A few links to pass along regarding clubs in the Central divisions …
- The Indians are facing an offseason of difficult decisions, writes Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. With basically the same roster, the Tribe's payroll would jump from $49MM in 2011 to roughly $70MM next season, explains Hoynes. Several key players like Shin-Soo Choo, Justin Masterson, Chris Perez and Asdrubal Cabrera will be eligible for arbitration, and the Indians own options on Grady Sizemore ($9MM) and Fausto Carmona ($7MM).
- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa dismissed a rumor that he will manage the Cubs next season, writes Kevin Roberts of MLB.com. A report surfaced earlier this week that the Cubs would hire La Russa and Reds GM Walt Jocketty (formerly the Cards' GM) in an effort to lure impending free agent Albert Pujols this offseason. This one seems to be falling apart, as Reds owner Bob Castellini has said Jocketty will be back with the Reds in 2012.
- The AL MVP Award is now Tigers righty Justin Verlander's to lose, opines Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).
people sometimes talk about how offensive it is that professional athletes get paid so much to play a game
i am infinitely more offended by the fact that people like jeff passan get paid to write about it
LaRussa dismissed the rumor, then used a double switch to put in Corey Patterson to replace whoever started the rumor.
Hoynes needs to check his math. Even with all the arb eligible players and Sizemore and Carmona’s options, the Indians still won’t crack $65 million. They will decline Sizemore’s option then try to renegotiate. They should have money for a free agent and some flexibility to make trades. They will end up over $70, but with additional hitting.
If JV wins his next two starts against Oakland and Baltimore he should win the MVP. Plus his season stats are the same or better than when Roger Clemens won the MVP with Boston.
Thoes games should be easy wins for him. But you never know about bad offensive teams like OAK and SEA, they could have a lucky day aginst him if he dosnt make all of his pitches.
He doesn’t play Seattle this season.
Personally, I’m against the idea of a pitcher winning the MVP. They have their own award. It would be Verlander Cy Young, Bautista MVP with my vote.
Give the Pitchers a silver slugger then.
Pitchers do win the silver slugger award – but only in the National where pitchers bat. With interleague play now – maybe they should give the AL best hitting pitcher the award as well…even with just a handful of ABs.
Zach Britton!!!!
and give another Gold Glove to Raffy Palmeiro!
Why would you give Bautista the Most Valuable Pitcher Award hum dum har herh HERH HERH HERSLAPDAPFOWIEH?!!??! Beefaroni does a body good. Cats cats cats.
Are you on drugs?
Body massage.
i like the way you move
It’s Most Valuable PLAYER. Not position player, PLAYER. Justin Verlander is a Major League Baseball PLAYER.
The Cy Young Award goes to the most outstanding pitcher. Where in that do you see “most valuable pitcher?”
No way Bautista should get the MVP….how Valuable is he when they still finish 4th and are a .500 team with him. I’m all for Verlander getting the award until they change the name to the Babe Ruth Award for hitting excellence. Until then it’s fair game for pitchers to when as well. They have their own award is like saying that a goalie shouldn’t win the Hart Trophy (MVP) in the NHL because they have the Vezina (Top Goalie) award. Like I said…change the name from Most Valuable Player or add another award just for batting excellence. Bautista would be eligible then but no way should he win the MVP…..that would be a joke.
Bautista for MVP. Check that stats.
HE PLAYS IN A DOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
O….K!?…..LOUD NOISES!!!
I did….the Jays are are 76 and 74…..my point exactly….great hitter (except of this month .196 – kinda sucking wind now) but how VALUABLE is he really?
If the Blue Jays were in the AL Central, they would be going to the playoffs too. So I don’t get how someone wants to make the argument that Verlander should get the MVP and Bautista shouldn’t because his team isn’t going to the playoffs. The Blue Jays play the three best teams in the AL 15 times a year, and they are still over .500. It’s a pretty good team, in a really good division.
If Bautista played in the Central he would play the majority of his games in big ball parks. Det, KC, Min and Cle. If Cabbie hit in the east ball parks he would have even higher numbers.
I think at the end of the day the Blue Jays are a .500 team in what ever division they play in.
You’re kidding right? You don’t think the Blue Jays would have a better record if they played the Indians, White Sox, and Royals 25% of their games instead of the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays.
And if we’re going to use the argument of smaller parks in the AL East against Bautista. I guess we should use the argument of Verlander playing in larger parks in the AL Central against Verlander.
it’s goofy anyway. park-adjusted stats exist and if you use them, bautista is still the best hitter alive in 2011 (and, incidentally, verlander isn’t the best pitcher)
park adjusted stats told me that adrian gonzalez should have had another 15 Homeruns this year.
that’s an absolutely absurd conclusion..
put the tigers in the AL East and not only is Verlander out of the cy young running, the team would be no where near a playoff position.
I double dare you to find any stats that prove my opinion to be false.
If JV had a few more starts against the Blue Jays, give him a second no hitter for the year…..lol
“this player is the MVP. check his team’s stats”
Ignorance is Bliss.
“No way Bautista should get the MVP….how Valuable is he when they still finish 4th and are a .500 team with him.”
and maybe they are a .250 team without him?
Pitchers should not win the award!!!!! I don’t care how phenomenal they are doing they play in about 20%(SP) of the teams’ games, While a position player who is contending for the award is playing over 90% of the games. In my opinion, position players are in a totally different level of value than the pitchers are. Not saying pitchers are not worthy.
They play less games but position players average about 600 plate appearances.
Justin Verlander has faced 910 batters.
Alright but that doesn’t make much sense, pitchers face 900 batters through 32 games and have no effect in any of the other games. I just don’t think they impact the game as much as hitters do.
there’s an argument to be made that when an Ace is lined up to face you, you may change your strategy and/or rotation, so it does have an effect
and what about defensive responsibilites??? Which would make it more like 4000 AB’s for a position player that they are or could be involved in.
Currently (in my opinion) I think that many people see the Cy Young and
MVP as equal awards so when a pitcher gets considered for both it causes
an uproar. I think the whole issue of whether a pitcher can/should be considered for the MVP Award is a mess that has been created by MLB and could be easily fixed.
There is an award for the best hitter in each league but how many people actually know what that award is called? I realize many people on this forum will know but the average fan knows of only two awards, the MVP and the CY Young. The Hank Aaron Award is given each year to the best hitter in each league. I think that the award should also take into consideration defense but on the same note that a DH can indeed win the Hank Aaron Award. Currently it only takes into consideration hitting, which is why I assume that the MVP and the Hank Aaron Award winner are not always the same person.
If MLB started started a marketing campaign in order to get the Hank Aaron Award accepted on the same level as the Cy Young Award with fans then you would have the Cy Young for the best pitcher in each league, the Hank Aaron Award for the best hitter in each league, and then the MVP Award given to the best overall player in each league (would have to be either the Cy Young or Hank Aaron winner).
Jose Bautista is MVP. /discussion
How about position players get a Cy Young. We can take the best position player that pitched in a blow out and give him a Position Player Cy Young Award. There. Now everyone is happy. Can Verlander have his MVP now?
The Jose Canseco Award!
There is this thing. It’s called the Hank Aaron Award. It’s for the best hitter.
I’m aware of that.
Ive already come to terms of Bautista not winning the MVP award.. I think if Boston holds on, Ellsbury will win it…
Its hard to be upset with that realistically.. If Granderson and ELlsbury didn’t exist, then ya, the award goes to Bautista who has been significantly better than almost everyone else..
However I feel that in the event of a close race, the player on the team with the most success will win.. it’s probably not right, but it is what it is..
I’m not opposed to a pitcher winning the MVP award, but he would have to be significantly better than any position player that year, which Verlander hasn’t been…
Take out Bautista, Ellsbury, Pedroia, and Granderson’s year and yah Verlander wins it hands down. but thats not the case, and Verlander shouldn’t win, enjoy the Cy Young though, and best of luck in the playoffs