Two Guys Sports
Bruce BostwickMLB Awards Time – Can an MVP play for a loser?
September 18th 2008 11:35
MLB Awards Time – Can an MVP play for a loser?
It is often said by sportscasters and many fans alike that the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) should not come from a losing team, or a team that doesn’t win enough to make the playoffs.
It is also said, and history has proven this one, that a pitcher – starter or reliever – shouldn’t win the MVP either. The MVP has been awarded for 77 years, one in each league for a total of 154 awards. Out of all of those MVP awards just nine National League, and eleven American League pitchers have been named MVP of their league. Just three of hose AL awards were to relief pitchers, with none for relievers in the NL.
This presents a bit of a conundrum this year.
In the AL race for MVP everyone seems to be listing the same group of favorites; Francisco Rodriguez – Angels, Josh Hamilton – Rangers, Dustin Pedroia – Red Sox, Justin Morneau – Twins, Kevin Youkilis – Red Sox, and Carlos Quentin – White Sox.
That is the order many list them in too. Now using that list, and the above information that normally eliminates players on losing teams, and pitchers – especially relievers, we are left to assume that Dustin Pedroia will be named the MVP.
Should it be that easy? Shouldn’t the MVP award go to whoever the MOST valuable player in the league is? That is indeed my personal opinion.
Francisco Rodriguez has amassed 58 saves, now the major league record, and also has 2 wins in his 71 appearances for the Angels this season. The team has a record of 92 – 59. He has figured in the decisions of just under 50% of the team’s games, and nearly 66% of their wins. As you inspect the numbers a little more you find that in his 64.1 innings pitched he has given up just 21 runs on 52 hits, as well as piling up 74 strikeouts, while surrendering just 33 walks.
He is a dominant force, and is playing for the team with the best record in the Major Leagues. Without him, who knows where the Angels would be sitting in the standings. With him however they are heading into the playoffs, quite possibly as the favorite too win it all.
Josh Hamilton – Lets start by pointing out that he is playing for the Rangers, a team that is 18 games behind the angels in the standings at 75 - 78. Then take into account how he quickly became the feel good story of the year, and had an amazing outing in the All-Star game Home Run Derby that everyone will remember for a long time.
More importantly the reason he became the story was how great his year started off. He went the majority of the season average an RBI a game. He currently is trailing Morneau by 4 RBIs with 124. With 14 games left he is also just 5 home runs off the league lead with 31, Quentin currently leads with 36 even though he caused his own season ending injury almost two weeks ago. With his .303 batting average added into the mix, and he has a real shot at winning the award.
The stigma that he is playing for a sub-.500 team might just be outweighed by voters wanting to cap off that feel good story with being able to say, “He battled back from all his problems and personal demons to be the best play in the league for (at least) a year.”
The rest of the picture gets a bit hazier.
Justin Morneau is putting up numbers similar to his MVP campaign in 2006. The team around his is nowhere near as good as they were that year, providing less protection in the lineup for him. Plus his team may or may not win the division. At this time they are 2.5 games back, and it isn’t looking good. They do have a three game head-to-head series coming up which should decide it once and for all. His MVP fate might be decided more so by how the Twins finish the season. It’s just the way it is in most cases.
Youkilis I don’t think has much of a chance. He might get a few stray votes, but not come close.
A month ago I might have picked Carlos Quentin to be the favorite. The problem is he got angry during an at-bat, slammed his bat into the ground, and injured his wrist. An injury that finished his season, and more importantly hurt his team’s chances of winning the division. He gets eliminated in my eyes for stupidity, and for hurting his team when it counts the most.
You may have noticed there is one person on the above list I haven’t talked about yet. That player is Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox, but we will get to him in just a moment.
It is my opinion that Francisco Rodriguez should win the MVP award hands down, and get all but a couple of the first place votes. He is without a doubt the most valuable player on his team, and without him his team might still be in first, but wouldn’t be nearly as dominant as they are.
The thing is, the voters will probably be all over the map with their picks. K-Rod is a pitcher - strike one, however he plays for the best team in baseball – plus one, he put up great numbers – plus one. Looking at that, they might give it to him, but I think he gets screwed by having this many somewhat viable candidates.
Now onto the guy that plays his home games in Fenway. Those who know me know that I am a life-long Yankee fan, and also a Cardinals fan. So by proxy, I don’t like the Red Sox, it is in the blood. However, I am als more of a baseball fan in general.
That being said, I think if Rodriguez is going to get screwed out of the MVP, it should then be Dustin Pedroia that wins it. This argument is best stated by just simply showing you his stats.
If his RBI total had hit triple digits and he had hit just a handful of additional home runs the MVP would be his hands down, regardless of who else is on this list of hopefuls. Another thing you have to take into account is his play in the field. He is making plays all over the place. He plays hard and isn't afraid to get dirty. He almost always finishes with his uniformed covered in dirt. He has also only committed six errors all season.
Again, voters will put him a bit higher for a few reasons aside from his stats. They are – He is the smaller, underdog type player. – He is a Red Sox player. They have sort of been a media darling since winning that first World Series. – and finally – We come back to where we started this story. He is on a winning team that will be in the playoffs with the results of how far they will go still to be determined.
However, I am choosing him solely on his stats and impact on his team’s games. I still think K-Rod should win, and if he doesn’t it is a shame.
Come back tomorrow for my assessment of the National League MVP race.
Please note that i meant Frifay as "tomorrow," but I ran into some computer problems as was not able to get back online regularly till LATE Saturday night (U.S. ET). I will be posting the National League MVP, and at least one of the Cy Young posts tomorrow afternoon.
It is often said by sportscasters and many fans alike that the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) should not come from a losing team, or a team that doesn’t win enough to make the playoffs.
It is also said, and history has proven this one, that a pitcher – starter or reliever – shouldn’t win the MVP either. The MVP has been awarded for 77 years, one in each league for a total of 154 awards. Out of all of those MVP awards just nine National League, and eleven American League pitchers have been named MVP of their league. Just three of hose AL awards were to relief pitchers, with none for relievers in the NL.
This presents a bit of a conundrum this year.
In the AL race for MVP everyone seems to be listing the same group of favorites; Francisco Rodriguez – Angels, Josh Hamilton – Rangers, Dustin Pedroia – Red Sox, Justin Morneau – Twins, Kevin Youkilis – Red Sox, and Carlos Quentin – White Sox.
That is the order many list them in too. Now using that list, and the above information that normally eliminates players on losing teams, and pitchers – especially relievers, we are left to assume that Dustin Pedroia will be named the MVP.
Should it be that easy? Shouldn’t the MVP award go to whoever the MOST valuable player in the league is? That is indeed my personal opinion.
He is a dominant force, and is playing for the team with the best record in the Major Leagues. Without him, who knows where the Angels would be sitting in the standings. With him however they are heading into the playoffs, quite possibly as the favorite too win it all.
More importantly the reason he became the story was how great his year started off. He went the majority of the season average an RBI a game. He currently is trailing Morneau by 4 RBIs with 124. With 14 games left he is also just 5 home runs off the league lead with 31, Quentin currently leads with 36 even though he caused his own season ending injury almost two weeks ago. With his .303 batting average added into the mix, and he has a real shot at winning the award.
The stigma that he is playing for a sub-.500 team might just be outweighed by voters wanting to cap off that feel good story with being able to say, “He battled back from all his problems and personal demons to be the best play in the league for (at least) a year.”
The rest of the picture gets a bit hazier.
Youkilis I don’t think has much of a chance. He might get a few stray votes, but not come close.
You may have noticed there is one person on the above list I haven’t talked about yet. That player is Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox, but we will get to him in just a moment.
It is my opinion that Francisco Rodriguez should win the MVP award hands down, and get all but a couple of the first place votes. He is without a doubt the most valuable player on his team, and without him his team might still be in first, but wouldn’t be nearly as dominant as they are.
The thing is, the voters will probably be all over the map with their picks. K-Rod is a pitcher - strike one, however he plays for the best team in baseball – plus one, he put up great numbers – plus one. Looking at that, they might give it to him, but I think he gets screwed by having this many somewhat viable candidates.
Now onto the guy that plays his home games in Fenway. Those who know me know that I am a life-long Yankee fan, and also a Cardinals fan. So by proxy, I don’t like the Red Sox, it is in the blood. However, I am als more of a baseball fan in general.
That being said, I think if Rodriguez is going to get screwed out of the MVP, it should then be Dustin Pedroia that wins it. This argument is best stated by just simply showing you his stats.
| G |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
K |
SB |
CS |
AVG |
OBP |
SLG |
| 149 |
622 |
114 |
203 |
50 |
2 |
17 |
79 |
48 |
48 |
17 |
1 |
.326 |
.377 |
.495 |
| 1st |
1st |
1st |
T-14th |
T-1st |
T-14th |
Again, voters will put him a bit higher for a few reasons aside from his stats. They are – He is the smaller, underdog type player. – He is a Red Sox player. They have sort of been a media darling since winning that first World Series. – and finally – We come back to where we started this story. He is on a winning team that will be in the playoffs with the results of how far they will go still to be determined.
However, I am choosing him solely on his stats and impact on his team’s games. I still think K-Rod should win, and if he doesn’t it is a shame.
Come back tomorrow for my assessment of the National League MVP race.
Please note that i meant Frifay as "tomorrow," but I ran into some computer problems as was not able to get back online regularly till LATE Saturday night (U.S. ET). I will be posting the National League MVP, and at least one of the Cy Young posts tomorrow afternoon.
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Comment by CenTex Guy
Texas Musings
But one thing I am also looking at is how much of a difference a guy makes (something of a Bill James stat on a guy's importance to his team). You replace Pedrioa and replace K-Rod, then where are the teams?
K-Rod benefits by the Angels being in a lot of close games. Any other closer would still have at least 40-45 saves on this team and the Angles still blow away the field.
Pedrioa is much more individualized. He's created more opportunities for his team to win. Take his numbers out, and the average second baseman does not make an easy replacement, likely putting the Sox in a tighet wild card race.
Hamilton will be comeback player, and not MVP, especially after he's coolled lately. Quentin used to be my favorite (a quiet pick along with Jermaine Dye), but yeah, he's done.