MLB 2011 Season

[SandraC]

The current MLB MVP leader is not a member of the NY Yankees or Boston Redsox.

His name is Justin Verlander.

His club is 18-0 when he pitches and they score 3 or more runs. Without him, the Tigers don't make the playoffs. Say that about any other person on any other team.


HD MM

I would vote for Verlander...though I always think pitching is more important than hitting, and pitchers rarely win.


Sandra

 

[mdonnelly]

I agree. I am definitely biased as a Tiger's fan but I don't think there is another player in the league that is more valuable to their team. No pitcher has won the AL MVP since Clemens and Verlander has better numbers than he did.

It's just counter-intuitive to say that a guy who plays every 4th or 5th day is the most valuable player.

 

[BillD1984]

The Reds and Marlins are going to play a doubleheader today due to the hurricane coming in. The Reds will end up with 2 days off this week.

Irene is now forecasted to hit SE Mass on Sunday, so I would anticipate MLB doing the same thing for the A's-Red Sox series at Fenway this weekend (play a day-night DH on Saturday).

 

[Jimbo]

I doubt that Verlander wins the MVP, he should get votes, but no where close enough to win it.

You got to many other Offensive guys having years worth it.

A. Gonzalas, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Bautista and even Granderson have been mentioned.

 

[king3pj]

It's just counter-intuitive to say that a guy who plays every 4th or 5th day is the most valuable player.

I would normally agree with that but he basically wins every game he pitches almost by himself.

 

[HD MM]

It's just counter-intuitive to say that a guy who plays every 4th or 5th day is the most valuable player.

Did you read the stats I provided? When he's on the mound, he impacts the outcome of the game so very often. How many times does a hitter routinely effect the outcome of the game every 4th or 5th game?

 

[HD MM]

Home again?

After Jim Thome cleared waivers, the Indians placed their claim. If no team with a worse record made a claim the Indians would have 48 hours to make a deal with the Twins to acquire Thome. Some believe the Chicago White Sox, whom Thomas played for from 2006-2009, also placed a claim but that has been cast in doubt. The Sox already have Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn, both players whom have been relugated to DH duty.

Thome played with the Indians from 1991 through 2002. He hit 334 homers. It would be a perfect career arc for him to end up back here where it all began.

http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2011/8/25/2383529/home-again-indians-place-waiver-claim-on-jim-thome

 

[SandraC]

Did you read the stats I provided? When he's on the mound, he impacts the outcome of the game so very often. How many times does a hitter routinely effect the outcome of the game every 4th or 5th game?

I agree with HD. Verlander faces an average of probably 30 batters once every five games. A hitter gets up 4-5 times a game. Verlander impacts more plate appearances in the grand scheme of things than a batter does. Do the math.


Sandra

 

[AntAltMike]

How often does what a hitter does in any of those 162 games make the difference between winning and losing? A .300 hitter gets about one more hit than does a .270 hitter every week and a half, and if in given stretch of at bats, a .270 hitter would have only had nine hits whereas a .300 hitter would have had ten, what are the odds that the ten hits by one guy actually more favorable affected the outcomes of those games than did the nine hits by the other batter? A pitcher who goes seven innings and gives up 2 or fewer runs virtually guarantees his team a victory.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

Irene is now forecasted to hit SE Mass on Sunday, so I would anticipate MLB doing the same thing for the A's-Red Sox series at Fenway this weekend (play a day-night DH on Saturday).

Saturday's forecast doesn't look too great either....

 

[cosmo_kramer]

How often does what a hitter does in any of those 162 games make the difference between winning and losing? A .300 hitter gets about one more hit than does a .270 hitter every week and a half, and if in given stretch of at bats, a .270 hitter would have only had nine hits whereas a .300 hitter would have had ten, what are the odds that the ten hits by one guy actually more favorable affected the outcomes of those games than did the nine hits by the other batter? A pitcher who goes seven innings and gives up 2 or fewer runs virtually guarantees his team a victory.

Depends on the hitter I guess. Curtis Granderson accounts for about 31% of the Yankees runs between RBIs and runs scored. 26% of the Red Sox runs for Adrian Gonzalez. Add the excellent defense they play to help prevent runs and I would say these are primary reasons why everyday position players hold a voting edge towards winning the MVP than starting pitchers.

 

[SandraC]

Depends on the hitter I guess. Curtis Granderson accounts for about 31% of the Yankees runs between RBIs and runs scored. 26% of the Red Sox runs for Adrian Gonzalez. Add the excellent defense they play to help prevent runs and I would say these are primary reasons why everyday position players hold a voting edge towards winning the MVP than starting pitchers.

Good points cosmo...and part of the reason is just that some writers feel that pitchers have their own award and the MVP should be for a position player, except in extreme circumstances.


Sandra

 

[HD MM]

Depends on the hitter I guess. Curtis Granderson accounts for about 31% of the Yankees runs between RBIs and runs scored. 26% of the Red Sox runs for Adrian Gonzalez. Add the excellent defense they play to help prevent runs and I would say these are primary reasons why everyday position players hold a voting edge towards winning the MVP than starting pitchers.

Ok. But how do you directly equate Granderson's contribution of RBI's and runs scored to actual wins? Are you telling me that if you take Granderson out of the lineup, the Yankees will lose 31% more games? Doubtful.

Conversely, Verlander has 19 wins this season with a staggering 2.28 ERA. The Tigers have 70 wins so far in the season. Meaning, Verlander is directly responsible for over 27% of Tiger wins.

In determining Most Valuable Player, the emphasis should be on "Value" to the team. Value as in directly contributing to a win. Not hits or runs scored 31% of the time, but actual real WINS. By the numbers, Verlander contributes more value to his club than just about anyone else out there. Even though he only plays every 4-5 games.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

Ok. But how do you directly equate Granderson's contribution of RBI's and runs scored to actual wins? Are you telling me that if you take Granderson out of the lineup, the Yankees will lose 31% more games? Doubtful.

Conversely, Verlander has 19 wins this season with a staggering 2.28 ERA. The Tigers have 70 wins so far in the season. Meaning, Verlander is directly responsible for over 27% of Tiger wins.

In determining Most Valuable Player, the emphasis should be on "Value" to the team. Value as in directly contributing to a win. Not hits or runs scored 31% of the time, but actual real WINS. By the numbers, Verlander contributes more value to his club than just about anyone else out there. Even though he only plays every 4-5 games.

This is not meant as a shot at directly at Verlander because he has obviously had an outstanding season, but for all starting pitchers, doesn't counting 'actual wins' mean you should also consider actual losses, as well as indirect ones??

Verlander has 5 losses, and in his 4 no-decisions this year his team has lost three of those games. That gives the Tigers a 20-8 record in games he starts, or a +12 in wins.

Also, since you can only directly equate wins with a pitcher, you might as well give the MVP to a pitcher from now on if you're going to rely primarily on that criteria...

 

[HD MM]

Indians Awarded Claim on Thome. Deal pending....

According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Cleveland Indians have been awarded the right to trade for veteran bat Jim Thome, winning the bidding war that started earlier this week when the designated hitter was placed on waivers.

The Indians reportedly have until 1pm on Friday to make a trade with the Minnesota Twins. Thome has a no-trade clause and has allegedly expressed a desire to go to Philadelphia where he would likely spot fill as a pinch hitter for the Phillies.

If a trade is not agreed to, the Twins can pull Thome off of waivers and decide whether or not they would merely release him and put him on the open market without receiving any compensation in return. Given the Indians’ recent swoon and the fact that Thome has signaled a desire to play for a contender, it would not surprise this author if something “didn’t work out.”

With regard to Thome’s teammate Jason Kubel, a bid by the Chicago White Sox reportedly blocked the right-handed bat from falling to the Tribe. Given that Kubel is set to be a Type-A free agent, it is highly unlikely that a deal gets consummated.

Stay tuned.

Breaking MLB News: Indians Awarded Claim of Jim Thome

 

[Jimbo]

Ok. But how do you directly equate Granderson's contribution of RBI's and runs scored to actual wins? Are you telling me that if you take Granderson out of the lineup, the Yankees will lose 31% more games? Doubtful.

Conversely, Verlander has 19 wins this season with a staggering 2.28 ERA. The Tigers have 70 wins so far in the season. Meaning, Verlander is directly responsible for over 27% of Tiger wins.

In determining Most Valuable Player, the emphasis should be on "Value" to the team. Value as in directly contributing to a win. Not hits or runs scored 31% of the time, but actual real WINS. By the numbers, Verlander contributes more value to his club than just about anyone else out there. Even though he only plays every 4-5 games.

Last I heard, Verlanders WHIP was 1.85, thats amazing.

 

[Jimbo]

This is not meant as a shot at directly at Verlander because he has obviously had an outstanding season, but for all starting pitchers, doesn't counting 'actual wins' mean you should also consider actual losses, as well as indirect ones??

Verlander has 5 losses, and in his 4 no-decisions this year his team has lost three of those games. That gives the Tigers a 20-8 record in games he starts, or a +12 in wins.

Also, since you can only directly equate wins with a pitcher, you might as well give the MVP to a pitcher from now on if you're going to rely primarily on that criteria...

1 of J.V's losses was 1-0, can't do much about that.

 

[BillD1984]

The Yankees hit an MLB record 3- YES, THREE!! - grand slams in the same game, and defeated the A's 22-9.

 

[AntAltMike]

I'm surprised that no team has ever hit three in a game, considering that a few players have hit two in a game themselves.

 

[mdonnelly]

Did you read the stats I provided? When he's on the mound, he impacts the outcome of the game so very often. How many times does a hitter routinely effect the outcome of the game every 4th or 5th game?

I'm just saying that no matter how deserving, the pitcher just doesn't get the votes. Look at Steve Carlton. In 1972 with the last place Phils, he was 27-10 with and ERA under 2.0, and a WHIP under 1. He was personally responsible for almost half their wins. As I remember, he had the game winning RBI in more than one game. He came in 5th in the MVP voting.