AL MVP

[soxfan1468927]

What value is there for any player on a last place team?

With them, the team is already in last.

Every year we go thru this. But for some reason nobody ever lobbies for a new award. When that's what needs to happen in order for the yearly WAR leaders to get their due.

He provides value by being the best offensive weapon in the AL and playing good defense.

Who would you lobby for a new award? I don't think there should be a new award, I think he's the Most Valuable Player.

 

[broncosmitty]

He provides value by being the best offensive weapon in the AL and playing good defense.

Who would you lobby for a new award? I don't think there should be a new award, I think he's the Most Valuable Player.

Id assume all of the people who are voting Trout would want to lobby for Most Outstanding, since that's what they're voting on. Not value.

Take him off the Angels, nothing changes. They'd still be a last place team.

 

[soxfan1468927]

Id assume all of the people who are voting Trout would want to lobby for Most Outstanding, since that's what they're voting on. Not value.

Take him off the Angels, nothing changes. They'd still be a last place team.

Take Kris Bryant off the Cubs and they'd still win the division. Doesn't diminish his value.

And the most outstanding player is the most valuable player. Just because it doesn't fit your definition of value doesn't make it wrong.

The requirements specifically say it does not have to come from a playoff team.

 

[navamind]

So what if they're still a last place team? It has nothing to do with Trout's performance. You're punishing Trout for the failings of the other 24 players (and that train wreck of a rotation). If the Angels didn't have Trout, they'd probably be the worst team in the AL. Just because the Angels suck doesn't mean he isn't adding any value to that team.

Also, these are the instructions for voters:

Dear Voter:

There is no clear-cut definition of what Most Valuable means. It is up to the individual voter to decide who was the Most Valuable Player in each league to his team. The MVP need not come from a division winner or other playoff qualifier.

The rules of the voting remain the same as they were written on the first ballot in 1931:

1. Actual value of a player to his team, that is, strength of offense and defense.

2. Number of games played.

3. General character, disposition, loyalty and effort.

4. Former winners are eligible.

5. Members of the committee may vote for more than one member of a team.

You are also urged to give serious consideration to all your selections, from 1 to 10. A 10th-place vote can influence the outcome of an election. You must fill in all 10 places on your ballot. Only regular-season performances are to be taken into consideration.

Keep in mind that all players are eligible for MVP, including pitchers and designated hitters.

Nowhere does it state that it has to go to someone on a playoff contending team.

Also, I'd say Trout's been the best hitter in MLB, and it isn't all that close. His .428 wOBA leads all of baseball. Ortiz is 2nd at .422, but he's a DH. Donaldson is 3rd at .412. Trout's OBP is 35 points higher and they're slugging percentages are almost equal. Trout also rates as a much better baserunner than Donaldson, though I'd give Donaldson the edge defensively (especially playing a tougher position). But I don't see how that makes up for Trout's advantage offensively IMO.

 

[Omar 382]

So what if they're still a last place team? It has nothing to do with Trout's performance. You're punishing Trout for the failings of the other 24 players (and that train wreck of a rotation). If the Angels didn't have Trout, they'd probably be the worst team in the AL. Just because the Angels suck doesn't mean he isn't adding any value to that team.

Also, these are the instructions for voters:


Nowhere does it state that it has to go to someone on a playoff contending team.

Also, I'd say Trout's been the best hitter in MLB, and it isn't all that close. His .428 wOBA leads all of baseball. Ortiz is 2nd at .422, but he's a DH. Donaldson is 3rd at .412. Trout's OBP is 35 points higher and they're slugging percentages are almost equal. Trout also rates as a much better baserunner than Donaldson, though I'd give Donaldson the edge defensively (especially playing a tougher position). But I don't see how that makes up for Trout's advantage offensively IMO.

As I said, lolTroutlol. This guy could go down as the greatest player of all time

 

[jeffro151]

I think it will come down to Donaldson, Machado and Betts.

 

[StanMarsh51]

I think it will come down to Donaldson, Machado and Betts.

If Trout once again ends up with arguably the best numbers (which there's a good chance of happening), I can't see him finishing worse than 3rd.

Ditto for Altuve.

 

[navamind]

This has been a ridiculous year for second basemen. There's more 2B with a wRC+ of 120 or higher than at 1B (admittedly arbitrary cutoff). But the league average wRC+ for 2B is 101 this year, which would be the highest since 1924. The closest any recent seasons come to that are 2008 (95) and 1992 (96). Murphy and Altuve are having seasons on par with 2000 Jeff Kent / mid 70's Joe Morgan. Dozier will most likely become the fourth 2B to ever hit 40+ home runs (he has 39; Davey Johnson holds the record with 43). Cano's rebounded from one of his worst seasons (a 116 wRC+, which is still well above average at 2B) with a 138 wRC+ and he'll probably set a new career high in home runs.

It's also worth noting that four of the top five batting averages belong to 2nd basemen (Altuve, LeMahieu, Murphy, Pedroia).

 

[navamind]

As I said, lolTroutlol. This guy could go down as the greatest player of all time

He's only had five qualified seasons and he already ranks 211th all-time in WAR. He already ranks ahead of guys like Jimmy Rollins, Evan Longoria, Joey Votto, Lou Brock, Rusty Staub and Omar Vizquel.

What's scary about Trout is that as good as he was in his 2012-15 seasons, he's having arguably his best offensive season right now. What's even scarier is that he just turned 25.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Mookie easily for me

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Id assume all of the people who are voting Trout would want to lobby for Most Outstanding, since that's what they're voting on. Not value.

I disagree.

It's an individual award and in my opinion shouldn't be influenced by the team a player is or isn't on. Same with the Cy Young. Of course, that's not the way I think it is, just the way I think it should be.

If you want to use a literal definition of valuable I suppose we should come up with a way to measure a player's on-field performance against their salary.

 

[Omar 382]

Mookie easily for me

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Why's that a facepalm?

If someone is from the "MVP comes from a playoff team" camp, I think Betts is the logical choice.

 

[Omar 382]

Why's that a facepalm?

If someone is from the "MVP comes from a playoff team" camp, I think Betts is the logical choice.

I am just so enamored with Trout at this point that I'm angry that anyone would choose anyone besides him, and if they WERE from the "playoff" camp, Donaldson is a much better choice, IMO. Trout is basically the fourth member to the Trinity to me at this point (which wouldn't make it a Trinity, but whatever)

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I am just so enamored with Trout at this point that I'm angry that anyone would choose anyone besides him, and if they WERE from the "playoff" camp, Donaldson is a much better choice, IMO. Trout is basically the fourth member to the Trinity to me at this point (which wouldn't make it a Trinity, but whatever)

Donaldson has a stupid fucking haircut, and I'm in the "no Canadian players for MVP" camp.

 

[Omar 382]

Understandable on the Canadian front

 

[Omar 382]

Id assume all of the people who are voting Trout would want to lobby for Most Outstanding, since that's what they're voting on. Not value.

Take him off the Angels, nothing changes. They'd still be a last place team.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Why do you suck so bad at posting pictures?

 

[Omar 382]

It was a screen shot. I don't know how to embed it

 

[broncosmitty]

Not sure if that's Rivers Cuomo or Corky from Life Goes On, either way....


Suck it Omar!

(I just go thru "upload a file" with screen shots. Same as any pic. Via my oldass IPhone.)