I don't see the problem. Just give the award to the guy with the highest WAR.
I don't see the problem. Just give the award to the guy with the highest WAR.
It's a mere moment in a man's life between the All-Star game and the Old Timer's game.
-Vin Scully
It's almost a Tiger comparison (well. likeness anyway). People turn on the golf tourny to watch Tiger, and they tirn on the ballgame to watch Mookie!
I'm surprised for the lack of mention of Trout, he's the leader in OBP, OPS and OPS+. What a waste of talent in that crappy team, the guy will have what could be his best season.
That's the thing. Most valuable player does not necessarily mean the best player, though it could. It's open to a lot of interpretation.
Can a player be valuable to a team that isn't even in playoff contention?
Can a DH be more valuable to a team than someone who provides offense and defense?
How valuable are those intangibles that don't show up in the numbers?
It can be argued that JD has had a very large impact on this team and is more valuable to the team than Mookie. Or maybe JD's impact does not go beyond what he has provided offensively.
1. Personall,y I think only playrs on last place team should never get the award. The team could have finished there without him. But players have won the MVP on last place teams.
2. A DH should absolutely be considered for the award. Just because some all-hit, no-field player goes through the token act of putting on a glove doesn't make him more valuable, especially if his defense gives back a big part of what he just provided.
3. The problem with intangible arguments is they are so subjective. It's easily possible to make a case for and against any player once this becomes a factor. And since even the voting members of the BBWAA probably don't have the full story about intangibles for most players on teams they don't cover personally, these type of contributions are probably best left ignored. Or do people want to see Jose Ramirez beat out Betts for the award because some Cleveland beat writer was simply closer to the Indians than any Boston pundit was, and was able to articulate a really compelling case about Jose's leadership that not one voting member could counter?
Altuve got it last year with numbers that were similar to mookies but he had only about 23 HR's. Good example of what wins.
The Astros have a run differential of +261; the Sox are at 220. The Astros are also #1 in SP. RP, and overall pitching and are #5 in runs scored. I would view them as the best overall team, or at least as the team most likely to win a ring this year. Not by a wide margin, but they should be the favorites.
They certainly have some great numbers in certain areas.
They have all 10 of their top IP pitchers with an ERA under 3.95. One could argue starter depth is not as important in a 5 game series, but I agree, their pitching looks better, on paper.
I'm not so sure the Sox staff is far away from the Astros as many might think it is.
ERA-
1. HOU 77
2. BOS 83
3. CLE 85
4. NYY 87
5. LAD, TBR, AZ 88
You didn't mention defense:
UZR/150
1. Cubs 7.5
2. BOS 7.1
3. CLE 6.6
7. OAK 4.0
10. NYY 2.9
19. COL -1.5
Offense:
OPS
1. BOS .787
2. NYY .775
4. CLE .764
5. OAK .764
6. HOU .760
(The worst OPS of any AL playoff team.)
Runs
1. BOS 833
2. NYY 802
3. CLE 783
4. OAK 782
5. HOU 781
(The least runs scored of any AL playoff team.)
Maybe the Astros have the best at some areas, they also seem to be the worst at others.
We are more balanced.
This has to be taken with a grain of salt.
1. If I recall well, 3 weeks ago or so, we were over the Stros in RDiff. The thing is, while Cora has been giving up games plus no Sale & no ERod in recent weeks, Stros have been playing at full capacity.
2. Regarding SP, a healthy Sale is better than Verlader —pitch by pitch. Price is arguably the best pitcher of the second half, and pitched better than Morton last time; in fact, Morton was kind of lucky —we hit him well. Also, we own Keuchel, remember last time? he was pounded and could be worse. He was lucky too. IMO he is overrated —LOB% and BABIP don’t lie through his career. You know what I think of Porcello, but I’d rather him over Dallas Keuchel any day of the week.
3. Regarding the BP, if you take out of the equation bums like Pomeranz, Kelly, Hembree, Thorn, etc. our BP match them pretty well —not to mention our closer is arguably the best entering into the POs.
4. Our offense in the top is better with 2 legit MVPs. Mookie- Benny- Pearce- JD-XB is a better nucleo. The bottom, while is a crap shot —if hot— is better as well Kinsler-Nuñez/Devers-JBJ. Also, we have a couple of great utility players in Holt and SWI who have shown that can hit in clutch situations.
5. Regarding Defense, our defense is the best of the majors if you don’t line up Devers. Kinsler at second is vintage Pedroia, and Leon catches very well our top 2 and calls the games like nobody else in the majors. Our CF and RF are gold gloves caliber players.
Also, we have the HFA, and on paper we will face a weaker opponent in the divisions and will be more rested in a potential ALCS series against them.
Said that, I’ll say it again. We will win the WS. So... bring me the Astros or whoever, we are set to win it all.
I think this argument was a lot more plausible a few weeks ago, before JDM had his quietest month of the season ("only" .286/.385/.413 with 2 HR in September) and saw his Triple Crown candidacy dissipate as a result. I agree he probably still ends up top 5, but I have a much harder time seeing him threatening Mookie's chances.