Is the NL MVP going to be decided on who wins the NL East? For the Mets, David Wright is having a phenomenal year. Even if the Mets lose the division but hold onto the wild card, I'm not sure he gets the MVP.
In spring training, Jimmy Rollins called his shot (so to speak) and said the Phillies were the team to beat in the East and the way the club is playing down the stretch, his prediction might hold true. Coincidently, he's been the most consistant player in that lineup and at one point went 55+ games without an error. Offensively he's having his best year, ever.
Who would you vote for?
NL MVP
Moderator: Cueball
Is there any way a pitcher should win the MVP?
If so then Jake Peavy should be considered. He'll prolly accomplish a "pitching triple crown" this year. Not all that rare, but without Jake the Padres would be nowhere near contention for the postseason.
Anyway, I'd vote for Prince over either Rollins or Wright.
If so then Jake Peavy should be considered. He'll prolly accomplish a "pitching triple crown" this year. Not all that rare, but without Jake the Padres would be nowhere near contention for the postseason.
Anyway, I'd vote for Prince over either Rollins or Wright.
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jiminphilly
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Peavy has been great and I concede that he should probably be in the running but take Rollins out of this lineup and they aren't even in contention. He really brings an added dimension to that lineup and his defense has just ben awesome. The Padres bullpen has been stellar and Young isn't a half bad pitcher either. Peavy should get the Cy Young but he doesn't play every day which I think should be the principal argument against pitchers getting an MVP award.Mikey wrote:Is there any way a pitcher should win the MVP?
If so then Jake Peavy should be considered. He'll prolly accomplish a "pitching triple crown" this year. Not all that rare, but without Jake the Padres would be nowhere near contention for the postseason.
Anyway, I'd vote for Prince over either Rollins or Wright.
Prince is having a great year, no doubt, but I'll be a homer and say the overall offensive production Rollins brings to the table makes him more valuable.
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jiminphilly
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Wagner has come up small for the Mets and he showed what a pussy he is by pulling the injury card when his team needed him most. I also enjoy watching Burrell get in his head. Wright has been awesome but his defense has been an issue. Still a worthy choice though.Toddowen wrote:Wright has good offensive #'s, but he has more errors than teeth right now. And they've been huge errors. His toss into the Gulf of Mexico last night in the 9th doomed that game. WHat would've been two outs with nobody on stays one with the tying run on.
What an incredible game.
MVP? Right now I'd probably go with Wagner over Wright from a Mets standpoint....even Pedro, believe it or not. Pedro is a valuable soldier on that mound tonight. He gets shell shocked tonight and I'm calling the Mets as not making the postseason.
I think it's between Fielder and Rollins...if both of their teams somehow get in, then I would lean towards Prince since he's been producing from Day 1 for the Brewers. If Prince can get to that magic 50 HR marker...he might get the award on that achievement alone. You have to give him credit for being a power hitter and he's still hitting around .290. Rollins and Fielder are #2 and #3 in all of baseball in extra base hits.
The Brewers and Phillies are both great assemble offensive teams that have had major pitching issues. You can give credit to guys like Braun, Hardy, Hart and Jenkins for contributing with Fielder to help carry the Brewers and in Philadelphia, you have guys like Howard, Utley, Rowand, and Burrell carrying their weight along with Rollins. You can look at the Mets the same with their great offense anchored by Wright, Reyes, Beltran and Delgado...they too have had their fair share of pitching issues and yet have stayed in first in the East.
To me, it's a lot like when you try to pick an MVP off a team like the Red Sox or Yankees from the past few years...both loaded with talent but can you single out one guy for their success? It's hard to do and honestly the true definition of an MVP is a one-man team over-achieving because of that one great player carrying them and getting very little help. This year with the Yankees, it's hard to ignore what A-Rod has done from the very beginning and how his numbers are just so gawdy compared to the rest of his team and the AL...he's pretty much a sure thing for the MVP. From this standpoint, I would favor Fielder because he's pretty much done the equivalent in the NL to what A-Rod has done in the AL but the Yankees are more of a sure thing to get into the playoffs while the Brewers are currently on the outside looking in.
The Brewers and Phillies are both great assemble offensive teams that have had major pitching issues. You can give credit to guys like Braun, Hardy, Hart and Jenkins for contributing with Fielder to help carry the Brewers and in Philadelphia, you have guys like Howard, Utley, Rowand, and Burrell carrying their weight along with Rollins. You can look at the Mets the same with their great offense anchored by Wright, Reyes, Beltran and Delgado...they too have had their fair share of pitching issues and yet have stayed in first in the East.
To me, it's a lot like when you try to pick an MVP off a team like the Red Sox or Yankees from the past few years...both loaded with talent but can you single out one guy for their success? It's hard to do and honestly the true definition of an MVP is a one-man team over-achieving because of that one great player carrying them and getting very little help. This year with the Yankees, it's hard to ignore what A-Rod has done from the very beginning and how his numbers are just so gawdy compared to the rest of his team and the AL...he's pretty much a sure thing for the MVP. From this standpoint, I would favor Fielder because he's pretty much done the equivalent in the NL to what A-Rod has done in the AL but the Yankees are more of a sure thing to get into the playoffs while the Brewers are currently on the outside looking in.
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jiminphilly
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I can live with Rollins getting it over Fielder since the Phillies got in and the Brewers didn't. He lead the NL in hits, runs scored and triples after the All-Star break and helped keep the Phillies afloat when Utley went down. Like I said before though, the Phillies are a great ensemble offense when you throw in guys like Howard who lead the NL in home runs and tied Holliday for most RBI in the second half. The Phillies can mash as a team and it is hard to seperate one guy from the group. Rollins is in the same group as guys like Sizemore and Granderson...great lead-off men with power but also do the things a traditional lead-off hitter does as well like get on base regularly and make things happen with their speed such as stolen bases or stretching singles into doubles and doubles into triples.
I really think Howard and Rollins could end up cancelling each other and a guy like Fielder or Matt Holliday will win the award. Holliday finished top 4 in the triple crown categories in the NL.
I really think Howard and Rollins could end up cancelling each other and a guy like Fielder or Matt Holliday will win the award. Holliday finished top 4 in the triple crown categories in the NL.
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jiminphilly
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Howard won't get as many votes as you think b/c of his strike out record. Rollins produced in every statistical category AND played phenomenal defense (played something like 60 games with no errors). Him calling his shot and then producing in the clutch to seal a number of wins will only help his cause.Shoalzie wrote:I can live with Rollins getting it over Fielder since the Phillies got in and the Brewers didn't. He lead the NL in hits, runs scored and triples after the All-Star break and helped keep the Phillies afloat when Utley went down. Like I said before though, the Phillies are a great ensemble offense when you throw in guys like Howard who lead the NL in home runs and tied Holliday for most RBI in the second half. The Phillies can mash as a team and it is hard to seperate one guy from the group. Rollins is in the same group as guys like Sizemore and Granderson...great lead-off men with power but also do the things a traditional lead-off hitter does as well like get on base regularly and make things happen with their speed such as stolen bases or stretching singles into doubles and doubles into triples.
I really think Howard and Rollins could end up cancelling each other and a guy like Fielder or Matt Holliday will win the award. Holliday finished top 4 in the triple crown categories in the NL.
Holliday had a great year but I think he'll (unjustly) lose votes b/c he plays in Colorado.
Good point with Howard...can't ignore that hideous strikeout record.
Anyone with half a brain that has a voting credential will at least have him in their top 3. I think it will probably be Holliday, Fielder and Rollins in the top 3 in some order. Especially with tomorrow...I don't know if the game counts towards the stats but if Holliday can have a clutch hit and help the Rockies into the playoffs, he might get some extra attention. To be fair though, Hawpe and Atkins have had great years as well and Helton has been a steady contributor as well. Tulowitzki will finish near the top in NL rookie of year voting. The Rockies are a remarkable story consider how young their team is and how unknown their pitching staff is. A Rockies-Phillies NLDS series could be one of the wildest offensive series we'll see in a long time.jiminphilly wrote:Holliday had a great year but I think he'll (unjustly) lose votes b/c he plays in Colorado.
