The mainstream media’s fascination with closers reached another level Monday with the announcement that Neftali Feliz of the Texas Rangers has been named American League Rookie of the Year by the voters from the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).
Everyday player Austin Jackson, center fielder for the Detroit Tigers, finished second, but it wasn’t really close. Feliz nabbed 20 of the 28 first-place votes; the other eight went to Jackson.
The writers were blinded by Feliz’s 40 saves for a division winner. We can debate how important a stat saves really are (and we will), but to deny an everyday position player like Jackson the award was a travesty.
What follows are five reasons this is so.