Colorado Rockies Justin Morneau wins NL batting title
By Ed Carroll
Colorado Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau has won the National League batting title, capping off a tremendous rebound season for the former MVP. Morneau grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of Sunday’s 10-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but his .319 batting average still topped his closest National League competitor, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Josh Harrison, who finished with an average of .315.
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The Rockies had been out of the National League playoff race for most of the season, and Colorado manager Walt Weiss felt it was important for Morneau to secure the batting crown, and he held the first baseman out of both Saturday and Sunday’s starting lineups. Morneau finishes the year with 17 home runs, 32 doubles, and he was worth 2.5 fWAR, a nice rebound season in his first year with the Rockies.
It’s an impressive comeback for Morneau, once one of the American League’s most feared hitters with the Minnesota Twins. Concussions cut short his seasons in 2010, 2011 and 2012, but Morneau managed to play in 152 games in 2013 with the Twins and then the Pirates after a midseason trade.
Weiss defended his decision to hold out Morneau to protect his average, and told reporters if they had a problem with the decision, their issues should be with him, and not Morneau.
“The way I look at it, the guy has experienced a career-threatening injury, and if he’s in a position to win a batting title, I’m going to try to make sure he does,” Weiss said of his choice.
Morneau is under contract with the Rockies through next season.
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