Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

[SHO]

I put up an excellent season with Jose Reyes [.320 BA, 23 HR, 85 RBI, 112 R, 83 SB] and had the second best record in the league, but it went to Ryan Howard and the Phillies didn't even make the playoffs. I had a similar situation with Grady Sizemore. I can win Sliver Sluggers and/or Hank Aaron Awards with these guys no problem, but they are never in the running for MVP and it sucks.

[dave_sz]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

do you think .320 with 23hr and 85rbi deserves to get MVP? I don't....

[SHO]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

do you think .320 with 23hr and 85rbi deserves to get MVP? I don't....

Dustin Pedroia won one with lesser stats...

[BZito75]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

so david wright or delgado or beltran didnt have numbers similar? also if you think of it, if any of them had numbers close to jose's, then he will lose votes from other people voting for the other guys on your team.... you can make the argument for rollins or utley, but ryan may have dwarfed their stats.... just post what your other big guys did... but i will say reyes had a sick season for you ... 83 steals damm!

[SHO]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

so david wright or delgado or beltran didnt have numbers similar? also if you think of it, if any of them had numbers close to jose's, then he will lose votes from other people voting for the other guys on your team.... you can make the argument for rollins or utley, but ryan may have dwarfed their stats.... just post what your other big guys did... but i will say reyes had a sick season for you ... 83 steals damm!

Beltran - .289 BA, 31 HR, 108 RBI, 27 SBs
Wright - .310 BA, 28 HR, 98 RBI, 23 SBs
Delgado - .277 BA, 34 HR, 118 RBI

Your argument splitting votes makes sense, but I at least figured the stolen bases and the fact that his numbers were as a leadoff guy would've factored in more.

[mcev]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

a bit off topic, but how do you steal SO many bases?

[pbz06]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

Dustin Pedroia won one with lesser stats...

I was going to say the same thing. Pedroia put up very questionable numbers but had two things going for him:

(a) he was scrappy and little (so that answers the OP's question).

(b) played for Boston.

The funny part is, he wasn't even the best 2nd baseman in the AL. That would be Ian Kinsler who put up better numbers across the board while also missing a chunk of the season due to injury.

[BZito75]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

oh i agree with you 100%, but if i looked at your team and had to name an mvp, id name david wright over reyes..... but again there goes to show you the possibility of splitting votes.

[SHO]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

a bit off topic, but how do you steal SO many bases?

First of all, Reyes (and Sizemore to a lesser extent) is a pure demon on the basepaths. It's rare to get caught stealing with him. Normally, its timing and abusing weaker armed catchers. I'm a small ball kind of guy and love stealing, but I almost never attempt it on guys like Yadier Molina. If really want to steal with slower guys like Wright, I'll guess pitch for something off-speed like a slider or a curveball and send them when I get the pitch after getting them a solid leadoff.

[JT30]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

I was going to say the same thing. Pedroia put up very questionable numbers but had two things going for him:

(a) he was scrappy and little (so that answers the OP's question).

(b) played for Boston.

The funny part is, he wasn't even the best 2nd baseman in the AL. That would be Ian Kinsler who put up better numbers across the board while also missing a chunk of the season due to injury.

He put up better numbers across the board? I must be missing something

[pbz06]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

He put up better numbers across the board? I must be missing something

Kinsler
121 games played, .319 avg, .375 obp, .517 slg, .892 ops, 18 hr, 71 rbi, 26 SB, 102 runs, 41 doubles, 4 triples

Pedroia
157 games played, .326 avg, .376 obp, .493 slg, .869 ops, 17 hr, 83 rbi, 20 SB, 118 runs, 54 doubles, 2 triples

Over an extra 36 games, Kinsler probably scores more runs, more doubles too

[uraz3r0]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

To me, Dustin deserved it because no one else did.

When I heard he won I was shocked, but I couldn't think of anyone else who was deserving.

[CubsHOF]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

There are only 4 things you need to look at to pick an MVP OPS+, WPA, SB, and +/- fielding rating. Fielding is always the wild card and you should give a preference to the more difficult position. There can be an argument that number of games played and clutch rating should also be included, but they need to be weighted properly.

Pedroia OPS+ 122, SB 20, Fielding (+/ -) +15, WPA 3.21
Kinsler OPS+ 134, SB 26, Fielding (+/-) - 15, WPA 1.21

Kinsler was the second worst fielding 2nd basemen and Pedroia wa the 4th best. Kinsler's OPS+ was superior, but his WPA was nowhere near close enough to be an MVP candidate and those two factors made Pedroia the superior 2nd basemen in 2008.

Milton Bradley was by far the best hitter in the AL last year, but DHs are going to be hurt as they do not play the field. You could make a case for Pedroia, Arod, Quentin, and Youkilis in 2008 if you are looking at the right stats.

[Imnus]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

There are only 4 things you need to look at to pick an MVP OPS+, WPA, SB, and +/- fielding rating. Fielding is always the wild card and you should give a preference to the more difficult position. There can be an argument that number of games played and clutch rating should also be included, but they need to be weighted properly.

Pedroia OPS+ 122, SB 20, Fielding (+/ -) +15, WPA 3.21
Kinsler OPS+ 134, SB 26, Fielding (+/-) - 15, WPA 1.21

Kinsler was the second worst fielding 2nd basemen and Pedroia wa the 4th best. Kinsler's OPS+ was superior, but his WPA was nowhere near close enough to be an MVP candidate and those two factors made Pedroia the superior 2nd basemen in 2008.

Milton Bradley was by far the best hitter in the AL last year, but DHs are going to be hurt as they do not play the field. You could make a case for Pedroia, Arod, Quentin, and Youkilis in 2008 if you are looking at the right stats.

I would add that the team standing also has quite a weight in choosing the MVP.

[JT30]

Re: Is there any way for a non-slugger to win MVP?

Kinsler
121 games played, .319 avg, .375 obp, .517 slg, .892 ops, 18 hr, 71 rbi, 26 SB, 102 runs, 41 doubles, 4 triples

Pedroia
157 games played, .326 avg, .376 obp, .493 slg, .869 ops, 17 hr, 83 rbi, 20 SB, 118 runs, 54 doubles, 2 triples

Over an extra 36 games, Kinsler probably scores more runs, more doubles too

Just funny you said across the board Kinsler was the better second baseman. And in your comparison above, since when is 71 rbis more than 83? lol