MLB 2016

[CTWarrior]

My take on some of the AL races, I know you were all waiting with baited breath. 

Cy Young.  Kind of a mess. 

Corey Kluber
3.13 ERA/ 169.2 IP/171K/ .218 BAA/ 1.04 WHIP/ 13-8

Cole Hamels
2.67/168.2/167/.231/1.23 WHIP/ 14-4

Chris Sale
3.15/168.2/165/.219/1.03/15-6

Jose Quintana
2.84/164.2/142/.238/1.12 WHIP/10-9

JA Happ
3.19/155.1/139/.232/1.15/17-4

Duffy has been great, but I don't think he has the innings to be in the conversation in earnest.  (138.2)

Wild Card: Zach Britton.  A reliever.  A completely dominant reliever.  Dominating completely everyone.  An ERA of .69 WHIP of .83 BAA of .150  38/38 in save opportunities.  But 52 innings pitched.  For me this award should go to a starter, but Britton has been the most dominating pitcher in the AL.  But those innings matter.  Also Justin Verlander is lurking right there with these other guys. 

Not sure how I would handicap this one.  My guess is it comes down to Hamels/Kluber/Sale the last month.  Hamels has been great, but his BAA and WHIP are considerably higher, though the ERA advantage is significant.  Kluber and Sale have been nearly identical.  Eerily similar actually. 

MVP.

Jose Altuve  .361/.422/.571 (1st/2nd/2nd) 2nd in OPS (.993)
37 2B, 20 HR, 84 RBI, 26 SB (3rd)

Mike Trout.  .316/.432/.555 (4th/1st/3rd)  .987 OPS is 3rd
27 2b, 24 HR, 82 RBI, 21 SB 87 BB (leads league)

David Ortiz: .321/.411/.636 (2nd/3rd/1st) 1.047 OPS is 1st
40 2B (1st), 30 HR (6th), 100 RBI (2nd) 2 SB (holy crap!!!)

Mookie Betts: .314/.355/.553 (5th/--/5th) .908 OPS is 8th
34 2b 28 HR 91 RBI

Ortiz may get some sentimental votes (not saying he isn't worthy, obviously he is, but it may be even more)  Ortiz doesn't play a position, and I think that hurts him since the other 3 are pretty elite.  If I were ranking this right now, I'd got Altuve/ Trout/ Ortiz/ Betts.  How Trout does this every single year is astounding.  I think the fact that he is Mike Trout will negate the fact that his team is not in the race.  Just like the NL, the last month here is critical. 

AL ROY seems to be a one horse race. 

Michael Fulmer.  The Cespedes trade pays off immediately for the Tigers as Fulmer has become maybe their best pitcher.  I don't think he has the innings for Cy Young consideration (125) but he has been magnificent. 

10-4 2.58 ERA 104 K 33 BB 125 IP .218 BAA and 1.06 WHIP

Nomar Mazara may get some love, and deservedly so.  .280/.333/.425

I'd say the only other guy that would get serious consideration is maybe Edwin Diaz who has been absolutely electric for the M's, but with only 36 IP, I don't think he will have the body of work (though he has 66 ks in those 36 IP).

Rick Porcello is 17-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 171+ IP.  I know wins don't mean what they used to, but if he finishes 21-3 or 21-4 with a 3.2 ERA in Fenway he is going to get some serious support.

[TallTitan34]

For what's its worth in the MVP race, Kris Bryant now leads MLB in fWAR. 

Bryant 7.5
Trout 7.2
Seager 6.9
Donaldson 6.9
Altuve 6.7
...
...
...
Murphy 4.8

[MerrittsMustache]

What do you think Brewers fans? Braun for Puig, a  prospect and a SP?

I'd make that deal in a second. If Puig and McCarthy (or another SP in the deal) can stay healthy and perform well, they could be flipped and bring back more value than the Brewers would get for Braun at this point.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2016/09/13/ryan-braun-yasiel-puig-dodgers-brewers-trade/90311414/

[4everwarriors]

I'd flip that low-life, scum, sleazeball for a day's supply of pine tar and a bag of rosin, ai na?

[brandx]

What do you think Brewers fans? Braun for Puig, a  prospect and a SP?

I'd make that deal in a second. If Puig and McCarthy (or another SP in the deal) can stay healthy and perform well, they could be flipped and bring back more value than the Brewers would get for Braun at this point.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2016/09/13/ryan-braun-yasiel-puig-dodgers-brewers-trade/90311414/

McCarthy stay healthy? What is this that you speak of?

[wadesworld]

What do you think Brewers fans? Braun for Puig, a  prospect and a SP?

I'd make that deal in a second. If Puig and McCarthy (or another SP in the deal) can stay healthy and perform well, they could be flipped and bring back more value than the Brewers would get for Braun at this point.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2016/09/13/ryan-braun-yasiel-puig-dodgers-brewers-trade/90311414/

I'd give Braun to the Dodgers for some Big League Chew.

Edit: 4Never beat me to it.  I don't like Puig, but if he can be the new Carlos Gomez even better.

[jesmu84]

If Bryant takes MVP, I think he would have won individual awards in 4 straight seasons. College POY, Minor league POY, ROY, MVP. That's impressive stuff

[MerrittsMustache]

If Bryant takes MVP, I think he would have won individual awards in 4 straight seasons. College POY, Minor league POY, ROY, MVP. That's impressive stuff

That would be incredibly impressive.

I can't imagine Bryant not winning the MVP. In addition to having a monster season, he's a star player on a media darling team who happens to have the best record in baseball.

#donedeal

[Vander Blue Man Group]

If Bryant takes MVP, I think he would have won individual awards in 4 straight seasons. College POY, Minor league POY, ROY, MVP. That's impressive stuff

I believe that would be the first time in history that has ever been accomplished.  Impressive might be an understatement.

That would be incredibly impressive.

I can't imagine Bryant not winning the MVP. In addition to having a monster season, he's a star player on a media darling team who happens to have the best record in baseball.

#donedeal

Here's an article from Fangraphs on his candidacy and why he is the clear choice. 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-case-for-kris-bryant-for-national-league-mvp/

[buckchuckler]

Baseball just got a bit less great and quite a bit less fun. 

[real chili 83]

I can't believe the Cubs have locked it up, big time.  Been a lifelong fan. 

Figures, some idiot at WGN ends the relationship now.  Probably won't happen but heads should roll at WGN.  That chump should be forced to watch Matlock reruns for the rest of his life. 

[🏀]

Baseball just got a bit less great and quite a bit less fun. 

This a damn shame. JFer was great.

[TallTitan34]

[buckchuckler]

I love that.  It looks like it is running at 2x speed as he catches it.  Then just grinning back.  Such a terrible loss.  Ridiculous talent aside, I wish more guys played with the love and the joy he did.  I'm going to miss watching him pitch.  Just so sad all around.  From his amazing story to get here, to his story of how he became so great, to hear just how beloved he was by teammates and foes alike.  Poor guy.  My heart just goes out to his family. 

[wadesworld]

Classy of the Mets.  Great words by Giancarlo.

http://deadspin.com/the-marlins-honored-jose-fernandez-before-tonights-game-1787110547

Dee Gordon hit his first home run of the season in the first at bat for the Marlins.

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/marlins-dee-gordon-breaks-down-into-tears-after-hitting-lead-off-home-run-092616

https://mobile.twitter.com/Marlins/status/780606639896350720

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Classy of the Mets.  Great words by Giancarlo.

http://deadspin.com/the-marlins-honored-jose-fernandez-before-tonights-game-1787110547

Dee Gordon hit his first home run of the season in the first at bat for the Marlins.

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/marlins-dee-gordon-breaks-down-into-tears-after-hitting-lead-off-home-run-092616

https://mobile.twitter.com/Marlins/status/780606639896350720

Love the "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" taps-like version on the trumpet.

[buckchuckler]

Love the "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" taps-like version on the trumpet.

I was driving, and listening to the game, it sounded just heartbreaking. 

[wadesworld]

Hard to think that he was scheduled to start Sunday's game but they pushed his start back to Monday to face the Mets.  He would not be out on a boat at 3:30 AM Sunday if he was the starting pitcher for a 1:00 PM game that day.  If the Marlins couldn't have technically/mathematically still caught the Mets in the Wild Card they don't even bother moving the start back.  Or if the series were swapped (Mets came to town before the Braves) they definitely don't push his start back.  Crazy how life works.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

The Cubs extend Epstein, Hoyer, and McLeod for five more years.  Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the Sox will retain Ventura if he wants to come back. 

Good to be a Cubs fan right now. 

Edit: The Sox report was from Bob Nightengale so it should probably be taken with a grain of salt.

[buckchuckler]

The Cubs extend Epstein, Hoyer, and McLeod for five more years.  Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the Sox will retain Ventura if he wants to come back. 

Good to be a Cubs fan right now. 

Edit: The Sox report was from Bob Nightengale so it should probably be taken with a grain of salt.

Never a good time to be a cub fan.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

 

Never a good time to be a cub fan.

[MerrittsMustache]

The Cubs extend Epstein, Hoyer, and McLeod for five more years.  Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the Sox will retain Ventura if he wants to come back. 

Good to be a Cubs fan right now. 

Edit: The Sox report was from Bob Nightengale so it should probably be taken with a grain of salt.

I'd be very surprised is Theo is in Chicago for the entirety of that contract, especially if the Cubs win the WS during that time. He's an odd dude with a lot of interests outside of baseball. He's not going to be a lifer in the game.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I'd be very surprised is Theo is in Chicago for the entirety of that contract, especially if the Cubs win the WS during that time. He's an odd dude with a lot of interests outside of baseball. He's not going to be a lifer in the game.

I'd be surprised if he stayed after the five years are up if the Cubs have already won one, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he is here until the end of the deal.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

I'd be very surprised is Theo is in Chicago for the entirety of that contract, especially if the Cubs win the WS during that time. He's an odd dude with a lot of interests outside of baseball. He's not going to be a lifer in the game.

He'll be 47 at the end of the contract.  I agree he doesn't seem like a "lifer," but with his age, there's a lot he can do professionally after he wins 6 consecutive WS with the Cubs.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I'd be very surprised is Theo is in Chicago for the entirety of that contract, especially if the Cubs win the WS during that time. He's an odd dude with a lot of interests outside of baseball. He's not going to be a lifer in the game.

Krane Kenney's contract ends in 2020, ai-na?