Why Jose Bautista should be the MVP

by m1tch on Sep 25, 2011 5:47 PM EDT

Lately there's been a lot of talk in the baseball world about how Jose Bautista deserves the American League MVP award, but that he probably won't win, just because he's not on a playoff bound team. What bugs me the most about this, is that so many people are quick to point out that Matt Kemp is the front runner for the National League MVP. In case you didn't know, Kemp plays for the Dodgers, a team that is not even close to the playoffs. Heck, I the Blue Jays would be ahead of them in the playoff race if they were in the National League. Now, let me get back on track. This post is why I think he deserves the award more than anybody, and why if it goes to Curtis Granderson or Jacoby Ellsbury, it is a complete Yankees/Red Sox bias.

Let me start off by showing some stats that Jose Bautista leads the entire MLB (not just the AL) in: HR (43); BB (128); OBP (.448); SLG (.618), and OPS (1.066). He also leads the majors in more saber-heavy stats, like: ISO (.313); wRC (136.8); wOBA (.444), and WAR (8.6 [this is the Baseball-Reference version. He is second place behind Ellsbury in the Fangraphs version]). Now, to tell me that Ellsbury or Granderson deserves the award more just because they are on playoff teams? That's absurd. Heck, Jacoby might not even be on a playoff team if the Red Sox keep playing the way they are. And don't even get me started on Justin Verlander being MVP. A player who only plays once every five games should no way be qualified for the MVP award. If Justin Verlanded wins the MVP award, I think Mike McCoy should win the Cy Young, because he finished this year with a WHIP and ERA of 0.00. The Cy Young is for the most valuable pitcher. The MVP is for the most valuable position player. Simple as that.

via a.espncdn.com

When it's all said and done though, Joey Bats will probably not win the award. It's unfortunate, because he clearly deserves it more than anyone in baseball. But he plays on a "small market" team that won't make the playoffs, and voters tend to prefer voting for players on a big market team that makes it to the postseason. Tell me what you think. Does Jose derserve to be crowned MVP? Do you think pitchers should be considered for the award? Let me know by leaving a comment or messaging me on Twitter, @mitchell_jj.

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I've got a theory while Verlander will win

The voters are divided into two different catagories.

That statistically inclined will see Bautista’s stats, and give him their 1st place votes. After that, stat wise they are mostly likely going to vote Verlander 2nd, Elsbury 3rd, Granderson 4th, etc.

For those “Value” based voters, who look at how the team does, they are likely to vote Granderson first. It will be hard for them to justfiy the value of Ellsbury on a team that is trying to give their playoff spot away, so they will likely give Verlander their 2nd place vote, with the rest of their votes going to the likes of Longoria, Beltre, Ellsbury and eventually Bautista.

I think Verlander will ger a few midwest 1st place votes, but nab the majority of the 2nd place votes, and end up coming away with the whole thing.

There She Gooooooes!

by Rugged Rock on Sep 25, 2011 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

a theory why Verlander will win

There She Gooooooes!

by Rugged Rock on Sep 25, 2011 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Sigh

Sorry, but I just wrote a post about this a few days ago. It has been discussed to death.

by yescobar on Sep 25, 2011 10:28 PM EDT reply actions

And I wrote one before that lol

A day that will live in infamy: August 4th, 2011
7 pissed off members of the Aaron Hill fanclub

by jays182 on Sep 26, 2011 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I topped you both at midseason!

by transmogrifier on Sep 26, 2011 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Haha

by yescobar on Sep 27, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

As I wrote in yescobar's post

The right question is not whether pitcher’s should win MVP, it’s whether Verlander is good enough. And he’s not. He’s a very good pitcher who has wracked up a lot of wins against a lot of lousy opponents.

I've been looking at the sky

by Back In Black on Sep 26, 2011 6:26 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

by yescobar on Sep 26, 2011 7:18 AM EDT reply actions

The question needs to be asked...

Isn’t it interesting how no one is questioning the validity of Ellsbury’s fantastic season despite the fact that he’s never cracked double digit home runs ever in his pro career and suddenly now he’s over 30 HRs this season, more than triple his previous career high.

Yet Jose Bautista does the same thing last year and EVERYONE is questioning the legitimacy of his output, with ESPN even following it up this year with the ridiculous man in white article. Let’s not forget the article which I believe was in the NY Post last year, where the writer pretty much flat out accused Jose of PED use.

Ellsbury gets a free pass because of the team he plays on, which is interesting given the questions around PED history of certain key players in that team’s success in recent years (Manny Ramirez and possibly David Ortiz).

I’m obviously being facetious re accusing Ellsbury but this is another prime example of the blatant US media slant towards the Red Sox and Yankees, and yes against the Blue Jays as a Canadian-based team. JMO but I don’t believe we’d see articles questioning Jose’s legitimacy if he played for one of those teams.

by transmogrifier on Sep 26, 2011 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

he's hitting less triples and stealing less bases

its natural to think that he’s just more bulked up this season.

Or it could be steroids. I dunno.

Sad, Drunk, And Poorly

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL

Twit Twat.

by Pikachu on Sep 26, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

His progression is very interesting actually.

He seems to be swinging more and making contact less, and except for curveballs he’s hitting every type of pitch better than ever. Especially fastballs. He is hitting more line drives and fewer ground balls than ever and his HR/FB% has gone completely nuts.

I don’t know what to make of it other than he’s obviously more aggressive in his approach. I haven’t heard that he made any swing adjustments. Without comparing swings from previous years and this year there’s no way to confirm it.

by transmogrifier on Sep 26, 2011 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

so basically, it's a career year

I doubt he’ll be this good again

Sad, Drunk, And Poorly

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL

Twit Twat.

by Pikachu on Sep 26, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I think he'll win

Writers are wising up to just how valuable Bautista is, between the hitting numbers and the positional versatility. I’m also vaguely interested in whether he’ll get any consideration for a gold glove. I don’t think he will simply because he played nearly a month at another position, but maybe.

by TimZig on Sep 27, 2011 2:04 AM EDT reply actions

I sincerely hope not

he’s actually quite bad defensively in RF

I tweet and then Keith Law ignores me

by benk on Sep 27, 2011 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions

if bautista gets a GG i'll laugh

Sad, Drunk, And Poorly

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL

Twit Twat.

by Pikachu on Sep 27, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions