Geovany Soto claimed 31 of the 32 first-place votes to win National League Rookie of the Year honors on Monday.
Joey Votto had a fine season and was clearly the NL's No. 2 rookie, but the writer that voted him first over Soto just isn't taking his privilege seriously. Votto was second on 21 of the other ballots and finished with 76 points to Soto's 158. Jair Jurrjens was third with 34 points. Edinson Volquez, who wasn't a rookie after throwing 70 innings for the Rangers from 2005-07, was given three second-place votes. For some reason, those have been allowed to stand and he finished in fourth place with nine points. Apparently, no one in the BBWAA cares to make sure its writers turn in legal ballots.
Evan Longoria received all 28 first-place votes and was named AL Rookie of the Year on Monday.
There was no drama when it came to the Rookie of the Year selections, unless one cared about who finished in second place. Alexei Ramirez did easily in the AL, receiving 18 second-place votes and 59 points. Jacoby Ellsbury was third with 26 points, and Mike Aviles and Armando Galarraga tied for fourth with just nine points apiece. We're surprised and disappointed about just how little love there was for Aviles considering that he hit .325/.354/.480 in 419 at-bats. Ramirez finished at .290/.317/.475 in 481 at-bats. Ellsbury, who hit .280/.336/.394, had no business ranking any higher than fifth here.