Post Your Top 3 AL/NL MVP/CYA - End of August

[rmilia1]

Is a ring less valuable if it's on a bag lady's finger instead of a millionaire's?

Thats a monetary value. This isnt.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Eh its my opinion, a dominant closer is far tougher co come by than a 1 starter, Pretty much every team in the league has an ace, sure some are at a higher level but a truly dominant closer is far more rare.

Do you think that there are any GMs in the league who would trade an ace starter for a top closer?

 

[navamind]

Thats a monetary value. This isnt.

The performances (and under-performances) of Harper's teammates doesn't undermine what he's doing. It's not his fault that nearly the entire Nats rotation has underperformed their projections by a wide margin, and that Span/Zimmerman/Rendon/Werth/etc. have missed significant time.

 

[rmilia1]

The save is overrated but a closer is not. There is nothing more damaging to a team than consistently losing late leads. There is a reason the teams that make the playoffs generally have great records in 1 run games. Since more games in baseball are decided by 1 or 2 runs than all other scores combined the closers job is vital.

 

[navamind]

there's a reason failed starting pitchers go on to have success as relievers. Wade Davis is a pretty good example.

 

[rmilia1]

Do you think that there are any GMs in the league who would trade an ace starter for a top closer?

No, but thats not the same question. There are plenty of guys in the league who are untoucahable period. Do you think the Angels trade Trout for DOnaldson?? Probably not. Does that mean Trout is 100% the MVP over Donaldson this year?? No.

 

[rmilia1]

there's a reason failed starting pitchers go on to have success as relievers.

Once again thats not the question. Starters can be better pitchers and still be less valuable to a teams success

 

[navamind]

Once again thats not the question. Starters can be better pitchers and still be less valuable to a teams success

lol

 

[DragonfromTO]

Eh its my opinion, a dominant closer is far tougher co come by than a 1 starter, Pretty much every team in the league has an ace, sure some are at a higher level but a truly dominant closer is far more rare.

Like hell they do.

 

[rmilia1]

For the less educated the 3 best records in baseball belong to teams who are a combined 79-47 in one run games and ALL 3 of those teams have dominating closers. They also happen to have great starting pitching but the difference between a team being 30 games over .500 and a team being 15ish games over ( like the Blue Jays ) is closing. Hays are 13-24 in one run games and their closing situation has been atrocious all year. Just the way its always been and the way it will always be

 

[navamind]

Like hell they do.

2015 Arizona Diamondbacks Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com
2015 Colorado Rockies Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com
2015 Milwaukee Brewers Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com
2015 Philadelphia Phillies Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com
2015 Minnesota Twins Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com
2015 Boston Red Sox Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com
2015 Baltimore Orioles Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com

"every team"

 

[rmilia1]

Like hell they do.

Not an ace at the level of the guys we are discussing here but most every team has a great number 1 or at least a guy that is very good. Probably 75% of them, that a much much higher number than a dominant closer

 

[DragonfromTO]

No, but thats not the same question. There are plenty of guys in the league who are untoucahable period. Do you think the Angels trade Trout for DOnaldson?? Probably not. Does that mean Trout is 100% the MVP over Donaldson this year?? No.

Jesus Christ man, you can't be serious.

OK, let's try it from this angle. Why don't organizations push their best pitchers into closing when they're first drafted?

 

[navamind]

For the less educated the 3 best records in baseball belong to teams who are a combined 79-47 in one run games and ALL 3 of those teams have dominating closers. They also happen to have great starting pitching but the difference between a team being 30 games over .500 and a team being 15ish games over ( like the Blue Jays ) is closing. Hays are 13-24 in one run games and their closing situation has been atrocious all year. Just the way its always been and the way it will always be

ahahahahahahahaha what? Osuna has been one of the best relievers in the majors this year.

 

[navamind]

It's a lot easier 3-5 batters a game than to go through an entire order 2+ times a game. This isn't rocket science.

 

[StanMarsh51]

The save is overrated but a closer is not. There is nothing more damaging to a team than consistently losing late leads. There is a reason the teams that make the playoffs generally have great records in 1 run games. Since more games in baseball are decided by 1 or 2 runs than all other scores combined the closers job is vital.

Teams that make the playoffs generally have great records in most/all situations, so I don't know why you're putting increased emphasis on 1-2 run games.

And wouldn't the setup guy potentially be more important than the closer, considering today's closers rarely come in mid-inning, rarely pitch more than 1 inning, and rarely inherit runners.

 

[StanMarsh51]

For the less educated the 3 best records in baseball belong to teams who are a combined 79-47 in one run games and ALL 3 of those teams have dominating closers. They also happen to have great starting pitching but the difference between a team being 30 games over .500 and a team being 15ish games over ( like the Blue Jays ) is closing. Hays are 13-24 in one run games and their closing situation has been atrocious all year. Just the way its always been and the way it will always be

Toronto's closer has been dominant this year...

 

[navamind]

The O's have had one of the best bullpens in the league, including a good closer (Britton, who was a failed starting pitcher; what a coincidence). And they're 17-24 in one-run games.

 

[rmilia1]

Teams that make the playoffs generally have great records in most/all situations, so I don't know why you're putting increased emphasis on 1-2 run games.

And wouldn't the setup guy potentially be more important than the closer, considering today's closers rarely come in mid-inning, rarely pitch more than 1 inning, and rarely inherit runners.

Maybe, situational pitching is much bigger now than it used to be but the great teams have a lock down closer. Its the reason the Blue Jays arent great and the Cardinals/Pirates/Royals are..

 

[navamind]

the Dodgers have Kenley Jansen and they're below .500 in one-run games.