Nov 23
Joe Mauer has been named the 2009 American League MVP. Ben Zobrist 8th place finish, was the highest ever for the Rays. Zobrist’s highest vote was a sixth-place vote. Evan Longoria finished 19th.
Carlos Pena had the highest finish ever by the Rays in the AL MVP voting with 9th place finishes in 2007 and 2008. He also received the highest votes with two third place votes in 2007 and one third place vote in 2008.
This was the first second year in which more than one Ray received MVP votes. Aubrey Huff finished 24th (1-9th, 1-10th place vote) in 2003. Carl Crawford finished 26th (1-9th place vote) in 2006 and Jorge Cantu finished 27th (1-10th place vote) in 2005, the only other Rays to receive MVP consideration. In other words, Zobrist is just the second Tampa Bay Ray to receive MVP consideration from a voter other than somebody that covers the Rays (each market gets two votes).
Nov 23
The AL MVP award will be announced today, which means Ben Zobrist is about to become the latest and maybe most controversial name in the fight between those that believe stats are the end-all, be-all and those that think Sabermetrics is synonymous with Satan.
According to Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Zobrist was the most valuable player in the American League this season*.
So what does this mean for Zobrist’s MVP chances and the value of WAR as a Super Statistic?
Zorilla will not win the AL MVP. Only a handful of the most radical statheads have dared make that argument. But Zobrist likely won’t even finish in the top 3 and that might just be too much for te Sabermetric side to handle.
Pro War
WAR is an excellent stat that attempts to place all players on a level playing field regardless of position, league, home ballpark or female hair color preference.
WAR value includes a players contributions at the plate and in the field (for batters) or on the mound (for pitchers) and also takes into account the value of the position a player plays.
It is unbiased. No matter how fair we try to judge, our eyes will always bias even if not at a conscious level.
The likely winner of the AL MVP, Joe Mauer is at a disadvantage in WAR because the stat is unable to accurately assess the defensive value of catchers.
Anti-WAR
Even most WAR believers don’t think Zobrist was the most valuable American Leaguer this year, which essentially admits that the stat is not perfect (it is not). But those that still doubt the value of WAR will see that as proof that WAR is unreliable.
Zobrist was second only to Franklin Gutierrez in the AL in defensive value. Was Zorilla the second most valuable defensive player in the AL this season? We are not even sure Zobrist was te second most valuable defensive player on the Rays. And if Zobrist’s defensive WAR is skewed, then why should anybody accept his total WAR?
WAR is universal, so we should be able to compare players in the AL to players in the NL. Albert Pujols posted a WAR of 8.4 in 2009. Would anybody dare argue that Zobrist was more valuable than Pujols?
*Actually, if we are going to be true to WAR, Zack Greinke was the best player in the AL with a 9.6 WAR. Justin Verlander was the second best pitcher at 8.2 WAR.
Nov 23
Let’s start today with several Hot Stove goodies from Joe Smith…
- Andrew Friedman is looking at right-handed and left-handed relievers and has a target list of free agents and trade targets depending on how the market plays out.
- Smith lists lefties Joe Beimel, Will Ohman and Darren Oliver and righties Kevin Gregg, J.J. Putz and John Smoltz as possibilities.
- Smith says if the Rays want a starting catcher, they may have to acquire one via trade.
- The Rangers and White Sox have called the Rays about the availability of BJ Upton.
- The Mets and Braves have inquired about the availability of Carl Crawford.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Ken Rosenthal and John Paul Morosi of Fox Sports utters what we have openly worried about around here for a while. That the Yankees want to re-sign Johnny Damon with an eye towards Carl Crawford replacing him in 2011. Rosenthal and Morosi also name other teams that will likely be in the bidding should CC become a free agent after next season, including the White Sox, Angels and Astros. [Fox Sports]
- The ABC group that was put together to help recommend a new home for the Rays may present their findings to Hillsborough County officials. [Tampa Tribune]
- Guess who wants to play in 2010 and lists his hometown Rays as an option? In what is becoming an annual tradition, it is Gary Sheffield! Maybe Sheff is willing to eat the remainder of Pat Burrell’s contract. [MLB Trade Rumors]
