MLB 2018 Season

[ZiggysFryBoy]

In slightly chilly weather.

With rain in the forecast.

[jsglow]

jsonline is doing a good job covering the 'magic number' issue.  What struck me was that before last night's game the Crew needed 10 positive out of a possible 13 outcomes to pass the Cubs.  Now it's down to a mere 8/11.  It simply shows how hard climbing the hill is.

The same can be said about someone catching the Crew for the #1 W/C.  Is it possible?  Sure, but very, very unlikely, especially after last night's win.

[Jockey]

Discussion on MVP in the NL?

A 2 man race. Yelich has slightly better numbers almost across the board. Baez has the "splash".

The number that puts Yelich over the top for me is 43. Yelich has been on base 43 times more than Baez despite just 9 more plate appearances.

Getting on base is goal #1 when batting - which translates to making fewer outs.

[jesmu84]

Discussion on MVP in the NL?

A 2 man race. Yelich has slightly better numbers almost across the board. Baez has the "splash".

The number that puts Yelich over the top for me is 43. Yelich has been on base 43 times more than Baez despite just 9 more plate appearances.

Getting on base is goal #1 when batting - which translates to making fewer outs.

Is hitting the only factor? Defense? Baserunning? Errors? Etc

[cheebs09]

Is hitting the only factor? Defense? Baserunning? Errors? Etc

Tagging and sliding may loom large in this one.

[wadesworld]

Yelich deserves it.

Baez will get it.

[MUBBau]

Yelich deserves it.

Baez will get it.

Yelich deserves it. Yelich will get it.

[buckchuckler]

Is hitting the only factor? Defense? Baserunning? Errors? Etc

If defense is a factor, Arenado would have won it the last 3 years, and would this year as well.

[jesmu84]

If defense is a factor, Arenado would have won it the last 3 years, and would this year as well.

Is his batting on par with Baez and Yelich?

[Jockey]

If defense is a factor, Arenado would have won it the last 3 years, and would this year as well.

Is being the 2nd best defensive 3B in MLB good enough to put you over the top for MVP?

But, realistically, he should be in the conversation every year.

[buckchuckler]

Is being the 2nd best defensive 3B in MLB good enough to put you over the top for MVP?

But, realistically, he should be in the conversation every year.

He and Matt Chapman were HS teammates.  Holy moly, try squeezing a hit through that infield.

[Jockey]

Is hitting the only factor? Defense? Baserunning? Errors? Etc

To a lesser extent than hitting, yes.

But unless you are Ozzie Smith-like on ‘D’, it is not a huge factor.

Baez and Yelich are among best base runners in NL so that doesn’t factor in.

[Jockey]

He and Matt Chapman were HS teammates.  Holy moly, try squeezing a hit through that infield.

I didn’t know that. I’m guessing the LF’er didn’t field too many ground balls.

[MUBurrow]

Arenado gets knocked down a bit for the Coors factor, but he's stupid good. His splits warrant a bit of a demerit, but they aren't extreme - 20 HRs vs 14 and .346 vs .248 in about 30 more home ABs.

The average drop is significant but you have to hedge that against the fact that his away parks are all damn tough for right handed hitters. SF, SD, and LAD are 3 of the 9 worst parks for right handers, and Ariz got significantly tougher with the humidor. For example, Goldschmidt, who also hits right handed at home this year vs last year: 12 HRs, .241 vs 20 HRs, .321. His away numbers are actually up by almost as much last year to this year, so the home numbers aren't just due to general decline.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Yelich deserves it.

Baez will get it.

Does Baez move around the infield like Yelich does in the OF, as far as positions?  Honestly don't know regarding Baez.

Yelich moves from LF to RF to CF without missing a beat.  According to baseball-reference.com, Yelich has played 85 games in LF, 21 in CF and 69 in RF.  I'm guessing that doesn't include games where he moves mid-game.

Baez has played 104 games at 2B, 22 at 3B and 58 at SS.  1 at 1B.

Both are only counting 2018 seasons.

[Benny B]

To a lesser extent than hitting, yes.

But unless you are Ozzie Smith-like on ‘D’, it is not a huge factor.

Baez and Yelich are among best base runners in NL so that doesn’t factor in.

This.  Along the lines of why pitchers are rarely considered for MVP (they have the Cy Young award) - and to a lesser extent why rookies are rarely contenders for MVP or Cy Young (ROY Award) - is why defense rarely factors into MVP discussion... there's already an award specifically for defense. 

That said, defense is more important to the MVP award than it is to the Silver Slugger award.

[jesmu84]

https://www.barstoolsports.com/baseball/milwaukee-brewers-fans-your-t-shirts-have-arrived

[mu03eng]

https://www.barstoolsports.com/baseball/milwaukee-brewers-fans-your-t-shirts-have-arrived

I refuse to click on brotastic, misogynistic BS websites, can you tell me what the shirts are?

[jesmu84]

I refuse to click on brotastic, misogynistic BS websites, can you tell me what the shirts are?

There are a LOT of websites that you must refuse to visit then

I have no stake in barstool, but I do appreciate some of their blogs/podcasts

[jesmu84]

I refuse to click on brotastic, misogynistic BS websites, can you tell me what the shirts are?

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Not sure if being mayor of Ding Dong City is something to aspire to.

[Jockey]

Not sure if being mayor of Ding Dong City is something to aspire to.

Probably a loftier position than a pimp in Ho-Ho town.

[mu03eng]

There are a LOT of websites that you must refuse to visit then

I have no stake in barstool, but I do appreciate some of their blogs/podcasts

Given what the head clown, Dave Portney repeatedly posts and says, forgive me if I have a very clear vision on what the core of Barstool is. Can't say anything of the same with other sports websites.

[wadesworld]

Give him the MVP.

[wadesworld]

Forget what I just said. Can we give NL MVP to Derek Jeter?