NL MVP Race

[markedman5]

https://www.mlb.com/news/mookie-betts-christian-yelich-lead-mvp-poll/c-296323562

[Lathund]

Mookie Betts and Mike Trout are having seasons that are comparable to some of the all-time great seasons. Missed ~25 games each, and still 10+ WAR. It feels unfair that one of them won't be the MVP, I can't see how you'd even consider anyone besides those two.

 

As for the NL; It depends on how you view pitchers winning MVP. If you're going with a position player I don't see how it can possibly be anyone but Yelich. Some national writers are still trying to manufacture reasons for Baez, like "intangibles" or "making his teammates better" or how he creates chaos on the bases by just being there etc, but they're becoming fewer by the day. I'm a bit iffy about pitchers winning MVP until when/if the Hank Aaron award gets the same kind of status as the Cy Young. But he's having a remarkable season, and I won't be upset if he wins. But no position player can hold a candle to Yelich.

[SoCalBrewfan]

He has arguably the highest OBP in the league,

 

Wait, how does one argue that Cain's OBP is higher than Votto's?

 

Cain should legit get votes, but I doubt he gets as many as he probably should...I don't think defense is as highly valued as it should be in MVP votes. I would think a voter who does actually recognize his value would also value Yelich and be wise enough not to penalize Yelich for having a good teammate.

[splitterpfj]

I don't see how any first place vote can go to anyone but Yelich at this point.

 

Arenado, Baez, Cain and Freeman have all had great years, but nobody has done what Yelich has done.

 

Nobody.

[WinkelsasVsSoriano]

I personally don't think Baez has much of a case comparing their stats, and especially their September numbers -- when it matters most. But Baez gets the big city boost. I still think voters will give it to Yelich after all the noise he's made this month with his bat.

 

I believe it should come down to deGrom vs. Yelich, but I feel like enough voters think that the Cy Young is basically the MVP for pitching. At least, I hope so because I really want Yeli to win. He's earned it.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Ok....how does one have "arguably" the highest obp? They either do or dont.

 

Secondly ....any national publication pushing Khris Davis as an mvp candidate should have their credentials revoked.

[YelichPosse]

Is Yelich any good? They won’t even pitch to him now. When they do he hits a homer. This is nuts guys.... it’s not even close at this point. After seeing Baéz power a small country with his wind power today.

[jerichoholicninja]

I'm surprised nobody else here seems to think - or be worried about - the possibility that Lorenzo Cain could siphon enough points away in MVP voting to give the award to Baez over Yelich.

 

He has arguably the highest OBP in the league, provided great defense, and will be second in bWAR.

 

If voters only had one vote for one person, maybe. But seeing as the votes are ranked (1-10 I think) it shouldn't make a difference. Baez and Yelich will be 1 and 2 on almost every ballot. The wild card is going to be how many voters put deGrom 1 or 2 and which of Baez or Yelich they put at 3.

[Ennder]

Yeah Khris Davis is not one of the 5 best players on his own team much less in the MVP race. It just goes to show how right the Brewers were to trade him, he has hit about the best stats you can hope form him and he isn't even a 3 WAR player. I just wish they had waited another half year and gotten more for him.

[Oxy]

I'm surprised nobody else here seems to think - or be worried about - the possibility that Lorenzo Cain could siphon enough points away in MVP voting to give the award to Baez over Yelich.

 

He has arguably the highest OBP in the league, provided great defense, and will be second in bWAR.

 

If voters only had one vote for one person, maybe. But seeing as the votes are ranked (1-10 I think) it shouldn't make a difference. Baez and Yelich will be 1 and 2 on almost every ballot. The wild card is going to be how many voters put deGrom 1 or 2 and which of Baez or Yelich they put at 3.

 

 

I would vote Yelich for League MVP and Cain for team MVP, however odd that sounds...

[DuWayne Steurer]

Going solely by WAR (yeah yeah yeah, I know WAR isn't the sole measuring stick of player value), Davis is the 5th best position player on the A's.

 

Chapman (who will likely garner some actual MVP points) comes in at a really nice 8.3 WAR

 

Chapman 8.3

Jed Lowrie 4.8

Marcus Semien 4.2

Matt Olson 4.2

Khris Davis 2.9

 

Blah blah blah RBI's (team stat)... he hits below .250 and carries a low OBP.

 

He provides a role for the team he's on. He's a middle of the order power bat. That in no way, shape or form, makes him the MVP of the entire league.

[jjfanec]

Yelich's OPS is now 100 points higher than Baez. His WAR is 1 point higher. He is now tied in home runs and stolen bases. He strikes a good amount less and walks way more and gets caught stealing less. All Baez has offensively on him is 5 RBIs which is crazy considering yelich has played 13 less games.

 

There is no talk about it but Yelich is just 5 RBIs and 2 home runs from the triple crown. He is MVP no doubt

[jjfanec]

I'm surprised nobody else here seems to think - or be worried about - the possibility that Lorenzo Cain could siphon enough points away in MVP voting to give the award to Baez over Yelich.

 

He has arguably the highest OBP in the league, provided great defense, and will be second in bWAR.

 

If voters only had one vote for one person, maybe. But seeing as the votes are ranked (1-10 I think) it shouldn't make a difference. Baez and Yelich will be 1 and 2 on almost every ballot. The wild card is going to be how many voters put deGrom 1 or 2 and which of Baez or Yelich they put at 3.

 

 

I would vote Yelich for League MVP and Cain for team MVP, however odd that sounds...

 

Listening to Yelich talk he would say the same. Cain has been the most important guy on the team this year for his play on the field and what he has brought to the team. He is a "gritty veteran" who is actually a great baseball player

[JohnBriggs12]

Going solely by WAR (yeah yeah yeah, I know WAR isn't the sole measuring stick of player value), Davis is the 5th best position player on the A's.

 

Chapman (who will likely garner some actual MVP points) comes in at a really nice 8.3 WAR

 

Chapman 8.3

Jed Lowrie 4.8

Marcus Semien 4.2

Matt Olson 4.2

Khris Davis 2.9

 

Blah blah blah RBI's (team stat)... he hits below .250 and carries a low OBP.

 

He provides a role for the team he's on. He's a middle of the order power bat. That in no way, shape or form, makes him the MVP of the entire league.

 

Yeah, he's terrible. 47 HR, and 121 RBI and 97 runs scored? Most HR in baseball since 2015 All Star break. Just awful.

 

You guys are unreal. I just threw that out there to get a reaction and sure enough. That's not to say I don't think Davis is deserving to be in the top 10 regardless of WAR in his case. I do. If he was in NY or Boston he would be.

[MrTPlush]

Regarding the articles talking about MVP Khris Davis: The ones I read weren’t really calling for him to win the award. They were trying to give notice to the role he has provided for them. He has been clutch for them and just flat out produced.

 

Wish we had that kind of power in our line-up.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Going solely by WAR (yeah yeah yeah, I know WAR isn't the sole measuring stick of player value), Davis is the 5th best position player on the A's.

 

Chapman (who will likely garner some actual MVP points) comes in at a really nice 8.3 WAR

 

Chapman 8.3

Jed Lowrie 4.8

Marcus Semien 4.2

Matt Olson 4.2

Khris Davis 2.9

 

Blah blah blah RBI's (team stat)... he hits below .250 and carries a low OBP.

 

He provides a role for the team he's on. He's a middle of the order power bat. That in no way, shape or form, makes him the MVP of the entire league.

 

Yeah, he's terrible. 47 HR, and 121 RBI and 97 runs scored? Most HR in baseball since 2015 All Star break. Just awful.

 

You guys are unreal. I just threw that out there to get a reaction and sure enough.

 

Of course it's going to get a reaction. The suggestion was way out there. I appreciate you manning up and admitting that you are trolling the board, though.

[homer]

Going solely by WAR (yeah yeah yeah, I know WAR isn't the sole measuring stick of player value), Davis is the 5th best position player on the A's.

 

Chapman (who will likely garner some actual MVP points) comes in at a really nice 8.3 WAR

 

Chapman 8.3

Jed Lowrie 4.8

Marcus Semien 4.2

Matt Olson 4.2

Khris Davis 2.9

 

Blah blah blah RBI's (team stat)... he hits below .250 and carries a low OBP.

 

He provides a role for the team he's on. He's a middle of the order power bat. That in no way, shape or form, makes him the MVP of the entire league.

 

Yeah, he's terrible. 47 HR, and 121 RBI and 97 runs scored? Most HR in baseball since 2015 All Star break. Just awful.

 

You guys are unreal. I just threw that out there to get a reaction and sure enough.

 

 

I get PMs all the time from people asking why we let you get away with certain things and I used to respond with "Well that's just Briggs...". Your act has gotten old. Knock it off or you won't be around for the playoffs.

[Underachiever]

Going solely by WAR (yeah yeah yeah, I know WAR isn't the sole measuring stick of player value), Davis is the 5th best position player on the A's.

 

Chapman (who will likely garner some actual MVP points) comes in at a really nice 8.3 WAR

 

Chapman 8.3

Jed Lowrie 4.8

Marcus Semien 4.2

Matt Olson 4.2

Khris Davis 2.9

 

Blah blah blah RBI's (team stat)... he hits below .250 and carries a low OBP.

 

He provides a role for the team he's on. He's a middle of the order power bat. That in no way, shape or form, makes him the MVP of the entire league.

 

Yeah, he's terrible. 47 HR, and 121 RBI and 97 runs scored? Most HR in baseball since 2015 All Star break. Just awful.

 

You guys are unreal. I just threw that out there to get a reaction and sure enough. That's not to say I don't think Davis is deserving to be in the top 10 regardless of WAR in his case. I do. If he was in NY or Boston he would be.

If you are trying to point out that we are “unreal”, maybe you don’t quote an extremely reasonable, stats-based post by RoCo as proof.

[Ennder]

I don't believe Khris Davis has to be considered awful for not thinking he is in the MVP race. There is a very large area between awful and the best. Khris Davis is an all star level player and most teams would do better having him on the team. He is an awful fielder, he is a poor baserunner, he has a poor batting eye, he has prolific power. All the little negatives just eat away at the one positive so it isn't as valuable as it looks.

[jjfanec]

Briggs you had good calls on Gennett and Davis. Is that enough? Davis obviously isnt an MVP candidate but he is very solid. Davis would be an interesting fit on this team. Maybe with Cain you could hide him but Braun is pretty good too. Maybe you could teach him first base but Aguilar is pretty good too

[PlayerHader]

He flat out doesn’t fit in the NL. Could we have gotten more for him by waiting a year? Maybe. But longing for him to be on our roster is wasted energy.

[TURBO]

Just saw Frank Thomas and A-Rod picking their winners.

 

Thomas said Baez, and A-Rod said whoever wins the Central will decide the MVP between Yelich and Baez.

 

Jerkfaces.

[MrTPlush]

Two people who don’t vote, don’t care. Good for them.

[Eye Black]

Just saw Frank Thomas and A-Rod picking their winners.

 

Thomas said Baez, and A-Rod said whoever wins the Central will decide the MVP between Yelich and Baez.

 

Jerkfaces.

It is curious to hear the argument that Báez should win the MVP if the Cubs win the division juxtaposed with the argument that deGrom should be the Cy Young and MVP based on his win probability added and WAR values. I think ultimately Yelich will win it because I believe there are more voters that fall into the middle ground where Yelich seems to have the strongest case by traditional standards and measures.

[TURBO]

Just saw Frank Thomas and A-Rod picking their winners.

 

Thomas said Baez, and A-Rod said whoever wins the Central will decide the MVP between Yelich and Baez.

 

Jerkfaces.

It is curious to hear the argument that Báez should win the MVP if the Cubs win the division juxtaposed with the argument that deGrom should be the Cy Young and MVP based on his win probability added and WAR values. I think ultimately Yelich will win it because I believe there are more voters that fall into the middle ground where Yelich seems to have the strongest case by traditional standards and measures.

 

They both picked Scherzer over deGrom for NL Cy Young.