MVPs

[MankyJimy]

Let's start with the AL race by listing the candidates:

Mike Trout
Miguel Cabrera
Derek Jeter
Adrian Beltre
Josh Hamilton
Adam Jones
Robinson Cano

Two of those players (Trout and Cabrera) are on teams that will probably not make the playoffs, which hurts their campaign. Cabrera might win the Triple Crown, so let's keep him in the discussion and set aside Trout.

The MVP voters like to award players that have a great all-around game, and the last player to win whose value was almost all in his bat was Howard in 2006. Cabrera is a poor defensive third baseman and doesn't add anything with baserunning, so it is unlikely they will award him.

That leaves Hamilton, Jones, Cano, Jeter, and Beltre.

Hamilton has already won and he has kind of coasted through the second half of the season after a great start. He won't win.

Jones - the last time a player won MVP with a batting average lower than his .286 was all the way back in 1982 (Dale Murphy). He may finish top 5 but he won't win.

Cano has had better years and the PED rumors will hurt him (unfairly).

Beltre has a case (great defense and good hitting) but he is helped quite a bit by his ballpark. He bats about 80 points higher at home vs the road. Basically he hits like Chipper at his peak when he's in Texas, and Casey Blake on the road.

That leaves Jeter. He is still very much in the running for batting title, and since he has been snubbed in the past the voters will extend him extra credit for their misteaks in 1999, '06, and '09.

 

[LongTimeListener]

I love you.

 

[Versatile]

No one admits to a misteak.

 

[Oggiedoggie]

I'm still a bit miffed at Jeter because he didn't heal Mariano Rivera shortly after he was injured in Kansas City.

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

The answer clearly is Jeter.

 

[dooley_womack1]

The real question is, who should win the A.L. Most Jeter Award?

 

[heyabbott]

Jesus' wife's maiden name was Jeter

 

[MTM]

I hear AL MVP will be renamed the Derek Jeter Award.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Retroactively.

 

[Riptide]

Cary Grant just sat up in his grave and said, "Jeter, Jeter, Jeter!"

 

[JC]

Mauer is having a better year than Jetes.

 

[LongTimeListener]

The Captain? Hell no.

Captain America? Hell yeah.

 

[MankyJimy]

In the NL, I would vote for Brawn if the Brewers make the playoffs. If not him then Posey.

 

[outofplace]

Mauer is having a better year than Jetes.

Doesn't matter. Not only will Jeter win it this year, they will retroactively take the 2009 award away from Mauer and give it to Jeter. While we're at it, take the 2006 award from Morneau and hand that one to Jetes, too. The Twins have been that bad this year. (Is that close?)

Serious question. PED rumors about Cano? Where did Mankster get that one from?

 

[Cosmo]

I like my misteak medium rare, closer to rare. Pittsburgh style. With sauteed mushrooms.

 

[cjericho]

Mauer is having a better year than Jetes.

Doesn't matter. Not only will Jeter win it this year, they will retroactively take the 2009 award away from Mauer and give it to Jeter. While we're at it, take the 2006 award from Morneau and hand that one to Jetes, too. The Twins have been that bad this year. (Is that close?)

Serious question. PED rumors about Cano? Where did Mankster get that one from?

If they do any retroactive awarding they can take Pat Hentgen's Cy Young and give it to Andy Pettitte. Then either take away Ichiro's Rookie of the Year or give one to Hideki Matsui.

 

[Bubbler]

Posey might very well win the NL MVP, he's had a helluva year, he plays an important position, and the Giants are a sure playoff team.

But I sleep well at night knowing the Brewers have the best player in baseball.

 

[Versatile]

Posey might very well win the NL MVP, he's had a helluva year, he plays an important position, and the Giants are a sure playoff team.

But I sleep well at night knowing the Brewers have the best player in baseball.

Mike Trout?

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

I was going to go with Matt Kemp. Since I value defense and all.

 

[Bubbler]

I was going to go with Matt Kemp. Since I value defense and all.

So do I. Braun's at double digits in Baseball-Reference's defensive runs saved above average. He's just barely below average in range factor.

Take away his disaster zone year at third base and his first year in left and he's been pretty good.