Rotohelp.com

by Jessica Polko

Major League Baseball announced the results of this year's Most Valuable Player Award voting a couple of weeks ago. Anaheim right fielder Vladimir Guerrero won the American League MVP, while San Francisco left fielder Barry Bonds took the title in the National League.

After signing with the Anaheim Angels last off-season, Guerrero hit .337 with a .391 OBP and .598 SLG on 206 H, 39 2B, 2 3B, and 39 HR with a 52:74 BB:K and 15/18 SB% in 612 AB, earning his first MVP. At 28, the 6'3", 220-pound native of the Dominican Republic has been a member of 5 All-Star teams and should remain in competition for this award for the foreseeable future as long as he stays healthy.

Pitchers normally have difficulty competing for MVP awards, since they appear in so many fewer games than offensive regulars. Nevertheless, as the season entered its final weeks, we thought we might find ourselves in the unusual position of supporting a pitcher for MVP. However, Guerrero finished strong and established himself as more deserving than Minnesota left-handed starter Johan Santana, who we placed second on our theoretical ballot.

Voters submit a ranked list of 10 players from which the votes are tallied. Below is a table comparing Rotohelp's picks to those actually voted in the top 10.

BBWAA				Rotohelp
1.  Vladimir Guerrero, OF-R	1.  Vladimir Guerrero, OF-R
2.  Gary Sheffield, OF-R	2.  Johan Santana, LHP
3.  Manny Ramirez, OF-R		3.  Melvin Mora, 3B-R
4.  David Ortiz, DH-L		4.  Travis Hafner, DH-L
5.  Miguel Tejada, SS-R		5.  Miguel Tejada, SS-R
6.  Johan Santana, LHP		6.  Ichiro Suzuki, OF-L
7.  Ichiro Suzuki, OF-L		7.  Manny Ramirez, OF-R
8.  Mike Young, SS-R		8.  David Ortiz, DH-L
9.  Mariano Rivera, RHP		9.  Curt Schilling, RHP
10.  Ivan Rodriguez, C-R	10.  Carlos Guillen, SS-S

Other players receiving votes from the BBWAA included Schilling, RHP Joe Nathan, SS-R Derek Jeter, OF-L Mark Kotsay, SS-R Alex Rodriguez, OF-L Johnny Damon, 1B-R Paul Konerko, 3B-L Hank Blalock, Mora, 1B-S Mark Teixeira, OF-R Torii Hunter, C-S Victor Martinez, DH-L Erubiel Durazo, RHP Francisco Cordero, OF-R Lew Ford, Guillen, Hafner, OF-L Hideki Matsui, UT-S Chone Figgins, 3B-L Eric Chavez, and C-S Jason Varitek.

The writers clearly lacked consensus as to the top 10 this year. As usual, the relievers included on the ballot were among the most undeserving of their votes. However, Chone Figgins likely ranks as the least worthy of the votes he received, though Torii Hunter's performance also thoroughly failed to warrant MVP consideration this season.

Sheffield, IRod, and ARod stood among the more deserving to miss our list while receiving votes.

Bonds hit .362 with a .609 OBP and .812 SLG on 135 H, 27 2B, 3 3B, and 45 HR with a 232:41 BB:K and 6/7 SB% in 373 AB, winning his seventh MVP. This marks his fourth consecutive win. There's no doubt that this generation of fans has the privilege of witnessing one of baseballs all-time greats. Considering how far he outpaces the pack, the writers do not seem to deserve much credit for nailing this one. However, given their tendency to inappropriately emphasize team records when determining MVPs and the fact that even this year eight voters did not place Bonds first on their ballot, I am grateful that he has received acknowledgement he deserves at least in this regard over the last few years. Of course, he topped our ballot. Below is the table comparing Rotohelp's picks to those actually voted in the top 10.

BBWAA				Rotohelp
1.  Barry Bonds, OF-L		1.  Barry Bonds, OF-L
2.  Adrian Beltre, 3B-R		2.  Albert Pujols, 1B-R
3.  Albert Pujols, 1B-R		3.  Adrian Beltre, 3B-R
4.  Scott Rolen, 3B-R		4.  Jim Edmonds, OF-L
5.  Jim Edmonds, OF-L		5.  Todd Helton, 1B-L
6.  J.D. Drew, OF-L		6.  Bobby Abreu, OF-L
7.  Lance Berkman, OF-S		7.  J.D. Drew, OF-L
8.  Roger Clemens, RHP		8.  Scott Rolen, 3B-R
9.  Mark Loretta, 2B-R		9.  Mark Loretta, 2B-R
10.  Aramis Ramirez, 3B-R	10.  Aramis Ramirez, 3B-R

Other players receiving votes from the BBWAA included RHP Eric Gagne, OF-S Carlos Beltran, 2B-R Jeff Kent, OF-L Steve Finley, OF-R Moises Alou, OF-L Juan Pierre, Helton, C-S Johnny Estrada, LHP Randy Johnson, 1B-L Jim Thome, RHP John Smoltz, OF-R Miguel Cabrera, RHP Armando Benitez, OF-L Jeromy Burnitz, Abreu, 3B-R Vinny Castilla, RHP Roy Oswalt, OF-L Adam Dunn, RHP Carlos Zambrano, 1B-R Phil Nevin, and SS-S Jimmy Rollins.

Although we were pleased with the way most of the top 10 mirrored our selections, several NL writers also significantly strayed from the mark. The National League relievers generally were less deserving of recognition than their AL counterparts and neither Vinny Castilla nor Jeromy Burnitz should have come near a ballot.

Of the more deserving who received votes, Berkman barely missed our ballot while Carlos Beltran, Randy Johnson, and Adam Dunn all sat on the cusp of making our top 10.

Click here to read the previous article.

I can't please all the people all of the time, but I am more than willing to read the comments of the pleased, the irate, and everyone in between. You can send your opinions to jess@rotohelp.com.



Rotohelp		2004 Most Valuable Players by Jessica Polko Major League Baseball announced the results of this year's Most Valuable Player Award voting a couple of weeks ago. Anaheim right fielder Vladimir Guerrero won the American League MVP, while San Francisco left fielder Barry Bonds took the title in the National League. After signing with the Anaheim Angels last off-season, Guerrero hit .337 with a .391 OBP and .598 SLG on 206 H, 39 2B, 2 3B, and 39 HR with a 52:74 BB:K and 15/18 SB% in 612 AB, earning his first MVP. At 28, the 6'3", 220-pound native of the Dominican Republic has been a member of 5 All-Star teams and should remain in competition for this award for the foreseeable future as long as he stays healthy. Pitchers normally have difficulty competing for MVP awards, since they appear in so many fewer games than offensive regulars. Nevertheless, as the season entered its final weeks, we thought we might find ourselves in the unusual position of supporting a pitcher for MVP. However, Guerrero finished strong and established himself as more deserving than Minnesota left-handed starter Johan Santana, who we placed second on our theoretical ballot. Voters submit a ranked list of 10 players from which the votes are tallied. Below is a table comparing Rotohelp's picks to those actually voted in the top 10. BBWAA Rotohelp 1. Vladimir Guerrero, OF-R 1. Vladimir Guerrero, OF-R 2. Gary Sheffield, OF-R 2. Johan Santana, LHP 3. Manny Ramirez, OF-R 3. Melvin Mora, 3B-R 4. David Ortiz, DH-L 4. Travis Hafner, DH-L 5. Miguel Tejada, SS-R 5. Miguel Tejada, SS-R 6. Johan Santana, LHP 6. Ichiro Suzuki, OF-L 7. Ichiro Suzuki, OF-L 7. Manny Ramirez, OF-R 8. Mike Young, SS-R 8. David Ortiz, DH-L 9. Mariano Rivera, RHP 9. Curt Schilling, RHP 10. Ivan Rodriguez, C-R 10. Carlos Guillen, SS-S Other players receiving votes from the BBWAA included Schilling, RHP Joe Nathan, SS-R Derek Jeter, OF-L Mark Kotsay, SS-R Alex Rodriguez, OF-L Johnny Damon, 1B-R Paul Konerko, 3B-L Hank Blalock, Mora, 1B-S Mark Teixeira, OF-R Torii Hunter, C-S Victor Martinez, DH-L Erubiel Durazo, RHP Francisco Cordero, OF-R Lew Ford, Guillen, Hafner, OF-L Hideki Matsui, UT-S Chone Figgins, 3B-L Eric Chavez, and C-S Jason Varitek. The writers clearly lacked consensus as to the top 10 this year. As usual, the relievers included on the ballot were among the most undeserving of their votes. However, Chone Figgins likely ranks as the least worthy of the votes he received, though Torii Hunter's performance also thoroughly failed to warrant MVP consideration this season. Sheffield, IRod, and ARod stood among the more deserving to miss our list while receiving votes. Bonds hit .362 with a .609 OBP and .812 SLG on 135 H, 27 2B, 3 3B, and 45 HR with a 232:41 BB:K and 6/7 SB% in 373 AB, winning his seventh MVP. This marks his fourth consecutive win. There's no doubt that this generation of fans has the privilege of witnessing one of baseballs all-time greats. Considering how far he outpaces the pack, the writers do not seem to deserve much credit for nailing this one. However, given their tendency to inappropriately emphasize team records when determining MVPs and the fact that even this year eight voters did not place Bonds first on their ballot, I am grateful that he has received acknowledgement he deserves at least in this regard over the last few years. Of course, he topped our ballot. Below is the table comparing Rotohelp's picks to those actually voted in the top 10. BBWAA Rotohelp 1. Barry Bonds, OF-L 1. Barry Bonds, OF-L 2. Adrian Beltre, 3B-R 2. Albert Pujols, 1B-R 3. Albert Pujols, 1B-R 3. Adrian Beltre, 3B-R 4. Scott Rolen, 3B-R 4. Jim Edmonds, OF-L 5. Jim Edmonds, OF-L 5. Todd Helton, 1B-L 6. J.D. Drew, OF-L 6. Bobby Abreu, OF-L 7. Lance Berkman, OF-S 7. J.D. Drew, OF-L 8. Roger Clemens, RHP 8. Scott Rolen, 3B-R 9. Mark Loretta, 2B-R 9. Mark Loretta, 2B-R 10. Aramis Ramirez, 3B-R 10. Aramis Ramirez, 3B-R Other players receiving votes from the BBWAA included RHP Eric Gagne, OF-S Carlos Beltran, 2B-R Jeff Kent, OF-L Steve Finley, OF-R Moises Alou, OF-L Juan Pierre, Helton, C-S Johnny Estrada, LHP Randy Johnson, 1B-L Jim Thome, RHP John Smoltz, OF-R Miguel Cabrera, RHP Armando Benitez, OF-L Jeromy Burnitz, Abreu, 3B-R Vinny Castilla, RHP Roy Oswalt, OF-L Adam Dunn, RHP Carlos Zambrano, 1B-R Phil Nevin, and SS-S Jimmy Rollins. Although we were pleased with the way most of the top 10 mirrored our selections, several NL writers also significantly strayed from the mark. The National League relievers generally were less deserving of recognition than their AL counterparts and neither Vinny Castilla nor Jeromy Burnitz should have come near a ballot. Of the more deserving who received votes, Berkman barely missed our ballot while Carlos Beltran, Randy Johnson, and Adam Dunn all sat on the cusp of making our top 10. Click here to read the previous article. I can't please all the people all of the time, but I am more than willing to read the comments of the pleased, the irate, and everyone in between. You can send your opinions to jess@rotohelp.com.
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	December 1^st 2004			Out of the Frying Pan