作者:
Vitus 2011-08-30 14:49:22Plenty of room for debate on MVP discussion, plus my picks
Blue Jays star Jose Bautista deserves strong consideration for the
American League MVP award, and if someone thinks he's the MVP because
he's been the best player in the league, that's understandable.
And if someone else thinks Tigers ace Justin Verlander is the AL MVP
because they believe he's been the best and most important performer
on a likely playoff team, that's reasonable, too.
But for now, I am going to go with the Yankees' home run and run-producing
machine Curtis Granderson for MVP.
While I am not completely opposed to a pitcher winning the MVP award,
a precedent is long established that the bar has to be very high for
it to happen, which helps explain why no pitcher has done so since
Dennis Eckersley in 1992. And I am not strictly opposed to a player
on a non-contender winning the award, which has happened on occasion
(think Alex Rodriguez of the last-place Rangers in 2003) although I
admit that's a tougher one for me since the word valuable suggests
that the players' achievements did not go for naught and actually
helped a team play into October.
Although there is no rule saying pitchers should count any less in any
MVP debate, history suggests that they generally have only captured
the award either in years in which they put up alltime great numbers
(and sometimes not even then; Ron Guidry was passed over in 1978 and
Pedro Martinez in 1999, two decisions I disagree with). The last starting
pitcher to win an MVP came a quarter century ago, when Roger Clemens won
the AL award. That's 50 straight votes without a pitcher winning.
I do buy to some degree the argument against pitchers winning the MVP
because pitchers have their own award, and past votes have reflected
that others feel that way, too. But I am not willing to completely
disregard pitchers, as a rare voter or two has done (Pedro was left
of one ballot altogether in '99, helping Pudge Rodriguez win the award).
Players on playoff teams (or at least contenders) for MVP should be preferred. There is a decent amount of precedent for that, as well, though I feel even more strongly about it than most others. In addition to A-Rod, in 1987 the Cubs' Andre Dawson won the award after hitting 49 home runs (equaling the second-highest total in a quarter-century), a rare show of support for a player on an also-ran team, and that may happen when such a player laps the field statistically.
But since the award is for most valuable player, and not most outstanding,
the effect a player had on the pennant race should be vital. If someone
else wants to interpret most valuable as synonymous to best, they can.
And if someone else wants to interpret it as being valuable to a particular
team, they can, too. But there is plenty of precedent to suggest it means
valuable in the league.
Of course, some will argue that precedent shouldn't count, and past
mistakes should not be repeated. But I say the players understand going
into a season that the criteria counted by most voters includes the team's
standing to some degree. Players also know that winning is the goal.
And I have yet to see a player on a non-contender publicly claim
to be MVP.
Stats are most assuredly a major part of the equation. But they shouldn't
be completely determinative. Otherwise, let's just run the numbers
through a computer. And rename the award Most Outstanding player.
Because there's no way to put a number on the value of leading a team
into the postseason, which should be everyone's goal.
Like people, stats are imperfect. Even WAR, which I agree is a very
useful stat, is imperfect because it depends on the value placed on
other statistics by the person who devises the formula. The ultimate
goal of any player is to win, so the value of the individual
accomplishments that lead to a pennant should be viewed in that
context.
So while Bautista has been the most outstanding player in the league
whether you use WAR or OPS or or any other key stat, it's a tough
case to make for him as MVP in a year when so many stars are ushering
their team into the playoffs.
And while a case most certainly can be made that Verlander is the
most valuable, and I certainly wouldn't trash those who think he
is the MVP, pitchers with similarly excellent seasons to his generally
have had to settle for the Cy Young award. His year has been superb
(though a bit short of an alltime great pitching year like Guidry's
in 1978, when he went 25-3 with a 1.74 ERA and 248 strikeouts).
There are plenty of worthy everyday choices.
Here is my AL MVP ballot through three-fourths of the season, and my
other ballots as well.
AL MVP
1. Curtis Granderson, Yankees CF. He has been a run-generating machine,
whether he's batting second or third in the star-studded Yankees lineup.
He leads the majors in runs by a wide margin (he has scored 26 more times
than Jacoby Ellsbury, who's second), and also leads the majors in home
runs and RBIs, and the speedster's slugging percentage is higher than
anyone but Bautista. He also has turned himself into a major threat against
lefthanders. Easily the best performer in arguably baseball's best lineup.
Also, while he's not Austin Jackson as a defender, he's not as lost as a
couple Detroit people thought he was when he played for the Tigers.
2. Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox 1B. He came to Boston with great expectations
and he didn't let it bother him a bit, fulfilling every crazy hope.
The .345 batting average, the best in baseball, is a bonus, too.
Gonzalez also leads the majors in hits and total bases and has driven
in 103 runs for the first-place Red Sox.
3. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox CF. He's made everyone forget his injury-plagued
2010 season and turned himself into a power threat and superstar,
batting .312 with 23 home runs to go with 36 stolen bases.
4. Justin Verlander, Tigers SP. He's close to winning the pitching Triple
Crown, leading the league in wins (20) and strikeouts (218) and ranking
second in ERA (2.38). He is also the major league leader in WHIP, hits
per nine, starts and innings pitched and is always a threat to throw
a no-hitter, something he did back in May.
5. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays OF-INF. No question he's been the best player
in the league. His 1.092 OPS is way ahead of the rest. Good at everything
on a baseball field.
6. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox 2B. As recently as a couple weeks ago,
Boston people would have said he's their MVP. Embodies a pure ballplayer
and is hitting .308 with 17 home runs and 24 steals.
7. Michael Young, Rangers 3B. Best trade that wasn't made was Texas
backing away from a deal with the Rockies where they would have gotten
Eric Young and one other for the Rangers' perennial leader. Michael Young
is batting .336, second in the AL, and has 87 RBIs for the first-place
Rangers.
8. Alex Avila, Tigers C. He's better defensively than Tigers teammate
Victor Martinez and he has an OPS nearly 100 points higher.
9. Robinson Cano, Yankees 2B. The Home Run Derby winner is one of
baseball's best all-around hitters, and while he hasn't been quite
as consistent offensively or defensively as he was last year, he's still
been darned good. He's batting .303 and has 23 home runs and 95 RBIs.
10. David Ortiz, Red Sox DH. His OPS is actually 18 points higher than
Gonzalez's and his .311 average is his highest since 2007.
Others: Yankees SP CC Sabathia, Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera, Yankees
1B Mark Teixeira, Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera, Rays INF Ben Zobrist.
NL MVP
1. Ryan Braun, Brewers OF. Terrific all-around players gets slight
nod over teammate Prince Fielder. His .999 OPS is tops in the NL.
2. Prince Fielder, Brewers 1B. If this is his going away party,
it's been a special one for the free-agent-to-be. He has 29 home
runs and 102 RBIs for the NL Central's first-place team and gets
points for being a leader in the clubhouse, too.
3. Justin Upton, Diamondbacks OF. Another great trade not made,
Upton, whose name was talked about last winter, is the clear star
of the upstart D-backs. Upton leads first-place Arizona in batting
average, home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging and is tied
for the team-high in stolen bases.
4. Shane Victorino, Phillies OF. His superb all-around season has
gone mostly under the radar until lately, but he is eighth in the
league in OPS, second in triples and first in fielding percentage
by a centerfielder.
5. Matt Kemp, Dodgers OF. Best position player in the league following
his disappointing 2010 season. His .320 average is 71 points higher
than a year ago and he leads the league with 31 home runs.
6. Brian McCann, Braves C. The game's best all-around catcher deserves
more plaudits. His .877 OPS and 22 home runs for the NL wild-card-leading
Braves should help.
7. Roy Halladay, Phillies SP. The leader of the best rotation going.
8. Craig Kimbrel, Braves RP. The Braves' rookie closer has not allowed
a run since June and is one save away from setting a new rookie
record of 41.
9. Lance Berkman, Cardinals OF. Superb comeback season surprised just
about everyone but Cardinals decisionmakers who signed him in the
offseason. Berkman has 30 home runs, his most since 2007, and 81 RBIs,
his best total since '08.
10. Albert Pujols, Cardinals 1B. His most incredible feat this was
returning after two weeks from broken wrist but his numbers are still
impressive: 31 home runs, 78 RBIs and an .895 OPS.
AL Cy Young
1. Verlander. Just behind Jered Weaver for ERA title (2.38 compared
to Weaver's 2.28) that would give him Triple Crown.
2. Weaver, Angels SP. Weaver is third in the league in wins and WHIP
and sixth in strikeouts. His new $85 million deal is a winner for Angels.
3. Sabathia. He is 17-7 with a 2.99 ERA and will cash in on the opt
out in his contract. Boston's Josh Beckett (11-5, 2.43 ERA) is not
far behind here, though.
NL Cy Young
1. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers SP. Has outside chance for pitching Triple
Crown in NL, though he's slightly behind for wins (ranking second,
with 16) and ERA (third, 2.51) at present.
2. Halladay. His usual season