You can vote for Jason Bay

MLB.com presents an article for Bay and an article for Greene with a poll. Eagle writes:

Pirates left fielder Jason Bay should be an absolute lock to win the 2004 National League Rookie of the Year Award.

Offensively, Bay has no peers in his class. Despite missing the first month of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery, Bay leads all Major League rookies in home runs (24), RBIs (75), slugging percentage (.576) and OPS (.946). He's also ranked third in batting average (.294) and second in on-base percentage (.370).

Comparing Bay to this year's crop of first-year players really doesn't do him justice. Bay has quietly -- apparently too quietly, considering the amount of national exposure he has received -- put together a season that few rookies have ever matched at the plate.  

Bay's .576 slugging percentage ranks third all-time among National League rookies. His ratio of one home run for every 15 at-bats ranks second all-time for rookies in the history of the Senior Circuit.

By hitting his 24th home run of the season Sunday, Bay broke a Pirates rookie record which had been set by Johhny Rizzo in 1938 and matched by Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner in 1946. Considering all-time great sluggers such as Barry Bonds and Willie Stargell got their start in the Steel City, it's a pretty remarkable achievement.

Bay isn't just having a nice year at the plate -- he's lapping the competition.

While his offensive production has been impressive, Bay certainly is not a one-dimensional player. His defense has been nearly as spectacular as his hitting. If you don't believe me, just ask the Mets. This past weekend alone, he made two leaping catches at the fence to rob New York hitters of home runs. He also made a diving grab with two runners on in the ninth inning to preserve a tie score.

Overall, Bay's defensive numbers stack up with just about any outfielder in the National League, rookie or otherwise. His .990 fielding percentage is good for eighth in the league. Because he has the speed to play center field, and may switch to that position someday, Bay easily patrols the spacious PNC Park left-field expanse.

I couldn't have said it better.

Read both articles, take counsel in wine, sleep on it, make up your mind over a glass of water, and then make sure you vote in the poll.