Baseball: MVP and CY Young

So who do you guys think, by the way the season has been going, is going to win these awards?

NL award- I strongly believe Andruw Jones is a strong candidate for this. he's never been known for his power, but is leading the league in homers with 25. He's also carrying the Braves on his shoulders right now with all the people on the DL for the Braves. If the Braves can win their division, with Andruw being the top performer, I believe he can win the MVP

NL Cy Young- Dontrelle Willis. Need I say more? He has 4 CG and is 12-3 with a 2.04 ERA. He's dominating the opposition. He's on pace for 25+ wins, which is amazing for a 3rd year

AL MVP- I don't follow the AL very much, but I believe either Roberts or Tejeda from the Orioles will recieve this honor. Both are playing Phenomenal, with Tejeda having a usual high-stat season, and Robert having a career year. I believe Tejeda would get the award over Roberts though

AL CY Young- I have to say either Garland or Buehrle from the White Sox. both are doing amazing jobs and are the reqason that the White Sox have the best record in the majors

[Edited on 08/15/04 by GiantsFan]

Dontrelle is going well but watch out for the annual second half fatigue. And don't count out the Rajah...13-3 5th in ERA...4th in Ks
1st in Wins -13....1st in opponents ba.164....Tough to look past him.
MVP...So far I like Carlos Lee.
AL Cy Young: John Garland
AL MVP:Bad Vlad or A-Rod

honestly i couldn't argue with any of the above mentioned candidates. I agree heavily with the thought of Andruw Jones recieving the award, but only if he keeps it up and the Braves make the playoffs, and i'm not ready to call a berth for them just yet since the last place team in the division is still a .500 team. If the D-train can keep it going in the second half he's a shoe in. As far as the AL i can't comment because i don't watch their games enough.

NL MVP Derek Lee...he's hitting 378 right now and has the most homers

NL Cy Young Dontrelle Willis...he has a history of not doing well the second half of the season so Clemens might get it

AL MVP Brian Roberts

AL Cy Young Garland, Buerhle, maybe Holladay dependeng on how well he recovers from the leg injurty

NL mvp was already discussed.

NL cy is a 2 horse race Carpenter/Clemens.

AL cy is a 4 horse race Colon/Garland/Buehrle/Santana. Halladay was easy winner had he not gotton hurt.

AL mvp Arod/Sheffield.

The way Clemens and Carpenter are pitching its a two horse race for the Cy Young. Carpenter won the duel with ol' roger the other day didn't he?

I still feel that Carpenter or Dontrelle Willis are the real contenders. I don't believe this for their wins, however. Both pitchers have been dominate in almost all of their starts. I am not trying to take anything away from Clemens, but people tend to look at stats more than they do real baseball. Due to that fact, that is why I believe either Willis or Carpenter will win Cy Young. Things would be different right now had the Astros provided some offense for the Rocket. This is the same reason Derrek Lee will likely finish 2nd in the MVP race. It only seem few people realize there are more to sports than stats, which may hurt Andruw Jones' chances for MVP.

Derrek Lee's team has been piss-poor this season. The guy is having a massive year, he's leading the NL in batting av and would surely be leading the league in runs scored and rbi's if his teammates had got on-base more. Is that taken into consideration with the voting? Or are they stat mongers and go with the best record when they make their picks?

NL Cy Young

The National League Cy Young will be an interesting one. There are three possible Candidates. Roger Clemens, Dontrelle Willis, and Chris Carpenter. While Roger Clemens has the ERA, he doesn't have the record. My vote would go to him, but people will vote stats over everything else. He is in the same spot as Randy Johnson was last year in Arizona when he pitched the Perfect Game against the Atlanta Braves. He could have had 25 wins if only the D-Backs could have gave him some run support. This is why Clemens won't get it. Dontrelle Willis and Chris Carpenter are the two that are on top right now. One has 20 wins, the other 19. There isn't much of a difference in the dominance they have both displayed this year. Chris Carpenter though, should come out on top, simply because his team is on top. Dontrelle has kept his team alive, but will most likely miss the playoffs. Carpenter and Willis will both finish with 22-23 wins. I wouldn't be surprised to see any of the three win.

My Pick

Chris Carpenter

AL Cy Young

I don't watch much AL baseball, so I'm not too sure on this one. From what little I have watched, I think it's between Bartolo Colon and Jon Garland. Garland is one of the big reasons why the White Sox have had such a magical season and have the 2nd best record in the league. Bartolo is what is helping keep his team at the top of the AL West. I don't know any specifics, but I think Jon Garland has the best shot right now, simplybecause of the impact he has had on his team. And frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to see anyone win the AL Cy Young.

My Pick

Jon Garland

NL MVP

Please see HERE

AL MVP

Please see HERE

Originally posted by TRD
Derrek Lee's team has been piss-poor this season. The guy is having a massive year, he's leading the NL in batting av and would surely be leading the league in runs scored and rbi's if his teammates had got on-base more. Is that taken into consideration with the voting? Or are they stat mongers and go with the best record when they make their picks?

That is never taken into consideration. While I think he is a VERY Valuable pleyer... I feel he wasn't the MOST Valuable player. If not for Andruw Jones' play, not just the HR's, we would not be on the top of the NL East right now. He is leading the league in RBI and HR's, which has helped out the Braves Bullpen just as much. Jones has already saved our bullpen numerous times. Had Jones' HR today had been the eventual winner... he would have led the Major's in GW RBI. That's everything an MVP needs.

I hate it when people look only at stats to determine the best. Jeff Franceuor is one of the best players on the Braves right now. If you looked at his numbers, it wouldn't appear that way.

Originally posted by GiantsFan

Originally posted by TRD
Derrek Lee's team has been piss-poor this season. The guy is having a massive year, he's leading the NL in batting av and would surely be leading the league in runs scored and rbi's if his teammates had got on-base more. Is that taken into consideration with the voting? Or are they stat mongers and go with the best record when they make their picks?

That is never taken into consideration. While I think he is a VERY Valuable pleyer... I feel he wasn't the MOST Valuable player. If not for Andruw Jones' play, not just the HR's, we would not be on the top of the NL East right now. He is leading the league in RBI and HR's, which has helped out the Braves Bullpen just as much. Jones has already saved our bullpen numerous times. Had Jones' HR today had been the eventual winner... he would have led the Major's in GW RBI. That's everything an MVP needs.

I hate it when people look only at stats to determine the best. Jeff Franceuor is one of the best players on the Braves right now. If you looked at his numbers, it wouldn't appear that way.

And what do want to look at if not stats? You are still penalizing Pujols for being on a good team, and Lee on a so so one. Had Lee had any help, this mvp wouldn't even been close. Jones has the hrs and rbis, but he's made a ton of outs to achieve them (BA and OBA).

You can look at their stats, but you must also look at Defensive plays, and just how the person plays on the field. If you watch the NBA. If you know of a man named Stromile Swift, he is one that is much better than stats show. Most underrated player in the game he is. All three players are extremely valuable. But Lee's team hasn't been winning, the Cardinals do nothing but win, and the Braves are in the middle. It was almost purely Andruw that has kept the Braves at the top in the NL East at a time when our roster was nealry half rookies. I'm just saying Andruw is more valuable to his team than either Pujols or Lee is. Though they are following very close.

Originally posted by GiantsFan
I still feel that Carpenter or Dontrelle Willis are the real contenders. I don't believe this for their wins, however. Both pitchers have been dominate in almost all of their starts. I am not trying to take anything away from Clemens, but people tend to look at stats more than they do real baseball. Due to that fact, that is why I believe either Willis or Carpenter will win Cy Young. Things would be different right now had the Astros provided some offense for the Rocket. This is the same reason Derrek Lee will likely finish 2nd in the MVP race. It only seem few people realize there are more to sports than stats, which may hurt Andruw Jones' chances for MVP.

Explain real bb. Willis was horrible for a stretch.

It's hard to explain what I mean by real baseball. And I was saying that because people only pay attention to stats, and not "real baseball", it is going to hurt Clemens' chances of winning the Cy Young. Whe I say real baseball... watch Clemens pitch, and I think you'll understand my meaning. Clemens should win it, but the stat mongerers will choose Willis or Carpenter over Clemens. But reall, I wouldn't mind seeing any of the three win. They are all three great pitchers.

Originally posted by GiantsFan
It's hard to explain what I mean by real baseball. And I was saying that because people only pay attention to stats, and not "real baseball", it is going to hurt Clemens' chances of winning the Cy Young. Whe I say real baseball... watch Clemens pitch, and I think you'll understand my meaning. Clemens should win it, but the stat mongerers will choose Willis or Carpenter over Clemens. But reall, I wouldn't mind seeing any of the three win. They are all three great pitchers.

Carpenter will get votes because of 20 wins. I follow stats as much as anyone, and a stat person would vote for Clemens. He leads in era, vorp, win shares.

Originally posted by GiantsFan It was almost purely Andruw that has kept the Braves at the top in the NL East at a time when our roster was nealry half rookies. I'm just saying Andruw is more valuable to his team than either Pujols or Lee is.

We disagree alot here. It hasn't been almost solely Jones. yea ESPN says it when Jones smacks a hr, but it's just not true.

Smoltz actually leads the Braves in vorp (value over replacement player). Hudson is just a hair behind Jones.

Jones, Furcal, and Giles all are tied with 21 Win Shares. Smoltz has 16, and Francouer has a amazing 10 in very limited playing time. Defense, or real bb, comes into play. Furcal has 7 of his 21 Win Shares from defense. Jones has a ton of hrs, but is only hitting .271, with a .355 oba. He's made alot of outs in the process. The Braves have had quite a bit of help from Furcal, Giles, Smoltz, Hudson, Francouer, yet the hr is the glamour stat, that ESPN raves about. Should i show you the Cubs team vorp and win shares, if you want to talk about carrying a team?

I don't mind the disagreements... makes things more interesting. But I know the Braves have had alot of help, especially through Smoltz and Francoeur. But Jones has been the difference between a win and loss in many close games. Can't remember how many it is, but Jones is tied for the most GW RBI in the Majors. And the reason the HR's by Jones are pointed out, is because those GW RBI's almost always seem to be from one that he hit a mile.

Hey Giants fan, why is that your name if you are a Braves fan?

lol... Simply because I thought GiantsFan sounded better than Braves Fan. I happen to be a fan of both teams though, but Braves will always be #1.

NL Cy Young

Chris Carpenter Hands down, no other guy including clemens and willis comes close...

AL Cy Young

Slowly Bartolo Colon has had a great year and he'll need to be strong to get the Angels into the playoffs,

NL MVP

Andruw Jones, He has been the one sure thing in the braves lineup and has provided a great deal of offense and he's always great on defense,


AL MVP

I don't want it to be personally, but i think this award will go to A-Rod, he has put up great numbers once again and is key to the Yankees playoff chances