Thread: Bollinger: Mauer Nominated for Hank Aaron Award

Here is the Twins from Twins mlb.com beat writer, Rhett Bollinger:

Joe Mauer was just nominated as the #MNTwins candidate for Hank Aaron Award, given to most outstanding offensive performer in each league.

He won't win. Should finish top 5 but prob wont.

If Miggy doesnt get this after winning triple crown--then there should be an investigation. Mauer should finish about 7th (behind Miggy, Trout, Jeter, etc.)

I don't see Mauer as a Hank Aaron award winning type. If there was a Wade Boggs award, Mauer would win it every year.

For the 1999 season, a winner was selected using an objective points system. Hits, home runs, and runs batted in (RBI) were given certain point values and the winner was the player who had the highest tabulated points total.^[1][2]
In 2000, the system was changed to a ballot in which each MLB team's radio and television play-by-play broadcasters and color analysts voted for three players in each league. Their first place vote receives five points, the second place vote receives three points, and the third place vote receives one point. Beginning in 2003, fans were given the opportunity to vote via MLB's official website, MLB.com. Fans' votes account for 30% of the points, while broadcasters' and analysts' votes account for the other 70%.^[1]
The 2004–2006 Hank Aaron Award was decided in three separate phases. In August fans voted at each Club's official Web site from among three players nominated by the respective Club. The leading vote getter from each Club became one of 30 finalists, from which a special Major League Baseball panel chose six finalists from each League. Online fan voting then determined the overall League winner.
In 2007–2008 five finalists in each league were determined in fan balloting on MLB.com, from 30 club nominees selected by a special panel assembled by Major League Baseball and MLB.com. Online fan votes decided the overall League winner.
For the 2009 Award fans selected both the finalists and the ultimate winners of the award. In September fans voted for one finalist out of three nominees from each MLB Club. Once those 30 finalists were selected, fans voted for one American League and one National League winner, from September 16–30.

And this year:

Your votes for the 2012 Hank Aaron Award, given to the top offensive player in each League, will be counted alongside those of a special panel of Hall of Famers -- personally selected by Hank Aaron. Tony Gwynn, Paul Molitor, Joe Morgan and Robin Yount have all agreed to lend their expertise. Voting ends Oct. 16.
Learn more about this year's award | See past winners
Select the Top Offensive Player in Each League Limited to one player per league. You can vote up to 10 times per day.

Dohkay

Trivia: In the short history of the the Hank Aaron awrd, 4 winners didn't even get the silver slugger for their position.

2010: Joey Votto
2008: Kevin Youkilis and Aramis Ramirez
2003: Albert Pujols (although he did win a SS for Outfield. Helton took it for 1B)

Soooooo.... the fans vote and the panel of HOFer's will "lend their expertise" in case the fans get it wrong?

Oh how I value awards and honors dictated by they guy who never played baseball but votes as often as he possibly can while sitting in his mom's basement in New Jersey.

This is an award Mauer will never win. Generally this goes to players with lots of home runs and rbi. Granted, he should have won this in 2009 over Derek Jeter.

Originally Posted by Willihammer

Trivia: In the short history of the the Hank Aaron awrd, 4 winners didn't even get the silver slugger for their position.

2010: Joey Votto
2008: Kevin Youkilis and Aramis Ramirez
2003: Albert Pujols (although he did win a SS for Outfield. Helton took it for 1B)

I think Silver Slugger tends to weigh batting average heavy and Hank Aaron weighs power heavy.

I don't think the fans get it wrong any more often than any panels, writers, broadcasters, or coaches. Not if you put any value in statistics at all. Heck, look at the hall of fame.

online fan voting = stupid award, imo.