Comeback player of the year....decade?

[Jehrico]

I was wondering who all of you would submit for comeback player of the year award. The only reason it's crossing my mind, is I was amazed the other day when I happened to see Todd Jones stat line for the season. He was plain horrible over the last 4 years, and here he is this year in a closers role again for the leading wild card contender with 35 saves out of 37 opportunities, 2 HRs in over 65 innings, a WHIP under 1.00, and an ERA of 1.10...that's lower than Gagne's ERA when he won the Cy Young. I can't think of a player having as big of a turn around after being so bad for so long since I've been following baseball.

 

Who else thought Florida was crazy for signing him for over a million at the beginning of the season?

[TB_11]

I hate to say it, but I give that award to Giambi. He went from .208/.342/.379 in 2004 to .285/.444/.562 this year. He has 30 home runs in 370 ABs.

[Mark_R]

Ken Griffey Jr?

 

I mean him STAYING HEALTHY for almost the entire season had real long shot odds in Vegas at the beginning of the season.

[nilodnayr]

Tony Clark deserves honorable mention.

[NCCubFan]

I don't expect him to win the award, but I think Dempster deserves some consideration. After missing most of last year following Tommy John surgery he has turned into an outstanding closer.

[Jehrico]

I hate to say it, but I give that award to Giambi. He went from .208/.342/.379 in 2004 to .285/.444/.562 this year. He has 30 home runs in 370 ABs.

 

I don't know about Giambi...he wasn't that bad for that long like Jones was, and, although he's putting up pretty decent production as far as 1Bs go, he's not one of the most dominant at his position this year. Jones went from 4 years of garbage to being perhaps the most dominant reliever in all of baseball this year.

[hardcorecubfan]

I hate to say it, but I give that award to Giambi. He went from .208/.342/.379 in 2004 to .285/.444/.562 this year. He has 30 home runs in 370 ABs.

 

I don't know about Giambi...he wasn't that bad for that long like Jones was, and, although he's putting up pretty decent production as far as 1Bs go, he's not one of the most dominant at his position this year. Jones went from 4 years of garbage to being perhaps the most dominant reliever in all of baseball this year.

 

The big difference is that jason played in Ny where everything is analyzed and the pressure is ten times any other city and 100 times that of what Jones who played in pitiful Florida (pitiful, refering to the fan support or the media support)

[Bote McBoteface]

Giving Giambi comeback player of the year is like patting him on the back for being a roider. MLB should just disregard his existence until he gets the hint and retires.

[TB_11]

I hate to say it, but I give that award to Giambi. He went from .208/.342/.379 in 2004 to .285/.444/.562 this year. He has 30 home runs in 370 ABs.

 

I don't know about Giambi...he wasn't that bad for that long like Jones was, and, although he's putting up pretty decent production as far as 1Bs go, he's not one of the most dominant at his position this year. Jones went from 4 years of garbage to being perhaps the most dominant reliever in all of baseball this year.

 

The big difference is that jason played in Ny where everything is analyzed and the pressure is ten times any other city and 100 times that of what Jones who played in pitiful Florida (pitiful, refering to the fan support or the media support)

 

Fair point. The media here (I live in Manhattan) is obviously very Yankees-focused, so I've heard more about his performance and comeback over other players.

 

I think the level of surprise in his performance also plays a part. Before the start of the season I think most people expected him to flail away on the bench, putting up similar numbers to his weak 2004 performance. The assumption was now that he's not on steroids (or whatever it was he apologized for at the beginning of the season) his performance would remain mediocre. The fact that he's been extremely productive also adds to his 'comeback' aura.

[YearofDaCubs]

I would def NOT give comeback player of the year to Giambi. How ridiculous would it be that he would get the award after doing steroids and possibly having that tumor because of use from it? Another slap in the face for MLB if he gets the award IMO.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

1. Jason Giambi

2. Ken Griffey Jr

3. Morgan Ensberg

4. Bob Wickman

5. Ryan Dempster

 

That would be my ballot....

[goonys evil twin]

1. Jason Giambi

2. Ken Griffey Jr

3. Morgan Ensberg

4. Bob Wickman

5. Ryan Dempster

 

That would be my ballot....

 

What did Morgan Ensberg come back from?

[abuck1220]

1. Jason Giambi

2. Ken Griffey Jr

3. Morgan Ensberg

4. Bob Wickman

5. Ryan Dempster

 

That would be my ballot....

 

What did Morgan Ensberg come back from?

 

suckitis.

 

i'd never give giambi anything, ever. why is his story so heart-warming when palmeiro is basically being run out of the game?

[illiniguy]

1. Jason Giambi

2. Ken Griffey Jr

3. Morgan Ensberg

4. Bob Wickman

5. Ryan Dempster

 

That would be my ballot....

 

What did Morgan Ensberg come back from?

 

suckitis.

 

i'd never give giambi anything, ever. why is his story so heart-warming when palmeiro is basically being run out of the game?

duh because Palmerio did the juice without being on the Yankees.

[katway]

 

i'd never give giambi anything, ever. why is his story so heart-warming when palmeiro is basically being run out of the game?

duh because Palmerio did the juice without being on the Yankees.

 

Giambi came about as clean about being on the juice as his lawyer would allow. The guy didn't stand up in front of Congress and lie about it. He's been pretty forthcoming. But, I'd never give him a "come back player" award for putting up decent numbers without the juice.

 

Raffy deserves harsher treatment because he lied big time and obtained hall of fame numbers on the juice.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

1. Jason Giambi

2. Ken Griffey Jr

3. Morgan Ensberg

4. Bob Wickman

5. Ryan Dempster

 

That would be my ballot....

 

What did Morgan Ensberg come back from?

 

Unless I'm mistaken, they've always treated the Comeback Player award as if it were a "Most Improved" award. I don't think you need to have been injured to win it.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I would definitely give the award to Todd Jones. To have the season he's had at his age deserves some recognition.

[abuck1220]

 

i'd never give giambi anything, ever. why is his story so heart-warming when palmeiro is basically being run out of the game?

duh because Palmerio did the juice without being on the Yankees.

 

Giambi came about as clean about being on the juice as his lawyer would allow. The guy didn't stand up in front of Congress and lie about it. He's been pretty forthcoming. But, I'd never give him a "come back player" award for putting up decent numbers without the juice.

 

Raffy deserves harsher treatment because he lied big time and obtained hall of fame numbers on the juice.

 

the only reason he came clean was because his testimony was leaked. and probably the only reason he didn't lie when he testified was because he knew he was busted.

[katway]

 

i'd never give giambi anything, ever. why is his story so heart-warming when palmeiro is basically being run out of the game?

duh because Palmerio did the juice without being on the Yankees.

 

Giambi came about as clean about being on the juice as his lawyer would allow. The guy didn't stand up in front of Congress and lie about it. He's been pretty forthcoming. But, I'd never give him a "come back player" award for putting up decent numbers without the juice.

 

Raffy deserves harsher treatment because he lied big time and obtained hall of fame numbers on the juice.

 

the only reason he came clean was because his testimony was leaked. and probably the only reason he didn't lie when he testified was because he knew he was busted.

 

When Giambi was under oath, he told the truth. When Palmeiro was under oath, he lied. Hence, in the scale of losers - Palmeiro > Giambi.

 

In any event, with respect to comback player, I think Todd Jones deserves major consideration. He has done a remarkable job for Florida.

[Jehrico]

1. Jason Giambi

2. Ken Griffey Jr

3. Morgan Ensberg

4. Bob Wickman

5. Ryan Dempster

 

That would be my ballot....

 

What did Morgan Ensberg come back from?

 

Unless I'm mistaken, they've always treated the Comeback Player award as if it were a "Most Improved" award. I don't think you need to have been injured to win it.

 

You'd put Wickman on your ballot but not Jones?