ATTENTION! I HAVE SOMETHING TO POST! ITS A GREAT ARTICLE!
TOPPS ROOKIE ALL-STAR TEAM
1B Adam LaRoche, Braves
2B Aaron Miles, Rockies
3B Chad Tracy, D-Backs
SS Khalil Greene, Padres
OF Jason Bay, Pirates
OF Matt Holliday, Rockies
OF Terrmel Sledge, Expos
C Joe Mauer, Twins
RHP Daniel Cabrera, Orioles
LHP Mike Gonzalez, Pirates
Adam LaRoche watches his game-tying, three-run homer in the sixth inning of Atlanta's Game 4 win in Houston.
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ATLANTA -- Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche was named Thursday to the 46th annual Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.
The 25-year-old LaRoche hit .278 with 13 home runs, 27 doubles and 45 RBIs in 110 games during his rookie season. LaRoche split time at first base with veteran Julio Franco, but he also missed five weeks with a separated left shoulder that he suffered in a collision with Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal during a play at the plate on May 28. LaRoche was batting just .242 with two homers and 12 RBIs at the time of his injury, but he picked up his play after coming back on July 2.
The lanky first baseman hit .302 with 10 homers after the All-Star break, including a .345 average (30-for-87) with 11 doubles and five homers in his final 28 games of the regular season. LaRoche batted .235 in the National League Division Series against the Astros, but he came up with two of the Braves' most clutch hits in the postseason.
Facing dominant closer Brad Lidge in the eighth inning of Game 2 at Turner Field, LaRoche laced a game-tying double to help keep the Braves alive for what turned into an 11-inning victory to even the series at one game apiece. LaRoche also crushed a game-tying, three-run homer in the sixth inning of Game 4 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, allowing Atlanta to force a decisive Game 5.
Braves manager Bobby Cox paid his rookie first baseman a unique compliment prior to the start of the postseason when he said of LaRoche's hitting: "He knows what to do with that shillelagh."
While LaRoche handled the lumber adeptly at the plate, he also fielded his position surprisingly well for a 6-foot-3, 180-pound man. LaRoche made just five errors on 786 chances in 720 innings, good for a .994 fielding percentage.
The son of former Major League pitcher Dave LaRoche, who made 647 appearances for five teams during his big league career, Adam LaRoche was counted on by the Braves to provide offensive punch after batting .290 with 20 homers and 72 RBIs in the minor leagues in 2003. Atlanta allowed free agent Robert Fick to sign with Tampa Bay last offseason, knowing that LaRoche was ready to make the jump to the Majors.
Voting was done by Major League managers. LaRoche was joined on the team by Rockies second baseman Aaron Miles, Diamondbacks third baseman Chad Tracy, Padres shortstop Khalil Greene, Pirates outfielder Jason Bay, Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday, Expos outfielder Termel Sledge, Twins catcher Joe Mauer, Orioles right-handed pitcher Daniel Cabrera and Pirates left-handed pitcher Mike Gonzalez.
The Topps Major League Rookie All-Star team began in 1959 with Willie McCovey being the first of 13 future Hall of Famers named to the squad (others include Johnny Bench, Rod Carew, Gary Carter, Carlton Fisk, Paul Molitor, Joe Morgan, Eddie Murray, Tony Perez, Kirby Puckett, Tom Seaver, Ozzie Smith and Billy Williams). The Rookie All-Stars each have a trophy on their 2005 card in Topps Baseball.
The Major League Rookie All-Star Team is one of a number of awards programs managed by Topps to reward and encourage young ballplayers. Since 1959, Topps has annually bestowed honors on minor leaguers, baseball scouts and the Baseball Organization of the Year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IM GONNA FUCKING BE IN ATLANTA FOR THE HOME OPENER AGAINST THE METS IN APRIL! I CAN NOT WAIT! I AM OUT OF THIS WORLD EXCITED! :D Doug said he'd take good care of me and he better or else ;)
GO BRAVES!
Current music~"Tough little boys"-Gary Allan
da2kokib/al19fl
Julie