National League MVP -- Final Answer?

Ditto

 

This is my argument. If you want to disagree with the following, go ahead...

 

And I stand by my point. I don't care if a guy bats in the eight spot if he finds a way to produce.

If anything, what Rollins did this season is more impressive because he spent so much of this season batting leadoff. He's been there most of his career, but he really isn't a leadoff hitter. He belongs in the middle of the order, in part because he doesn't walk much, but also because of his power and ability to drive in runs. He stays at the top because that is where the Phillies need him.

 

Well, Holliday outproduced Rollins. He had more HRs, more RBIs, a higher batting average, a higher slugging percentage, and a much higher OPS. There are two arguments for Rollins I've heard to help him overcome this deficit...

1) He plays a more important defensive position, which I admit is true. He gets points for that.
2) His numbers can't be compared straight-up because he's a leadoff hitter and Holliday is a No. 3 hitter. It on that point that I argued Rollins shouldn't get a pass. The reason he hits leadoff instead of No. 3 or No. 4 is because the Phillies have other hitters (Utley and Howard) who are better at driving in runs. That fact alone shows that he is not as indispensible to the Phillies offensively as either Utley or Howard.

 

Of course, you left out one of the major arguments against Holliday, the ballpark effect. And Coors Field does more than just produce homers. Scroll up if you need that explained to you.

Rollins was a leadoff hitter before Howard became a regular with the Phillies. Before Utley, too, I think. He's not there because of any deficiency in driving in runs. He is there because he is a big-time base-stealer and because the Phillies don't have another quality option for the leadoff spot.

You want to argue the production, I can see that. But basing it on where they hit in the order is silly, no matter how you frame it.

 

The Coors Field effect isn't as dramatic since the humidor, and Citizens Bank Park is probably even more HR-friendly than Coors. And it's not like Holliday just hit 15 or 20 points higher. He hit 40 points higher. That's pretty big.

Anyway, I didn't mean for this to be such an angry debate, because I truly believe there is no right answer, and no wrong choice.

 

In espn's Park Factors list, Coors was No. 3 hitter friendly park, Citizens Bank was No. 14.
Citizens Bank was more HR friendly, though, FWIW.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor

 

Same here...sorry if I sounded angry.

I'm not talking about the homers, though. Look at Holliday's home-road splits. HUGE difference in batting average, on-base, slugging and homers. Rollins splits were pretty similar home and away.

 

I come to SportsJournalists.com for a good argument. Or a good debate.

There's a lot to be said for good arguments and debate.

We're not allowed to debate at work anymore. Goes against that "Shut up and work smarter" thing.

 

Holliday & Rollins are both good choices. Last year, Jeter would have been a good choice, as would a couple of others. Morneau was a joke, 3rd or 4th most valuable on his own team.

Lowell had a great year, but Ortiz was the most valuable guy on the Red Sox, even after taking defense into it. Lowell was their Posada - outstanding, career year; fringe MVP candidate some years; far behind a teammate.

 

Paging Zeke....hehe

 

Justin Morneau 2006

.321 .375 .559 34HR 130RBI

Derek Jeter 2006

.343 .417 .483 14HR 97RBI

Jeter had a fine year. The voters got it right. And I wouldn't disagree that Morneau wasn't the most valuable on his own team, but the guy who was won the Cy Young, and Morneau won the MVP. Far from a joke.