Is the AL MVP race pretty much over?

[Carpin]

If it's a choice between the two, it's a question with no wrong answer...

 

Exactly, either of them would be an excellent choice, in my opinion Trout is the man, but have no problem with anybody picking Betts over him.

 

If somebody picks somebody else in the AL, it's pure bias against them, even with the seasons they are having no way they are on this level, at least not this year.

[vegasbob]

Or Trout...

 

Just get him out of Anaheim so he can play in an important game once in a while. Then his talents can be better evaluated in a team concept.

[sk7326]

Just get him out of Anaheim so he can play in an important game once in a while. Then his talents can be better evaluated in a team concept.

 

He's not playing by himself out there.

[Carpin]

He's not playing by himself out there.

 

well, he's almost the only player worth to watch in that lineup

 

Maybe after they let Scioscia go this offseason would be a different approach with the team, he's a huge waste of talent there

[Kimmi]

Which WAR should we use? baseball reference or fangraphs? we all know they both have different calculations as of today Betts is leading in both sites:

 

Baseball Reference

Betts 10.8

Trout 10.1

 

Fangraphs

Betts 10.1

Trout 9.7

 

If Trout has some very good games over the weekend he might pass Betts in fangraphs (BR is a big diference to overcome in 3-4 games)

 

I'm curious, would you still be in favor of using WAR to decide the MVP?

 

I am a fan of WAR, but I have never said that WAR was the be all end all. I have always preferred Fangraphs WAR, but I would look at both, along with several other stats.

 

A very valid argument can be made for Trout winning the MVP. A valid argument can also be made for JD, IMO.

[devildavid]

Mookie is The Man this year.

[redsoxrules]

Well the AL finalist are from the top 3 WAR.

 

I've said all along it would be between Trout and Betts

[Station 13]

JDM didn't make the final 3. Ramirez play in a trash division and was sucking up in the 2nd half (.218/.366/.427). JD wasn't winning with Betts and Trout being the finalists anyway, but I wouldn't place Ramirez in the top 3.

[BillyWilliams]

JDM didn't make the final 3. Ramirez play in a trash division and was sucking up in the 2nd half (.218/.366/.427). JD wasn't winning with Betts and Trout being the finalists anyway, but I wouldn't place Ramirez in the top 3.

 

While I think betts had the better season, I think jd was more impactful and therefore would have been my pick for the MVP.

[OH FOY]

Productive Outs, Hustle, and Smart Baseball, win games. If those are not factored into WAR, then that stat, is flawed. Good for quick reference. For those that like Stats.

Quick example: Machado, probably great WAR, one play in Series against Brewers, hit a grounder, didn't hustles to try t beat out Double Play.

 

Benni: Against Dodgers, 2 Outs, hits grounder to 3rd Baseman, bust his ass, down the line to beat out the throw to 1st. Next batter, Pearce, clears the bases with a Double. Was that factored into WAR for Benni?

My advice watch the games more. You'll see plays, that wins games.

Edited November 6, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Bellhorn04]

While I think betts had the better season, I think jd was more impactful and therefore would have been my pick for the MVP.

 

It's next to impossible for a DH type to win the MVP, now more than ever.

 

I'd say JDM was clearly the most valuable offensive player this year.

[BillyWilliams]

It's next to impossible for a DH type to win the MVP, now more than ever.

 

I'd say JDM was clearly the most valuable offensive player this year.

 

I understand that, but it doesn't mean he wasn't more impactful for the eventual WS champs than betts.

[Bellhorn04]

I understand that, but it doesn't mean he wasn't more impactful for the eventual WS champs than betts.

 

You could be right, but 'impactful' is a pretty tough thing to measure.

[iortiz]

I have understood that they only measure their regular season performance.

[moonslav59]

While I think betts had the better season, I think jd was more impactful and therefore would have been my pick for the MVP.

 

Certainly both were very impactful, and it always seems like RBIs matter more than runs scored or defense, but Betts did erything. He was 30-30, gold glove and even had a higher slugging percentage than JD.

 

Betts is THE MAN!

[BillyWilliams]

Certainly both were very impactful, and it always seems like RBIs matter more than runs scored or defense, but Betts did erything. He was 30-30, gold glove and even had a higher slugging percentage than JD.

 

Betts is THE MAN!

 

As I said, betts had the better season stat wise.

 

I just think jd had more impact on the club over all.

 

If the MVP is just about stats, then to heck with the voting, just give it to the WAR leader every year ......

[moonslav59]

As I said, betts had the better season stat wise.

 

I just think jd had more impact on the club over all.

 

If the MVP is just about stats, then to heck with the voting, just give it to the WAR leader every year ......

 

Maybe because he wasn't here last year, and now we win it all?

 

To me, Betts did 3 major things:

 

1) He knocked in runs when not many were on base in front of him.

2) He set the able for JD and others by getting on base. (His base running helped, too.)

3) His impact on defense more than made up for any larger impact JD had on offense.

 

Stats or no stats, to me, Betts was more impactful.

[dgalehouse]

I would be very surprised if Mookie did not win the MVP. Very surprised.

[BillyWilliams]

Maybe because he wasn't here last year, and now we win it all?

 

To me, Betts did 3 major things:

 

1) He knocked in runs when not many were on base in front of him.

2) He set the able for JD and others by getting on base. (His base running helped, too.)

3) His impact on defense more than made up for any larger impact JD had on offense.

 

Stats or no stats, to me, Betts was more impactful.

 

Well, we are all entitled to our opinion.

 

To me the sox were missing something when ortiz retired, and I kinda felt like jd brought it back, although in a quieter manner.

[jacksonianmarch]

See where a lot of people get hung up on is the term "valuable". Mookie Betts was the best player in baseball last year. Trout is a close second. But this is the Most Valuable Player award, not the best player award. Betts resurgence was insane. But JD Martinez transformed your lineup and was clearly the most valuable addition to your club since the sox got Ortiz. Now, nobody will ever vote a DH for the MVP award, but if you're going by the letter of the award, JD was the most valuable player. Heck, you went from one of the weakest offenses into the most powerful offense in baseball with only one offensive addition.

[redsoxrules]

I have to agree with Jacko and Billywilliams.

Betts would not have had this type of season if they didn't sign JD.

JD changed the whole lineup and made everyone better. The players have said that themselves.

[mvp 78]

Being "valuable" has nothing to do with being MVP. If so, Trout wouldn't sniff the MVP since his team still would have been below .500 without him. It's always been about who the best player was regardless of who his teammates were. Betts was the best player by almost any metric. He should easily win.

[Jasonbay44]

Betts was the best player in the league and should win MVP, its pretty simple.

[Kimmi]

JDM didn't make the final 3. Ramirez play in a trash division and was sucking up in the 2nd half (.218/.366/.427). JD wasn't winning with Betts and Trout being the finalists anyway, but I wouldn't place Ramirez in the top 3.

 

JD was hurt by being primarily a DH. As you said, he would not likely have won it anyway, but it would have been nice to see him get the recognition.

 

IMO, 'most valuable' does not necessarily mean the best. This award should not be judged by WAR alone, and I say that as a fan of WAR.

[Kimmi]

As I said, betts had the better season stat wise.

 

I just think jd had more impact on the club over all.

 

If the MVP is just about stats, then to heck with the voting, just give it to the WAR leader every year ......

 

I think it's fairly close in terms of which player had more of an impact, but I do agree with you that MVP should not be determined by who the WAR leader is.

[Kimmi]

I have to agree with Jacko and Billywilliams.

Betts would not have had this type of season if they didn't sign JD.

JD changed the whole lineup and made everyone better. The players have said that themselves.

 

I think you give too much credit to JD. Not trying to take anything away from him, but IMO, Betts deserves more credit on his own. IMO, he was headed for this type of season with or without JD.

[notin]

I think it's fairly close in terms of which player had more of an impact, but I do agree with you that MVP should not be determined by who the WAR leader is.

 

But the top 3 or 4 WAR leaders will usually make a pretty easily defensible list of candidates...

[Dojji]

I think you give too much credit to JD. Not trying to take anything away from him, but IMO, Betts deserves more credit on his own. IMO, he was headed for this type of season with or without JD.

 

I agree with this. JD made the team better. But Betts was a special player all along and we knew he was capable of this kind of step forward for the last couple seasons. Great to see him realize his potential and he and JD probably did help each other a little bit, but neither one was THE reason for the other one's success.

[cp176]

i'm a huge JD fan and think I realize the impact that he had on the entire team this year. Without him, I don't think that we get where we got. With all of that said, Mookie is the MVP this year. Take him off the roster, and I think that it makes a whole different ballgame. He brings too much to the table on both sides including his baserunning. ability.

[Bellhorn04]

JD will be a Silver Slugger.