The writers never get it right so let’s select this year’s SDMB MLB Awards!
We shall start with the Most Valuable Player Award.
RULES:
As per the way the BBWAA does it, please submit a ballot with up to ten players listed in the order in which you rank the players. (#1 is the MVP, #2 the second most VP, etc.) You must pick ten players, and ten only, in order. Players cannot be tied.
You do not have to vote for players in both leagues if you don’t want to but I would appreciate it if you did. More votes is good.
Ballots with errors (can’t figure out what player you mean, choosing a player in the wrong league) will be noted and you will be asked to correct it.
Ballots that are jokes or that make an effort to game the system - for instance, you want Smith to win so you put Smith first and then list nine unknown bench players to ensure no other contender gets points - will be disregarded.
As per the way the BBWAA does it, a first place vote is 14 points, then second through tenth goes 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
The definition of “Most Valuable Player” is up to the voter. You may vote based on whatever criteria you feel means value. You may vote for pitchers.
If you want to add commentary on your picks, please do.
Put that together in about a minute and a half, so unfortunately not a lot of thought went into it. Big Papi is of course more of a sentimental vote, but not entirely undeserving.
No pitchers not because I don’t think they should be excluded, but rather I didn’t think any especially stood out (particularly in the AL).
Basically the WAR standings from ESPN’s calculations, but I bumped Lindor up a couple places to give Cleveland a representative. Really it’s ridiculous that the AL MVP has become the “best player other than Mike Trout award”.
I put more time into the bottom half of those ballots than either deserved. 10 seems silly when none of the other award ballots go close to that deep. I’ll be very happy in my heart when Betts wins it, but annoyed-again in my brain.
If you believe in the “Trout is the MVP no matter how shitty his team is, when he’s this good” argument - which I do - it’s hard to put Freeman outside of the top 5 in the NL. By pretty much any measure I can find he’s had that kind of performance this year.
