Youkilis...or Pedroia...??

[HeadOfSoxNation]

MVP considerations assuming a Sox postseason birth? Discuss.

[ORS]

Insanity. Carlos Quentin (if his team makes the postseason).

 

Now, for Sox MVP, I say Pedroia. He is quickly becomming the heart and soul of this team, and his play has been exceptional.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I'm a believer the team needs to make the playoffs to have a MVP candidate:

 

Prediction...

 

LA Angels: Vlad Guerrero

Boston: Dustin Pedroia

Chicago: Carlos Quentin

Tampa Bay: Carlos Pena

 

....3 of those players are considered cleanup sluggers and I'd have to give it to Carlos Quentin. Good luck trying to figure out between Quentin and Pedroia who deserves it. If Pedroia wins the Gold Glove and leads the AL in BA and hits then I'd have to give it to him.

[ORS]

My pick of Quentin wasn't who I thought "deserves" it, but rather who will win it. Yes, Pedroia may win the batting title, but Quentin will trump that with the HR title while still hitting for decent average, which is something the writers, who get the votes, have historically favored, as well as an edge in RBI, another big stat for them.

 

All things considered, the case for Pedroia is strong.

 

[table]Player|WARP1|VORP|WinShares

Pedroia|8.1|50.8|18

Quentin|7.6|49.5|24

Youkilis|7.6|49.5|24

Morneau|7.7|47.3|27[/table]

 

Win Shares are not position dependent, thus Pedroia does trail there as his "triple crown" stats don't compare to the others. Win Shares are competent predictor of MVP winners. I think Dustin will fall short, pun intended, but when you consider position, he should be in the discussion.

[TheKilo]

I don't think Carlos Pena is an MVP candidate.

[Cocos Disciples]

I agree on Pena. .246 averages don't get votes, especially with other worthy candidates. Hell, 6 other Rays players have higher VORPs (Longoria, Upton, Kazmir, Garza, Jackson, Shields)

[Anuj09]

Jermaine Dye is another guy on the WS that i would think would be strongly considered.

[Jasonbay44]

For Red Sox MVP, I gotta go with Pedroia, he has been amazing, for league MVP its Carlos Quentin

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I agree on Pena. .246 averages don't get votes' date=' especially with other worthy candidates. Hell, 6 other Rays players have higher VORPs (Longoria, Upton, Kazmir, Garza, Jackson, Shields)[/quote']

 

I don't believe Pena is MVP worthy either but if you had to choose someone from Tampa he is probably the default choice. How many times do you think the MVP is chosen by a players VORP? HR and RBI tend to be the most important stats unless you can put up 2001 Ichiro type numbers. Langoria is a better hitter but he is also a rookie.

 

In the end I can see Quentin vs. Pedroia and Carlos Quentin will get the MVP.

[TheKilo]

If I had to pick one player from TB I'd pick Longoria.

[Cocos Disciples]

I don't believe Pena is MVP worthy either but if you had to choose someone from Tampa he is probably the default choice. How many times do you think the MVP is chosen by a players VORP? HR and RBI tend to be the most important stats unless you can put up 2001 Ichiro type numbers. Langoria is a better hitter but he is also a rookie.

 

In the end I can see Quentin vs. Pedroia and Carlos Quentin will get the MVP.

 

I know the voters don't look at VORP, but it is called Value Over Replacement Player, and MVP is Most Valuable Player. Pretty good thing to look at if you ask me. Still, neither Pena or Longoria will get serious consideration, and they don't deserve to be in the same discussion as Quentin, Pedroia, Hamilton, etc.

[TheKilo]

Hamilton shouldn't be in the discussion either, IMO.

[BoSox21]

the bullpen is the reason Tampa is far better this year so no TB candidates for me

[Cocos Disciples]

Hamilton shouldn't be in the discussion either' date=' IMO.[/quote']

 

It's probably down to Quentin and Pedroia ATM. Hamilton gets some votes for his story.

[PATS12RULE]

I think Youkilis gets a lot of votes too, especially if he can get hot down the stretch. But it seems the consensus right now is Quentin, and I agree.

[TheKilo]

I think it's a four horse race, all Sox

 

Pedroia

Youkilis

Quentin

Dye

 

I'd probably rank their chances:

 

Quentin

Youkilis

Pedroia

Dye

[BoSox21]

Quentin will take it even though anyone who watches baseball realizes Pedroia is far more valuable to the Reds than Quentin is to the Whites

 

the fact that Pedroia was able to hit a pitch like the one he got bases loaded in the 6th will drive any pitcher absolutely nuts

[BoSox21]

Pedroia is your AL Player of the Week btw

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Quentin will take it even though anyone who watches baseball realizes Pedroia is far more valuable to the Reds than Quentin is to the Whites

 

the fact that Pedroia was able to hit a pitch like the one he got bases loaded in the 6th will drive any pitcher absolutely nuts

 

Com'on dude, Pedroia doesn't even playyyyyy for the Reds...

[TheKilo]

The thing is, I believe even when you adjust for positions, Youkilis has had a more valuable season than Pedroia.

 

Although Pedroia has had an unbelievable few weeks, something MVPs are made of.

[Cityofchampions33]

If Pedey keeps it going into october, stealing bases, staying hot, maybe throw in a few web gems, you have to believe he'll get the hype, even if undeserved. If the Sox threaten or even take the AL East from the Rays, then I don't see how Youk/Pedroia doesn't take it.

Then again that's a double edged sword, if the ChiSox, fueled by their candidates, down the stretch take the AL Central back from the Twins, same goes for them. And that will be much more easily accomplished for them.

[Youk Of The Nation]

youuk

[VA Sox Fan]

Posted by Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff September 2, 2008 03:08 PM

 

Kevin Youkilis was Boston's receipient of the Roberto Clemente award which is quite an honor for his off-the-field charitable efforts.

[BoSox21]

Com'on dude' date=' Pedroia doesn't even playyyyyy for the Reds...[/quote']

 

really? I wrote Pedroia for the Reds and Quentin for the Whites to avoid having to write Sox twice

[kreinbihl34]

really? I wrote Pedroia for the Reds and Quentin for the Whites to avoid having to write Sox twice

 

SARCASM

[BoSox21]

SARCASM

 

which always translates great when typing on a message board...

[Youk Of The Nation]

stop beig sarsastic

[BoSox21]

An MRI on Friday apparently revealed discouraging results regarding Carlos Quentin's injured forearm, putting the rest of his season in jeopardy.

 

That's from the Sun-Times. According to Baseball Prospectus, WSCR radio in Chicago is reporting that Quentin has a broken wrist and is done for the season. If that's the case, the White Sox will play both Nick Swisher and Ken Griffey Jr. regularly in the outfield the rest of the way. Paul Konerko would also benefit. The White Sox as a whole, though, would suffer greatly.

 

Rotoworld

 

This could open the door for Pedroia

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Pedroia's gotta be the frontrunner at this point, especially if he stays hot for the rest of the year. 20/20/.900/100 RBI + batting title is really realistic.

[Cocos Disciples]

Yeah, I can really see Pedroia getting it if he stays good (probably not as good as he has been, but solid). That'd be pretty incredible, going from a .190 hitting rookie in May 2007 to an MVP in 2008.