The first month of the 2015 MLB season is in the books, and it’s time to resurrect one of our favorite features – the best and worst players of the month! These choices are purely subjective, though statistics are obviously taken into account. Agree or disagree with any choices? Good, let us know what you think! We’re also going to be keeping track of the winners and losers of each award each month, giving us a nice look back at who’s been hot and who’s been cold as the season goes on.
AL Best Hitter of the Month: Adam Jones
One qualified regular in the American League hit .400 for the month of April – Mr. Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles. Jones hit exactly .400 to go along with a .440 OBP and .707 slugging. Yeah, he only homered five times, half of the total of Nelson Cruz and Hanley Ramirez, but Jones was just a better overall, all-around player this month than either of those players. Could you imagine if the Mariners still had him in their lineup along with Cruz? They would be unstoppable. But hey, Seattle’s loss is Baltimore’s gain.
Honorable mentions: Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Josh Donaldson, Devon Travis, Stephen Vogt
AL Worst Hitter of the Month: Matt Joyce
.134/.181/.179. Two runs scored. Five RBI. 72 plate appearances. That’s not a good line for anyone, let alone a corner outfielder on a team expected to contend for a playoff berth. The Angels offense has been pretty rough this year, and the struggles of Joyce (and Chris Iannetta, a dishonorable mention) are a huge reason why. Josh Hamilton isn’t walking through that door any time soon, kids.
Dishonorable mentions: Carlos Beltran, Craig Gentry, Chris Iannetta, Logan Morrison, Rene Rivera
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 19: Adrian Gonzalez #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat during a 7-0 Dodger win over the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on April 19, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
NL Best Hitter of the Month: Adrian Gonzalez
Gonzalez got off to a ridiculous start this season, and while he hasn’t really matched that fervor, no one expected him too. But let’s be honest here – the guy hit eight homers, the most of any player in the National League. He hit a ridiculous .383/.432/.790, head and shoulders above every other regular in the National League. There really wasn’t another choice here. Gonzalez has been on another planet this season.
Honorable mentions: Matt Carpenter, Corey Dickerson, Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pierzynski, Joey Votto
NL Worst Hitter of the Month: Chase Utley
I like Chase Utley. He’s a great player that has had a fantastic career. However, he’s been awful this season for a putrid Phillies team. Through 21 games, Utley has hit .114/.198/.200. That’s good for a wRC+ of…1. That’s right, 1. Utley’s home run total (two) is higher than his wRC+. That’s horrendous. And consider this – those two homers are Utley’s only extra base hits of the season, and the came in the same game (as did his one stolen base of the season). Take that one game out of the sample, and Utley is on a 5/77 run with zero extra base hits. It’s simply staggering.
Dishonorable mentions: Marlon Byrd, Tuffy Gosewisch, Jonathan Lucroy, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Grady Sizemore
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – APRIL 21: Pitcher Chris Archer #22 of the Tampa Bay Rays salutes the crowed as he comes off the mound during the sixth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on April 21, 2015 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
AL Best Pitcher of the Month: Chris Archer
The Rays starter was an absolute beast to start off 2015. In his five starts, Archer threw 32 1/3 innings. He struck out 37, walked just six, and gave up only three earned runs – all of which came on Opening Day against the Orioles. It’s been 27 1/3 innings since Archer has allowed an earned run, and he’s allowed only 17 baserunners over his last four starts. Needless to say, Tampa Bay’s best starter has been fantastic.
Honorable mentions: Sonny Gray, Felix Hernandez, Scott Kazmir, Dallas Keuchel, Jake Odorizzi
AL Worst Pitcher of the Month: Ross Detwiler
I feel bad for Ross Detwiler. He was an important part of the Nationals rotation in 2012, made just 13 starts in 2013 while dealing with injury, and was jettisoned to the bullpen in 2014. Now, he’s a member of the Texas Rangers, and things aren’t going so well. Detwiler has made four starts this year and hasn’t made it through the sixth inning of any of them, totaling just 17 2/3 innings for the season. He’s struck out ten hitters…and walked nine. He’s allowed 17 earned runs and six homers in those four starts, leading to an 8.66 ERA and a nearly as bad 8.17 FIP. For a Rangers rotation that has been smashed in its collective face with injuries early in the 2015 season, Detwiler’s struggles aren’t exactly helping matters.
Dishonorable mentions: Kendall Graveman, Wade Miley, Bud Norris, Rick Porcello, Chris Tillman
CINCINNATI, OH – APRIL 28: Johnny Cueto #47 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park on April 28, 2015 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
NL Best Pitcher of the Month: Johnny Cueto
This was a tough choice for me, and both Max Scherzer and Gerrit Cole were close runners up to Cueto. But I had to go with the Reds ace, in large part because he hasn’t failed to finish the seventh inning in any of his five starts this year. He’s tossed 37 innings, struck out 38, walked only five, and has pitched to a stellar 1.95 ERA. Even in his lone “bad” start of the year on April 17th against the Cardinals, he had allowed just one run through six innings before falling apart in the seventh. Cueto pitching well is great news for the Reds, who need him to stay on the mound if they have any hope of contending for a playoff spot – or if they want to flip him to a contender in July.
Honorable mentions: Jake Arrieta, Gerrit Cole, Zack Greinke, Aaron Harang, Max Scherzer
NL Worst Pitcher of the Month: Ryan Vogelsong
I actually had Kyle Kendrick penciled in to this spot…but then, Ryan Vogelsong laid a turd at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. Vogelsong has made two relief appearances and three starts this season, pressed back into the rotation because of the Giants’ injury issues, and he’s been pretty bad in whatever role Bruce Bochy has decided to use him in. In 19 1/3 innings, he’s allowed 20 earned runs – far from optimal. While he has struck out 17, he’s walked 11 and has almost incomprehensibly allowed eight home runs. He’s gotten through the fifth just once in his three starts, and got blitzed for five earned over his 5 2/3 innings of relief. The Giants are going to need more from him if they want to repeat as World Champions…but then again, it *is* an odd year.
Dishonorable mentions: David Buchanan, Trevor Cahill, Kyle Kendrick, Mat Latos, Kyle Lohse
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 27: Devon Travis #29 of the Toronto Blue Jays runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Boston Red Sox in the third inning at Fenway Park April 27, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
AL Best Rookie of the Month: Devon Travis
Travis was the obvious choice in a weak crop of AL rookies. And don’t take that as a slight on the 24-year old – he was my preseason choice to win the AL Rookie of the Year award! But he really doesn’t have any competition so far. In 22 games, Travis has hit .325/.393/.625, and has smashed a team-leading six homers. Considering he’s in a lineup with hitters like Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautstia, Edwin Encarnacion, and Russell Martin, leading the team in homers, batting average, OBP, and slugging is no easy task. But that’s what Travis has done, in addition to leading baseball’s rookie class in doubles, homers, batting average, slugging, runs scored, and RBI (if that’s your thing).
Honorable mentions: Tim Beckham, Chris Martin, Paulo Orlando, Roberto Osuna, Steven Souza Jr
SAN DIEGO, CA – APRIL 24: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a sacrifice fly during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park April 24, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
NL Best Rookie of the Month: Joc Pederson
Anthony DiSclafani has been great for the Reds. Kris Bryant has stolen all of the headlines for rookies this April. But Joc Pederson has been an absolute monster for the Dodgers, along with fellow rookie teammates Alex Guerrero and Yimi Garcia. In 21 games as Los Angeles’ every day center fielder, Pederson has hit .298/.461/.596, homering four times. He’s also walked 17 times over 77 plate appearances, which just seems insane for a 23-year old (but he *did* spend most of the season hitting at the bottom of the team’s lineup). How Pederson plays over the rest of the year will be quite important however, given the fact that both Carl Crawford and Yasiel Puig are on the DL. It’s all on you, kid.
Honorable mentions: Kris Bryant, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Guerrero, Chris Heston, Yimi Garcia
