SB Nation Arizona - 2012 NL Rookie of the Year: Wade Miley finishes secondhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2012-11-13T12:58:27-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/34053972012-11-13T12:58:27-07:002012-11-13T12:58:27-07:00Wade Miley should have won NL ROY honors
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<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Despite winning 16 games, having a sub-3.4 ERA and striking out almost 150 batters in about 200 innings pitched, Diamondbacks rookie pitcher Wade Miley failed to win Rookie of the Year honors. </p> <p>Well, that's pretty ridiculous. </p>
<p>In a league that has become more about the hype of a player as opposed to the actual production of one, <span>Wade Miley</span> came in 2nd place for the National League Rookie of the Year voting, trailing <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> outfielder <span>Bryce Harper</span>. While there is no arguing that the 19 year old Harper certainly had an outstanding season, Miley is the one that was snubbed from winning this award. </p>
<p>Anyone could make a case for either of these players. Both had a WAR (wins above replacement) of 4.8, <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2012/11/13/3636630/sbn-awards-rookie-of-the-year-bryce-harper-wade-miley" target="_blank">according to SB Nation affiliate blog, AZ Snakepit</a>. And it's always difficult to compare the stats of a pitcher to those of a hitter and outfielder because, well, their assignments are very different. </p>
<p>But to me, Harper won this award based more on the hype surrounding his name more than anything else. He is a young player with some memorable quotes ("clown question, bro") that happens to play on a popular, East Coast team. Perhaps above all else is that the Nationals were a good team, winning the most games of any team in the MLB. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>, on the other hand, didn't even come close to making the playoffs over the eventual World Series champ <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>. </p>
<p>Call me biased because I cover Arizona sports and live in the great<strike>est</strike> state. That's fine. I just see the impact Miley had on his club as being far superior. He was the sole consistent starting pitcher on the whole pitching staff. He could have easily won 20 games had it not been for the on-and-off offense of the D-Backs. </p>
<p>As John Baragona notes in the AZ Snakepit article, pitchers wear down faster than position players, too. So when Miley began to fumble down the stretch, it came as no surprise. How can a guy that is not used to such an arduous season just come in and pitcher for 30 games and almost 200 innings? Harper only played in 139 games, which I think actually helped his stats. </p>
<p>It's okay though. Awards are overrated. When looking into the future, both players look like they can be successful for a very long time. But for my money, give me Miley. He has already shown how much eh can do in just his rookie season. </p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2012/11/13/3641404/diamondbacks-pitcher-wade-miley-loses-out-on-nl-rookie-of-the-yearTyler Nickel2012-11-12T17:20:44-07:002012-11-12T17:20:44-07:00Wade Miley finished second in NL ROY voting
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<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Diamondbacks rookie fell short to the Nationals' Bryce Harper in the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year award.</p> <p> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> pitcher <span>Wade Miley</span> narrowly missed out on the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year, falling seven points short of winner <span>Bryce Harper</span>.</p>
<p>The soon-to-be 26-year-old Miley had a fantastic year, but just happened to have the misfortune of debuting the same time Harper did. Miley threw 194 innings over the course of the year, striking out 144 and posting a 3.33 ERA. He posted a 1.18 WHIP and had a WAR of 3.2 according to Baseball-Reference.</p>
<p>The Diamondbacks drafted Miley in the first round of the 2008 amateur draft. He wasn't expected to break camp with the team, but an injury to <span>Takashi Saito</span> forced manager Kirk Gibson to call on Miley early.</p>
<p>Miley's 16 victories were the most by an NL rookie since the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockies</a>' <span>Jason Jennings</span> in 2002. He led all NL rookie pitchers in quality starts. Any other year, he had the line to win Rookie of the Year.</p>
<p>But uber-prospect Harper lived up to much of his hype, as he hit .270/.340/.477 with 22 homeruns, all at the tender age of 19.</p>
<p>In a statement released by the Diamondbacks, Miley was gracious and humble in his defeat.</p>
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<p>"I would like to congratulate both <span>Mike Trout</span> and Bryce Harper on winning the Rookie of the Year awards," Miley said. "I am very honored to be mentioned for such a prestigious award and cannot thank my teammates and coaches enough for putting me in position to succeed every time I went to the mound."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Here is a full list of the voting breakdown:</p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="365">
<thead><tr>
<td>
<p align="center"><b>Name, Team</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><b>1st</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><b>2nd</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><b>3rd</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><b>Points</b></p>
</td>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p>Bryce Harper, <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nationals</a></p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>16</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>8</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>8</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>112</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p>Wade Miley, Diamondbacks</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>12</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>13</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>6</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>105</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p><span>Todd Frazier</span>, <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Reds</a></p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>7</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>9</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>45</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p><span>Wilin Rosario</span>, Rockies</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>12</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p><span>Norichika Aoki</span>, <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Brewers</a></p>
</td>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>5</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>11</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p>Yonder Alonzo, <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Padres</a></p>
</td>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p><span>Matt Carpenter</span>, <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardinals</a></p>
</td>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top"></td>
<td valign="top">
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td valign="top">
<p>1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p>Jordan Pachecho, Rockies</p>
</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2012/11/12/3637812/mlb-rookie-of-year-wade-miley-bryce-harperPeter Woodbrook