B.A. figured with the season at 150 games, it's a good time to make some picks.
AL MVP
It's ARod, people. It's not even close.
Alex Rodriguez (2007)
.308/.414/.641 (4th in OBA, 1st in SLG, 1st in OPS)
52 HR (1st)
149 runs created (1st)
180 OPS+ (1st)
24/3 SB/CS
.361 eqA (1st)
13.7 WARP3
35 win shares (1st)
As far as the ARod/Yankee haters, don't even try to say Magglio or Vlad. ARod's beating them in all of the major categories. ARod should be bringing home his 4th MVP trophy at the end of this season.
AL Cy Young
Bunch of worthy candidates. Carmona, Sabathia, Lackey, Bedard, Santana, unfortunately Beckett, too. And I think that ugly, alien-faced douchebag will win it, and while it kills me to say that he is a worthy candidate, I don't think he's the most deserving. I really think that Santana and Sabathia deserve it more. Sabathia's got virtually the same ERA+ as Beckett (138 vs. 142). He's got the same WHIP (1.137 vs. 1.129). The only thing Beckett's got on Sabathia is strikeouts. And not even by that much. 8.59 K/9 IP for Beckett and 7.88 K/9 IP for Sabathia. And more importantly, Sabathia's pitched a lot more innings. He's been just as good as Beckett for 45 more innings = more valuable. And Santana, same ERA+ (141), better WHIP (1.057), more K/9 IP (9.47), and 21 more innings pitched. Don't give me "Beckett's leading the league in wins! Santana's 4 wins behind!" The fact that people still think wins tell you who's the best pitcher means that some people need to click mute on the YES Network when Michael Kay starts talking about the paramount importance of the good old "W". Santana can't control how many wins he gets anymore than Beckett can. Santana's more deserving. So if it were up to me, it goes to Johan.
NL MVP
A lot of people say Matt Holliday. He's a great player, and is a worthy candidate, but I really think it's David Wright.
David Wright (2007)
.315/.409/.549
30 HR
126 runs created (1st)
151 OPS+
31/5 SB/CS
.334 eqA
12.2 WARP3
32 win shares (1st)
I find it very hard to not give it to David Wright this year. As far as Holliday goes:
Matt Holliday (2007)
.339/.402/.614
36 HR
116 runs created
151 OPS+
11/4 SB/CS
.318 eqA
11.0 WARP3
26 win shares
And plus, just look at the insane splits he has home/away:
.376/.434/.722 (home)
.303/.370/.497 (away)
He's obviously still a very good hitter even if you take him out of Coors Field, but still, when he's away from Coors Field, he's Jose Guillen (.303/.376/.476 on the road). So yeah, I hope to see David Wright go home with the MVP trophy...just not a World Series ring.
I know people like to look at RBIs as a determining factor, but RBIs are a function of the team more than they are of the hitter. Mike Lowell has more RBIs than Adam Dunn. Julio Lugo has more RBIs than Derek Jeter. RBIs do not reflect how valuable a hitter is. That's why the argument that Morneau driving in 130 runs last year makes him the MVP is so stupid. Jeter created many more runs and played a more difficult defensive position on the field than Morneau. Ugh, still pisses me off that Jeter didn't get it. Such bullshit. Anyway...
NL Cy Young
Jake Peavy everybody. No debate.
Jake Peavy (2007)
174 ERA+ (1st)
1.044 WHIP (1st)
9.98 K/9 IP (1st)
203.0 IP (6th)
He is head and shoulders above anyone else in the NL. Even with that absurd scoreless innings streak, Webb's ERA+ is 155 with a higher WHIP, fewer K/9 IP, etc. Jake Peavy is the 2007 NL Cy Young. It'd be a crime if it goes to anyone else.
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2 comments:
AL CY: toss up between Santana, Sabathia, and Beckett. Wish Bedard hadn't gotten hurt.
AL MVP: arod
NL MVP: holliday. he's been the one steady on a lineup in flux most of the year, plus he hasn't had the horses getting on base in front of him. david wright this year has been a better, faster raul ibanez...driving in runs in a lineup that's underperformed, on a team that's overperformed due to strong offense and a complete and utter lack of good pitching. the mets ARE the mariners, the only difference is they play in the NL.
NL CY: Jake Fuckin' Peavy
-BOMBS
I agree that Holliday's been great, but it's really hard for me to say that he has been more valuable to the Rockies than Wright's been to the Mets. The only reason Holliday's got more RBI is because he's got 41 more at bats with a couple more homers. Wright with runners on is .332/.434/.579 with 14 home runs and 89 RBI in 259 AB. Holliday's at .321/.391/.570 with 18 home runs and 114 RBI in 300 AB. Wright's basically been better with runners on than Holliday. Also, gotta factor in Coors Field. I know Holliday's been very steady, but so has David Wright. He had a bad April, but has OPS'd .951, .994, .902, 1.173, 1.041 in all other months. Beltran didn't do anything for 3 months. Reyes really only had 2 good months. Alou was out for 70 games. Delgado's sucked all year. I can understand Holliday getting it, but I just don't think he deserves it as much as Wright.
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