So, at 2 p.m., we'll learn the identity of the American League MVP. But, really, is there much doubt? Alex Rodriguez will be the clear-cut winner. He may even be a unanimous choice.The NL MVP voting won't be as decisive.
Ballots for the four major postseason awards (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year) were due to the Baseball Writers Association of America at the conclusion of the regular season. And up until the deadline, which technically wasn't until the Rockies beat the Padres in the 13th inning of the wild-card tie-breaker game Oct. 1, I talked with a lot of writers who hadn't chosen between Jimmy Rollins, Matt Holliday, Prince Fielder and a few other possible MVP candidates.
So, it's safe to say the vote will be very close. The winner will be announced Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Here's the case for and against each of the top candidates:
ROLLINS2007 stats: .296, 30 HR, 94 RBI, 139 R, 212 H, 38 2B, 20 3B, 41 SB, .875 OPS
In January, he said the Phillies would be the "team to beat" in the NL East, and he backed up his prediction with a season that was nothing short of historic, becoming the first player ever to have at least 200 hits, 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 homers and 20 steals. Over the final 35 games, he batted .335 with eight homers, 22 RBIs and 31 runs scored, and in 18 games against the Mets, he batted .346 (28-for-81) with six homers, 15 RBIs and 15 runs. He started every game -- and played all but 17 innings -- at shortstop, a physically demanding skill position, winning the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. And his performance at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park (.300, 18 homers) wasn't much different than anywhere else (.293, 12 homers). But he also plays in a lineup that features reigning NL MVP Ryan Howard and All-Star second baseman Chase Utley, an MVP candidate until he broke his right hand in July.
HOLLIDAY2007 stats: .340, 36 HR, 137 RBI, 120 R, 216 H, 50 2B, 6 3B, 11 SB, 1.012 OPS
Good luck finding a more dominant offensive player. He won the NL batting title, led the league in RBIs, hits, doubles, total bases (386) and extra-base hits (92), ranked second in slugging percentage (.607), third in runs and fourth in homers. And when the Rockies needed to win nearly every game to make the playoffs, he batted .442 (23-for-52) with five homers and 17 RBIs in the final 13 games. But he plays left field, a less challenging position than Rollins, and isn't particularly good at it. He also seemed to benefit from playing in the thin air at Coors Field, where he batted .376 and hit 25 of his homers. And until the final weeks of the season, playing in Denver also left him in relative obscurity, at least compared to Rollins, who benefits from the exposure of playing in a large Northeast market.
FIELDER2007 stats: .288, 50 HR, 119 RBI, 109 R, 165 H, 35 2B, 2 3B, 2 SB, 1.013 OPS
Much like Howard in 2006, he was the NL's premier power hitter, blasting a league-leading 50 homers and slugging .618. And the Brewers play in Miller Park, a ballpark that doesn't particularly favor hitters. He had 29 homers before the All-Star break, leading the Brewers to a 49-39 record and first place in the NL Central. But Milwaukee swooned in the second half, going 34-40 and missing the playoffs. And although that wasn't Fielder's fault (he hit 21 homers in 71 games after the All-Star break), 12 of the last 17 NL MVPs have come from playoff teams. Voters didn't hold it against Howard that the Phillies missed the playoffs last season, but he also nearly single-handedly got them there. Fielder couldn't prevent the Brewers from blowing an 8-1/2-game lead in late June.
If I had a ballot (I voted for the NL Cy Young Award), I would've given Rollins the slight edge over Holliday, with Fielder in third place. The rest of my ballot probably would've looked something like this: 4. David Wright (Mets); 5. Chipper Jones (Braves); 6. Hanley Ramirez (Marlins); 7. Chase Utley (Phillies); 8. Eric Byrnes (Diamondbacks); 9. Jake Peavy (Padres); 10. Ryan Howard (Phillies).
In case you're wondering, the last team to have different players win back-to-back MVP awards was the Giants (Jeff Kent in 2000, Barry Bonds in 2001).
How would you have voted?
5 comments:
1) Rollins - he backed-up his smack talk with an unprecedented 200/20/20/20/20. He should edge out THAT ROCKY because he not only can swing the bat, but has an amazing glove!
2) THAT ROCKY - great numbers, but reminds me of pre-humidor numbers ... everyone has to wonder if maybe the mountain air didn't help. Absolutely no glove in the outfield!
3) Princess Fielder - nice numbers, but the team really choked in the second half!
4) UTLEY - forget his month vacation - his offensive numbers are sick, and his defense has been superb
PAT BURRELL --- team stunk in first half ... he (not Rollins, Utley, or Howard) carried this team into the post season ... its no coincidence the team took off when his bat started finding the ball!!!
Scott,
This isn't a question about your reporting -- you're a great reporter -- as much as it is a question about the Phillies FO (aka The Kremlin).
Peter Gammons still is reporting that the Phillies were willing to go to four years with Mike Lowell, but Lowell decided to stay in Boston.
Do you think Pat Gillick just lies to the Philly beat reporters? What is the deal?
Question:
If Jimmy wins MVP will this effect their free agent spending?
Think about it.
I think yes, in a negative way so go Matt Holliday.
Have 3 different members of the same team ever won back-to-back-to-back? If Rollins pulls it off this year Utley probably has a good shot next year as well.
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