Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ and Chicago White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham were named the top rookies by the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Happ started the 2009 season in the Phillies' bullpen and joined the starting rotation in late May. He finished the year with a record of 12-4 and a 2.93 earned run average for the National League champions. The 27-year-old lefty struck out 119 batters in 166 innings and posted a pair of shutouts.

Beckham didn't make his 2009 season debut until June 4 and finished the campaign with 14 homers, 63 runs batted in and a .270 batting average in 103 games.

<!-- CLOSE: #story_body_top --> Other finalists for the top rookie in the NL were Florida's Chris Coghlan and Atlanta's Tommy Hanson. AL finalists were Jeff Niemann of Tampa Bay and Elvis Andrus of Texas. <!-- CLOSE: #story_body_remaining -->   http://www.sanluisobispo.com/sports/baseball/story/897684.html

 

Dear Mr. Townsend:

I would like to personally thank you for all that you've given to the Rays and their fans.  I could hardly contain the excitement inside that June day in 2005 when you were drafted.  I mean, who wouldn't have drafted someone that hadn't played competitively for over a year.  You were obviously too good for the Orioles the year before so you were a wonderful pick for my dear Rays.

Similar to your former teammate, but in much grander fashion, you hit the ground running with injury after injury after injury after injury and so on.  I was rooting for you all along and hoped you would prove the naysayers wrong every season.  However, your body just kept breaking down.

I am sorry you have not become the threatening closer many projected you to be.  Maybe it will happen in time.  However, if it does not I wish you well in all of your future endeavors.  Good luck with making it on the Poker Tour!

Yours Truly,

Suckerpunch

 

I'm not sold on the "closer by committee" approach.  It just doesn't seem like it will be a strength for the bull pen in the long run.  If the Rays were to trade for a closer what player(s) would they Rays get and what player(s) would the Rays give up?  This is obviously hypothetical but I'm interested in hearing what others have to say.  Is it risky to go after someone like Frank Francisco that is having a strong season thus far for Texas or should they focus on an established closer like Joe Nathan, for example?