Who is your NL/AL MVP?
by cubs199235 on Sep 28, 2008 5:18 PM CDT
Email
PrintNow that the season in under wraps, outside of the few games left, who do you think should be the NL, as well as the AL, MVP? Here are my picks:
NL - CC Sabathia: Coming from the AL to the NL on July 6th (Indians to Brewers), CC Sabathia turned an average season into an MVP caliber season. As a Brewer, Sabathia's stats are phenominal. 11-2, 1.64 ERA, 17 starts, 7 CG, 3 SHO, 130.2 IP, 128 K. In three months of the season, CC ended up 2nd on the team in wins, 1st in CG and SHO, 5th in IP, and 3rd in K's, keep in mind this is only in three months, compared to the 6 months all of the other Brewers pitchers threw (stats not including today's performance vs. the Cubs). If he isn't the most valuable player, then who is? The MVP should be someone who's team would be nothing without them. Where would the Brewers be right now without CC? Nowhere. He pitched on 3 days rest the last 3 starts of the season (correct me if I'm wrong) to push the Brewers past adversity and into the playoffs. Now, the way I see it, the Brewers are the team us Cubs fans need to fear in the NL.
AL - Justin Morneau: This guy is just phenominal. Once again, based off my earlier definition of MVP, where would his team be without him? Yes, they aren't in the playoffs yet, but there are no standout players on the Twins, and without Morneau's bat, their offense may be among the worst in the league. The AL race for MVP I view as much tighter than the NL race, but I give Morneau the nod.
Please write your MVP choice's and why.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
70 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Pujols in NL, Hamilton in AL
The Cardinals wouldn’t have sniffed contention if not for Pujols.
Hamilton’s numbers were astounding.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
IMO
Pujols for NL (I envolk the Dawson rule – excepional player on a meh team). Very dangerous hitter and an excellent glove. Pedroia for AL. Consistantly making the difference on a good BoSox. No pitchers. That is what the Cy Young is for.
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana
Actually Albert is against the Dawson rule
So I’m sure he wouldn’t accept the award…
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
But the Cards
were in contention most of the year and didn’t finish all that far out in the wild card. Pujols numbers were astounding and I’d lean towards him but with what CC has done, especially the last week or so, I might say him.
In the AL I’d lean towards Morneau.
You said the name!
Actually, I don’t care what kind of stats he puts on the board, Albert is not worthy of being mentioned in the same class as Andre Dawson.
Pujols ego wouldn’t allow it, and neither will mine!
by TheHawkRules on Sep 28, 2008 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Dawson is the man
but Pujols is otherworldly. I know, it’s terrible of me to say. He’s the NL MVP, btw.
by Brett Taylor on Sep 29, 2008 7:08 AM CDT up reply actions
Indeed...
…but so is the monster on cloverfield, yet, I don’t want it on my team.
’Tis my person opinion.
by TheHawkRules on Sep 29, 2008 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Damn, I never did get around to seeing that movie.
It looks pretty cool.
The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions
I thought it was OK
….Woulda been cool if Godzilla showed up and gave it a whoopin at the end though.
by TheHawkRules on Sep 29, 2008 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions
DeRosa and Mauer
Yeah, I know. Will NEVER happen. But DeRo quietly and without fanfare had a career season and helped the best team in his league become a force. Mauer is possibly the best game-caller and has a strong bat.
But that’s just my very biased opinion. Now, I believe these two will get it:
Howard and KRod.
The media has been shoving these two names down my throat for some time. Maybe deservedly so, and both had great seasons.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
I agree with you on Mauer
Too bad he’s not gonna get any better than about 5th place or so.
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
Fifth is too optimistic
The voters will put every BoSox starter ahead of good ole Joe.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
funny...
he shoukd be the mvp, yet he didnt make the all star game…has that ever happened?
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." --Alvin Dark
by preachermancubsfan on Sep 28, 2008 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Kirk Gibson...
… in 1988. That’s the only one that I can think of off the top of my head although I wouldn’t be surprised if there are other examples. The MVP predates the All-Star game but those instances shouldn’t count.
"Some people will look at a glass of water and say it's half-empty, while another guy will look at it and say it's half-full. A Cubs fan looks at the same glass and asks, "When's it gonna spill?" - Mike Royko
by LaddieRenfroe on Sep 28, 2008 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Pujols & Morneau
Pujols kept the Cards playing meaningful games into September.
Morneau has been money for a team that wasn’t supposed to contend.
There's magic in the ivy...
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 28, 2008 6:09 PM CDT reply actions
I dont get it
with pujols the cards won nothing and without him they would win nothing. its not because of him being a card either just disagree strongly.
my choice for nl mvp is the low avg , ryan howard. without him the phils win nothing.
Al MVP is josh hamilton although pedroria is a close 2nd.
while i’m at it cy youngs are lincecum and lee. my roy’s are soto and aviles. my managers are maddon and piniella.
from the mouth of Uecker:
"Am I the only one who’s glad it’s only a 4-game series? If was a 9-game series, I think the Cubs would win them all."
your argument is broken
how is hamilton, a guy on a team who won nothing, more valuable to his team than pujols?
There's magic in the ivy...
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 28, 2008 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions
I know it is
but i cant stomach pujols as the mvp. I cant stand to even type or hear his name.
from the mouth of Uecker:
"Am I the only one who’s glad it’s only a 4-game series? If was a 9-game series, I think the Cubs would win them all."
not to start something...
… but lets see here… Cardinals have an MVP and are home for the season. The Cubs are hopefully just starting a nice October run. Perhaps acknowledging that the Cards have perhaps the best hitter in the game may not kill you.
Okay... but you tried to say:
its not because of him being a card either just disagree strongly.
But. Whatever.
There's magic in the ivy...
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 28, 2008 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions
The Cardinals were, until September, playoff contenders...
…and barely would’ve gotten 75 wins without Pujols. He hit .356/.461/.651! Look at those numbers again, they’re simply insane.
Howard hit .250/.338/.542, and was an abysmal hitter against LHPs. Howard shouldn’t come anywhere near an MVP award; if anyone other than Pujols deserves it, it would be Lance Berkman. Who doesn’t. Because Pujols is almost unquestionably the NL MVP this season.
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
And to think Pujols did all of that...
…while essentially injured is truly astounding. I guess my vote would have to go to him, too.
The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions
Pujols and Sizemore
Quentin’s got a decent stake at the AL MVP as well.
Some people have 3 layers, like pie. Blog Blog Blog
+1
to quentin
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
Shame
That nobody on the Cubs will win it. I think it would have been awesome to have an “MVP” chant throughout Wrigley. If you ever see games in Boston or NY it’s deafening.
Delgado and Hamilton
I know Delgado probably won’t get it because of Mets collapse but that guy can hit clutch more than Aramis can!
Cow Food
I’d wait till after the playoffs to decide because playoff performance could influence some of our decisions. I hope that C.C guy doesn’t do well during the playoffs, but if the Brewers tear it up, and he leads the way, then I believe he would deserve some MVP votes… Cy Young too… regardless of whether or not he played the whole season there. But like I said, let’s see what happens in the playoffs.
Pujols and Mauer
Pujols seems to be the consensus pick. It’s probably more interesting to argue about who the runner-up should be.
In the AL, my choice would be Joe Mauer. However, I’m not as obsessed with RBI as many sportwriters. My guess is that Hamilton will win the award, due to his gaudy RBI total and incredible backstory. In the actual voting, Morneau might suffer slightly because he already has an MVP award in his trophy case although I think he’s been just as good as Hamilton.
My argument for Mauer really comes down to one point, which is that he is so much better than any other player at his position in the AL. Moreover, his defensive value is much, much greater than Morneau’s as he plays a more important position and he also plays his position better than Morneau plays his. Milton Bradley will win the OBP crown, having just barely qualified, but Mauer’s second. Even though Mauer doesn’t hit for a lot of power, his ability to get on base allows Morneau to drive in all those runs.
"Some people will look at a glass of water and say it's half-empty, while another guy will look at it and say it's half-full. A Cubs fan looks at the same glass and asks, "When's it gonna spill?" - Mike Royko
Morneau...
finished with only 1 less RBI than Hamilton.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
Um.
What?
There's magic in the ivy...
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 28, 2008 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions
I think those are the "scrappiness and grit MVP awards"
in which case, Ryan Theriot and David Eckstein got shafted.
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
AL: Morneau, NL: Howard
Morneau, knocks in runs and hits for average with no protection in the lineup. With Cuddyer our for the most of year, what Morneau has done is even more amazing.
Howard has been large since August. There lineup struggled, especially Burrell down the stretch, but Howard hit big homers every time you looked up.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
Howard
People were talking about shipping this guy via trade for most of the season. Being an MVP is an entire season otherwise you give it to Sabathia. Pujols numbers are so far superior to Howard that it isn’t funny.
I say Sabathia...
but if you disclude him, Pujols crushes Howard. Yeah the HR numbers are nice, but Pujols is a machine. How is 200 k’s valuable to a team?
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
Cy Young
If CC get’s MVP, can he get the Cy Young too? I think if a pitcher gets MVP, they should get Cy Young as well (as unfair as that would be).
CC pitched well.
But Tim Lincecum was better.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I agree with Al
about Lincecum. He just dominated this year. Much like Cliff Lee in the AL. As for NL MVP… I have to say Pujols he far and away put up the best stats this year, and I don’t think it’s similar to Dawson’s MVP year. Dawson played for a last place Cubs team, but when A-Rod won the award with the Rangers. The Cards were in contention in all year, largely from Pujols.
by scarymonsters85 on Sep 29, 2008 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Tiny Tim definitely gets my (meaningless) vote for Cy Young.
Lincecum is scary, scary good.
The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions
Lincecum is my Cy Young as well...
The Cy Young is the best pitcher, while the MVP is the most VALUABLE player. Lincecum pitched more dominantly, however, CC dominated the NL and pushed his team into the playoffs with many consecutive 3 day-rest starts. If that isn’t valuable to a team, I don’t know what is.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
In a weak AL
I wouldn’t be surprised if the AL MVP goes to either K-Rod or Cliff Lee
by scarymonsters85 on Sep 29, 2008 8:36 AM CDT reply actions
Going to Cliff Lee might be pretty cool
But K-Rod? Ugh
Some people have 3 layers, like pie. Blog Blog Blog
Yeah, I know
I’m not a K-Rod fan either, or a fan of the closer. outside of his save total… his other numbers were pedestrian, when looking at the big picture. Since he isn’t a starter, you have to look at other numbers besides saves and ERA… his WHIP, was 1.28 which isn’t that great. His k/9 is good, but isn’t dominant.
If you look at Kerry Wood: he has a WHIP of 1.08 AND a more dominant k/9 and gave up half the amount of walks K-Rod did, yet Wood pitched more innings.
Ask a non cubs fan who they would rather have on their team, K-Rod or Kerry Wood, and they will all say K-Rod… they can have him.
My first 2009 prediction: K-Rod will land a multi-million dollar contract and will be mocked.
by scarymonsters85 on Sep 29, 2008 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions
Saves...
Easily the most overated stat in baseball. Who cares? Bob Howry could have broken the record had he got 80 oppurtunities (I hope). Joaquim Soria was the most dominant relief man this year throughout the MLB.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
Cy Young goes to Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee
Though I can see Brendon Webb winning it in the NL. CC Sabathia should win one of these awards.
Oh please let this dubious bullpen be good enough in the playoffs...
CC Sabathia
your Goodyear “Rubber Arm” award winner.
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana
That would be BRANDON Webb.
And, wins and losses aside, Tiny Tim has him beat in almost every other category:
Webb: 226.7 IP, 3.30 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 1.196 WHIP, .242 BAA, 183:65 K:BB, 138 ERA+
Lincecum: 227 IP, 2.62 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 1.172 WHIP, .221 BAA, 265:84 K:BB, 164 ERA+
I can’t help but agree, though, that CC should win something for what he accomplished in the regular season. Part of me is tempted to give him the MVP over Pujols.
The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions
Those last 3 starts on 3 days' rest may be enough to win him the Cy Young
Lincecum deserves it, but the awards voters tend to have very short memories.
FWIW, my award picks…
NL MVP
1. Albert Pujols
2. Lance Berkman
3. Hanley Ramirez
AL MVP
1. Joe Mauer
2. Dustin Pedroia
3. Josh Hamilton
NL Cy Young
1. Tim Lincecum
2. Johan Santana
3. CC Sabathia
AL Cy Young
1. Cliff Lee
2. Roy Halladay
3. Francisco Rodriguez
NL Rookie of the Year
1. Geovany Soto
2. Jair Jurrjens
3. Hiroki Kuroda
AL Rookie of the Year
1. Evan Longoria
2. Brad Ziegler
3. Joba Chamberlain
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
None of your NL MVP candidates were even close to the playoffs...
Houston was the closest at 3.5 games out, but if you look at the big picture, the only team that really competed was the Cardinals (of those three teams). Pujols is my number 2 pick.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
looking at stats
.302/.392/.573
Lead the league in slugging, tied for 2nd in OPS Behind Milton Bradley
3rd in Home Runs with 35 behind 36 for Quentin and 37 for Miguel Cabrera
leads the AL in VORP by a fairly wide margin and he plays good defense.
Without him the Yankees are well below .500.
also if he hadn't missed 20 games his numbers would be MONSTER.
Prorate the stats out and you get:
41 Homers
122 Runs
121 RBIs
OK, I guess he had a better year than I thought.
I don’t follow the AL that closely, so I was under the impression he had a down year. And you were the first person to pick him, so I was just curious as to your reasoning.
The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions
Those are nice stats, BUT
VORP doesn’t tell the whole story. Check out the AL leaderboard in WPA (particularly the “clutch” column… A-rod at -3.10, yikes!)
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
this is true
look at last year’s chart
A Rod lead the league in “Clutch”.
Chalk that stat up to luck, mostly.
also I'm not a huge fan of the other candidates
Angels – nobody from them stands out except for K-Rod but as has been discussed here he’s not having that good of a year except for that he’s been gifted more save opportunities by far than anyone else.
Twins – Definitely not Mauer. Not thrilled by Morneau.
White Sox – Quentin could be interesting but I’m biased against players who severely hurt their teams chances by punching things.
Red Sox – This is a bit more interesting. The best option would be Pedroia (and I expect he’ll probably actually win) but why would anyone vote for him over A-Rod? He stole 2 more bases and hit .024 higher but that’s not that much really and he got on base less by a similar amount anyway. He also hit ~20 less home runs. I’d say no.
Rays – Not really an MVP candidate on that team.
There’s nobody else from the AL really besides Sizemore and the Indians suck. I don’t like pitchers.
Indians dont SUCK...
they finished at .500 on the button, 7 games out of the central. They had a legitimate shot had they kept CC as well as Casey Blake.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
haha
Least Valuable Player:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=416364
or second worst anyway
Fun fact
The Dodgers paid $1,195,091.16 for every negative point of VORP earned by Andruw Jones this season.
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
Sounds worth it to me
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
KPatt comes in at 1037!
Hey, Corey, when you’re being outperformed by Freddie Bynum, it might be time to hang up your cleats. And what the hell happened to Jeff Franceour?
The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Cubs By The Numbers
Cubs By The Numbers is a history of the ballclub by uniform number, but the biographies help trace the history of our beloved team in a new way. For everyone who's a Cubs fan, anyone who ever wore the uniform is like family. Cubs By The Numbers reintroduces readers to some of their long-lost ancestors, even ones they think they already know.
Click here to order your copy, available now!
Recent Stories in Ticket Exchanges
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Ask Alex: Will Julio Teheran or Matt Moore win rookie of the year?
- Ku Klux Klan, umpires and bowling: Why the minor leagues tossed out Jim Evans academy
- The Cardinals Hall of Fame can now be found at Bill Clinton’s library in Arkansas (Huh?)
- Will Bryce Harper start the season with the Nationals?
- Mitch Mustain puts football behind him, signs reported rookie deal with White Sox
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
