In the final runoff Andrew Bailey edges Julio Borbon wtith 54% of the vote to 45% of the vote making Bailey #26 in the poll and Borbon #27.  Here are the final results with the player's results in last year's community prospect poll in parens if they were in it:

1. Matt Wieters, C Baltimore (1)

2. Tommy Hanson, P Atlanta (23)

3. Andrew McCutchen, of Pittsburgh (18)

4. Brett Anderson P Oakland (16)

5 Gordon Beckham, 3b CHW (47)

6. Rick Porcello, P Detroit. (14)

7.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas (24)

8. Colby Rasmus, of St. Louis (6)

9. David Price, P Tampa Bay (2)

10. Travis Snider, of Toronto (4)

11.  Dexter Fowler, of Colorado (15)

12. Chris Tillman, p Baltimore(20)

13t. Matt Latos, p San Diego (124)

13t  Derek Holland, p Texas (17)

15. Cameron Maybin, of Florida (7)

16t Chris Coghlan, of Florida (110)

16t Trevor Cahill, P Oakland (8)

 
18 Matt Laporta of/1b Cleveland (10)

19 Kyle Blanks, of San Diego  (79)

20 Nolan Reimold, of Baltimore (9% in round 150)

21 Drew Stubbs, of Cincinatti (135)

22. Ricky Romero, P Toronto 

23 Daniel Bard, P Boston (131)

24, Jeff Neimann, P Tampa Bay (116)
25. Jordan Zimmerman, P Washington (50)

26. Andrew Bailey, P Oakland

27. Julio Borbon, of Texas (81)

hm Marc Rzpecysnski P Toronto

hm Mat Gamel, 3b Milwaukee (33)

hm  Jordan Schafer of Atlanta (36)

hm  Brad Bergesen P Baltimore

hm Gio Gonzalez, P Oakland (69)

hm Clayton Richard, P San Diego

hm Gerado Parra, of Arizona (8% in round 150) 

also receiving some support, Tommy Hunter, P Texas, Everth Cabrera,  ss San Diego, Garret Jones, of Pittsburgh, Brett Cecil, P Toronto (48), J.A. Happ P Philadelphia

others considered but receiving only minimal support: Luis Valbuena if (Cle), Brett Gardner of (NYY), Cliff Pennington if (Oak), Taylor Teagarden C (Tex) (45), Sean West P (FLO) (147) Ryan Perry (Det), Randy Wells P (Cubs), Jake Fox 3b/of (Oak), Casey McGehee, of Milwaukee   

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It looks like we are at an impasse in the voting between Julio Borbon and Andrew Bailey, each of which is at 21% of the vote with exactly the same number of votes.  So, we are going to have a runoff, to decide who is #26 and who is #27.  As we are only going 27 rounds that means that this runoff will be the last round of voting and that we won't be doing another round of open voting .

Everyone else in the voting for this past round, #26, got at least 5% of the vote and thus goes down as an honorable mention.  All the players listed under "possibly returning in round 27" will be listed as "also receiving some support."  So, the final standings will end up looking like this:

1. Matt Wieters, C Baltimore

2. Tommy Hanson, P Atlanta

3. Andrew McCutchen, of Pittsburgh

4. Brett Anderson P Oakland

5 Gordon Beckham, 3b CHW

6. Rick Porcello, P Detroit.

7.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas

8. Colby Rasmus, of St. Louis

9. David Price, P Tampa Bay

10. Travis Snider, of Toronto 

11.  Dexter Fowler, of Colorado

12. Chris Tillman, p Baltimore

13t. Matt Latos, p San Diego

13t  Derek Holland, p Texas

15. Cameron Maybin, of Florida

16t Chris Coghlan, of Florida

16t Trevor Cahill, P Oakland

 
18 Matt Laporta of/1b Cleveland

19 Kyle Blanks, of San Diego 

20 Nolan Reimold, of Baltimore 

21 Drew Stubbs, of Cincinatti

22. Ricky Romero, P Toronto

23 Daniel Bard, P Boston

24, Jeff Neimann, P Tampa Bay 
25. Jordan Zimmerman, P Washington

26. tbd

27. tbd

hm Marc Rzpecysnski P Toronto

hm Mat Gamel, 3b Milwaukee

hm  Jordan Schafer of Atlanta

hm  Brad Bergesen P Baltimore

hm Gio Gonzalez, P Oakland

hm Clayton Richard, P San Diego

hm Gerado Parra, of Arizona

also receiving some support, Tommy Hunter, P Texas, Everth Cabrera,  ss San Diego, Garret Jones, of Pittsburgh, Brett Cecil, P Toronto, J.A. Happ P Philadelphia

others considered but receiving only minimal support: Luis Valbuena if (Cle), Brett Gardner of (NYY), Cliff Pennington if (Oak), Taylor Teagarden C (Tex), Sean West P (FLO) Ryan Perry (Det), Randy Wells P (Cubs), Jake Fox 3b/of (Oak)

After this, I will do a wrap up thread which will include a poll asking which team has the best collection of talent among last year's rookies.  But first #26 and #27. Here goes:  

Jordan Zimmerman wins round 25 rather easily with 30% of the vote.  The eternal bridesmaid Andrew Bailey comes in second with 16% of the vote.

In case you missed the poll last round, I decided to extend from 25 rounds to 27, but no further. So we have just two more polls to go including this one.  Here is where we are so far:

1. Matt Wieters, C Baltimore

2. Tommy Hanson, P Atlanta

3. Andrew McCutchen, of Pittsburgh

4. Brett Anderson P Oakland

5 Gordon Beckham, 3b CHW

6. Rick Porcello, P Detroit.

7.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas

8. Colby Rasmus, of St. Louis

9. David Price, P Tampa Bay

10. Travis Snider, of Toronto 

11.  Dexter Fowler, of Colorado

12. Chris Tillman, p Baltimore

13t. Matt Latos, p San Diego

13t  Derek Holland, p Texas

15. Cameron Maybin, of Florida

16t Chris Coghlan, of Florida

16t Trevor Cahill, P Oakland

 
18 Matt Laporta of/1b Cleveland

19 Kyle Blanks, of San Diego 

20 Nolan Reimold, of Baltimore 

21 Drew Stubbs, of Cincinatti

22. Ricky Romero, P Toronto

23 Daniel Bard, P Boston

24, Jeff Neimann, P Tampa Bay 
25. Jordan Zimmerman, P Washington

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Three rounds ago, Andrew Bailey came in second with 16% of the vote, with Daniel Bard at 9% and Jeff Neimann at 6% well back in the pack.  This round, Bailey came in third, with 14% of the vote, behind Zimmerman and this round's winner, Jeff Neimann.  Of course Bard won the prior round.

I certainly don't want to renege on my intention to bring this poll to a close, and I certainly don't want to put people to a choice between Randy Ruiz and Doug Mathis, but seeing who still remains on the list I do think that we would get a lot more closure and some decisions on players who have been the subject of hot and heavy discussion these last few rounds, if we took it out just two more rounds, to round 27, which is actually, in its own right a pretty good baseball number and which should require me to change almost nothing of what I have done to this point.  I promise to stop then, although if anyone wants to continue after that they are welcome to.

Here is where we are so far:

1. Matt Wieters, C Baltimore

2. Tommy Hanson, P Atlanta

3. Andrew McCutchen, of Pittsburgh

4. Brett Anderson P Oakland

5 Gordon Beckham, 3b CHW

6. Rick Porcello, P Detroit.

7.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas

8. Colby Rasmus, of St. Louis

9. David Price, P Tampa Bay

10. Travis Snider, of Toronto 

11.  Dexter Fowler, of Colorado

12. Chris Tillman, p Baltimore

13t. Matt Latos, p San Diego

13t  Derek Holland, p Texas

15. Cameron Maybin, of Florida

16t Chris Coghlan, of Florida

16t Trevor Cahill, P Oakland

 
18 Matt Laporta of/1b Cleveland

19 Kyle Blanks, of San Diego 

20 Nolan Reimold, of Baltimore 

21 Drew Stubbs, of Cincinatti

22. Ricky Romero, P Toronto

23 Daniel Bard, P Boston

24, Jeff Neimann, P Tampa Bay 

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Some things didn't change this past round, such as Andrew Bailey coming in second, this time tied with Jordan Zimmerman, who belatedly made his first appearance in the poll.  Still, after both of them being beaten by 6 points by Daniel Bard, with 23% of the vote it is now clear that while Zimmerman would have drawn substantial support begining 4-5 rounds ago, the community ranks him no higher than 24th overall considering his injury status, and we'll see about whether it is that high.   Here is where we are so far.

1. Matt Wieters, C Baltimore

2. Tommy Hanson, P Atlanta

3. Andrew McCutchen, of Pittsburgh

4. Brett Anderson P Oakland

5 Gordon Beckham, 3b CHW

6. Rick Porcello, P Detroit.

7.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas

8. Colby Rasmus, of St. Louis

9. David Price, P Tampa Bay

10. Travis Snider, of Toronto 

11.  Dexter Fowler, of Colorado

12. Chris Tillman, p Baltimore

13t. Matt Latos, p San Diego

13t  Derek Holland, p Texas

15. Cameron Maybin, of Florida

16t Chris Coghlan, of Florida

16t Trevor Cahill, P Oakland

 
18 Matt Laporta of/1b Cleveland

19 Kyle Blanks, of San Diego 

20 Nolan Reimold, of Baltimore 

21 Drew Stubbs, of Cincinatti

22. Ricky Romero, P Toronto

23 Daniel Bard, P Boston

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This round goes to Ricky Romero with 18% of the vote.  Daniel Bard comes in second.  Andrew Bailey, who had come in second the previous two rounds, drops to third. 

1. Matt Wieters, C Baltimore

2. Tommy Hanson, P Atlanta

3. Andrew McCutchen, of Pittsburgh

4. Brett Anderson P Oakland

5 Gordon Beckham, 3b CHW

6. Rick Porcello, P Detroit.

7.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas

8. Colby Rasmus, of St. Louis

9. David Price, P Tampa Bay

10. Travis Snider, of Toronto 

11.  Dexter Fowler, of Colorado

12. Chris Tillman, p Baltimore

13t. Matt Latos, p San Diego

13t  Derek Holland, p Texas

15. Cameron Maybin, of Florida

16t Chris Coghlan, of Florida

16t Trevor Cahill, P Oakland

 
18 Matt Laporta of/1b Cleveland

19 Kyle Blanks, of San Diego 

20 Nolan Reimold, of Baltimore 

21 Drew Stubbs, of Cincinatti

22. Ricky Romero, P Toronto

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After getting close these past several rounds, Drew Stubbs wins round 21 with 20% of the vote.  Andrew Bailey comes in second, again, this time with 16% of the vote.  Here is where we are so far:

1. Matt Wieters, C Baltimore

2. Tommy Hanson, P Atlanta

3. Andrew McCutchen, of Pittsburgh

4. Brett Anderson P Oakland

5 Gordon Beckham, 3b CHW

6. Rick Porcello, P Detroit.

7.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas

8. Colby Rasmus, of St. Louis

9. David Price, P Tampa Bay

10. Travis Snider, of Toronto 

11.  Dexter Fowler, of Colorado

12. Chris Tillman, p Baltimore

13t. Matt Latos, p San Diego

13t  Derek Holland, p Texas

15. Cameron Maybin, of Florida

16t Chris Coghlan, of Florida

16t Trevor Cahill, P Oakland

 
18 Matt Laporta of/1b Cleveland

19 Kyle Blanks, of San Diego 

20 Nolan Reimold, of Baltimore 

21 Drew Stubbs, of Cincinatti

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Last year when we did this poll, the 20th spot went to Justin Masterson.  This year, it goes to Nolan Reimold with 24% over Andrew Bailey with 17%.  I'll take Reimold over Masterson any day.  Here is where we are so far: 

1. Matt Wieters, C Baltimore

2. Tommy Hanson, P Atlanta

3. Andrew McCutchen, of Pittsburgh

4. Brett Anderson P Oakland

5 Gordon Beckham, 3b CHW

6. Rick Porcello, P Detroit.

7.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas

8. Colby Rasmus, of St. Louis

9. David Price, P Tampa Bay

10. Travis Snider, of Toronto 

11.  Dexter Fowler, of Colorado

12. Chris Tillman, p Baltimore

13t. Matt Latos, p San Diego

13t  Derek Holland, p Texas

15. Cameron Maybin, of Florida

16t Chris Coghlan, of Florida

16t Trevor Cahill, P Oakland

 
18 Matt Laporta of/1b Cleveland

19 Kyle Blanks, of San Diego 

20 Nolan Reimold, of Baltimore 

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After losing the three way runoff for round 16 and being beaten out by Laporta in round 18, Kyle Blanks is not to be denied in round 19, easily besting the field with 22% of the vote, ahead of four different guys who received between 11% and 14% of the vote.  Here is where we are so far:

1. Matt Wieters, C Baltimore

2. Tommy Hanson, P Atlanta

3. Andrew McCutchen, of Pittsburgh

4. Brett Anderson P Oakland

5 Gordon Beckham, 3b CHW

6. Rick Porcello, P Detroit.

7.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas

8. Colby Rasmus, of St. Louis

9. David Price, P Tampa Bay

10. Travis Snider, of Toronto 

11.  Dexter Fowler, of Colorado

12. Chris Tillman, p Baltimore

13t. Matt Latos, p San Diego

13t  Derek Holland, p Texas

15. Cameron Maybin, of Florida

16t Chris Coghlan, of Florida

16t Trevor Cahill, P Oakland

 
18 Matt Laporta of/1b Cleveland

19 Kyle Blanks, of San Diego 

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If you told me last spring that when we did this poll after the season, that Laporta would have gotten enough at bats to use up his rookie eligibility but wouldn't be picked until #18, I would have guessed that he would have really screwed up this year.  But, he actually did very well in AAA, and in limited playing time in the majors did reasonably well also.  There is certainly nothing about last year that should cause anyone to downgrade him seriously.  As others have mentioned, there was a very deep rookie class.

Anyway, compared to round 17, Blanks dropped about 3% while Laporta's vote total soared, so that Laporta wins round 18 easily with 37% of the vote, more than 2 to 1 over Blanks.  Here is where we are so far:

1. Matt Wieters, C Baltimore

2. Tommy Hanson, P Atlanta

3. Andrew McCutchen, of Pittsburgh

4. Brett Anderson P Oakland

5 Gordon Beckham, 3b CHW

6. Rick Porcello, P Detroit.

7.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas

8. Colby Rasmus, of St. Louis

9. David Price, P Tampa Bay

10. Travis Sinder, of Toronto 

11.  Dexter Fowler, of Colorado

12. Chris Tillman, p Baltimore

13t. Matt Latos, p San Diego

13t  Derek Holland, p Texas

15. Cameron Maybin, of Florida

16t Chris Coghlan, of Florida

16t Trevor Cahill, P Oakland

 
18t Matt Laporta of/1b Cleveland

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