Second-half question: Is Granderson an MVP candidate?
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jul 11, 2011 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
When he’s asked about his home run surge, Curtis Granderson keeps coming back to the same old response: He’s technically done this before. With 25 home runs at the break, Granderson has not exceeded anything he’s done in the past.
“They’ve just happened quicker,” he said. “That’s it.”
That won’t be true for much longer. Granderson is five away from his career high, and this is already his second-highest single-season total. He’s clearly a different sort of hitter this season, and he may be having the same sort of breakout season that Robinson Cano had a year ago. Granderson seems to be taking the final step from good to great.
“There’s certain aspects I think that are (better this season),” he said. “But at the same time, it’s not like there are certain things that were terribly bad (before). I think there’s things I have improved on, I think there’s still things I need to improve on, I think there are things that I was better at before that I’ve kind of regained, and there’s things that I’ve lost. So it’s a mix. I’d say I’m probably still neutral.”
Granderson is disappointed in his increased strikeout total, and the fact some teams have been using a shift tells him he’s not using the whole field as well as he used to. But the numbers speak for themselves, and they suggest an MVP candidate. If you like new numbers, FanGraphs says Granderson’s WAR is the second highest in the American League. If you’re old school, he’s only 11 RBI from his total for 2007, the year he finished 10th in MVP voting.
“I kind of value MVP as a mix between who the best player is and who’s helping their team out the most,” Granderson said. “And I think there are a lot of other players who are well beyond where I’m at at this point.”
Associated Press photo
Yes
I don’t think he has a legit shot to be MVP as long as Gammons and NESPN promote the season of Adrian Gonzalez like he’s cured diseases in Boston.
Grandy, if he keeps it up, should be in the top 5 though, but I think Gonzalez, outside of some kind of historic collapse or injury, has it in the bag.
Even if the Yankees take the division and Grandy propels them to it, they’ll still give it to Gonzalez. You already see the stories how incredible it is that he mastered a new league this quickly, etc. As if interleague play doesn’t let these guys play one another more often than in the past.
They might rename the MVP award the Adrian Gonzalez Award by the time Boston press get done with it this season.
The Grandyman
I would say yes.
# GreenBeret7 July 11th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
If O’Conner said that about Ransom, then he’s a bigger idiot than the slob that said it first. He was stupid enough to repeat it.
—————————-
He said it and believed it. He expressed it on his show and I think he might have even written an article about it.
He needs to work on his sacrifice bunting more….
G. Love July 11th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
I don?t think he has a legit shot to be MVP as long as Gammons and NESPN promote the season of Adrian Gonzalez like he?s cured diseases in Boston.
************************
Yea….barring an insane 2nd half I doubt Granderson will win…..but I think he can be a candidate. Bautista has been the best player so far…..
He’s in the race with Gonzalez and others for 2nd place behind Bautista.
A candidate, yes. A winner no. Sabathia might be the Yanks MVP in the first half.
# G. Love July 11th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
I don’t think he has a legit shot to be MVP as long as Gammons and NESPN promote the season of Adrian Gonzalez like he’s cured diseases in Boston.
Grandy, if he keeps it up, should be in the top 5 though, but I think Gonzalez, outside of some kind of historic collapse or injury, has it in the bag.
Even if the Yankees take the division and Grandy propels them to it, they’ll still give it to Gonzalez. You already see the stories how incredible it is that he mastered a new league this quickly, etc. As if interleague play doesn’t let these guys play one another more often than in the past.
They might rename the MVP award the Adrian Gonzalez Award by the time Boston press get done with it this season.
———————————————————-
not tossing Jose Bautista out yet……lot of peeps thought he was one and done
He has positioned himself to be considered if he has a strong second half and some of the other top candidates falter slightly.
The MVP isn’t the CY Young though…..Bautista wont win the MVP if the Jays finish in 4th place…..
Non Bautista division he is definitely a contender.
But Bautista is in a world of his own so far this season.
Are there any thoughts about the possibility of a move for Kershaw? Dodgers arent the most stable franchise right now.
What has impressed me most is that his defense this year is A LOT better than I thought it would be. He goes back on balls extremely well. Only Upton is ahead of him in CF IMO defensively.
(I don’t follow NL)
Granderson has been the second most valuable player in the AL this year, so yes he’s an MVP candidate.
Bautista is clearly the front runner, then a significant gap then Granderson, then probably Verlander and Sabathia and finally Gonzalez.
You could rank those last 4 in any order really but Bautista beats them all.
Sabathia is pretty much always the Yanks MVP these days…..he was last year as well.
Toronto can finish in 4th place just as well without Bautista.
Toronto can finish in 4th place just as well without Bautista.
—
Bautista is still the most valuable player in the AL.
AGon will be announcing he found a cure for cancer, AIDS, and STDs this next month…thus solidifying both his MVP status and also that of World’s Most Interesting Man…. supplanting the Dos Equis guy.
“Are there any thoughts about the possibility of a move for Kershaw?”
They won’t trade him unless they get a chance to just ravage someones farm system and even then they may not. He’s really good, he’s really young, and he’s really cheap for a few more years.
Some voters may penalize him for being on Toronto, but if he hits near 60 HR, he will likely win it.
It’s pretty embarrassing that some writers are promoting AGon as the first half MVP over Bautista.
It’s not even close.
bisonthrow July 11th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
Are there any thoughts about the possibility of a move for Kershaw? Dodgers arent the most stable franchise right now.
___
What court do you deal with?
Best player…perhaps, but, that doesn’t mean most valuable…except to the owner’s bank account.
# blake July 11th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
The MVP isn’t the CY Young though…..Bautista wont win the MVP if the Jays finish in 4th place…..
——————————————————–
your right
“Bautista is still the most valuable player in the AL.”
Yes so far…..but that doesn’t mean he will win the MVP.
Best player…perhaps, but, that doesn’t mean most valuable…except to the owner’s bank account.
—
Bautista has been the best and most valuable player in the AL this year.
The MVP isn’t the CY Young though…..Bautista wont win the MVP if the Jays finish in 4th place…..
===============================
Guys have won it on a last place team before. Tends to have little to do with value and everything to do with “Player of the Year”-ness.
If it were truly based on value, it would be a starting pitcher a lot more than it has ended up being.
Bautista has 70 less AB’s than AGone
“Are there any thoughts about the possibility of a move for Kershaw?”
———————————————————————————————————————-
Of course there is….if he buys a new house in his hometown.
If Gonzalez wins 2 of the triple crown titles like he’s on pace for and Boston makes the playoffs while the Jays finish 4th then Gonzalez will win the award going away. That doesn’t mean he’s the best player……but that’s just what happens.
Best player…perhaps, but, that doesn’t mean most valuable…except to the owner’s bank account.
——————
The award is not the MVPONACT (most valuable player on a contending team).
It is who is the most valuable player. Who is most valuable to their team. Bautista has clearly been that player so far.
The only times players win with bad teams get the award is when there are no clear cut winners with better seasons…like Banks, Dawson and Ripken.
“The award is not the MVPONACT (most valuable player on a contending team).”
New Rule: Change the name of the award.
blake,
I think you are underestimating the voters. Last year Sabathia was on a playoff team, had the most wins, etc. but the voters (correctly) chose a guy with a 13-12 record to win the Cy Young. If Gonzalez and Bautista both continue on their current pace I think the writers will correctly choose Bautista to win.
Mell,
I don’t think anyone has won the MVP on a last place team when there has also been a comparable player on a playoff team.
If you like new numbers, FanGraphs says Granderson’s WAR is the second highest in the American League.
=====================
Maybe they updated numbers overnight, but at 4.7 Granderson is currently tied with Pedroia for 4th in WAR in the AL (Fangraphs version) behind Bautista’s 6.6 and Gonzalez and Ellsbury who are both at 4.8
Rodriguez is 7th at 4.0
AGon is so great that:
* He can have a conversation with a blind man in sign language
* Robin leach did a special on a outhouse he built.
* He once got a woman pregnant ( with twins ) just by talking to her .
* Ralph Lauren one asked him if he could use his feces for a new product line of cologne
* The Superbowl plays at his half time show.
my top four best players in 1st half
AL…Bautista,AGone,Granderson,Ellsbury
NL…Kemp,Fielder,Braun,Reyes
I don’t think anyone has won the MVP on a last place team when there has also been a comparable player on a playoff team.
=============================
Probably not. Right now though, there isn’t a comparable player on a playoff team.
The only times players win with bad teams get the award is when there are no clear cut winners with better seasons…like Banks, Dawson and Ripken.
—
To be fair, Bautista has been significantly better than Adrian Gonzalez this year. It’s not even close
hitters of course
Patrick,
They are different awards. The CY young has always been given to the best pitcher…..independent of how good their team was. That hasn’t changed…..what changed was the criteria for determining the best pitcher. The MVP has never been for the “best player”
Doesn’t matter. Gonzalez has singlehandedly mastered a new league, a new ball park, a new contract, has taught Ortiz the fine art of hitting while ensuring future generations of Boston players learn how to “play the game the right way” at his feet for years to come. He is the messiah of baseball. Granderson and Bautista are just lowly apostles.
Sorry to get all bibical on y’all but Gonzalez is that good. Just ask Gammons. He’s erecting a statue to him made of the withered wood of boxes excavated from the depths of the water from the Boston Tea Party.
He’s also homegrown. SD and all his other teams were actually minor league affiliates of Boston so he counts as a player developed.
Praise him. Love him. He was sent to Boston to save baseball from Adrian Beltre and Victor Martinez.
AL…Bautista,AGone,Granderson,Ellsbury
——————
Bautista-Granderson-AGon-Miggy for me
I do think baseball needs a 3rd award for hitters. Like how the NFL has Offensive and Defensive Players of the year.
The “and it’s not even close” argument is pure stupidity.
Top four SP
AL…Verlander,Weaver,CC,Shields
NL…Doc,Hamels,Kershaw,Lee
Don’t ever underestimate the popularity factor in MVP voting….I still can’t get over that Mickey Cochrane robbed Lou Gehrig…look at their stats!
Mell,
I think Gonzalez has been comparable. He’s leading the AL in BA and RBI…….OPS doesn’t rule in these sort of things.
The “and it’s not even close” argument is pure stupidity.
———————-
Explain how Gonzalez has been close to Bautista.
CC has the 2nd highest WAR in baseball (behind Halladay) for a pitcher I believe.
“Explain how Gonzalez has been close to Bautista.”
Better BA, more RBI, and he plays for the Red Sox. Baustista has been the best player in baseball this year……my argument is that of the season ended today the voters would give the award to Gonzalez because that’s what they have traditionally done when there is a good candidate for a playoff team and the other guys team isnt
CC has the 2nd highest WAR in baseball (behind Halladay) for a pitcher I believe.
=================================
Using the Fangraphs measure, this is true.
I think Granderson has been great, but Bautista and Gonzalez are far ahead. The second half and the standings will detrermine MVP. If the Sox win the division, I would bet Gonzalez would win. A player usually must be far superior to anyone on a winning team on a losing team to win MVP. Player of the year is a different issue.
Lately, CC is pitching about as well as he did when he was with in Milwaukee.
BloggingBombers Jered Weaver and Roy Halladay will start the All-Star Game. #AllStarGame #MLB
# blake July 11th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
CC has the 2nd highest WAR in baseball (behind Halladay) for a pitcher I believe.
————————————————
Verlander will end up with 20 + wins, 270 IP and 260 K’s
Plus…..I guarantee you that there is a percentage of voters who think Bautista is on steroids and wouldn’t vote for him for that reason…..doesn’t make it right but also doesn’t mean its not true……they don’t need evidence….only suspension
“Verlander will end up with 20 + wins, 270 IP and 260 K’s”
Sabathia is on a similar pace minus 30-40 ks
Yes!
Tyler Austin is having a Hell of a start to his career with Tampa (GCL). Another home run this afternoon. 19 RBI in 17 games.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....pid=592122
AGon has a better BA, but Bautista’s OBP is still 54 (!) points higher.
And while AGon has more RBIs, he also has 27 more PAs with RISP than Bautista and 35 more with men on base. Not to mention he has protection in the lineup while Bautista is constantly getting pitched around with men on.
# blake July 11th, 2011 at 12:32 pm
“Verlander will end up with 20 + wins, 270 IP and 260 K’s”
Sabathia is on a similar pace minus 30-40 ks
———————————————————————-
it will be a tough vote in AL…..NL looks to be Doc
Granderson is in the top 3-5 conversation but if Bautista and AGon continue doing what they are doing Granderson is not close.
Jered Weaver starts…
hmm, AL is in trouble.
LGY,
If the question is who has been the best player…..its Bautista……but Gonzalez will win the MVP I think if things continue on in the 2nd half as they did in the first half.
BryanHoch Greetings from Phoenix http://wp.me/p1rXvG-8Wpf
Yankees are 10 games over .500 in 20 games pitched by Sabathia and 8 games over .500 in the 68 games pitched by someone else.
That’s value. Pitchers aren’t recognized for the MVP enough, IMO.
Granderson is in the top 3-5 conversation but if Bautista and AGon continue doing what they are doing Granderson is not close.
——————–
Because Granderson plays CF (and very well) he is right there with AGon and maybe more valuable.
MVP voters are mesmerized by record or iconic milestones. 60 HR will win it for Bautista because they often view the award as a best player award, not most valuable.
The “and it’s not even close” argument is pure stupidity.
—
Wow look at how wrong you are
Because Granderson plays CF (and very well) he is right there with AGon and maybe more valuable
============================
Kinda simplistic, but take Gonzalez off the Red Sox and Granderson off the Yankees. Which team is in deeper sh*t?
BloggingBombers National League lineup: Weeks 4, Beltran DH, Kemp 8, Fielder 3, McCann 2, Berkman 9, Holliday 7, Tulowitzki 6, Rolen 5, Halladay 1
“Kinda simplistic, but take Gonzalez off the Red Sox and Granderson off the Yankees. Which team is in deeper sh*t?”
The Yankees.
‘Ol Yellowtooth Gammons will be at the festivities in Phoenix pushing hard for Gonzalez as MVP.
For those who disagree he’ll push Dustmite Pedroia.
The Grand-man is a leading MVP candidate in my opinion. His numbers rank with all other leading candidates (Bautista, Cabrera, and Gonzalez). However, putting up those numbers, and playing a crucial middle position, centerfield, sets him aside from the other candidates who play on the edges.
I think McCutchen has to be considered one of the best players in the NL if Granderson is considered one of the best in the AL. Look at his numbers on the Pirates.
But he won’t get much play b/c he plays for the Pirates….
“a because they often view the award as a best player award, not most valuable.”
Who was the last player to win the MVP award playing for a non playoff team? Andre Dawson?…..
Ray Kruml is pushing hard to get to Scranton this summer. Another homer to lead off the game today and closing on .300. 29 steals so far. He’s a clone of Gardner with a bat that’s starting to come on. Great glove and arm in all 3 outfields.
Heyer is pitching for Trenton and Suttle has a first inning homer (settle down, TY and Tampa cougars).
Did he really just announce Cano is batting 8th? Or did I miss part of this press conference that made that list make sense…
I think the Yankees coukd manage better without Granderson than Boston could without Gonzalez.
Who was the last player to win the MVP award playing for a non playoff team? Andre Dawson?…..
========================
Alex Rodriguez
BloggingBombers American League lineup: Granderson 8, Cabrera 6, Gonzalez 3, Bautista 9, Hamilton 7, Beltre 5, Ortiz DH, Cano 4, Avila 2, Weaver 1
I think the Yankees coukd manage better without Granderson than Boston could without Gonzalez
==============================
Yeah, me too.
blake July 11th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
I think the Yankees coukd manage better without Granderson than Boston could without Gonzalez.
**************************
absolutely
If Bautista and AGon continue doing what they are doing, Granderson will not ome close to winning the award. Only “some” Yankee fans that don’t choose to be realistic would think otherwise.
Kinda simplistic, but take Gonzalez off the Red Sox and Granderson off the Yankees. Which team is in deeper sh*t?
——-
The Yankees.
The Red Sox have Ortiz providing elite middle of the order production, while Granderson is the only Yankee who hasn’t underperformed and is providing that type of offense.
Plus it would be much easier to pick up a 1B at the deadline to provide offense.
Patrick July 11th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
The “and it’s not even close” argument is pure stupidity.
—
Wow look at how wrong you are
———————————————————————————————————————-
WOW! In who’s opinion? You and the other three illegitimate children of Bill James?
Mell,
That’s right…..who were the other contenders that year?
BoJo July 11th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
What has impressed me most is that his defense this year is A LOT better than I thought it would be. He goes back on balls extremely well. Only Upton is ahead of him in CF IMO defensively.
////
Granderson is thoroughly under rated defensively, but I think that’s because lots of people aren’t actually goin to the games & seeing how much ground he covers & how flawlessly he gets off & running to track balls down. He goes back great not just on deep flyballs, but on rockets. Good to see another Yank fan highlight how good he has been for us.
If Bautista and AGon continue doing what they are doing, Granderson will not ome close to winning the award. Only “some” Yankee fans that don’t choose to be realistic would think otherwise
——
Keith Law who is almost universally viewed as a Yankee Hater on this board believes Granderson is #2 behind Bautista.
& I agree with you Bojo on BJ, but his attention span isn’t as sharp as Grandy’s, lol.
LGY July 11th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Keith Law who is almost universally viewed as a Yankee Hater on this board believes Granderson is #2 behind Bautista.
************
Now you are using Keith Law to support your argument? Really? LOL
Granderson plays CF….thats a big factor in value when you have one with 25 homers at the break. As good as he’s been…..Gonzalez gives the Red Sox offense an identity the way Manny did……I think it would drastically change if he weren’t there……moreso than the Yankee lineup would wihout Granderson…..JMO
Now you are using Keith Law to support your argument? Really? LOL
——
Actually, I’m using Keith Law to show how ridiculous your statement about only “unrealistic Yankee fans” is.
TylerKepner Fifteen different MLB teams have a starter in the All-Star Game. Not bad.
“I think the Yankees coukd manage better without Granderson than Boston could without Gonzalez.”
Highest OPS+ with out AGon, Grandy
RS: Ortiz (160), Youk (147), Ellsbury (135, Pedroia (128)
Yankees: Tex (133), Cano (130), Alex on DL (129), Swisher (112)
Their offense is considerably deeper.
Actually LGY anyone can look at “basic statistics”, no absurd metrics are needed, and AGon wins hands down. That’s a fact.
JackCurryYES When I asked Jeter in June if he might HR for his 3,000th, he said, “No. I realized a long time ago, I’m not going to catch Babe Ruth in any
JackCurryYES home run records. There’s always a chance, but I’m not going to try.” Try or not, Jeter did it.
Rich,
Eh….OPS+ isn’t everything and part of my arguement has to do with the effect that Gonzalez has on tbr rest of their lineup. The Yanks couldn’t afford to lose Granderson now……but if everyone was healthy I think they coukd absorb the loss of him more than Boston could Gonzalez. Both are important to their teams though.
That’s right…..who were the other contenders that year?
==========================
Strange season that year. Delgado had 145 RBI, Rodriguez had 47 homers. Posada was third that year with 5 1st place votes (Rodriguez only got 6).
Actually LGY anyone can look at “basic statistics”, no absurd metrics are needed, and AGon wins hands down. That’s a fact.
—–
That’s fantastic, but that is not the discussion we are having.
J. Alfred Prufrock July 11th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
& I agree with you Bojo on BJ, but his attention span isn’t as sharp as Grandy’s, lol.
___
Let’s acquire him first, and then get him a script for Ritalin.
btw, The guy who caught Jeter’s 3000th hit received remuneration of about $70,000 in exchange. He has a tax liability on that.
WOW! In who’s opinion? You and the other three illegitimate children of Bill James?
—
Anyone that can look at stats agrees that Bautista has been far better than Gonzalez this year.
Bautista .334/.468/.702 31 HR
Gonzalez .354/.414/.591 17 HR
How is that in any way close? Bautista is far and away the best player in the AL
New Post- Second-half question: Did May 14 change Jorge Posada’s season?
LGY – go peddle crazy somewhere else please. AGon leads Granderson in almost every statistical category, and despite it’s shortcomings as a stand alone measurement, – Curtis Granderson is 78th in batting average in the American League. That’s right, 78th.
In a NY minute would I add BJ to this team. KLong & BJ….
///
Granderson’s slugging is taking for granted. His power in CF is why the Yankees can carry Brett Gardner in left & get that complementary change of pace he adds to the offense.
Without Granderson, the Yanks would have no such luxury to run out a “run prevention” borderline bat out there. That’s how valuable Granderson is to the offense.
West Coast Yankee Fan July 11th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
LGY – go peddle crazy somewhere else please. AGon leads Granderson in almost every statistical category, and despite it’s shortcomings as a stand alone measurement, – Curtis Granderson is 78th in batting average in the American League. That’s right, 78th.
///
Marry him.
I call it like I see it.