NL MVP : Jimmy Rollins (1 Viewer)

[posty]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...sp&c_id=mlb

Since Barry Bonds won his fourth consecutive National League Most Valuable Player Award in 2004, the NL MVP has had different winners each year, with Albert Pujols outpointing Andruw Jones and Derrek Lee in 2005 and Ryan Howard edging Pujols last year.

Those campaigns were close, and this season figures to have another tight race and perhaps a fourth straight year with a different winner, as several players turned in MVP-caliber seasons.

This year's race should also be close in part because, while there are a number of deserving choices, no player figures to be a unanimous top pick of the voters.

The NL MVP will be announced today at 2 p.m. ET.

Colorado's Matt Holliday led the NL in batting average and RBIs for the NL champion Rockies, while Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley put up MVP-worthy numbers for the NL East champions.

Although the Brewers missed the playoffs, Milwaukee's Prince Fielder led the league with 50 home runs, so he has a shot to become the franchise's first league MVP since Robin Yount won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1989.

The 32 voters on the NL Most Valuable Player Award committee were required to file their ballots, listing the top 10 candidates in order, before the playoffs began. Player are awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for a second-place vote, etc.

Here's a rundown of the top candidates in alphabetical order:

Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers: Fielder led the league in home runs and finished tied for third with 119 RBIs. He also batted .288, slugged .618 and had a .395 on-base percentage, all figures that rank among the league leaders. Since Milwaukee moved to the National League in 1998, no Brewer has finished in the top 10 in MVP voting and just three (Carlos Lee, 17th in 2005, Richie Sexson, 12th in 2003 and Jeromy Burnitz, 19th in 1998) received votes. That will change this season with Fielder.

Matt Holliday, Colorado Rockies: Holliday helped the Rockies win the pennant by finishing first in two Triple Crown categories (batting .340 and driving in 137 runs). His 36 home runs were the fourth most in the NL behind Fielder, Philadelphia's Ryan Howard (47) and Cincinnati's Adam Dunn (40). Holliday also finished among the league leaders in runs (120, third place), hits (216, first) and total bases (386, first).

Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies: Rollins (.296, 34 HR, 94 RBIs, 41 SB) had more total bases (380) than any player in the league except Holliday (386), and Rollins played Gold Glove-caliber defense. No NL shortstop, however, has won the MVP Award since Cincinnati's Barry Larkin in 1995.

DARK HORSES

Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals: Since he made his Major League debut in 2001, Pujols has finished fourth, second, second, fourth, first and second, respectively, in NL MVP voting. The first baseman was among the league leaders in several statistical categories, including batting average, home runs, RBIs, OPS and slugging, but he faces an uphill campaign this season.

Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies: Rollins will likely garner more votes, and Utley's 28-game stint on the disabled list because of a broken hand undermined the All-Star second baseman's MVP campaign. Even so, Utley's numbers -- a .332 batting average, 22 homers, 103 RBIs and 300 total bases in just 122 games -- are impressive and certainly ballot-worthy.

HONORABLE MENTION

Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and David Wright, New York Mets; Howard, Philadelphia Phillies; Miguel Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins; Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves; Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres; Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs.

 

[the moops]

Holliday deserves to win this.

 

[shadyridr]

crapshoot between Holliday, Rollins, and Fielder

Id guess Rollins

 

[RedRaiders]

Holliday deserves to win this.

So does Rollins. Both are deserving. Maybe it'll split.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Holliday deserves to win this.

He's definitely deserving, but his road splits are bad. I think his numbers are a product of Coors field and that may be his downfall in the voting.ETA: The entire Rockies team did better at home at an obscene rate compared to on the road.At Home: .298 avg103 HRs478 RunsOn Road:.261 avg68 HRs382 RunsCompare that to the Philies:At Home: .280 avg116 HRs450 RunsOn Road:.268 avg97 HRs442 RunsI'd say that hitting at Coors is a definite advantage to a players numbers.

 

[ooofffaaa]

As much as I'd like David Wright to win this I'd have to pick Rollins as the favorite.

 

[posty]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...sp&c_id=mlb

PHILADELPHIA -- Considering the amazing streaks for the teams whose uniforms they wore, the National League MVP race had to be this close.

There could be no other finish.

But Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins, all 5-foot-8 of him, stood taller than Colorado's Matt Holliday and Milwaukee's Prince Fielder, as the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced the results of its final individual award given out this season.

Rollins gives the Phillies their seventh MVP award, joining Chuck Klein (1932), Jim Konstanty (1950), Mike Schmidt (1980, 1981, 1986) and Ryan Howard (2006). With Howard, the Phillies become the first club with back-to-back MVPs since San Francisco's Jeff Kent and Barry Bonds in 2000 and 2001.

Tuesday's announcement should spark debate about which player meant more to his team.

Everything Philadelphia accomplished in 2007 focused on Rollins, starting with his January boast that the Phillies were the "team to beat" in the NL East. That disregarded the Mets, who captured the division the previous season and the Braves, who won it seemingly every year before that.

Despite taking flack after Philadelphia's 4-11 season-opening stumble, Rollins remained at the center of the Phillies' resurgence. He batted .346 (28-for-81) with six homers, 15 RBIs and 15 runs in 18 games against those Mets and started all 162 games at shortstop, playing all but 17 innings. Batting in the leadoff spot for most of the season, he kept the offense churning.

He committed just 11 errors, enough for his first Gold Glove, though his fielding percentage was second to Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki.

When closer Brett Myers hurled his glove in the air following a called strike three against Washington's Wily Mo Pena -- securing a 13-4 finish that earned the Phillies their first postseason appearance since 1993 -- Rollins' MVP credentials were cemented.

"If Jimmy doesn't win the MVP, there's something wrong with the system," left fielder Pat Burrell said on the final day of the season. "This guy, he took us on his shoulders from Day 1, and did things in this game that never happened."

The 32 voters on the NL Most Valuable Player Award committee, two from each NL city, filed ballots after the regular season, and most took the option of waiting until Rockies' one-game playoff win over the Padres. Each writer could list a top 10 in order. Players were awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for a second-place vote, etc.

Rollins became the first player in history to collect at least 200 hits, 25 homers, 15 triples and 25 steals in a season. Overall, the switch-hitter batted .296, with 38 doubles, 20 triples, 30 homers, 94 RBIs, 41 stolen bases, 212 hits and 139 runs scored.

The 139 runs scored and 88 extra-base hits were league records for a shortstop. He also set a Major League record with 716 at-bats, and became the third shortstop in history to have at least 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in a season, after Barry Larkin in 1996 and Alex Rodriguez in 1998.

Holliday, meanwhile, captured the league's batting and RBI titles, and led the Rockies into the postseason for the first time since 1995. The left fielder was the focal point of the team's 15-1 run to get there, batting .442 with five homers and 17 RBIs.

Overall, he batted .340, with 50 doubles, 36 homers, 137 RBIs, 216 hits and 120 runs scored. He also led the league in hits, total bases, doubles and extra-base hits.

The statistics only told part of the story. The voters went with the player who backed up a bold prediction. On a team with Howard and Chase Utley, who himself had an MVP campaign despite missing five weeks with a broken hand, Rollins simply was the team's most valuable.

Now, he has the hardware.

"He's the MVP of the National League," manager Charlie Manuel said often in September. "He sets the tone on offense and defense. He plays every day. I've never seen so many hard-hit balls in my life, and he turns them into double plays. He's the guy that got us going ... all year."

 

[RnR]

Holliday deserves to win this.

He's definitely deserving, but his road splits are bad. I think his numbers are a product of Coors field and that may be his downfall in the voting.ETA: The entire Rockies team did better at home at an obscene rate compared to on the road.At Home: .298 avg103 HRs478 RunsOn Road:.261 avg68 HRs382 RunsCompare that to the Philies:At Home: .280 avg116 HRs450 RunsOn Road:.268 avg97 HRs442 RunsI'd say that hitting at Coors is a definite advantage to a players numbers.

Wait, Colorado plays in a hitter's park?

 

[RedRaiders]

16 first place votes for Jimmy to 11 for Holiday. Good race.

 

[Darth Cheney]

J-Roll deserved this. Phils will threepeat next year when Utley wins it.

 

[ffldrew]

Holliday deserves to win this.

He's definitely deserving, but his road splits are bad. I think his numbers are a product of Coors field and that may be his downfall in the voting.ETA: The entire Rockies team did better at home at an obscene rate compared to on the road.At Home: .298 avg103 HRs478 RunsOn Road:.261 avg68 HRs382 RunsCompare that to the Philies:At Home: .280 avg116 HRs450 RunsOn Road:.268 avg97 HRs442 RunsI'd say that hitting at Coors is a definite advantage to a players numbers.

Your flaw in this that both Petco and Dodger stadium are extreme pitchers parks - so the difference is more pronounced. As well as the competition at pitcher the Rockies face - 1-2-3 NL Cy Young for this year are in NL West. Holiday should have won this - if he plays in Philly he hits 50+ homers in that bandbox.

 

[Mister Martie]

Horrible choice. Can't stress this enough.

Hanley Ramirez got jobbed.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Holliday deserves to win this.

He's definitely deserving, but his road splits are bad. I think his numbers are a product of Coors field and that may be his downfall in the voting.ETA: The entire Rockies team did better at home at an obscene rate compared to on the road.At Home: .298 avg103 HRs478 RunsOn Road:.261 avg68 HRs382 RunsCompare that to the Philies:At Home: .280 avg116 HRs450 RunsOn Road:.268 avg97 HRs442 RunsI'd say that hitting at Coors is a definite advantage to a players numbers.

Your flaw in this that both Petco and Dodger stadium are extreme pitchers parks - so the difference is more pronounced. As well as the competition at pitcher the Rockies face - 1-2-3 NL Cy Young for this year are in NL West. Holiday should have won this - if he plays in Philly he hits 50+ homers in that bandbox.

I'll give you Petco, but Dodger stadium is more hitter friendly than Shea Stadium, Turner Field and RFK stadium.Besides in J-Rolls 7 games at those stadiums he had:31 ABs, 8 runs, 9 hits, 1 3b, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 3 SB, .290 avgHolliday in his 16 games at those stadiums had:66 ABs, 10 runs, 16 hits, 3 2bs, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 SB, .242 avgI'd say Petco and Dodger stadium really didn't pose to much of a hinderance on J-Roll.

 

[guru_007]

Surprised Byrnes didn't win

 

[Greco]

In my mind, there could be no other. I am suprised at how close the vote was. A SS on a division winner with his numbers and field presence seemed like a no brainer to me.

 

[greenroom]

In my mind, there could be no other. I am suprised at how close the vote was. A SS on a division winner with his numbers and field presence seemed like a no brainer to me.

Holliday got robbed, but he that is the story of the Rockies off season. Even on the Road Holliday hit for a better average than Rollins did at home! So going for a triple crown is not good enough? What I am sick the most about is that everyone is saying that Rollins got the Phillies to the playoffs, well so did Holliday and he did it with a lesser team around him. He did it with out a team that collapased for them to have a chance. Rollins is a good player don't get me wrong, but a MVP that hits 0.296??? Please.Baseball is once again showing its not how you play the game, but where you play the game at!!

 

[Darth Cheney]

In my mind, there could be no other. I am suprised at how close the vote was. A SS on a division winner with his numbers and field presence seemed like a no brainer to me.

Holliday got robbed, but he that is the story of the Rockies off season. Even on the Road Holliday hit for a better average than Rollins did at home! So going for a triple crown is not good enough? What I am sick the most about is that everyone is saying that Rollins got the Phillies to the playoffs, well so did Holliday and he did it with a lesser team around him. He did it with out a team that collapased for them to have a chance. Rollins is a good player don't get me wrong, but a MVP that hits 0.296??? Please.Baseball is once again showing its not how you play the game, but where you play the game at!!

Come on... Most any baseball fan will tell you that either deserved it. Jimmy won out because he backed up what he boasted at the beginning of the season. He had panache.... he had balls..... he was like a modern day Joe Morgan. Just like the "mystique" (and good numbers) of Ryan Howard last year winning out over Pujols.

 

[the moops]

In my mind, there could be no other. I am suprised at how close the vote was. A SS on a division winner with his numbers and field presence seemed like a no brainer to me.

Holliday got robbed, but he that is the story of the Rockies off season. Even on the Road Holliday hit for a better average than Rollins did at home! So going for a triple crown is not good enough? What I am sick the most about is that everyone is saying that Rollins got the Phillies to the playoffs, well so did Holliday and he did it with a lesser team around him. He did it with out a team that collapased for them to have a chance. Rollins is a good player don't get me wrong, but a MVP that hits 0.296??? Please.Baseball is once again showing its not how you play the game, but where you play the game at!!

Come on... Most any baseball fan will tell you that either deserved it. Jimmy won out because he backed up what he boasted at the beginning of the season. He had panache.... he had balls..... he was like a modern day Joe Morgan. Just like the "mystique" (and good numbers) of Ryan Howard last year winning out over Pujols.

Well, Ryan Howard didn't deserve it last year either.

 

[ack34]

In my mind, there could be no other. I am suprised at how close the vote was. A SS on a division winner with his numbers and field presence seemed like a no brainer to me.

Glad Rollins won it. Have to wonder how much the Mets collapse played into this as well.Derek Jeter was robbed last year with this same scenario, by the way.

 

[Snotbubbles]

In my mind, there could be no other. I am suprised at how close the vote was. A SS on a division winner with his numbers and field presence seemed like a no brainer to me.

Holliday got robbed, but he that is the story of the Rockies off season. Even on the Road Holliday hit for a better average than Rollins did at home! So going for a triple crown is not good enough? What I am sick the most about is that everyone is saying that Rollins got the Phillies to the playoffs, well so did Holliday and he did it with a lesser team around him. He did it with out a team that collapased for them to have a chance. Rollins is a good player don't get me wrong, but a MVP that hits 0.296??? Please.Baseball is once again showing its not how you play the game, but where you play the game at!!

You do realize that if the Mets didn't collapse that the Phillies would have been tied with the Rockies and Padres for the wildcard.You also realize that Larry Walker won the MVP award when he played at Colorado. Jimmy Rollins had a season that no one in the history of MLB has ever had.

 

[Darth Cheney]

In my mind, there could be no other. I am suprised at how close the vote was. A SS on a division winner with his numbers and field presence seemed like a no brainer to me.

Holliday got robbed, but he that is the story of the Rockies off season. Even on the Road Holliday hit for a better average than Rollins did at home! So going for a triple crown is not good enough? What I am sick the most about is that everyone is saying that Rollins got the Phillies to the playoffs, well so did Holliday and he did it with a lesser team around him. He did it with out a team that collapased for them to have a chance. Rollins is a good player don't get me wrong, but a MVP that hits 0.296??? Please.Baseball is once again showing its not how you play the game, but where you play the game at!!

Come on... Most any baseball fan will tell you that either deserved it. Jimmy won out because he backed up what he boasted at the beginning of the season. He had panache.... he had balls..... he was like a modern day Joe Morgan. Just like the "mystique" (and good numbers) of Ryan Howard last year winning out over Pujols.

Well, Ryan Howard didn't deserve it last year either.

Not deserve it by what standards? The name of the award is Most Valuable Player....not Player With the Best Statistics. There is some real subjectivity to the the term most valuable player.

 

[Please See Mine]

In my mind, there could be no other. I am suprised at how close the vote was. A SS on a division winner with his numbers and field presence seemed like a no brainer to me.

Holliday got robbed, but he that is the story of the Rockies off season. Even on the Road Holliday hit for a better average than Rollins did at home! So going for a triple crown is not good enough?

What I am sick the most about is that everyone is saying that Rollins got the Phillies to the playoffs, well so did Holliday and he did it with a lesser team around him. He did it with out a team that collapased for them to have a chance.

Rollins is a good player don't get me wrong, but a MVP that hits 0.296??? Please.

Baseball is once again showing its not how you play the game, but where you play the game at!!

Wow.

Holliday got robbed, but he that is the story of the Rockies off season.

What?

He did it with out a team that collapased for them to have a chance.

The Padres did a nice job, didn't they? That safe call at home didn't help at all either.

What I am sick the most about is that everyone is saying that Rollins got the Phillies to the playoffs, well so did Holliday and he did it with a lesser team around him. He did it with out a team that collapased for them to have a chance.

Lesser team? Five of the Phils' 6 SP's spent time on the DL, as well as their 2 top relievers (going into the season). They lost last year's MVP for almost a month and the guy who probably would have been this year's MVP for a month as well. Rollins held the team together throughout the season.

Even on the Road Holliday hit for a better average than Rollins did at home! So going for a triple crown is not good enough?

Rollins is a good player don't get me wrong, but a MVP that hits 0.296??? Please.

I don't know if you are aware of this, but in baseball, you also have to play defense. Where did Holliday end up in the Gold Glove voting?

Baseball is once again showing its not how you play the game, but where you play the game at!!

Is that why Holliday fell only 17 points short in the voting?I think a case can be made for Holliday, though I lean toward Rollins. To argue that Holliday was the only choice and that Rollins had no merit is lunacy.

 

[RedRaiders]

In my mind, there could be no other. I am suprised at how close the vote was. A SS on a division winner with his numbers and field presence seemed like a no brainer to me.

Holliday got robbed, but he that is the story of the Rockies off season. Even on the Road Holliday hit for a better average than Rollins did at home! So going for a triple crown is not good enough? What I am sick the most about is that everyone is saying that Rollins got the Phillies to the playoffs, well so did Holliday and he did it with a lesser team around him. He did it with out a team that collapased for them to have a chance. Rollins is a good player don't get me wrong, but a MVP that hits 0.296??? Please.Baseball is once again showing its not how you play the game, but where you play the game at!!

 

[Greco]

NL MVP: Jimmy Rollin####s: 212Runs: 1392b: 383b: 20HR: 30RBI: 94SB: 41Preseason predictions backed up: 1

ETA: FWIW, Gold Glove shortstop adds to the "mystique".

 

[the moops]

In my mind, there could be no other. I am suprised at how close the vote was. A SS on a division winner with his numbers and field presence seemed like a no brainer to me.

Glad Rollins won it. Have to wonder how much the Mets collapse played into this as well.Derek Jeter was robbed last year with this same scenario, by the way.

Jeter ball-washers are the worst

 

[Snotbubbles]

NL MVP: Jimmy Rollin####s: 212Runs: 1392b: 383b: 20HR: 30RBI: 94SB: 41Preseason predictions backed up: 1

ETA: FWIW, Gold Glove shortstop adds to the "mystique".

Updated.