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Mauer was robbed...

Rockin' Doc Nov 01 2009 09:10 PM

The Cardinals Albert Pujols and the Yankees Derek Jeter were named the 2009 recipients of the Hank Aaron Award as the outstanding offensive performers for their respective league. Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins had a higher average, more doubles, more home runs, more RBI's, more walks, fewer strike outs, more total bases, a higher slugging percentage, and higher OPs than Jeter. Of course, to be fair, Jeter did have more singles and stolen bases than Mauer. Jeter had a very good offensive season, but it must be that Yankee mystique at work once again, because I don't see how any rational individual with half a brain could not vote for Joe Mauer in the AL this year.

A Boy Named Seo Nov 01 2009 09:16 PM Re: Mauer was robbed...

Just create the Derek Jeter Award for Incredible Awesomeness and give it to him every year and leave the rest of the shit alone.

Frayed Knot Nov 01 2009 09:17 PM Re: Mauer was robbed...

I saw that too. Just for kicks I looked up the 'Runs Created' stat for the AL this year to see that Jeter finished 12th. The good thing is that nobody cares about that award to the point where MLB probably did more harm to Aaron than good by concocting it in the first place.

Ashie62 Nov 01 2009 09:18 PM Re: Mauer was robbed...

yes, and intangible qualities count double

Fman99 Nov 01 2009 09:35 PM Re: Mauer was robbed...

[quote="Ashie62":3lvu68p8]yes, and intangible qualities count double[/quote:3lvu68p8] Ironical.

Frayed Knot Nov 01 2009 09:45 PM Re: Mauer was robbed...

If we're going to honor old Braves I think Jeter should have won the Joe Adcock award. Adcock, like Jeter, was the third best offensive player on his team too.

MFS62 Nov 02 2009 07:20 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

I've posted before that the most valuable player award should go to the player who was the most valuable contributor to his team's success while the Sporting News' Player of the Year Award should go to the player with the best statistics. I guess the Aaron Award is MLB's version of TSN's award. If they're going to give some sort of MVP to Jeter, well be my guest. But if the Aaron award is all about numbers/ production, it should not go to Jeter. Doc makes the case for Mauer, and I can live with that. Later

Centerfield Nov 02 2009 07:25 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

[quote="MFS62"]I've posted before that the most valuable player award should go to the player who was the most valuable contributor to his team's success while the Sporting News' Player of the Year Award should go to the player with the best statistics. Later

I'd be interested to hear you explain how those two are different.

Edgy DC Nov 02 2009 07:37 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

Jeter did not have the best statistics.

MFS62 Nov 02 2009 08:00 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

[quote="Centerfield"][quote="MFS62"]I've posted before that the most valuable player award should go to the player who was the most valuable contributor to his team's success while the Sporting News' Player of the Year Award should go to the player with the best statistics. Later

I'd be interested to hear you explain how those two are different.

I've explained it before.
But, briefly - Yogi Berra won three MVP awards, yet he never led his league in a single offensive category. At the time, there was little debate that he deserved him.
Ernie Banks won the MVP award twice, yet his team finished last or next to last(maybe both of those years). But he had great statistics. How fucking valuable was he in helping his team win if they didn't win diddley?

Later

Benjamin Grimm Nov 02 2009 08:17 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

The Sporting News awards have become as irrelevant as the publication that issues them.

MFS62 Nov 02 2009 08:20 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

[quote="Benjamin Grimm"]The Sporting News awards have become as irrelevant as the publication that issues them.

That's why I said that MLB's Aaron Award seems to have been created for the same purpose that TSN's award used to serve.

Later

metirish Nov 02 2009 08:21 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

This is not going that good is it?

Frayed Knot Nov 02 2009 08:22 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

[quote="MFS62"]I've posted before that the most valuable player award should go to the player who was the most valuable contributor to his team's success while the Sporting News' Player of the Year Award should go to the player with the best statistics. I guess the Aaron Award is MLB's version of TSN's award.

The Aaron award was essentially a PR attempt by MLB to honor Hank by naming each league's best offensive player and make it distinct from the MVP award. The problem is it's poorly publicized and barely known. It's like they created something only to ignore it.
The MVP is supposed to reward the entire player and is more subject to individual interpretation.
The problem with any Sporting News award is that the publication is now a worthless rag that barely covers baseball much less has any credibility.
The problem with Jeter winning the best offensive player in the league award are too numerous to get into.

MFS62 Nov 02 2009 08:27 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

That's what I said, or at least tried to say. Later

Edgy DC Nov 02 2009 08:48 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

But, briefly - Yogi Berra won three MVP awards, yet he never led his league in a single offensive category. At the time, there was little debate that he deserved him. Ernie Banks won the MVP award twice, yet his team finished last or next to last(maybe both of those years). But he had great statistics. How fucking valuable was he in helping his team win if they didn't win diddley? You seem to be on two different tacks. (1) This award should go the best offender as distinct from the best all-round player. (2) The MVP should go to a player on a team that contended to the end. As far as (1), Jeter was not the best offender in the league. Neither was he the best on his team. As far as (2), I disagree. And the Cubs finished neither last nor next to last either of those years.

Edgy DC Nov 02 2009 08:57 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

[quote="Frayed Knot"]The Aaron award was essentially a PR attempt by MLB to honor Hank by naming each league's best offensive player and make it distinct from the MVP award. The problem is it's poorly publicized and barely known. It's like they created something only to ignore it.

The larger problem is that they turned it over to fans and use MLB media to encourage fans to run to the ballot to vote for the nominee from their favorite team. (Yes, David Wright was nominated.) So to say it's credibility is strained doesn't quite cut it.

Call it racial coddling, or Bud sucking up to his Milwaukee heroes, or just call it ill judgment, but, in the end, they've actually dis-honored Aaron by linking his name to such a farce. The funny thing is that this is the second time they've failed to to create a viable award in Aaron's name. If they call a third time, Hank, don't answer the phone.

Centerfield Nov 02 2009 09:25 AM Re: Mauer was robbed...

[quote="MFS62"] I've explained it before. But, briefly - Yogi Berra won three MVP awards, yet he never led his league in a single offensive category. At the time, there was little debate that he deserved him. Ernie Banks won the MVP award twice, yet his team finished last or next to last(maybe both of those years). But he had great statistics. How fucking valuable was he in helping his team win if they didn't win diddley? Later

Where to begin...

I don't know the specifics of Berra's MVP awards. He may have never led the league in any one category, but he may have still been the best overall player in the league (maybe he came in 2nd in all categories). Factor in defense, his position, and he may well have deserved those awards. That there was or wasn't debate over his selection means nothing to me.

If Banks was the best player, then he deserved the award, regardless of where his team finished.

"How fucking valuable was he in helping his team win if they didn't win diddley?"

Just as valuable as Berra's contributions were. Perhaps more, depending on who was better. I have never understood factoring wins (a team statistic) when determining the winner of an individual honor.

Wins are a collective effort. Herculean efforts sometimes do not translate into wins because the other teammates add little to the mix. With a better squad around the player, that same Herculean effort could turn the team into a juggernaut. I don't see how the efforts of his teammates should have any effect on that player being recognized for his efforts.

Your argument seems to be that the honors should be awarded as such:

Henry Aaron: Best all-around player
MVP: Best all around player whose teammates are good enough to help the team win, but not good enough to take any votes themselves.

holychicken Nov 02 2009 12:22 PM Re: Mauer was robbed...

What a joke. I bet Jeter wins the MVP and the Cy Young award for both the AL and the NL.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 02 2009 12:37 PM Re: Mauer was robbed...

Historically, is there a strong correlation between the Aaron awards' recipients and the MVP award recipient set? Not so much: During the ten years since the Aaron award's inception in 1999, there have been just 6 matches (out of 20 potential). This doesn't necessarily augur bad things for Mr. Mauer's chances at receiving the slightly-less-Mickey-Mouse award.

metirish Nov 02 2009 01:14 PM Re: Mauer was robbed...

Quickly......name five out of the last ten winners not counting these two...if you can then you are a sick puppy.