Now this is a little late, but it needs to be said. 2011 was the year of MVP snubs. First off Justin Verlander definitely didn't deserve to win MVP. I can name the reason. For starters Verlander's season wasn't even close to one of the greatest seasons of all time. You look at his ERA+ and yes it is above average, but so was Clayton Kershaw, so was Roy Halladay, but they didn't win MVP. In my opinion Kershaw had a better season. He had a lower ERA, a higher strikeout per nine innings. The reason Verlander won was because he had 24 wins, but Kershaw had 21 wins on a bad team. Don't get me wrong Justin Verlander deserved Cy Young, but MVP...no. If Pedro Martinez couldn't win it in 1999, then Verlander shouldn't have won it in 2011. Now if you look at the two position players that deserved it, it was Jose Bautista or Jacoby Ellsbury. Jose Bautista had the highest WAR and OPS+ in the AL. He led the MLB in home runs and walks. If I recall Barry Bonds did that on multiple occasions and he won MVP for doing it. My personal pick though is Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury had a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger and the Comeback Player of the Year. He was also the first Red Sox to go 30-30. Also he had the 2nd most hits, the most total bases and most extra base hits. Two years ago he was a premier base stealer, now he's a five tool player. He had an MVP year, but they gave it to a pitcher.
Second, Ryan Braun shouldn't have won either. Before Braun tested positive he still wasn't the best player, but I'll get into the Braun/PED situation another time. Ryan Braun had a fantastic season, but he had another MVP quality player on his team in Prince Fielder. Now if Prince wasn't on the team and the Brewers made it to the playoffs, Braun would have been MVP. Now take into account Verlander won MVP, which he shouldn't have, then Claton Kershaw or Ian Kennedy should have won MVP. If you look at Brauns numbers and the fact that he had Prince hitting behind him, he shouldn't have won. Now Matt Kemp, he should have won MVP. Matt Kemp was on the verge of the triple crown and a 40-40 season. Matt Kemp made the Dodgers hard to beat. On a statistical stand point, Matt Kemp was better than Ryan Braun in almost every category. Ryan Braun had a higher batting average, but Matt Kemp had a higher WAR, more home runs, more RBIs, more steals, the highest OPS+ in the NL and the most total bases in the NL.
So why did Verlander and Braun win MVP? Because their teams made the playoffs. The writers missed the fact that it was Most Valuble Player in their respective leagues, not Most Valuable Player on a playoff team.
Showing posts with label Jose Bautista. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jose Bautista. Show all posts
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Monday, October 17, 2011
AL MVP
There are about five player up for MVP, excluding Justin Verlander. Miguel Cabrerra, Jose Bautista, Jacoby Ellsbury, Curtis Granderson and Adrian Gonzalez. I will explain who should win, who shouldn't and who will and show the numbers so you can decide. But first to be honest I want Ellsbury to win.
Jose Bautista. Bautista lead in multiple catagories. He had the most homeruns and the highest WAR. But the problem is he was on a team that wasn't contending. He was also accused of stealing signs. I personally don't believe that, but it will be taken into account.
Adrian Gonzalez. A-Gon was the best player in the game through the first half. Then after the All-Star break he slumped. He kept up the batting average and base hits but his homerun power diminished. Then the series against the Rangers rolled around and he hit 5 homeruns in three games so we thought he was back. But once september came and he dropped to second in batting average and tied for first in hits. At the All Star break he was on pace for 250 hits possibly more, but his slumps and shoulder fatigue prevented him from being the best.
Curtis Granderson. Granderson also lead in multiple categories. The problem is he didn't even come close in other categories. He lead in runs and RBIs, but only batted .262 with 152 hits. Granderson was a great speed and power man, which is why he's up for MVP, but his numbers won't let him win it.
Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury, to put simple, was a beast. Jacoby blew us away with 32 homeruns. Sure it wasn't the most but the fact that his most was 9 prevously is pretty incredible. He was the first 30-30 man in Red Sox history and Come Back Player of the Year. He was the shining star in the Red Sox collapse. But that's the problem, even though he was great he couldn't get the Sox to the playoffs and it will cost him.
Miguel Cabrerra. Cabrerra had the highest batting average and the most doubles. He lead the Tigers, along with Verlander, into the playoffs and past the Yankees. He will win MVP and the numbers support it.
Jose Bautista. Bautista lead in multiple catagories. He had the most homeruns and the highest WAR. But the problem is he was on a team that wasn't contending. He was also accused of stealing signs. I personally don't believe that, but it will be taken into account.
Adrian Gonzalez. A-Gon was the best player in the game through the first half. Then after the All-Star break he slumped. He kept up the batting average and base hits but his homerun power diminished. Then the series against the Rangers rolled around and he hit 5 homeruns in three games so we thought he was back. But once september came and he dropped to second in batting average and tied for first in hits. At the All Star break he was on pace for 250 hits possibly more, but his slumps and shoulder fatigue prevented him from being the best.
Curtis Granderson. Granderson also lead in multiple categories. The problem is he didn't even come close in other categories. He lead in runs and RBIs, but only batted .262 with 152 hits. Granderson was a great speed and power man, which is why he's up for MVP, but his numbers won't let him win it.
Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury, to put simple, was a beast. Jacoby blew us away with 32 homeruns. Sure it wasn't the most but the fact that his most was 9 prevously is pretty incredible. He was the first 30-30 man in Red Sox history and Come Back Player of the Year. He was the shining star in the Red Sox collapse. But that's the problem, even though he was great he couldn't get the Sox to the playoffs and it will cost him.
Miguel Cabrerra. Cabrerra had the highest batting average and the most doubles. He lead the Tigers, along with Verlander, into the playoffs and past the Yankees. He will win MVP and the numbers support it.
Here are the numbers you decided
Jacoby Ellsbury
Runs: 119 (3rd)
Hits: 212 (2nd)
Doubles: 46 (T-3rd)
Triples: 5 (T-6th)
Homeruns: 32 (T-5th)
RBIs: 105 (T-6th)
Stolen Bases: 39 (4th)
Batting Average: .321 (5th)
On Base Percentage: .376 (T-9th)
Slugging: .552 (T-5th)
OPS: .928 (5th)
Extra Base Hits: 83 (1st)
Total Bases: 364 (1st)
Wins Above Replacement: 7.2 (2nd)
Runs Above Replacements: 75 (2nd)
30-30 Club (First in Red Sox History)
Come Back Player of the Year Award
Miguel Cabrera
Runs: 111 (4th)
Hits: 201 (3rd)
Doubles: 48 (1st)
Homeruns: 30 (7th)
RBI: 105 (T-6th)
Walks: 108 (2nd)
Batting Average: .344 (1st)
On Base Percentage: .448 (1st)
Slugging: .586 (2nd)
OPS: 1.033 (2nd)
Extra Base Hits: 78 (3rd)
Total Bases: 335 (3rd)
Win Above Replacement: 7.1 (3rd)
Runs Above Replacement: 73 (3rd)
Adrian Gonzalez
Runs: 108 (5th)
Hits: 213 (T-1st)
Doubles: 45 (T-4th)
Homeruns: 27 (T-10th)
RBI: 117 (3rd)
Batting Average: .338 (T-2nd)
On Base Percentage: .410 (3rd)
Slugging: .548 (6th)
OPS: .957 (3rd)
Extra Base Hits: 75 (5th)
Total Bases: 345 (2nd)
Win Above Replacement: 6.9 (4th)
Runs Above Replacement: 71 (4th)
Curtis Granderson
Runs: 136 (1st)
Hits: 153 (T-24th)
Doubles: 26 (T-19th)
Homeruns: 41 (2nd)
Triples: 10 (2nd)
RBI: 119 (1st)
Most Strikeouts: 169 (4th)
Batting Average: .262 (T-30th)
On Base Percentage: .364 (14th)
Slugging: .552 (T-5th)
OPS: .916 (6th)
Extra Base Hits: 77 (4th)
Total Bases: 322 (5th)
Wins Above Replacement: 5.2 (T-10th)
Runs Above Replacement: 56 (T-7th)
Jose Batista
Runs: 105 (6th)
Hits: 155 (T-21)
Doubles: 24 (T-20th+)
Homreuns: 43 (1st)
RBI: 103 (T-7th)
Walks: 132 (1st)
Batting Average: .302 (T-10th)
One Base Percentage: .447 (2nd)
Slugging: .608 (1st)
OPS: 1.056 (1st)
Extra Base Hits: 69 (10th)
Total Bases: 312 (6th)
Win Above Replacement: 8.5 (1st )
Runs Above Replacement: 89 (1st)
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