Elephant Rumblings: Rooker in All-MLB conversation

MLB news roundup

Happy Wednesday, Athletics Nation!

Awards season is nigh upon us, and Brent Rooker absolutely deserves to be part of the conversation.

Rooker was not named an All-Star this year, and some felt he was snubbed in favor of an arguably less deserving David Fry. Since the break, Brent has only bolstered his worthiness with a wRC+ of 175 through September 16. On the season, Rooker trailed only Aaron Judge and Juan Soto on the wRC+ leaderboard coming into yesterday’s game.

Soto and Judge are both outfielders, so Rooker’s hitting stats should put him in contention for the AL DH Silver Slugger Award as well as the All-MLB team.

Thomas Harrigan at MLB.com predicts that Shohei Ohtani will be the first team All-MLB designated hitter, and I would agree that’s a safe bet. Ohtani and Rooker are neck-and-neck in terms of wRC+, but the former has over 100 more plate appearances and significantly higher WAR, not to mention the biggest name in baseball—which could create bias in the Dodgers phenom’s favor.

However, Harrigan’s choice of Yordan Alvarez for second team honors is harder to defend against accusations of snubbery. Let’s compare lines.

Rooker, 2024: 570 PA, .302/.372/.584, 38 HR, 170 wRC+, 5.1 fWAR

Alvarez, 2024: 615 PA, .307/.392/.566, 34 HR, 166 wRC+, 5.0 fWAR

Both hitters have excellent offensive production, but Rooker holds an edge in wRC+ and fWAR—he also slightly leads Alvarez in bWAR. The competition is stiff, and the script could flip depending on how these sluggers fare through the final leg of the season, but if the same comparison holds and Alvarez does get All-MLB honors over Rooker, I think it will be clear that Yordan is also benefitting from name recognition. The Astros DH has been terrorizing pitchers for several years now, with an incredible career wRC+ of 166.

Hopefully Rook can take it up a notch and secure some well deserved honors this fall. Keep mashing, Brent Rooker!

A’s Coverage:

• A’s beat Cubs behind three home runs
• Zack Gelof Ending 2024 on a High Note
• Noda eyes strong finish to up-and-down ‘24

MLB News & Interest:

• MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers lose the top spot, Orioles slip; We hand out end-of-year awards ($)
• Minor League year-end awards: Boston Red Sox’s Kristian Campbell is Prospect of the Year ($)
• Rule 5 Draft Update: September Edition
• Farhan Zaidi’s future with Giants in question before lame-duck 2025, despite his getting Chapman deal ($)
• Guardians Place Steven Kwan On Injured List
• Ghiroli: Why the Kansas City Royals are good for baseball ($)
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

Who will hit their marks?

Dinger dependency.

Book signing at the Coli.

Gelof close to an A’s record for home runs by a second baseman.