[quote]therajraj wrote:
Matt Holliday should be in the HOF if he can put up 3-5 more good years.
He’s met the requirement of peak (amazing '07 '08 '09) just needs to satisfy the longevity criteria.[/quote]
Yeah, he really has been the model of consistency as well. I wouldn’t say he’s a poor man’s Albert Pujols; more like a middle-class man’s Pujols. There really isn’t any reason, barring injury of course, to think that he won’t continue along on at a similar pace for the next several years as well.
In other news, this whole Strasburg situation really fucking stinks. Rizzo is an arrogant fucking bastard for shutting the guy down. There is absolutely no reason at all to think that the Nationals are going to be in perpetual contention. You just never know what can happen and what the future portends. Strasburg could blow his arm out on the very first pitch of spring training next year or he might never miss a start again, but there is simply no way to know in advance that this is the best move. The Nationals should make their run and fuck everything else because they may never be back there again.
But what really stinks about this thing is that Strasburg himself must be really fucking pissed. He’s worked his entire life essentially to get to this point, the opportunity to play in the postseason for a shot at the World Series title. I’m sure Strasburg would gladly accept a greater risk to the longevity of his career if meant a chance to pitch in the postseason. They’re still good without him, but with him they are very serious contenders for the championship.
I just don’t like this at all and I think it’s bad for the game, bad for the Nationals’ players, bad for their fans, and bad for Strasburg’s psyche, not to mention the relationship he has with the front office.
That being said, it IS good for the Giants. There’s a good chance the two teams could square up against one another in the playoffs and I like the Giants’ chances much more if they don’t have to face Strasburg, especially if they meet in the first round five-game series. Fuck, Strasburg being lined up for Games 1 and either 4 or 5 would not be an enviable opponent for any ball club.
Well the GM is damned either way.
If he gets hurt anytime in the next 5 years people will blame the GM for not shutting him down this year. If the Nats do not win the world series this year he’ll be blamed for shutting him down too early. Aside from a WS win, I think the best case scenario would be an NLCS blowout where Strasburg wouldn’t’ve made enough of a difference. In a short series one game makes a much bigger difference than in a 7 game series.
If Strasburg does indeed have a catastrophic injury in the future at least the Nats GM will be off the hook for at least trying his best to preserve his arm.
I’d probably shut him down too as a CYA move.
I wonder if he’ll be on the playoff roster
Also Mike Trout is MVP. Glad the narrative matches the deserving candidate.
Not this year Miggy.
[quote]therajraj wrote:
Also Mike Trout is MVP. Glad the narrative matches the deserving candidate.
Not this year Miggy.[/quote]
Still can’t rule out Hamilton. Leads the league in HR and RBI and plays great defense at a premium position for the best team in the AL.
It’s going to be close between Cabrera, Trout, and Hamilton. It may not be fair, but the dissapointment if the Tigers and Angels don’t make the playoffs (especially with the extra wild card and the huge expectation both teams had) will hurt them.
I’m a big fan of WAR for deciding MVP so for me it really isn’t close.
Mike Trout 8.7 WAR
Robinson Cano 6.1 WAR
Miguel Cabrera 6.1 WAR
Josh Hamilton 4.8 WAR
Josh Hamilton had a couple of bad months IIRC.
Even if Miggy’s WAR was slightly better than Mike Trout I’d have a hard time giving it to him just because of how much he’s hurt his team defensively.
Unbelievable the end totals hes putting up even when he didn’t play in April.
Check out Brandon McCarthys head scar from surgery
His haircut looks like skrillex
[quote]therajraj wrote:
I’m a big fan of WAR for deciding MVP so for me it really isn’t close.
Mike Trout 8.7 WAR
Robinson Cano 6.1 WAR
Miguel Cabrera 6.1 WAR
Josh Hamilton 4.8 WAR
Josh Hamilton had a couple of bad months IIRC.
Even if Miggy’s WAR was slightly better than Mike Trout I’d have a hard time giving it to him just because of how much he’s hurt his team defensively.
[/quote]
WAR is a horrible statistic based on a completely arbitrary assumption of what the average replacement-level player is capable of. VORP is flawed as well and doesn’t even take into account defensive play.
http://www.yankeeist.com/2010/01/closer-look-at-vorp-and-warp.html
[quote]therajraj wrote:
I’m a big fan of WAR for deciding MVP so for me it really isn’t close.
Mike Trout 8.7 WAR
Robinson Cano 6.1 WAR
Miguel Cabrera 6.1 WAR
Josh Hamilton 4.8 WAR
Josh Hamilton had a couple of bad months IIRC.
Even if Miggy’s WAR was slightly better than Mike Trout I’d have a hard time giving it to him just because of how much he’s hurt his team defensively.
[/quote]
Hamilton had a few bad months, but it’s going to be hard to overlook near 50 hrs for a team with the best record. I also think the writers will overlook defense for a guy that will probably end the season in the top three of the triple crown categories. I’ll throw one more name in there, Adrian Beltre. If it wasn’t for Hamilton being on the same team he would get some serious consideration.
I think the NL MVP may be a little more interesting though with the numbers Ryan Braun has put up, .310/38/100 so far, and the Brewers making a little run at the Wild Card. I really hope the writers don’t hold his test results from last year against him. A lot of other contenders too: Mcutchen, Holliday, Molina?, and Buster Posey. Did I miss anyone?
And I just read this regarding the NL MVP:
Stark has Braun’s odds at 50:1 lol.
HR RUNS RBI AVG OBP SLG WAR
TROUT 27 116 77 .331 .396 .566 10.3
BELTRE 32 88 92 .320 .356 .561 5.9
HAMILTON 42 97 123 .286 .354 .588 3.9
I find it difficult to understand WAR as a measure of a players value. Looking at the current stats on ESPN its is hard to believe the Trout is >2.5 times more more valuable than Hamilton unless runs and OBP are disproportionatly weighted. All 3 players are having a good year. Looking at the stats I would say that Beltre and Trout are equivilant with Hamilton having an edge in overall production. Just can’t understand how Trout can be such an outlier.
WAR factors in defense as well which Trout is elite. Also Trout has 40 or so SB.
Their numbers are also effected by park factors which WAR also takes into account.
Hamilton plays half his games in a hitters park while Trout plays in a pitchers park
This has to be one of the most depressing seasons I’ve watched as a Blue Jays fans. Things have gone from bad to worse.
Toronto SS wrote “TU ERE MARICON” under his eyes which translates to “You are a fa***t” in Spanish.
WTF man? Even if you hate gays, why in the world would you write that on your fucking face for the whole world to see?
I was already pretty disappointed when I found out he settled for this fat dough girl.
But my opinion has no sunk to rock bottom.
Escobar had the look of a child that got called into the principals office during the press conference haha. Pretty dumb thing to do, but insignificant since he plays for a team out of the playoof race at a time when close to 17 teams are still in contention and Miguel Cabrera is a season ending hot streak away from winning the triple crown.
That and he’s having a terrible year.
I did laugh when he was railing off names of his gay friends.
“My hairdresser is gay, my interior decorator is gay”
The clicheness of his answer was funny to me.
