AL MVP Race

[Fnazxc0114]

Re: AL MVP Race

Any idea which weak team sweeped the yankess a few weeks back? In the playoffs none of the crap you mentioned matters. 1-9 the rangers are one of the toughest teams in baseball. They battled with injuries from key guys for a large part of the season. I could care less because ill be going to all of the playoff games here in the metroplex.

Can you really argue Young is the MVP of the league? He is hitting 15 points below his career average, as a 3rd baseman he won't top 100 RBIs or even 25 homers. He has many 200 hit seasons, this year unless he gets five plus hits in each of the next three games he will fall short. He may not even break 100 runs. How clutch is he? The team has run away with the division and he has never played a postseason game. His defensive is terrible. Yes he is a good team player and the way he switched positions last year for a rookie was admirable and classly but that does not make him MVP of the entire league. Longoria, Beltre and heck even Arod are having better years as 3rd baseman and Bautista played 48 games there and is obviously having a better year. If he were selected it would probably be the most dubious selection ever.

Vlad slumped for most of the second half and other than RBIs is another guy short on stats (he does not even have 90 runs or 30 hrs) and he is a full time DH. If you took the give it to him just cause of the team philosophy the MVP Award would be meaningless and the team is not all that good. They are not the 98 Yankees. Of the already clinched playoff teams and the probabale NL wild card Braves the Rangers are tied with the Reds for the worst record despite playing in MLB's weakest division. No other division was remotely close to as bad as the AL West. They won the Division by 11 games no other division was closer than seven. Also no other division did not have at least one and in many cases two other .500 teams in it.

[cjclong]

Re: AL MVP Race

If a player were picked from the Rangers I would have to disagree with Vlad or Young as much as I like him and go with Hamilton. Young showed an example of his being a clutch player when he won the All Star game for the American League when he knocked in the winning runs with a two out hit in the ninth inning with two strikes against Trevor Hoffman when the American League was losing by a run. He also hit a sacrifice fly to win another All Star game in extra innings. Not many players drive in the wining run in the 9th inning or later in an All Star game. That said, he isn't quite the hitter he was several years ago and Hamilton carried the team when a lot of guys were slumping. I don't know where the gripe about Jeter comes from, I hadn't heard his name at all this year. And you could make a very solid case he deserved the MVP the year Morneau won. 'The fact that so many names are mentioned proves there is no one outstanding candidate this year although several players have had very good years.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: AL MVP Race

What about Konerko? The Chisox were in it for a while. They even led the division at the break. This year was a major resurgence for him after a rough year last year.

I'd enjoy seeing Paulie win it, but it won't happen. The White Sox don't get much national love (see Ken Burns thread), and the writers will likely turn their attention to either more intriguing stories (Cabrera or Hamilton) or overexposed players from the ESPN-sponsored teams (Cano or Jeter).

Dave Miedema

[legaleagle92481]

Re: AL MVP Race

Personally, I would pick someone from the Rangers considering it's the first time in several years that they have made the postseason and have two guys in my mind that are intrical parts to their success, Michael Young and Vladimir Guerrero. Young's numbers may not be MVP worthy but he really is a clutch, team player.

Can you really argue Young is the MVP of the league? He is hitting 15 points below his career average, as a 3rd baseman he won't top 100 RBIs or even 25 homers. He has many 200 hit seasons, this year unless he gets five plus hits in each of the next three games he will fall short. He may not even break 100 runs. How clutch is he? The team has run away with the division and he has never played a postseason game. His defensive is terrible. Yes he is a good team player and the way he switched positions last year for a rookie was admirable and classly but that does not make him MVP of the entire league. Longoria, Beltre and heck even Arod are having better years as 3rd baseman and Bautista played 48 games there and is obviously having a better year. If he were selected it would probably be the most dubious selection ever.

Vlad slumped for most of the second half and other than RBIs is another guy short on stats (he does not even have 90 runs or 30 hrs) and he is a full time DH. If you took the give it to him just cause of the team philosophy the MVP Award would be meaningless and the team is not all that good. They are not the 98 Yankees. Of the already clinched playoff teams and the probabale NL wild card Braves the Rangers are tied with the Reds for the worst record despite playing in MLB's weakest division. No other division was remotely close to as bad as the AL West. They won the Division by 11 games no other division was closer than seven. Also no other division did not have at least one and in many cases two other .500 teams in it.

[legaleagle92481]

Re: AL MVP Race

What about Konerko? The Chisox were in it for a while. They even led the division at the break. This year was a major resurgence for him after a rough year last year.

He is another one, wow his numbers are high.

[Fnazxc0114]

Re: AL MVP Race

That might be about the best sleeper pic ive seen. Hamilton has carried the rangers a lot more than Young and vlad have. Young is a horrible defender. He is the backbone of the rangers, but he isnt as clutch as hes been in the past.

How about Adrian Beltre? .323 28 and 102 with gold glove caliber defense on a team that was alive until there was a handful of games left in the season that was also missing its two best players for much of the year. It should be noted that in the AL West, NL Central or NL West or NL Wild Card the Sox would still be in the mix. They are 16 games over .500. Honestly I have no idea who I would vote for. If a guy missed the most important month of the season, September (Hamilton) can he really be MVP? Or a guy whose team was eliminated before the All Star Break who does not play defense? (Miguel), or a guy who is having a great year but arguably is the fourth player in his own infield? (Cano), or a guy who hits alot of homers on a fourth place team who is sitting south of .260 and does not even have 150 hits? (Bautista) or a guy who has not broken 20 hrs or 100 rbis despite hitting 3rd in his lineup? (Crawford). To me all the candidates are flawed with pluses and minuses.

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: AL MVP Race

Personally, I would pick someone from the Rangers considering it's the first time in several years that they have made the postseason and have two guys in my mind that are intrical parts to their success, Michael Young and Vladimir Guerrero. Young's numbers may not be MVP worthy but he really is a clutch, team player.

[lakeerie92]

Re: AL MVP Race

How about Adrian Beltre? .323 28 and 102 with gold glove caliber defense on a team that was alive until there was a handful of games left in the season that was also missing its two best players for much of the year. It should be noted that in the AL West, NL Central or NL West or NL Wild Card the Sox would still be in the mix. They are 16 games over .500. Honestly I have no idea who I would vote for. If a guy missed the most important month of the season, September (Hamilton) can he really be MVP? Or a guy whose team was eliminated before the All Star Break who does not play defense? (Miguel), or a guy who is having a great year but arguably is the fourth player in his own infield? (Cano), or a guy who hits alot of homers on a fourth place team who is sitting south of .260 and does not even have 150 hits? (Bautista) or a guy who has not broken 20 hrs or 100 rbis despite hitting 3rd in his lineup? (Crawford). To me all the candidates are flawed with pluses and minuses.

What about Konerko? The Chisox were in it for a while. They even led the division at the break. This year was a major resurgence for him after a rough year last year.

[legaleagle92481]

Re: AL MVP Race

How about Adrian Beltre? .323 28 and 102 with gold glove caliber defense on a team that was alive until there was a handful of games left in the season that was also missing its two best players for much of the year. It should be noted that in the AL West, NL Central or NL West or NL Wild Card the Sox would still be in the mix. They are 16 games over .500. Honestly I have no idea who I would vote for. If a guy missed the most important month of the season, September (Hamilton) can he really be MVP? Or a guy whose team was eliminated before the All Star Break who does not play defense? (Miguel), or a guy who is having a great year but arguably is the fourth player in his own infield? (Cano), or a guy who hits alot of homers on a fourth place team who is sitting south of .260 and does not even have 150 hits? (Bautista) or a guy who has not broken 20 hrs or 100 rbis despite hitting 3rd in his lineup? (Crawford). To me all the candidates are flawed with pluses and minuses.

[suave1477]

Re: AL MVP Race

Crawford hits in front of Longo but look @ longos numbers they are all down. .

Longo's numbers are down? They don't look too bad to me. They are borderline the same as Crawfords if not even slightly better. If anything you should be rooting for Longo in the MVP Race.

Longo
BA. 294
HR 22
RBI 104
Runs 96
OBP 372
SB 15

Crawford
BA 309
HR 17
RBI 87
Runs 106
OBP 360
SB 46

[suave1477]

Re: AL MVP Race

Crawford is a leadoff hitter so it would make sense that he doesn't have 100 RBI.

I understand that but as mentioned he has been in the 2nd and 3rd spot.

cubbs as far as Posada playing for the Yankees and everyone is someone is actually not true.
When your hitting in front of:

Francisco Cervelli Ba .266
Ramiro Pena Ba .231
Austin Kearns Ba .266
Derek Jeter Ba. 268 (obviously slumping)
Juan Miranda Ba .222
Golson Ba .261

Your not getting moved around a whole lot

[cubbs1232]

Re: AL MVP Race

He actually hitting 3rd in the lineup but for more than half the season he was bating 2nd which explains his rbis.
Suave as far as Posada not hitting in front of anyone he plays on the Yankees where everyone is someone.
Sure Crawford hits in front of Longo but look @ longos numbers they are all down. They hit in a lineup where their 1st baseman and 2 of their 3 catchers his below 200. They have no dh that can hit their weight. Crawford is by far the mvp on the Rays and should be in the running for the mvp of the AL.

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: AL MVP Race

My point to this was to show that Crawfords numbers should by far be passed a guy who has been riding the bench. Not just in power but yes that is apart of it. Posada hit 57 rbi's Crawford 87 rbi's - so basically if Posada played the full season he would be somewhere near, if not passed 87.
Runs? Posada when he is playing and is in the lineup, he is in front of no one. He is usually somewhere around 6th or 7th - the 8th and 9th player is usually no one. So for him to even have 49 and been riding the bench is still good.

My point I was making is, you need better stats than that to be considered for MVP. You should be way above the rest NOT (on pace with a guy who has been riding the bench)

Crawford is a leadoff hitter so it would make sense that he doesn't have 100 RBI.

[suave1477]

Re: AL MVP Race

How do those Posada numbers prove anything other than HRs? He plays in a smaller venue and has always had more power than Crawford. OBP should be higher if your ABs are much more limited, and you said it yourself that Posada has been riding the pine for a good part of the season so his amount of ABs aren't even close to Crawford who is an everyday player. I'm not saying Crawford should be the MVP, but in no way should he be compared to Posada who has always possessed more power than Crawford who has never hit more than 18 hrs in a single season. IMO, power numbers shouldn't be the deciding factor in this vote, but I am also not a one for accolades as in a team sense or worthless.

My point to this was to show that Crawfords numbers should by far be passed a guy who has been riding the bench. Not just in power but yes that is apart of it. Posada hit 57 rbi's Crawford 87 rbi's - so basically if Posada played the full season he would be somewhere near, if not passed 87.
Runs? Posada when he is playing and is in the lineup, he is in front of no one. He is usually somewhere around 6th or 7th - the 8th and 9th player is usually no one. So for him to even have 49 and been riding the bench is still good.

My point I was making is, you need better stats than that to be considered for MVP. You should be way above the rest NOT (on pace with a guy who has been riding the bench)

[Fnazxc0114]

Re: AL MVP Race

Im calling hamilton, even though hes been out since early sept he carried the team when guerroro was slumping as well as when kinsler was out. Miguel has had a bad month and he realy hasnt produced, not that it would make any difference int the outcome of the season. Maur won last year with about the same amount of games as hamilton.