After four plate appearances, here is a ridiculous question for you to ponder. Isn’t possible that Evan Longoria has the inside track to win the AL MVP award?
All he did was get a hit and drive in a run with a sac fly. That’s not exactly Kirk Gibson. But, the lineup felt different. The hitters around him acted different. We scored more than 0 runs.
Lets say last night wasn’t our weekly offensive “outburst” and this club is going to go from a .500 team that scores 1 run per night to a good team that scores 4 runs per night. And lets say that last night is the tipping point. That change puts us in the playoffs. Right? No question we at least use an improvement like that to get into the wild-card play-in game (does it count as making the playoffs if you get into the one-game wild card series? Or, do you have to win Game 163 to be a ‘playoff team?’). But, with the Yankees recent struggles, it isn’t unrealistic to think the Rays can win the East if they start playing better.
So, lets say they win a Wild Card or win the East. Isn’t Longoria the MVP? Can you reasonably argue that another player in the American League was more “valuable” than him under that hypothetical? The team is a playoff team with him. They are a marginally good team without him. That is the very definition of value. Right?
Don’t be afraid to watch some west coast baseball dude. They’ve had a few guys out there keepin it real for a whole season, not just 2 months.
I do not understand what the express “West Coast Baseball” means. Is there some place they play baseball besides the West Coast of Florida?
My point is, the 2 months is what proves Longo’s value (assuming he proves the value and all that). It is precisely the lack of playing time that demonstrates how “valuable” he is. Right? See what I did there?
Brazelton is of the same cut as the Patriots fans who argue that Tom Brady is the show-in for MVP every year. Yet it’s painfully obvious that Peyton Manning was always the more valuable QB every year. Not because he’s better, but more valuable. When Brady went down, the Pats had a winning season. When Manning went down, the Colts won (1) game all season.
So yeah, there’s other ballplayers doing wonderful things, but Mark is saying that we can [hopefully] see that with Longo, the Rays are a substantially better team than without, which makes him VALUABLE.
That being said, the same argument easily applies to the Angels with Pujols. Until Pujols finally found his swing this year the Angels were awful. Since he started hitting again they are on track.
same argument can be made of Mike Trout
Maybe, but I think that Trout’s play being hot or cold doesn’t affect that team nearly as much as when Pujols being hot or cold. Pujols is the HUGE FA signing, Trout is the break-out rookie. Big difference.
The most valuable player has transformed to most popular player. We forget about the all-star game by end of season. As it stands, when we make the post season, and he has continued like he has the first 2/3 of season….then I have to say Fernando Rodney is the most valuable player. Cause if it comes down to a half game that we win the east or wildcard spot by….then no doubt he is the most valuable player.
This is absolutely true. It is really the player on a good team that has had the best season. That isn’t just true in MLB. It is true in all sports. At least the NCAA recognized that and started awarding Most Outstanding Player after the final four.
As good as Fernando Rodney has been, I think there are good statistical arguments to show that closers aren’t really that important. But, he has a good claim to keep the Rays afloat.
But, I do see the Value in Longo as well. No doubt about that.
It’s going to be hard to ignore this current streak coinciding with Longo’s return. A 6-pack is a nice thing.