Gaby Sanchez gives Marlins a chance for back-to-back Rookies of the Year

There's no disputing the solid season Gaby Sanchez is having. He easily won the Marlins' first base job over Logan Morrison in spring training - a coup for Sanchez since he failed to even make the team out of spring training the previous year.

With 10 games left in the season, he leads all National League rookies in hits (151), doubles (36) and RBI (81) and is third in home runs (19).
He has done it over a full season, playing in more games (141) than any NL rookie except for Washington shortstop Ian Desmond.

"Sometimes we forget he's a rookie,' Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "He's been very, very consistent. One of the most consistent players we have on the field.'

With his overall resume, Sanchez supporters can make a strong argument that he should follow Chris Coghlan as the second consecutive Marlin to be named NL rookie of the year.

But he's no lock.

At 27, he is the oldest of the serious contenders and the Marlins are struggling to finish with a winning record.

More importantly, Sanchez is excelling in a year stocked with talented rookies.

"There are six or seven guys who could win it,' said Nationals coach Pat Listach, the AL rookie of the year in 1992 as a shortstop with Milwaukee.

A look at the top candidates aside from Sanchez:

C Buster Posey, San Francisco
He started the season in the minors but his call-up May 29 sparked the Giants' resurgence; they are playing .580 ball since his arrival.
Posey, the fifth overall draft pick out of Florida State in 2008, is batting cleanup and leading NL rookies with a .323 average (with 16 homers and 64 RBI). And he is doing it at a demanding position while working with a talented Giants staff.

RF Jason Heyward, Atlanta
Heyward, who turned 21 last month, was the 14th overall draft pick in 2007. He entered this year as the favorite to win the award and has gotten better throughout the season, helping the Braves stay in playoff contention.

Among rookies, he is first in runs (81) and on-base percentage (.400). And he is batting .285, helped by a .322 average in the second half.
On opening day, he caught the ceremonial first pitch from Hank Aaron, then hit a three-run home run in his first major-league at-bat. He might well be destined to be rookie of the year.

LHP Jaime Garcia, St. Louis
Although he wasn't a high draft pick (22nd round 2005), he clearly is the best rookie pitcher this season, going 13-8 with a 2.70 ERA.
But in a field crowded with talented hitters, that might not be enough for Garcia to become the first pitcher to win the award since Florida's Dontrelle Willis in 2003. Plus, the Cardinals' second-half fade might make Garcia an easy name to ignore at the top of the ballot.

The others
You have to wonder what kind of numbers 20-year-old Mike Stanton (20 home runs in his first 79 games) would have if he had opened the season with the Marlins instead of joining the team June 8.

The same goes for Logan Morrison, who hit in all but nine of his first 52 games since being called up July 27. Entering Friday's game, he had reached base in 42 straight games.

Left fielder Tyler Colvin (20 homers) and shortstop Starlin Castro have had solid seasons for Chicago, although Colvin's ended prematurely when he was struck in the chest by a shattered bat last Sunday at Sun Life Stadium.

Washington right-hander Stephen Strasburg (5-3, 2.91) was an obvious ROY candidate before an elbow injury sidelined him.



(palmbeachpost.com)