Comments on: Note: Wright Not a Darkhorse http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/ MetsBlog.com features the latest Mets rumors, player movement, and news circulating around the Internet, as well as Mets related insights and opinions by Matthew Cerrone and his team of guest bloggers. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:41:19 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: drtmuir http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2394 drtmuir Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:35:59 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2394 As an extension of the discussion of the apparent general anti-Mets bias in the national baseball media-- I watched the Phillies-Marlins game on Fox last Saturday, and "analyst" Joe Giraldi played press-agent for Jimmy Rollins, lobbying for him for MVP. He said that the "other contenders" had been "fading." As an extension of the discussion of the apparent general anti-Mets bias in the national baseball media– I watched the Phillies-Marlins game on Fox last Saturday, and “analyst” Joe Giraldi played press-agent for Jimmy Rollins, lobbying for him for MVP. He said that the “other contenders” had been “fading.”

]]> By: sheaboy http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2375 sheaboy Sat, 15 Sep 2007 04:25:23 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2375 Wright = MVP..............put it in the books Wright = MVP…………..put it in the books

]]> By: Koko http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2189 Koko Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:19:23 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2189 That is sort of what I meant by 'relatively'. To play it great you need great skills, but to play it good-to-average you necessarily don't. Unlike SS or 3B - to play play it good or even average - you need better skills. Either way, it could be the most difficult position on the diamond, but Fielder still plays it poorly, even if based on average 1B. That is sort of what I meant by ‘relatively’. To play it great you need great skills, but to play it good-to-average you necessarily don’t. Unlike SS or 3B – to play play it good or even average – you need better skills.

Either way, it could be the most difficult position on the diamond, but Fielder still plays it poorly, even if based on average 1B.

]]> By: MEX http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2170 MEX Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:23:28 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2170 The number of players in the mix for this year's NL MVP award is high. I think it's wrong to eliminate a player from consideration just because his club did not make the playoffs, though I think it is reasonable to restrict consideration to players on contenders. Of course there are more contenders now because of the Wild Card, but there are also more contenders due to parity (this may be the first season in which MLB has no team with a wining percentage > .600 or a losing percentage < .400). So, in order to choose an MVP, look only at contenders (ignore pitchers): division leaders (Mets, Cubs, D'Backs) and teams within 4 games (just to eliminate the Braves) of the wild card leaders (Padres, Phillies, Dodgers, Rockies, and Brewers). Team MVP Candidate Mets Wright/Beltran? Cubs Ramirez D'Backs None Padres None Phillies Rollins/Utley Dodgers None Rockies Holiday Brewers Fielder (Yes, Hardy and Braun have been important, but hitting in front of Fielder is a major reason for their success.) Do you include Beltran or not? If you knock Fielder or Rollins and Utley because of the other excellent players on their team, you have to put the knock on Wright (Beltran has produced the same hrs, extra base hits, rbi in fewer games). I'll exclude Beltran and just consider Wright. I'm also going to exclude Utley and focus on Rollins because of the possibly historic year. And I'm going to ignore the Coors Field effect with Holliday unless its head to head vs. Wright. Player BA OBP OPS HR RBI Runs Wright .315 .412 .954 28 96 98 Ramirez .315 . 369 .923 23 89 61 Rollins .296 .347 .877 27 82 126 Holliday .333 .396 .983 30 119 103 Fielder .289 .386 .999 44 106 96 At first glance I would eliminate Ramirez from consideration. That still leaves 4 worthy candidates. If you look at Holliday's splits home/away he would still be on pace to drive in 100 and score a 100, so he stays in. I think Wright gets the edge because of the Mets success, but if the Phillies or Rockies or Brewers make it into the playoffs, I can't argue with any of them winning. My guess is Wright will be the MVP as long as he doesn't slump down the stretch and the others don't make the play-offs, if both of those happen, I think it will be Holliday. The number of players in the mix for this year’s NL MVP award is high. I think it’s wrong to eliminate a player from consideration just because his club did not make the playoffs, though I think it is reasonable to restrict consideration to players on contenders. Of course there are more contenders now because of the Wild Card, but there are also more contenders due to parity (this may be the first season in which MLB has no team with a wining percentage > .600 or a losing percentage < .400). So, in order to choose an MVP, look only at contenders (ignore pitchers): division leaders (Mets, Cubs, D’Backs) and teams within 4 games (just to eliminate the Braves) of the wild card leaders (Padres, Phillies, Dodgers, Rockies, and Brewers).

Team MVP Candidate
Mets Wright/Beltran?
Cubs Ramirez
D’Backs None
Padres None
Phillies Rollins/Utley
Dodgers None
Rockies Holiday
Brewers Fielder (Yes, Hardy and Braun have been important, but hitting in front of Fielder is a major reason for their success.)

Do you include Beltran or not? If you knock Fielder or Rollins and Utley because of the other excellent players on their team, you have to put the knock on Wright (Beltran has produced the same hrs, extra base hits, rbi in fewer games). I’ll exclude Beltran and just consider Wright. I’m also going to exclude Utley and focus on Rollins because of the possibly historic year. And I’m going to ignore the Coors Field effect with Holliday unless its head to head vs. Wright.

Player BA OBP OPS HR RBI Runs
Wright .315 .412 .954 28 96 98
Ramirez .315 . 369 .923 23 89 61
Rollins .296 .347 .877 27 82 126
Holliday .333 .396 .983 30 119 103
Fielder .289 .386 .999 44 106 96

At first glance I would eliminate Ramirez from consideration. That still leaves 4 worthy candidates. If you look at Holliday’s splits home/away he would still be on pace to drive in 100 and score a 100, so he stays in. I think Wright gets the edge because of the Mets success, but if the Phillies or Rockies or Brewers make it into the playoffs, I can’t argue with any of them winning. My guess is Wright will be the MVP as long as he doesn’t slump down the stretch and the others don’t make the play-offs, if both of those happen, I think it will be Holliday.

]]> By: Stems http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2167 Stems Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:17:23 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2167 how is Rollins even in the conversation? if he is then Reyes should be right up there with him, if not miles above. Rollins hit 17 of his homers at his small stadium and others drive him in, hence his 126 runs. hes only helped that number 32 times by stealing a base whereas Reyes has scored 108 runs but helped with 76 stolen bases. hes manufacturing runs and wreckin havok on the basepaths as well as giving hitters fastballs to hit... i'll never understand how some people think hes better than reyes or even hanley. how is Rollins even in the conversation? if he is then Reyes should be right up there with him, if not miles above.

Rollins hit 17 of his homers at his small stadium and others drive him in, hence his 126 runs. hes only helped that number 32 times by stealing a base whereas Reyes has scored 108 runs but helped with 76 stolen bases. hes manufacturing runs and wreckin havok on the basepaths as well as giving hitters fastballs to hit…

i’ll never understand how some people think hes better than reyes or even hanley.

]]> By: ScottN http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2152 ScottN Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:34:33 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2152 1st is not a "relatively easy position to play" -- it just happens to be the one position where someone with no mobility can be least exposed. As Mex has said, it might be one of the easiest positions to play passibly, it is one of the most difficult to play well. Maybe that's what you meant, but as a former 1st sacker, I hate the "1st is an easy position" thing, it belittles the skill that it takes to really play it well, and the impact it has on an entire infield if you do. Mex and Johnny O. should be example enough of that. 1st is not a “relatively easy position to play” — it just happens to be the one position where someone with no mobility can be least exposed.

As Mex has said, it might be one of the easiest positions to play passibly, it is one of the most difficult to play well.

Maybe that’s what you meant, but as a former 1st sacker, I hate the “1st is an easy position” thing, it belittles the skill that it takes to really play it well, and the impact it has on an entire infield if you do. Mex and Johnny O. should be example enough of that.

]]> By: Ken Dynamo http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2146 Ken Dynamo Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:23:08 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2146 i think we're the only ones reading this guys column. if hes trying to write a legitamite piece about who will win the NL MVP and cant take the 5 seconds to look up winshares and (even if he doesnt include winshares in his piece) know that wright is in the MVP mix is an absolute joke. i think we’re the only ones reading this guys column. if hes trying to write a legitamite piece about who will win the NL MVP and cant take the 5 seconds to look up winshares and (even if he doesnt include winshares in his piece) know that wright is in the MVP mix is an absolute joke.

]]> By: dave27 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2137 dave27 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:12:31 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2137 Holliday is a beast....but he needs to get in line behond Wright. There is a pecking order in baseball. This year he is the clear MVP on the best team in the league, a year after being one of 3. Holliday is an up-and-coming star on an up-and-coming team who will have his day, but not at the expense of Mr. Wright. Get Pujols out of this discussion. What'd he carry his team to? Nice surge, but they will finish 10 games under anyway. As for Fielder, wasn't enough to prevent a 3-month swoon, and it seems like that team was carried by JJ Hardy early and Ryan Braun late as Fielder's co-pilots. I'd make Rollins #3 - he really has backed up his talk - its not his fault their pitching kills them. Holliday is a beast….but he needs to get in line behond Wright. There is a pecking order in baseball. This year he is the clear MVP on the best team in the league, a year after being one of 3. Holliday is an up-and-coming star on an up-and-coming team who will have his day, but not at the expense of Mr. Wright.

Get Pujols out of this discussion. What’d he carry his team to? Nice surge, but they will finish 10 games under anyway.

As for Fielder, wasn’t enough to prevent a 3-month swoon, and it seems like that team was carried by JJ Hardy early and Ryan Braun late as Fielder’s co-pilots.

I’d make Rollins #3 – he really has backed up his talk – its not his fault their pitching kills them.

]]> By: jamie http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2132 jamie Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:06:10 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2132 Holliday's teh one guy I don't mind Wright losing to. Holliday’s teh one guy I don’t mind Wright losing to.

]]> By: jamie http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2131 jamie Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:02:49 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/09/14/note-wright-not-a-darkhorse/#comment-2131 I wish you would! The majority of sports writers are such tools, blinded and bound by "tradition" and homer-eroticism. I wish you would! The majority of sports writers are such tools, blinded and bound by “tradition” and homer-eroticism.

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