Nine Rookie Maligned By Maldonado
The Yellow Springs Nine season has been one of fits and starts, but the one constant burning light has been the play of 22-year-old outfielder Andy McKinney. Among qualified rookies his numbers lead the league in batting average (.314), On-base Percentage (.393), and slugging (.621). Add 90 RBI, also best in the league. His 40 doubles are tied for the league lead with Edmonton’s Steven Collins. He leads rookies in triples (8), and total bases (295). He’s first in isolated power (.307), first in OPS+ at 155. First with a 3.70 WPA, and first with his .411 wOBA. His 30 homers are second only to California’s Raul Hernandez. It all adds up to a 5.0 WAR, best by over a win and a half, all in only 475 at bats.
“It’s been a magical season in that way,” McKinney said in a recent interview. “So much more than I could have imagined. I only wish we’d won a few more games.”
Of course, the big question on everyone’s mind was how McKinney would respond to derogatory comments made recently by San Fernando right fielder Luis Maldonado. McKinney wasn’t really biting, though.
“Luis Maldonado is a great baseball player,” McKinney said. “I’m not sure why he felt the need to throw shade on my season, but I'm just a kid from Taylor (Michigan). I suppose I’ve got a lot to learn up here.”
On the whole, Maldonado and McKinney ended the season as the clear top two in right field, with Maldonado separating himself primarily with his legs, and maybe a shade with the glove. Offensively, the two were nearly identical—McKinney posting a better batting average and OBP, Maldonado edging the rookie by a slight margin in slugging. They went about it in different ways, however, Maldonado blasting the long ball more often and McKinney doing his damage via the extra base hit.
If the Silk is about hitting only, one can argue that if Maldonado is a Silk Candidate, then so is McKinney. But, of course, the Silk—like every award—is about more than pure lumber and numbers, and no one from this bumfuck town in Ohio is making that argument. Not about McKinney, and not about Maldonado.
“There are a lot of great hitters in this league,” McKinney said. “It’s hard to separate them all out sometimes. I’m just glad I don’t have to vote.”
9-News: 37.086 – McKinney Finishing Gillstrom Bid
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Re: 9-News: 37.086 – McKinney Finishing Gillstrom Bid
No doubt McKinney has had a great rookie year, but he is not on the same level as Maldonado. Let McKinney play every day against lefties and see if those numbers are still comparable, my guess is they won't be...
Randy Weigand
Havana Sugar Kings/San Fernando Bears: 32-50 (1608-1481)
Des Moines Kernels: 52-
League Champion- 34
JL Champion- 34
FL Champion- 36, 37
JL Southern- 34
FL Pacific- 37, 39
Wild Card- 33, 35, 36, 40, 43
Havana Sugar Kings/San Fernando Bears: 32-50 (1608-1481)
Des Moines Kernels: 52-
League Champion- 34
JL Champion- 34
FL Champion- 36, 37
JL Southern- 34
FL Pacific- 37, 39
Wild Card- 33, 35, 36, 40, 43
- RonCo
- GB: JL Frontier Division Director
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Re: 9-News: 37.086 – McKinney Finishing Gillstrom Bid
Probably not, but Maldonado's ratings vs LHP aren't much different than McKinney's. I'd prefer he platoon, but there's no reason to think he couldn't at least hold his own with Maldonado if forced into service. All said, by ratings, you take Maldonado's bat by a little, and Maldonado clearly separates with his legs, no matter what. But raw offensive results this year, the two are comparable enough to have a fun argument about.
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