Who is your NL MVP at this point in the season?

[dp33]

You are trying to argue for Braun exactly what Kemp fans were trying to argue AGAINST Braun last year. It's comical that you Brewer fans can't see that. Statistically Kemp had more homers and more stolen bases and had a better season! But most Brewers fans were arguing the Dodgers weren't in the playoff hunt, therefore that separated Braun from Kemp (and I agreed, I would've had 1. Braun 2. Kemp on my ballot last year if I had one, I think the right guy won the MVP last year even though it was CLOSE)

Now that the Brewers are sitting in what...3rd or 4th place and under .500 and Braun is having a better year, the playoff contention argument is thrown out the window AND on top of him not even having the best offensive season in the NL. You have Votto, McCutchen, and Wright all having better seasons the Braun and their teams are either in 1st or WC contention. Wright has less HR and SB - yeah yeah - whatever, he gets on base way more than Braun and has a higher OPS. Braun isn't light years above Wright to put him ahead in the MVP race at this point. And Wright drives in just as many runs as Braun. All important factors.

Easily ahead of Braun in MVP race: McCutchen, Votto, Wright, Dickey

Guys I was thinking could be ahead of Braun in the race b/c of how much they meant to their team but there is a debate: Ruiz, Melky Cabrera, Carlos Beltran (edited this one in b/c I forgot him)

But you see, I've already thrown out so many other names besides Braun that he really shouldn't be in the discussion. I'm sure you read "Carlos Ruiz" or "Melky Cabrera" name and just laugh at the thought of them being in the discussion of MVP right now.

That's how I feel about Braun. He's having a great year but he's not in the discussion.

You can see why no one would take your thoughts seriously if you're voting for Melky Cabrera ahead of Ryan Braun as MVP, no? As hive17 pointed out, you're just hating on him. Which is fine - I don't like Braun either. But I wouldn't go ahead and vote Melky Cabrera as more valuable than Braun, that's for sure.

And just to make sure I understand your math - .014 OPS points is a big difference, but 61 RBIs vs 59 RBIs is "just as many". With math like that, how could you not vote for David Wright?

 

[markakis8]

You can see why no one would take your thoughts seriously if you're voting for Melky Cabrera ahead of Ryan Braun as MVP, no? As hive17 pointed out, you're just hating on him. Which is fine - I don't like Braun either. But I wouldn't go ahead and vote Melky Cabrera as more valuable than Braun, that's for sure.

And just to make sure I understand your math - .014 OPS points is a big difference, but 61 RBIs vs 59 RBIs is "just as many". With math like that, how could you not vote for David Wright?

Not sure how you got me hating on Braun from that post - especially since I'm one of the few that actually think he deserved the MVP last year. I don't hate Braun, my feelings about him have not changed in the slightest. He's just not even close to being the MVP at this point in the season. It's that simple.

I don't think reading comprehension is your friend. Where did you get that I said there is a vast difference in their OPS? My quote was "...he gets on base way more than Braun and has a higher OPS" Which are all true statements. Wright's OBP is .050 higher than Braun's while driving in just as many runs. .050 is a pretty significant number.

And again, I never said Melky was definitely ahead of Braun in the MVP race - I said it was debatable. The Giants are in playoff contention and he's having a career year. But let's be honest, we are talking about players out of the top 5, doesn't it really matter what order they come in and who's ahead of who? They are no where close to being #1.

 

[dp33]

Not sure how you got me hating on Braun from that post - especially since I'm one of the few that actually think he deserved the MVP last year. I don't hate Braun, my feelings about him have not changed in the slightest. He's just not even close to being the MVP at this point in the season. It's that simple.

I don't think reading comprehension is your friend. Where did you get that I said there is a vast difference in their OPS? My quote was "...he gets on base way more than Braun and has a higher OPS" Which are all true statements. Wright's OBP is .050 higher than Braun's while driving in just as many runs. .050 is a pretty significant number.

And again, I never said Melky was definitely ahead of Braun in the MVP race - I said it was debatable. The Giants are in playoff contention and he's having a career year. But let's be honest, we are talking about players out of the top 5, doesn't it really matter what order they come in and who's ahead of who? They are no where close to being #1.

Nor is reading comprehension your friend apparently. I didn't say "vast difference" either. You implied that .014 OPS points is somehow a number worth differentiating between Braun and Wright, yet just rounded up Wright's RBI total to somehow make it "just as many" as Braun. What is factual about this statement? "And Wright drives in just as many runs as Braun".


But you're right as it doesn't really matter. I'm with noaskie - Mike Trout is clearly the NL MVP.
　
.395 / .471 / .592 / 1.063 against the National League.

 

[markakis8]

Nor is reading comprehension your friend apparently. I didn't say "vast difference" either. You implied that .014 OPS points is somehow a number worth differentiating between Braun and Wright, yet just rounded up Wright's RBI total to somehow make it "just as many" as Braun. What is factual about this statement? "And Wright drives in just as many runs as Braun".


But you're right as it doesn't really matter. I'm with noaskie - Mike Trout is clearly the NL MVP.

This was your quote: And just to make sure I understand your math - .014 OPS points is a big difference, but 61 RBIs vs 59 RBIs is "just as many". With math like that, how could you not vote for David Wright?

Meaning you thought I implied that there was a huge difference between Braun's and Wright's OPS. I never said that or even implied it.

 

[nosterbor]

If McCutchen has changed the picture recently, then so has Braun. These 3 guys are all candidates for various reasons. Your poll should include all 3 and then an other.

Bad feelings will result in fewer votes for Braun, but it shouldn't.

Put Aramis in front of Braun and ask that same question.

 

[elmontny]

THIS

I believe that David Wright is your other TOP 3 candidate. I voted Mccutchen.

 

[elmalo]

Where would the Mets be right now without R.A Dickey?

 

[hive17]

You are trying to argue for Braun exactly what Kemp fans were trying to argue AGAINST Braun last year. It's comical that you Brewer fans can't see that. Statistically Kemp had more homers and more stolen bases and had a better season! But most Brewers fans were arguing the Dodgers weren't in the playoff hunt, therefore that separated Braun from Kemp (and I agreed, I would've had 1. Braun 2. Kemp on my ballot last year if I had one, I think the right guy won the MVP last year even though it was CLOSE)

Now that the Brewers are sitting in what...3rd or 4th place and under .500 and Braun is having a better year, the playoff contention argument is thrown out the window AND on top of him not even having the best offensive season in the NL. You have Votto, McCutchen, and Wright all having better seasons the Braun and their teams are either in 1st or WC contention. Wright has less HR and SB - yeah yeah - whatever, he gets on base way more than Braun and has a higher OPS. Braun isn't light years above Wright to put him ahead in the MVP race at this point. And Wright drives in just as many runs as Braun. All important factors.

Easily ahead of Braun in MVP race: McCutchen, Votto, Wright, Dickey

Guys I was thinking could be ahead of Braun in the race b/c of how much they meant to their team but there is a debate: Ruiz, Melky Cabrera, Carlos Beltran (edited this one in b/c I forgot him)

But you see, I've already thrown out so many other names besides Braun that he really shouldn't be in the discussion. I'm sure you read "Carlos Ruiz" or "Melky Cabrera" name and just laugh at the thought of them being in the discussion of MVP right now.

That's how I feel about Braun. He's having a great year but he's not in the discussion.

I don't know where you're reading that I think team success has anything to do with MVP. I mentioned last year and Kemp to straighten out your arguement.

As i said, you can say that "he's not in the discussion", but if you're leaving off one of the top run producers in the league, you need a reason. You don't have one. He's the most well-rounded player in the league along with Kemp. All Wright and Melky have on Braun is average (and, by extention, hits). You say OBP., I say SLG., and we're just splitting hairs. But, for some as-of-yet explained reason, you're putting Braun way further down your list.

 

[markakis8]

I don't know where you're reading that I think team success has anything to do with MVP. I mentioned last year and Kemp to straighten out your arguement.

As i said, you can say that "he's not in the discussion", but if you're leaving off one of the top run producers in the league, you need a reason. You don't have one. He's the most well-rounded player in the league along with Kemp. All Wright and Melky have on Braun is average (and, by extention, hits). You say OBP., I say SLG., and we're just splitting hairs. But, for some as-of-yet explained reason, you're putting Braun way further down your list.

My reason is simple - there are players that are playing better baseball than Braun and their teams are in contention and the Brewers are not playing good baseball. I thought I said it several times. If that's not enough of a reason for you than you are never going to be able to accept the fact that he's not in the discussion.

If it was just Votto or just McCutchen mashing and no one else was playing good baseball (like Wright, Dickey, and Melky), then sure Braun would be considered. But that just isn't the case.

I get where you are coming from - the Brewers are your favorite team and Braun IS one of the best players in the game - but McCutchen and Votto alone should convince you that Braun wouldn't get a single first place vote if the season ended today. But it is apparent you are not thinking that way.

 

[hive17]

My reason is simple - there are players that are playing better baseball than Braun and their teams are in contention and the Brewers are not playing good baseball. I thought I said it several times. If that's not enough of a reason for you than you are never going to be able to accept the fact that he's not in the discussion.

If it was just Votto or just McCutchen mashing and no one else was playing good baseball (like Wright, Dickey, and Melky), then sure Braun would be considered. But that just isn't the case.

I get where you are coming from - the Brewers are your favorite team and Braun IS one of the best players in the game - but McCutchen and Votto alone should convince you that Braun wouldn't get a single first place vote if the season ended today. But it is apparent you are not thinking that way.

OK, so YOU are making the arguement that the Brewers' performance hurts Braun. Fine. I have no issue with that argument.

And YES, if it were voted right now, it would be Votto and Cutch in some form or fashion 1-2. But you're assertion that Wright and Melky are having some superior season to Braun isn't based on anything. At least, nothing that you've cared to stake a claim to. I have made numerous points and listed numerous facts as to why I think Braun deserves to be in the discussion that you are putting Wright and Melky and Dicky in. YOU have been talking about some weird, non-quantifiable comparison arguement, or some feeling or something. I can't tell. What I have yet to see is why, statistically or, at least verifiably, you think Braun falls below Wright, Cabrera and others.