"Why?" you ask? Why would A-fraud win over Big Papi? Let's look at the stats:
- David Ortiz..........A-Fraud
RBI 148 (Lead MLB)........130 (4th MLB)
Runs Scored 119...............124
Doubles 40.......................29
Walks 102........................91
Strike Outs 124................130
OBP .397....................... .421
Slugging .604................ .610
Batting Avg .300............. .321
Fielding % .976.............. .971
DPs Turned 10.................26
RBI 8th+ 20 (Lead MLB)..7
HRs 8th+ 9 (Lead MLB)...2
KO 8th+ 11......................14
ExInning HR 2.................0
ExInning RBI 4................0
ExInning AB 4.................4
ExInning Walks 1.............0
ExInning KO 1.................2
So clearly, David Ortiz was a more powerful offensive weapon. What's the difference then? David Ortiz doesn't play the field. So, in reality, Big Papi is being penalized for doing his job. I don't think that A-Fraud should get the MVP because he doesn't pitch. Oh, it's not his job to pitch? Well, that's too bad for him! Do you see the stupidity?! I do! Here are some of the stellar defenders who won in the past:
2004 Vladimir Guerrero Anaheim RF
2000 Jason Giambi Oakland 1B
1998 Juan Gonzalez Texas OF
1995 Mo Vaughn Boston 1B
1994 Frank Thomas Chicago 1B
1993 Frank Thomas Chicago 1B
Now, where do you put the people who can't play the field? Oh YEAH, RF and 1B!
When it all comes down to it, David is better at the plate, not only on an overall basis, but also when it counted most! David led the AL in RBIs that put his team ahead with 34, and he was first in game-winning RBIs with 21, (nine of which came from the seventh inning on.) 19 of his 47 home runs came in the seventh inning or later, eight from the ninth inning on. He also broke the Boston record for most HRs in the last month of the season with 11, (and drove in 30 runs during that time.) His numbers for August were the same, 11 and 30.
So, because David did what he was told, and did it better than anyone, he doesn't deserve the MVP.
Here's another kicker: A-Fraud wasn't even the MVP of the Yankees! How does one determine this? You think, "Who, if removed from the team, would have the most adverse effect on the winning percentage of that team." For the Red Sox? Clearly David, the most feared hitting in the AL (Maybe second only to Pujols in MLB) For the Yankees? My money's on Mariano Rivera. Or even Jeter. Or Matsui when his bat's working. But not A-Fraud.
So there you have it. A DH will never ever win the MVP and that's a bit more than just my opinion.
1 comment:
Here is yet another reason that A-Fraud was handed a distinction he did not deserve. Games are won with clutch hitting. Let's examine their stats with Runners in Scoring Position (RISP).
Now, before any A-Rod backers complain that A-Rod was second in the line-up and therefore would have had less opportunity to bat with RISP, take a look at this stat: A-Rod had 186 at bats with runners on second and/or third base Ortiz had 24 fewer at bats with 162. A-Rod's batting average was .290, not too shabby. David was batting .352! In his 24 extra at bats, A-Rod still had 3 less hits than David. A-Rod had 54, Big Papi, 57. A-Rod struck out 52 times with teammates waiting to be hit home, Ortiz only whiffed 23 times! OBP for the Yankee 3B: .410, for the Red Sox DH: .462. Here is the Killer number: A-Rod's RBI with RISP: 77. Ortiz's RBI with RISP: 92!
But all Big Papi did was play his position better than anyone ever before him. Anybody still think that A-Fraud should be the MVP?
Post a Comment