Wednesday, November 11, 2009

DAN ALUM IN RUNNING FOR MLB ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

This article is from ESPN sports. Those fans wishing to vote for Chris for Rookie of the year can vote at: http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/mlb/awards/y2009/tyib/index.jsp

Chris played for the Dans in 2004. Bill and Pat Westphal were his host family, and he was coached by Bill Ferrari.
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NL: Chris Coghlan, Marlins

Chris Coghlan
#8 LF
Florida Marlins


It isn't every year that two rookie starters as sensational as J.A. Happ and Tommy Hanson swoop in and go 12-4 and 11-4, respectively, with sub-3.00 ERAs for teams that needed every pitch they threw. But who is the last rookie hit machine remotely like Chris Coghlan? Ichiro? Derek Jeter? Nomar Garciaparra? Well, if those are the names we're comparing this guy to, that pretty much ends the debate about this trophy, wouldn't you say? Coghlan has cranked out more hits (157) than all but three men in the entire National League since his May 8 debut, has more hits (108) than anyone in the sport since the All-Star break and has the highest average (.332), on-base percentage (.394) and OPS (.861) of any NL leadoff hitter for the season. His 48 hits in September were the most by any rookie in 81 years (Chuck Klein, 1928). His 95 hits in August and September combined are the third-most in back-to-back months by any NL player in the expansion era, behind only Pete Rose and Dave Parker -- and the most by any rookie in 62 years (Dale Long, 1947). Five months ago, a lot of people thought the Marlins were crazy to drop this guy into their leadoff hole and a position (left field) he'd played for one day in his pro career. Needless to say, they don't look so nuts anymore. Do they?

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