JJ ROY
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Jatalk
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JJ ROY
I’m starting to get interested in the rookie of year competition. My question is how do voters weigh an individual players team role when voting. It appears that JJ’s main competition is a pitcher and a power hitter.
But JJ bats leadoff. His role on the team is certainly different than his competition. Honestly his BA is not impressive but as leadoff his on base percentage is best among rookies. He has hit for some power and has had some very key hits in high leverage situations. His defense has been very good.
Will voters consider his team role or just go for the pitcher or home run hitter? My guess is that will be the case.
But JJ bats leadoff. His role on the team is certainly different than his competition. Honestly his BA is not impressive but as leadoff his on base percentage is best among rookies. He has hit for some power and has had some very key hits in high leverage situations. His defense has been very good.
Will voters consider his team role or just go for the pitcher or home run hitter? My guess is that will be the case.
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Talkin' Baseball
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Re: JJ ROY
I'm sorry. I posted a ROY thread about a minute after yours. Didn't see it, or I wouldn't have done it.Jatalk wrote: ↑13 May 2026 07:54 am I’m starting to get interested in the rookie of year competition. My question is how do voters weigh an individual players team role when voting. It appears that JJ’s main competition is a pitcher and a power hitter.
But JJ bats leadoff. His role on the team is certainly different than his competition. Honestly his BA is not impressive but as leadoff his on base percentage is best among rookies. He has hit for some power and has had some very key hits in high leverage situations. His defense has been very good.
Will voters consider his team role or just go for the pitcher or home run hitter? My guess is that will be the case.
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Ozziesfan41
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Re: JJ ROY
at first I thought Sal was running away with it but he’s come back down. JJ is only a couple of home runs off and a few rbi off add in Sal is a first baseman and JJ plays good glove caliber highlight reel defense at second I say JJ
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ramfandan
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Re: JJ ROY
MLB .com first poll taken by 39 of their writers had
Mets P McClean clearly in lead with 23 first place votes, Reds Stewart with 6 and JJ 5 votes.
Note: few others got less but those are top 3
From article, writers were asked to base their votes on how they have done thus far and how they project for year.
Obviously more votes to come later.
So first poll has JJ currently 3rd…. About 120 games to go though
Go JJ !
Mets P McClean clearly in lead with 23 first place votes, Reds Stewart with 6 and JJ 5 votes.
Note: few others got less but those are top 3
From article, writers were asked to base their votes on how they have done thus far and how they project for year.
Obviously more votes to come later.
So first poll has JJ currently 3rd…. About 120 games to go though
Go JJ !
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Jatalk
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Re: JJ ROY
No problemTalkin' Baseball wrote: ↑13 May 2026 07:57 amI'm sorry. I posted a ROY thread about a minute after yours. Didn't see it, or I wouldn't have done it.Jatalk wrote: ↑13 May 2026 07:54 am I’m starting to get interested in the rookie of year competition. My question is how do voters weigh an individual players team role when voting. It appears that JJ’s main competition is a pitcher and a power hitter.
But JJ bats leadoff. His role on the team is certainly different than his competition. Honestly his BA is not impressive but as leadoff his on base percentage is best among rookies. He has hit for some power and has had some very key hits in high leverage situations. His defense has been very good.
Will voters consider his team role or just go for the pitcher or home run hitter? My guess is that will be the case.
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Talkin' Baseball
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Re: JJ ROY
Sounds like a popularity contest.ramfandan wrote: ↑13 May 2026 08:30 am MLB .com first poll taken by 39 of their writers had
Mets P McClean clearly in lead with 23 first place votes, Reds Stewart with 6 and JJ 5 votes.
Note: few others got less but those are top 3
From article, writers were asked to base their votes on how they have done thus far and how they project for year.
Obviously more votes to come later.
So first poll has JJ currently 3rd…. About 120 games to go though
Go JJ !
Norman McLean to date: 0.9 WAR x4 (for a full season) 3.6
Sal Stewart 1.0 WAR x4 4.0
JJW 2.1 WAR x4 8.4
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pitchingandefense
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Re: JJ ROY
It looks like it will be a race between JJ and McLean, with some really interesting decisions to be made by voters as they weigh modern metrics with traditional counting stats.
McLean has 2.78 ERA, 2.39 FIP and 2.52 xFIP. None of what he's doing is luck. He's on pace for 225 strikeouts. The downside he has going is that the Mets are terrible, and he only has 1 win to show for his efforts, meaning he's on pace to finish well below double digit wins.
He has 1.5 fWAR so far, best among all rookie pitchers.
JJ has posted a wRC+ of 126, has a walk rate of 11.2% and a K rate of only 17.6%. The metrics love his defense, too. As for counting stats, his current pace would have him hit 30 homers, steal 20 bases, score over 120 runs and drive in over 85. A lot of that is obviously happening because he's leading off with good hitters behind him in the lineup.
He has 1.8 fWAR so far, the highest of any rookie in either league.
McLean has 2.78 ERA, 2.39 FIP and 2.52 xFIP. None of what he's doing is luck. He's on pace for 225 strikeouts. The downside he has going is that the Mets are terrible, and he only has 1 win to show for his efforts, meaning he's on pace to finish well below double digit wins.
He has 1.5 fWAR so far, best among all rookie pitchers.
JJ has posted a wRC+ of 126, has a walk rate of 11.2% and a K rate of only 17.6%. The metrics love his defense, too. As for counting stats, his current pace would have him hit 30 homers, steal 20 bases, score over 120 runs and drive in over 85. A lot of that is obviously happening because he's leading off with good hitters behind him in the lineup.
He has 1.8 fWAR so far, the highest of any rookie in either league.
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Jatalk
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Re: JJ ROY
If it were just based on key offensive and defensive stats I would think he has a good chance but not sure his position allows the sizzle some or all voters look at.Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑13 May 2026 08:48 amSounds like a popularity contest.ramfandan wrote: ↑13 May 2026 08:30 am MLB .com first poll taken by 39 of their writers had
Mets P McClean clearly in lead with 23 first place votes, Reds Stewart with 6 and JJ 5 votes.
Note: few others got less but those are top 3
From article, writers were asked to base their votes on how they have done thus far and how they project for year.
Obviously more votes to come later.
So first poll has JJ currently 3rd…. About 120 games to go though
Go JJ !
Norman McLean to date: 0.9 WAR x4 (for a full season) 3.6
Sal Stewart 1.0 WAR x4 4.0
JJW 2.1 WAR x4 8.4
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Futuregm2
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Re: JJ ROY
Fangraphs has McLean at 1.5 fWAR or top 10 in the game among pitchers. JJ is at 1.8 and top 16 in the game among position players.Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑13 May 2026 08:48 amSounds like a popularity contest.ramfandan wrote: ↑13 May 2026 08:30 am MLB .com first poll taken by 39 of their writers had
Mets P McClean clearly in lead with 23 first place votes, Reds Stewart with 6 and JJ 5 votes.
Note: few others got less but those are top 3
From article, writers were asked to base their votes on how they have done thus far and how they project for year.
Obviously more votes to come later.
So first poll has JJ currently 3rd…. About 120 games to go though
Go JJ !
Norman McLean to date: 0.9 WAR x4 (for a full season) 3.6
Sal Stewart 1.0 WAR x4 4.0
JJW 2.1 WAR x4 8.4
It’s close. Lots of season left.
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rockondlouie
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Re: JJ ROY
S. Stewart--Reds is the early frontrunner
N. McLean---NYM & F. Griffin---Nats among starting pitchers
But I wouldn't rule out JJW!
N. McLean---NYM & F. Griffin---Nats among starting pitchers
But I wouldn't rule out JJW!
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bccardsfan
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Re: JJ ROY
Indeed, lots of season left. JJ looks like he is coming out of his last slump. Still pulling most everything, but he will adjust. At ASB we will have a better sense of his chances.
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Talkin' Baseball
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Re: JJ ROY
I like his chances of improving as the season goes on.bccardsfan wrote: ↑13 May 2026 09:57 am Indeed, lots of season left. JJ looks like he is coming out of his last slump. Still pulling most everything, but he will adjust. At ASB we will have a better sense of his chances.
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hugeCardfan
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Re: JJ ROY
I think if JJ continues to produce as he has, he wins this in a downhill pull. Over 80 rbi's as a leadoff hitter is insane. His automatic defense and OBP is over the top. So are his 8 HR's. No way a pitcher, or an outfielder, should beat him out.
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Ozziesfan41
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Re: JJ ROY
Imagine what he could do if they had a 9th place hitter that could get on base sometimes ahead of him he drove in a lot more runshugeCardfan wrote: ↑13 May 2026 10:05 am I think if JJ continues to produce as he has, he wins this in a downhill pull. Over 80 rbi's as a leadoff hitter is insane. His automatic defense and OBP is over the top. So are his 8 HR's. No way a pitcher, or an outfielder, should beat him out.
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hugeCardfan
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Re: JJ ROY
If he weren't a perfect leadoff hitter he'd be a perfect #3 hitter. JJ is amazing.Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑13 May 2026 10:21 amImagine what he could do if they had a 9th place hitter that could get on base sometimes ahead of him he drove in a lot more runshugeCardfan wrote: ↑13 May 2026 10:05 am I think if JJ continues to produce as he has, he wins this in a downhill pull. Over 80 rbi's as a leadoff hitter is insane. His automatic defense and OBP is over the top. So are his 8 HR's. No way a pitcher, or an outfielder, should beat him out.