Exactly what Giambi (shown above, circa 2001) has come back from, of course, continues to be a matter of speculation, but I think we can safely say it was something a little more substantial than “a case of the blues”.
Ken Griffey Jr. has won the NL version of said statue, and in light of his straining a tendon in early September, has to be considered the front-runner for the 2006 or 2007 edition of the award.
Griffey actually quietly had one of the better years for NL center fielders, and really posted it in only four months. He posted a .369 OBP, .576 Slg, .301 average with 35 homers, 30 doubles and 92 RBIs. Only Andruw Jones can be said to have had a better overall year, while Brian Giles and Willy Taveras had significant impacts in more games. It’s funny, I suppose, for people to continue to poke fun at Griffey’s injuries. Fact is, the dude raked this year and without requisite attention, in my opinion.
you don’t think winning the comeback player of the year award…and being the subject of several dozen articles lauding his injury-free (well, almost) season are recognition enough? For Junior, I mean. Tim, I think we all know that Giambi is coming back from having to shave every day.
No, I do not. He should have been in the All-Star lineup and the “several dozen articles” are several dozen short of the number of fawning articles on any number of other top-tier players. And the point of my comment was that the Comeback Award was well deserved.
“other top tier players”. Oh, you mean Junior’s peers. Other guys who were the highest paid player for a franchise that missed the playoffs 6 years in a row. 7 managers during that spell, too — no wonder a certain O.G. in Chicago wasn’t dying to acquire Griffey.
Credit where it is due — Griffey had a terrific 2005 and really did “come back” from a horrific injury. But if the Red can finish 27 games out of first place with him, they could do so without him, too.
That’s asinine – you’re confusing the Comeback Player of the Year Award with the MVP – Why should the fact that the Reds suck have any bearing whatsoever?
I assume you think Dontrelle Willis should be the fave to win the Cy Young Award because he got more hits than Carpenter and Clemens?
I think you should stick to stickin’ it to Leitch and Deadspin.
For what it’s worth, in addition to finding Kenny Chesney terrifically handsome in a “I can’t stay married to this guy” kinda way, I tend to agree Griffey has got to prove he can play more than 128 games to be considered anything resembling an MVP.
My real point was that I felt, personally that is, that the Griffster got more attention for his hammy than his hitting, which — while understandable — was a shame. That was what I meant to say.
Also, Kenny Chesney 4 eva.