If Nick Markakis is not at least in the top three finishers for Rookie of the Year honors, then something is wrong with baseball. Of course I am biased, but his presence this year in the rookie class brings up a lot of questions about what the award means and who deserves it, not just this year, but every year.

He won Rookie of the Month of August this week after batting .354 with 10 home runs and 26 RBIs. In 96 at-bats he slugged .740. In August. After playing in 125 games. If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is.

He’s on pace to set all kinds of records as an Oriole rookie. Not to mention, he’s only the 18^th Oriole to hit three home runs in one game.

But aside from this little Rookie of the Month nod — which I feel may be a before-the-fact consolation prize — he has rarely been mentioned as a candidate for the year’s AL honor and that’s understandable, given the rookies this year have been top-notch. However, Markakis’ main opponents are pitchers, and because of that, I believe Markakis should not only get more attention as a candidate for the award, but I also believe he has earned the title.

I won’t discount how important pitching is in baseball. If the opponents can’t score, they can’t win, a fundamental it seems Sam Perlozzo is not aware of, given his choices of starting pitchers and relievers. But when it comes to ROY, what Markakis has done is more valuable than what Detroit and Anaheim starting pitchers Justin Verlander and Jered Weaver have done. Markakis has played in 125 games this year and Verlander and Weaver have only pitched 26 and 15, respectively. For his endurance, Markakis should be rewarded.

His season has been the converse of most of the ROY candidates. Markakis got off to a very slow start, his batting average dipping low into the .200s and he only hit four home runs from April to July. Verlander, Weaver, Minnesota starter Francisco Liriano and Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon all got off to fast starts, putting their names in the mix early.

But his second-half offense shows he has stamina and the ability and talent to stay strong and consistent throughout a full season in the big leagues. This new burst of power makes Markakis look like the Orioles’ best shot at a five-tool player of the future. Verlander, who is 1-3 in his last three starts, with a steadily-increasing ERA has not proven he has what it takes to last and obviously, as a pitcher, he will never be a five-tool player. Weaver is the same. After getting the call-up in May, he did a stint in the minors to make room for his brother. And before facing the Orioles’ icy bats, he had a terrible start against Seattle, the third-worst hitting ballclub in the AL. He gave up five earned runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out three in 4.2 innings.

Liriano is perhaps the only starter who truly does deserve the honor more than Markakis does. He is 12-3 with a 2.19 ERA but he is hurt and no one can know what he would have done in the time that he has been out.  But his injury should not exempt him from ROY, especially since his move from the bullpen to the starting rotation seemed to magically turn Minnesota into a better and ready-to-contend team. I would not shake my head in disappointment if Liriano won the award instead of Markakis.

On the other hand, there is no way Papelbon deserves the honor. I don’t believe a starting pitcher deserves it unless his numbers are as overwhelming as Liriano’s, so I certainly don’t think a glorified reliever deserves it. If Papelbon gets it, or even finishes higher than Markakis, I will officially deem the Red Sox just as obnoxious as the Yankees. Suuuure, he has an 0.92 ERA and 35 saves in 41 opportunities, but he’s also suffering from a fatigued shoulder. Poor baby. Seriously, the guy has come in 41 times with the sole mission of getting three outs. Perhaps one or two extra outs, here or there. Who cares? Pressure, shmessure. Papelbon, shmapelbon.

And Melky Cabrera? I won’t even dignify that with a response.

Yes, rookies on contending teams get more attention. That’s just the way it is. But just because a rookie is on a team that is better, doesn’t mean the rookie is better. Does being on a team looking at the pennant race mean more than being on a team that is 20 games out? Yes — if you’re an MVP candidate. But not if you’re a ROY candidate. Rookies are all about the future, and since that is the case, Markakis should be a lock-in over the rest, with the exception of Liriano.

The Orioles certainly don’t have the present going for them, they need a rosy future even more than the rest.