NL MVP

[StanMarsh51]

Seems like an open race this year with no clear frontrunner....who ya got?

 

[navamind]

I was going to wait a bit to make this poll/thread. This is a tough one.

Stanton's putting up ridiculous power numbers, but that doesn't necessarily make him the best hitter. Votto's wOBA is 17 points higher and he has an 8 point advantage in wRC+, and they're both neck-in-neck in WAR. Goldschmidt's having another great year, but Votto looks like he's been a better hitter by a decent margin.

Bryant's had a better offensive year than Rendon, but Rendon grades as one of the best defensive 3B in the league (per DRS and UZR). Arenado's having a great year, but his wRC+ is considerably lower than those two.

Scherzer's had a great year, but I could see him losing some CYA/MVP votes because of Gonzalez/Strasburg even though I think he's been a much better pitcher than Gonzalez when you account for DIPS metrics, not to mention the Nats were loaded with superstars and guys having great offensive years (Zimmerman, Murphy, Harper).

I'll probably change my mind, but for now I'd go with Scherzer.

 

[wingsauce7]

Charlie Blackman

 

[navamind]

also not sure Arenado's been the Rockies MVP with the season Blackmon's having (.326/.394/.599, 140 wRC+, 6.3 WAR). He could reach 140 runs scored.

 

[DirtDirtDirt]

"NL MVP, Dustin Pedroia?"

- NAVAMIND

 

[soxfan1468927]

I've already changed my vote on this 4 times.

 

[StanMarsh51]

also not sure Arenado's been the Rockies MVP with the season Blackmon's having (.326/.394/.599, 140 wRC+, 6.3 WAR). He could reach 140 runs scored.

Yea, I seemingly overlooked him...could lead the NL in runs, avg, hits, 3B, TB

 

[apachef4]

Yea, I seemingly overlooked him...could lead the NL in runs, avg, hits, 3B, TB

Do the crazy home/road splits bother anyone? I'm not sure exactly what to think about that. He's a badass at Colorado, but on the road he's not the same player. I guess that goes for everybody, though.

 

[soxfan1468927]

I think I would vote Arenado right now.

 

[soxfan1468927]

Do the crazy home/road splits bother anyone? I'm not sure exactly what to think about that. He's a badass at Colorado, but on the road he's not the same player. I guess that goes for everybody, though.

Part of the reason I have Arenado over him. Arenado's splits suggest he benefits from Coors obviously, but his road OPS is still 17th best in the NL out of 71 qualified hitters.

 

[soxfan1468927]

We can all look at the surface stats, but I'll add a few more things for Arenado.

1. 17th in road OPS at .886

Among the rest of the guys mentioned:
1. Bryant (4th, 1.003)
2. Votto (7th, .952)
3. Stanton (8th, .948)
4. Rendon (14th at .890)
5. Arenado (17th, .886)
6. Goldschmidt (19th at .877)
7. Blackmon (40th at .784)

So Coors obviously helps, but you'll notice his road OPS is similar to Goldschmidt, which should be expected as they play a large portion of their away games at 3 pitchers parks.

2. Leads the league in OPS with 2 outs and runners in scoring position

1. Arenado: 1.309
2. Votto: 1.177
3. Blackmon: 1.102
4. Rendon: 1.068
5. Goldschmidt: .881
6. Stanton: .755
7. Bryant: .698

3. Leads league in Win-Probability Added

1. Arenado: 4.8
2. Stanton: 4.5
3. Votto: 4.3
4. Blackmon: 4.2
5. Goldschmidt: 2.6
6. Bryant: 2.0
6. Rendon: 2.0

4. Leads this group in OPS in Late & Close situations (7th inning or later, game tied, ahead by 1, or tying run is at least on deck)

1. Arenado: .872
2. Rendon: .803
3. Blackmon: .795
4. Stanton: .730
5. Goldschmidt: .702
6. Bryant: .661
7. Votto: .649

 

[soxfan1468927]

So, out of the 7 guys, Arenado is 6th in OPS, but only 76 points behind Votto who leads the group and also plays in a hitter's park, but not as extreme.

None of the guys provided a ton of value on the basepaths, although Goldschmidt is probably the best. Arenado, while he doesn't steal, takes the extra base 55% of the time (advance 2 bags on a single, 3 on a double) and the league average is 40%.

He's the best defender in the group in my opinion and the clutch factor puts him over the edge.

 

[DirtDirtDirt]

We can all look at the surface stats, but I'll add a few more things for Arenado.

1. 17th in road OPS at .886

Among the rest of the guys mentioned:
1. Bryant (4th, 1.003)
2. Votto (7th, .952)
3. Stanton (8th, .948)
4. Rendon (14th at .890)
5. Arenado (17th, .886)
6. Goldschmidt (19th at .877)
7. Blackmon (40th at .784)

So Coors obviously helps, but you'll notice his road OPS is similar to Goldschmidt, which should be expected as they play a large portion of their away games at 3 pitchers parks.

2. Leads the league in OPS with 2 outs and runners in scoring position

1. Arenado: 1.309
2. Votto: 1.177
3. Blackmon: 1.102
4. Rendon: 1.068
5. Goldschmidt: .881
6. Stanton: .755
7. Bryant: .698

3. Leads league in Win-Probability Added

1. Arenado: 4.8
2. Stanton: 4.5
3. Votto: 4.3
4. Blackmon: 4.2
5. Goldschmidt: 2.6
6. Bryant: 2.0
6. Rendon: 2.0

4. Leads this group in OPS in Late & Close situations (7th inning or later, game tied, ahead by 1, or tying run is at least on deck)

1. Arenado: .872
2. Rendon: .803
3. Blackmon: .795
4. Stanton: .730
5. Goldschmidt: .702
6. Bryant: .661
7. Votto: .649

Too much
Will
Not
Read

 

[JohnU]

Comes down again to the ultimate definition of MVP or most outstanding.
Anybody on that list would qualify as 'outstanding' by any measure.
Who's MVP, meaning ... "valuable" ... and I don't think anybody ever did come to a consensus on that definition.
I think Scherzer is the ace of a good rotation in a division devoid of real competition.
Miami loses 100 games without Stanton.
Votto, the best hitter in the NL, would not matter a whit to the Reds because their pitching is pitiful.
Kershaw is the best pitcher in all the land.

I vote for Gomez.

 

[navamind]

"NL MVP, Dustin Pedroia?"

- NAVAMIND

Get back to me when a Yankee wins NL MVP. While playing on an AL team.

 

[StanMarsh51]

I think Scherzer is the ace of a good rotation in a division devoid of real competition.

I don't think that argument can be used against Scherzer though since he has a 1.88 ERA and 0.84 WHIP vs teams .500+, and a 1.70 ERA vs non-NL East teams.

 

[JohnU]

I don't think that argument can be used against Scherzer though since he has a 1.88 ERA and 0.84 WHIP vs teams .500+, and a 1.70 ERA vs non-NL East teams.

He has been a beast. I figured he would lose something off his FB by now. So far, obviously he's doing just fine.

 

[Yeah Boooiii]

Going with Goldy on this one...

 

[soxfan1468927]

Oh look, Arenado hit another HR last night and also started a 2-out rally with a single that eventually led to a 3-run HR. In a must-win game.

 

[apachef4]

Oh look, Arenado hit another HR last night and also started a 2-out rally with a single that eventually led to a 3-run HR. In a must-win game.

Yeah, but in the 3rd inning he came up with no outs and a runner on first. He could have bunted, but did he? Oh no, instead he hits into a double play. I think that will cost him.