Baseball Thread V

Here is my problem with the "Ortiz didn't play the field so he shouldn't have won the MVP" argument:

In the American League, the designated hitter is a legitimate position. They shouldn't have punished Ortiz for not playing the field when he didn't have to.

 

OK, I can buy that. I don't want to be a Joe Morgan or anything. I just brought that up because I felt BYH was saying Ortiz was more valuable in all facets of the game than ARod, and I don't think you can say that. Since ARod isn't a DH, then his defense has to weigh in somewhere and since Ortiz doesn't play defense then how do you measure it.
I guess I figure that since ARod's numbers were just as good as Ortiz's and since ARod contributed to his team in other ways and since Ortiz didn't - not that it is his fault that he plays DH, but since he doesn't field then I think it has to go to ARod.
Especially, because the Yankees wouldn't have gone to the playoffs without ARod last season.

 

Yeah and the Sox wouldn't have gone to the playoffs without Ortiz last year. Your point?

Also: ARod moved to 3B in 2004, not 2005.

 

I'm aware of that, but just because a player moved to a different position the year before doesn't mean he is supposed to be the best 3B in the league the next year. ARod has been a damn fine 3B, despite only playing it for two-plus years.
As far as the Sox not going to the playoffs last year if not for Ortiz, well I guess that is a chicken-egg argument, because if the Yankees didn't go to the playoffs then the Sox would of, but if the Sox didn't go then the Yankees would of. Obviously, the Blue Jays or Orioles or D-Rays wouldn't have gone over either team just because Ortiz or ARod didn't play for them, so I guess that is a moot point I am willing to give up.
I just believe that ARod was more valuable than Ortiz, and back to the point that got this all started - though, I guess you didn't start it - ARod is more valuable and a better player than Joe Mauer. Joe Mauer is good, but he is injury prone and doesn't have a tremendous amount of power. That is all.

 

I never said ARod wasn't better than Joe Mauer. Just that it's a little early to start saying Joe Mauer flops in pressure situations.

Sorry I got carried away. I let that dumbass spnited get the best of me with his illogical arguments.

 

I got more carried away than you. And I can't say anything about Mauer in pressure situations because I've barely ever seen him play and that is probably because they only show two teams on ESPN and you know who those are.

 

Separated at Birth?

 

We now live in a world where the Devil Rays have the same record as the Braves. The bit about the Smoltz rumors being just rumors may be true, but the Braves might want to seriously consider it.

 

I keep hearing the Tigers, but have never seen who they would actually give up to get Smoltz. Anyone else out there read -- or know about -- better tidbits than me?

 

All right, now that you are all done screaming and cursing at each other while I laugh at your silliness, let me add this fact: John Smoltz is a 10-5 player who loves it in Atlanta. While he might not fight a deal if it happens, keep in mind that he does have the right to approve  one or refuse to do so.

Joe Mauer is an outstanding hitter who can't carry a weak-hitting team because no one could. But he does remind me of a guy named Rod Carew, a Hall of Famer, who, while he was hitting .370, was told: "Mix in an RBI once in awhile." That said, I'd take Mauer on my team. But I don't have a team, so carry on, just try to get along so I don't have to whip you.

 

Thank you, Headbutt, you're a voice of reason in the wilderness.