OK, I want to introduce a new award — and I kind of have to admit that, immodestly, I think it’s a pretty inspired idea (so much so that I’m making this a free post).
Carlos Delgado deserved the Most Valuable Player Award in 2003 hands down. Eventual MVP winner Alex Rodriguez (who provided little added value to his last place Ranger team) could have won the Most Outstanding Player Award instead.
ARoid's 8.4 imaginary WAR "wins" still left the Rangers 20 games below .500 and 6 games out of third place in the four-team AL West. It's a sad day when that can be considered the "most valuable" performance of the year. As Pirates GM Branch Rickey once told Ralph Kiner "we finished in last place with you, I'm sure we can finish in last place without you."
Delgado batted .302-42-145 to ARod's .298-47-118. Looking at those tradtional stats, who had the better season? Delago by far. Even the advanced stats: Delgado led ARod in OBP .426 to .396, OPS 1.019 to .995, and OPS+ 161 to 147.
Delgado's Blue Jays were expected to do nothing and ended up ten games over .500 in the tough AL East; ARod's Rangers were supposed to win the division and predicted by many to go to the World series and instead finished twenty games below .500.
Where's the value?
Delgado had the better season and certainly was far more valuable.
Not one of your best ideas, Joe. I think it runs the risk of diminishing Stargell's undeniably Hall of Fame career, reduce his legacy to some rah-rah "spiritual force," like a well-intentioned but cringey Hollywood "black saint" character. I think we need to be open to and comfortable with being human and not always making the most logical MVP votes. It's built into the whole nature of the vague term "most valuable."
I'd much prefer that the MVP award go back to being what it was intended to be, which is much closer to the proposed Willie Stargell award than the stats-based thing it has become.
Bellinger is a good call -- he's been in the middle of so many Cub rallies, and his numbers are closer to his MVP season than to the terrible last few years.
So, who's your John Castino Award nominee? (Or maybe I should say Alfredo Griffin--the Blue Jay who shared the 1979 ROY Award in the American League with the Twin.)
Jpe: Second your idea. Second the readers' idea for one award for each league. AL name = TBD. (Although, much to your chagrin, I'll second Derek Jeter's nomination. How many players have two iconic defensive plays (Flip and Bloody Catch) AND an iconic post season homer beside Mr. November.)
Hey Joe, I bought two tickets to the St Louis show, which comes with 2 books. Is there any way to get access to the bonus content without pre-ordering additional books?
I loved Stargell as a kid. My buddies were all in on Clemente but not me. The man had a charisma that can’t be described. He touched so many in Pittsburgh.
Love this idea!! It's a great thing to celebrate... feeling, inspiration, leadership and performance and reward that
For story -- and clutch hits -- Davis Schneider of the Blue Jays is worth a look.
Maybe the MVP winner shouldn’t be eligible? Otherwise there will be a lot of doubling up on the Stargell Award.
I like it, and the winners (so far) this year are Rutschman and Bellinger.
Carlos Delgado deserved the Most Valuable Player Award in 2003 hands down. Eventual MVP winner Alex Rodriguez (who provided little added value to his last place Ranger team) could have won the Most Outstanding Player Award instead.
ARoid's 8.4 imaginary WAR "wins" still left the Rangers 20 games below .500 and 6 games out of third place in the four-team AL West. It's a sad day when that can be considered the "most valuable" performance of the year. As Pirates GM Branch Rickey once told Ralph Kiner "we finished in last place with you, I'm sure we can finish in last place without you."
Delgado batted .302-42-145 to ARod's .298-47-118. Looking at those tradtional stats, who had the better season? Delago by far. Even the advanced stats: Delgado led ARod in OBP .426 to .396, OPS 1.019 to .995, and OPS+ 161 to 147.
Delgado's Blue Jays were expected to do nothing and ended up ten games over .500 in the tough AL East; ARod's Rangers were supposed to win the division and predicted by many to go to the World series and instead finished twenty games below .500.
Where's the value?
Delgado had the better season and certainly was far more valuable.
Sure. Call it what you may... I'm all in favor of a Most Valuable Player Award and a separate Most Outstanding Player Award.
I love the idea!
I’ve always wanted an MVP that was more like best story. It could even go to a trade deadline pick up if it felt right.
You could argue Corey Seager is important for the Rangers despite not playing.
Corbin Carroll definitely fits.
But Ely De La Cruz is the guy. He changed the Reds this year.
Not one of your best ideas, Joe. I think it runs the risk of diminishing Stargell's undeniably Hall of Fame career, reduce his legacy to some rah-rah "spiritual force," like a well-intentioned but cringey Hollywood "black saint" character. I think we need to be open to and comfortable with being human and not always making the most logical MVP votes. It's built into the whole nature of the vague term "most valuable."
I'd much prefer that the MVP award go back to being what it was intended to be, which is much closer to the proposed Willie Stargell award than the stats-based thing it has become.
Bellinger is a good call -- he's been in the middle of so many Cub rallies, and his numbers are closer to his MVP season than to the terrible last few years.
So, who's your John Castino Award nominee? (Or maybe I should say Alfredo Griffin--the Blue Jay who shared the 1979 ROY Award in the American League with the Twin.)
I like the idea. Kind of fun.
Jpe: Second your idea. Second the readers' idea for one award for each league. AL name = TBD. (Although, much to your chagrin, I'll second Derek Jeter's nomination. How many players have two iconic defensive plays (Flip and Bloody Catch) AND an iconic post season homer beside Mr. November.)
Hey Joe, I bought two tickets to the St Louis show, which comes with 2 books. Is there any way to get access to the bonus content without pre-ordering additional books?
I loved Stargell as a kid. My buddies were all in on Clemente but not me. The man had a charisma that can’t be described. He touched so many in Pittsburgh.
I like the idea of an MVP where the V functionally stands for vibes