.

Okay, this is the same format as proposed in the ESPN article but with a twist that could include an American playing, for example, in Japan or Korea, right?

[MellowDrama]

Don't the sportswriters go through this freakin' discussion every year an ex Japanese-league player is eligible for RoY?

Hmmhh...

Sasaki got RoY
Ichiro got RoY

Considering there's precedent, of course Matsui should be eligible.

[Niki]

Originally Posted by MellowDrama

Don't the sportswriters go through this freakin' discussion every year an ex Japanese-league player is eligible for RoY?

Hmmhh...

Sasaki got RoY
Ichiro got RoY

Considering there's precedent, of course Matsui should be eligible.

Yeah, they do. But this is the first time they are proposing a new ROY format. I say leave it. Its no different than when the players in the Negro League were winning it. But if you can make the ROY fairer to American Rookies, why not. And I like the two format ROY proposed in the ESPN article.

[BeTheReds]

Originally Posted by Niki

Okay, this is the same format as proposed in the ESPN article but with a twist that could include an American playing, for example, in Japan or Korea, right?

Right, because by the same argument, they also are not rookies.

[Ogumo]

I do not think matsui should be able to receive this award. Because he is not a rookie in truth.

[Niki]

Originally Posted by BeTheReds

Well even with this rule, up and coming non-americans in the Majors will still be blocked by the future Matsuis and Ichiros. Lots of dominicans enter the MLB every year without having once played in any other league

The "up and coming non-americans" or "dominicans" would be considered for American ROY versus the "transitional" ROY, right? Otherwise, future Ichiros would block them out in the "transitonal" ROY as you argued above.