Because everyone likes a good comeback story.
Chris Carpenter: After being sidelined for much of the past two seasons following Tommy John surgery, Chris Carpenter has not only become a near-lock as the NL Comeback Player of the Year, but he could be in line for his second Cy Young, as well. Carpenter finished the regular season at 17-4 with a league-best 2.24 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP (2nd in NL). Only teammate Adam Wainwright had more wins while only Dan Haren had a lower WHIP. 22 of his 26 starts were Quality Starts (or 79% of the time -- tied with Zack Greinke) -- only Tim Lincecum (81%) and Felix Hernandez (85%) did it more often. Imagine what he could have done if he didn't miss nearly five weeks with a rib cage injury? Wow.
Aaron Hill: The Blue Jays weren't quite sure what they were getting when Aaron Hill showed up to Spring Training this season. After all, he was working his way back from post-concussion symptoms that limited him to just 55 games in 2008. However, the 27-year-old Hill blistered the ball from the start, batting .365/.412/.567 with five homers and 20 RBI in April. He finished with a .286/.330/.499 line, leading all major league second basemen with 36 homers (3rd in AL) and 108 RBI (5th). Only Alfonso Soriano (38 in 2003, 39 in 2002) hit more home runs in a season at the position in American League history. The Jays have tons of problems to address in the offseason, but Hill and Adam Lind aren't among them.
Scott Podsednik: This is the kind of comeback story you can root for. Scott Podsednik's future in the majors looked uncertain after he was released by the Rockies during Spring Training on the heels of a lousy .253/.322/.333 line in 2008. He eventually signed on with the White Sox in mid-April, and after spending a couple weeks with Triple-A Charlotte, the 33-year-old outfielder returned to the majors when the team's center field options fizzled out. It didn't take long for him to secure a stranglehold on the job, batting .304/.353/.412 with seven homers (most since 2004), 48 RBI (most since 2003), 30 stolen bases (7th in AL) and 75 runs scored in 132 games. Chone Figgins will probably be too rich for the White Sox blood during the offseason, so look for "Scotty Pods" to return as the club's leadoff hitter with a just reward in hand.
Justin Verlander: It's easy to forget that Justin Verlander's 17 losses were tied with Barry Zito and Aaron Harang for the most in the majors last season. It looked like he was headed for the same fate this season when he started at 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA over his first four starts. However, he has been one of the most dominant starters in the majors over his past 30 starts, going 19-7 with a 2.92 ERA. He kept the Tigers postseason hopes afloat on Sunday, allowing three runs over 7 2/3 innings, tying C.C. Sabathia and Adam Wainwright for the major league lead in victories. He was a true workhorse for the Tigers in 2009, logging a major-league high 240 innings. The 26-year-old fireballer was tops in the league with 269 strikeouts while his 20 games of eight strikeouts or more tied him with Tim Lincecum.
Todd Helton: Todd Helton's chronic back condition reduced him to just 83 games in 2008, batting a career-worst .264/.391/.388. After undergoing arthroscopic surgery last September, he opened the 2009 season with serious questions about his durability and just how the surgery would affect his performance at the plate. While he'll never touch the same historic on-base totals of his prime, he came pretty close in 2009, batting .325./416/.489 with 15 homers and 86 RBI. Incredibly, he managed to play in 151 games this season. His .904 OPS still placed him among the top-15 in the league. The Rockies have to feel a little bit better about the roughly $36 million they owe him over the next two seasons.
Chris Carpenter: After being sidelined for much of the past two seasons following Tommy John surgery, Chris Carpenter has not only become a near-lock as the NL Comeback Player of the Year, but he could be in line for his second Cy Young, as well. Carpenter finished the regular season at 17-4 with a league-best 2.24 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP (2nd in NL). Only teammate Adam Wainwright had more wins while only Dan Haren had a lower WHIP. 22 of his 26 starts were Quality Starts (or 79% of the time -- tied with Zack Greinke) -- only Tim Lincecum (81%) and Felix Hernandez (85%) did it more often. Imagine what he could have done if he didn't miss nearly five weeks with a rib cage injury? Wow.
Aaron Hill: The Blue Jays weren't quite sure what they were getting when Aaron Hill showed up to Spring Training this season. After all, he was working his way back from post-concussion symptoms that limited him to just 55 games in 2008. However, the 27-year-old Hill blistered the ball from the start, batting .365/.412/.567 with five homers and 20 RBI in April. He finished with a .286/.330/.499 line, leading all major league second basemen with 36 homers (3rd in AL) and 108 RBI (5th). Only Alfonso Soriano (38 in 2003, 39 in 2002) hit more home runs in a season at the position in American League history. The Jays have tons of problems to address in the offseason, but Hill and Adam Lind aren't among them.
Scott Podsednik: This is the kind of comeback story you can root for. Scott Podsednik's future in the majors looked uncertain after he was released by the Rockies during Spring Training on the heels of a lousy .253/.322/.333 line in 2008. He eventually signed on with the White Sox in mid-April, and after spending a couple weeks with Triple-A Charlotte, the 33-year-old outfielder returned to the majors when the team's center field options fizzled out. It didn't take long for him to secure a stranglehold on the job, batting .304/.353/.412 with seven homers (most since 2004), 48 RBI (most since 2003), 30 stolen bases (7th in AL) and 75 runs scored in 132 games. Chone Figgins will probably be too rich for the White Sox blood during the offseason, so look for "Scotty Pods" to return as the club's leadoff hitter with a just reward in hand.
Justin Verlander: It's easy to forget that Justin Verlander's 17 losses were tied with Barry Zito and Aaron Harang for the most in the majors last season. It looked like he was headed for the same fate this season when he started at 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA over his first four starts. However, he has been one of the most dominant starters in the majors over his past 30 starts, going 19-7 with a 2.92 ERA. He kept the Tigers postseason hopes afloat on Sunday, allowing three runs over 7 2/3 innings, tying C.C. Sabathia and Adam Wainwright for the major league lead in victories. He was a true workhorse for the Tigers in 2009, logging a major-league high 240 innings. The 26-year-old fireballer was tops in the league with 269 strikeouts while his 20 games of eight strikeouts or more tied him with Tim Lincecum.
Todd Helton: Todd Helton's chronic back condition reduced him to just 83 games in 2008, batting a career-worst .264/.391/.388. After undergoing arthroscopic surgery last September, he opened the 2009 season with serious questions about his durability and just how the surgery would affect his performance at the plate. While he'll never touch the same historic on-base totals of his prime, he came pretty close in 2009, batting .325./416/.489 with 15 homers and 86 RBI. Incredibly, he managed to play in 151 games this season. His .904 OPS still placed him among the top-15 in the league. The Rockies have to feel a little bit better about the roughly $36 million they owe him over the next two seasons.
Michael Cuddyer is also having a great year after a disappointing, injury filled 2008. Especially since Morneau was lost for the season.
Very true. He was among about 10 players that I scribbled down on a piece of paper, but for the sake of space, I cut my list down to five.
Michael Young had a heck of a bounceback year, too. After 2008, he looked a declining SS with a bad contract whose bat was unlikely to play at 3B, but he ended up at 4.0 Wins-Above-Replacement as a third baseman. NOT what I was expecting.
Todd Helton is the best story of all... What a year he has had coming off back surgery. All he did this year was pass Babe Ruth in career doubles and pass Pete Rose in career extra-base hits. On top of all that, he is walking class. I have never seen him in the news other than sports. Great person, citizen, and the face of the franchise. He is a leader on and off the field, and always plays for the name on the front of his jersey, not the one on the back of it. His defensive skills are second to none. He has been a pleasure to watch and enjoy.