2012 MVP Race

[kan_t]

I think it's time to start one.

AL

Robinson Cano
151 OPS+, 152 wRC+, 4.3 fWAR, 4.2 bWAR

Josh Hamilton
161 OPS+, 162 wRC+, 2.8 fWAR, 3.2 bWAR

Mike Trout
168 OPS+, 172 wRC+, 4.8 fWAR, 4.6 bWAR

Honorable Mention

Austin Jackson
Mark Trumbo
Jose Bautista

NL

Joey Votto
186 OPS+, 186 wRC+, 5.0 fWAR, 4.5 bWAR

Andrew McCutchen
185 OPS+, 180 wRC+, 4.5 fWAR, 4.4 bWAR

David Wright
177 OPS+, 169 wRC+, 4.9 fWAR, 4.7 bWAR

Honorable Mention

Ryan Braun
Melky Cabrera
Matt Holliday

[jcarey]

I think it's time to start one.

AL

Robinson Cano
151 OPS+, 152 wRC+, 4.3 fWAR, 4.2 bWAR

Josh Hamilton
161 OPS+, 162 wRC+, 2.8 fWAR, 3.2 bWAR

Mike Trout
168 OPS+, 172 wRC+, 4.8 fWAR, 4.6 bWAR

Honorable Mention

Austin Jackson
Mark Trumbo
Jose Bautista

NL

Joey Votto
186 OPS+, 186 wRC+, 5.0 fWAR, 4.5 bWAR

Andrew McCutchen
185 OPS+, 180 wRC+, 4.5 fWAR, 4.4 bWAR

David Wright
177 OPS+, 169 wRC+, 4.9 fWAR, 4.7 bWAR

Honorable Mention

Ryan Braun
Melky Cabrera
Matt Holliday

Trout and McCutchen right now because of the positions they play.

I imagine Trout will fall out of contention (Cano wins), and Votto will probably edge out McCutchen.

Cano
Bautista
Hamilton

Votto
McCutchen
Braun

[kan_t]

If Pirates are still NL Central title contender in September, McCutchen will be a lock to win it IMO.

[teknetic]

McCutchen is gonna ride the hype train to the MVP if the Pirates make the playoffs. Not that it'd be undeserving or anything.

[snapple]

If Pirates are still NL Central title contender in September, McCutchen will be a lock to win it IMO.

Which would be understandable....


....if Votto starts to slip. Votto has been INSANE this season.

[kan_t]

Which would be understandable....


....if Votto starts to slip. Votto has been INSANE this season.

A Gold Glove CF who has a 185 OPS+ is just as insane.

Votto, a 1B, has a 186 OPS+.

[pleasepassthesoup]

Which would be understandable....


....if Votto starts to slip. Votto has been INSANE this season.

I don't think Votto needs to slip. Their offensiveseasons are very even as is, but McCutcen is a centerfielder and Votto is a firstbaseman.

Votto: .348 / .471 / .617 (1.087), 186 OPS+, 35 2B, 0 3B, 14 HR, 48 RBI, 5 SB, 3 CS
McCutchen: .362 / .414 / .625 (1.039), 185 OPS+, 17 2B, 5 3B, 18 HR, 50 RBI, 14 SB, 4 CS

[snapple]

I'm not saying Cutch is playing that bad and Votto needs to slip a lot. I think Votto is having the better season.

But, really, Cutch is the Pirates offense. I retract my initial post.

[JL25and3]

I think it's early to be discussing this, because half a season's stats can change pretty drastically. I do also think that Votto's much more likely to be able to sustain something like this level of performance than McCutcheon is.

[jcarey]

I think it's early to be discussing this, because half a season's stats can change pretty drastically. I do also think that Votto's much more likely to be able to sustain something like this level of performance than McCutcheon is.

Agree with this. Both the .407 BABIP and the .625 SLG% are bound to fall quite a bit for McCutchen.

Votto's BABIP and SLG% are nearly identical, but he has a better eye and more natural power. The likely regression won't hit him as hard.

And no way Trout keeps this up. Stupid Angels.

[grizy]

I am rooting for

[JL25and3]

I am rooting for

Randy Bass? Steve Gefilte?

[Yankee Tripper]

Tim Salmon

[jcarey]

Mike Carp? Catfish Hunter?

No, this appears to be some sort of angelfish.

[awy]

holy ................ trout is really good

[BronxYanks45]

As much as I want Cano, I think Hamilton has it wrapped up in the AL

[snapple]

As much as I want Cano, I think Hamilton has it wrapped up in the AL

there is literally no one like Cano at his position, though.

[THEBOSS84]

Trout's going to get it. His story and production is too good.

[Yankee Tripper]

Trout's going to get it. His story and production is too good.

If he keeps it up, no doubt.

But MVPs are rarely won at the ASB, they are often won or lost in September.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

As much as I want Cano, I think Hamilton has it wrapped up in the AL

Trout's going to get it. His story and production is too good.

there is literally no one like Cano at his position, though.

A lot of these things get decided in the second half. If the Yankees cruise to the division title, or the Angels surge ahead of the Rangers, or some other major change occurs, it's going to affect the voting.

Edit: Agree with YT. You can put yourself in position in the first half, but you can't really win it.

[THEBOSS84]

What I meant is, if the season ended today, Trout's a lock.

[Yankee Tripper]

What I meant is, if the season ended today, Trout's a lock.

Probably, but would be a pretty close vote with Hamilton.

[Shadoux101]

Cano has litterally no chance unless he destroys the competition. Even then, it will be a very close vote because he is on the Yankees.

I would bet that Cano will deserve to be in contention with almost similar numbers to whomever wins but he won't get even close to the amount of votes anyone else would.

My guess is Hamilton wins, he plays in a hitters dream, team is great, should make the playoffs, should be popular in the news (but he won't get the his team is good /spends money so lets discount his numbers), the media loves him and his story.

[jcarey]

Cano has litterally no chance unless he destroys the competition. Even then, it will be a very close vote because he is on the Yankees.

I would bet that Cano will deserve to be in contention with almost similar numbers to whomever wins but he won't get even close to the amount of votes anyone else would.

My guess is Hamilton wins, he plays in a hitters dream, team is great, should make the playoffs, should be popular in the news (but he won't get the his team is good /spends money so lets discount his numbers), the media loves him and his story.

I think your point is that Arlington will help him avoid extended slumps and keep him in contention even when he's not seeing the ball well, but Pedroia's MVP campaign has jaded me and I was curious...so I looked up his splits:

Home: .940 OPS
Away: 1.042 OPS

I wonder what the highest OPS for away games over the course of a season is. That's incredible.

[JL25and3]

I think your point is that Arlington will help him avoid extended slumps and keep him in contention even when he's not seeing the ball well, but Pedroia's MVP campaign has jaded me and I was curious...so I looked up his splits:

Home: .940 OPS
Away: 1.042 OPS

I wonder what the highest OPS for away games over the course of a season is. That's incredible.

I don't know if this is the record or not, but in 2002, Barry Bonds had a road OPS of 1.438.