Carlos Guillen for MVP?

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Believe it or not, the Tiger shortstop leads the AL in VORP (and Travis Hafner is second?), ahead of somewhat fading sluggers (Vlad & Pudge), and certainly Tejada is the only middle infielder who's been nearly as productive at the plate. In the real world, if A-Rod only got one Guillen has no realistic chance with the writers, but today he'd get my vote.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 5 August 2004 13:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Given the lack of standout performances on the playoff-contending teams, I can go w/ that. Though if the Indians actually make it into the playoffs (or get far enough above .500 that their position in the AL Central race doesn't look so precarious), I'd like to see a case made for Victor Martinez.

Shocker of the day: Hafner (prior to yesterday's 2 HR outburst) was 2nd in the AL in OPS, behind only Manny Ramirez (and only by .035!).

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 5 August 2004 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

aaaaaaah. vindication.

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 5 August 2004 16:22 (twenty-one years ago)

It's funny, I haven't given any thought to the potential AL MVPs, because in my own mind I've been debating between Bonds, Pujols, Rolen, and others in the NL.

The A's don't have any candidates. Vlad's on the Angels, but what if they don't make the playoffs? Considering the hopes for them during spring training, that wouldn't get him an MVP award. Maybe Blalock?
In the East, I don't see A-Rod getting it. Tejada's having a fantastic year but his team is also underachieving in some eyes.

Guillen's as good a choice as any, considering how well the Tigers are doing compared to last year. Since I couldn't choose easily, I'll just rattle off ten names in no order:

Guillen
Hafner
Ortiz
Ramirez
Blalock
I-Rod
V-Man
Carlos Lee
Tejada
A-Rod
okay 11....Vlad

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 5 August 2004 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah but does anyone really think Alex Rodriguez isn't getting this award, and that they'd give it to a Detroit Tiger not nicknamed Pudge?

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 5 August 2004 17:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Your point is well-taken, Begs, as it was 3-4 weeks ago some here were saying A-Rod wasn't even AN ALL-STAR... A-Rod came up in a Neyer ESPN chat, and RN said he was having exactly the season expected of him unless you fail to acknowledge he moved from a great hitter's park in Arlington to a slight pitcher's park in the Bronx.

And that's why A-Rod probably ain't getting his second MVP this year ... most BBWAA voters won't.

Adjusted Runs Above Position (RARP), AL

Guillen 48.8
Hafner 44.7
Ramirez 44.6
Vlad 44.4
Tejada 42.6
Mora 41.5
A-Rod 41.5

I can't see why Blalock would be any more of an MVP candidate than Chavez, who has produced nearly as many Equivalent Runs in 140 fewer plate appearances. Michael Young is Texas' MVP, and because of his hit total and BA I think he gets into the voters' top ten.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Melvin Mora! Show them what a tin glove can do!

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:16 (twenty-one years ago)

But we all know MVP voters have a thing for undeserving Texans

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

America has that problem too

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

zing!

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

assist to you yo
go wash yr couch

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Vlad has been a bit more down to Earth in the last month, he just needs to keep out of the way of the ball when he plays the Mariners. One thing about his season is that he kept the Angels offense going when they lost Glaus for the season and when they were without Garret Anderson for over 40 games.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I know he doesn't deserve it, but I'd like to take this opportunity to note that Ichiro Suzuki is absolutely on fire. He is currently on pace for 253 hits!!

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm sure a stathead will point out that Ichiro doesn't take enough walks in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6...

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I love Ichiro
but own him on neither team.
What is wrong with me?

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:29 (twenty-one years ago)

ICHIRO DOESN'T WALK ENOUGH AND SLUGS LIKE A GURL F*CKERS!

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:30 (twenty-one years ago)

But that arm! That speed! That bat control! Those sunglasses!

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Ichiro has a .399 obp, it don't matter how he gets there....and I think he's a rare case where he would lose hits if he were more "selective."

He's just no Damo Suzuki.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Now if only Ichiro were playing for a decent team.

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm partial to Ichiro's stretching techniques. And his facial hair.

At least he's not Mac Suzuki.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

who the hell cares about "second coming of tony gwynn" ichiro, his former teammate mike cameron has been eating his wheaties or something... i likey.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:43 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe he finally got those eyes fixed!

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i hated ichiro in 2001 and for a good time after, but now i love him.

i love you, ichiro.

― John (jdahlem), Thursday, 5 August 2004 18:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm beginning to think Hideki Matsui deserves some votes, if not the award itself.

― Gear! (Gear!), Monday, 9 August 2004 19:25 (twenty-one years ago)

He's better than he was in his Lucky RBI Year of '03, but third-best candidate on the Yankees.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 9 August 2004 19:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Every RBI is a lucky RBI, though.

― Gear! (Gear!), Monday, 9 August 2004 19:40 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

Joe Sheehan on BP:

"...the AL MVP award isn't likely to be decided by what the candidates themselves do, but by how well their teammates play. To win the award, Guerrero needs to play well, but he also needs Darin Erstad to play well, and Bartolo Colon to pitch well, because his chance at the honor is contingent upon the Angels beating out at least two of the four teams with which they're battling for an playoff spot. The same goes for the two Red Sox candidates. Team performance, not individual performance, is going to be the determining factor in the BBWAA voting.

The weird thing is not that Carlos Guillen might win the AL MVP in the Internet Baseball Awards but not the BBWAA version. The weird thing is that he might not finish in the top 10 of the real-life balloting. He'll be behind Tejada when it comes to shortstops and probably behind Ivan Rodriguez when it comes to Tigers. Add in all the players on playoff teams who will have more impressive Triple Crown stats--those we've mentioned as well as Jose Guillen, plus some votes for Mariano Rivera and Ichiro Suzuki--and it's not hard to see a scenario where he ends up 11th or 12th.

Regardless, Carlos Guillen has been the best player in the league, and barring a collapse down the stretch, he'll win my AL MVP vote."

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 2 September 2004 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

whoa.

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 2 September 2004 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

ok, so guillen has been a better player overall than sheffield this year, but are we seriously supposed to completely ignore things that don't show up in the stat lines now? or sheffield's clutch performance this year? c'mon, guillen hasn't been THAT much better. if he can hold up, sheffield's the mvp.

― John (jdahlem), Saturday, 4 September 2004 13:35 (twenty-one years ago)

oh, john. it will be neither sheffield nor guillen and you know it.

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Sunday, 5 September 2004 00:44 (twenty-one years ago)

sheffield's MY mvp? i wasn't making a prediction, but i don't know what makes you so sure. voter bias against the yankees + sheff's rep as a malcontent?

― John (jdahlem), Sunday, 5 September 2004 01:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Vlad hasn't hit for much power in the past month or so. The Angels have been getting big bat nights from unexpected players, so it hasn't been quite as evident in the w/l column.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Sunday, 5 September 2004 05:10 (twenty-one years ago)

John I'm just saying
Sheffield isn't on folks' minds
the way others are

maybe he will get
lots of votes and place top five
but where is his 'buzz'?

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Monday, 6 September 2004 02:59 (twenty-one years ago)

You know my position: MVP = best player = Guillen.

>are we seriously supposed to completely ignore things that don't show up in the stat lines now?

Such as? Cuz possibly including the scope of his ability to "play hurt," I don't think you can prove any of those things exist.

>or sheffield's clutch performance this year?

Ah, The Big C again. Who has it, who doesn't? If you don't like the answers, just wait a month... Jeter's RISP since the All-Star break is something like .160, I wanna hear Tim McCarver-Jeter's tirade about what a lousy clutch player DJ is come October.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 12:59 (twenty-one years ago)

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