Winner:
Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer. .364 BA .586 slugging .442 OBP 28 HR 96 RBI.
Mauer has a better batting average than Jeter by 30 points a better slugging percentage than Texiera and a better on base percentage than anyone else on this list by 36 points. His offensive numbers are impressive leading the league in batting average, slugging, on base percentage and OPS. Considering he did this all while playing Gold Glove caliber catcher makes this pick easy. The real question in the MVP race is where would the Twins be without Joe Mauer.
Runners up:
2. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. .334 BA .406 On base 30 stolen bases 107 runs.
Jeter had the best year of his career putting up impressive offensive numbers while having the best fielding percentage of his career. Yet again he falls short in the MVP race. He might get the MVP vote out of pity, I mean career achievements but he doesn't quite earn it this year.
3. Los Angeles Angels 1st baseman Kendry Morales. .306 BA .569 Slugging 34 Home runs 108 RBI.
Somehow the Angels managed to get to the playoffs again and in his first full season Morales put up big numbers on a offense that needed every run he produced.
4. New York Yankees 1st baseman Mark Texiera. .292 BA .565 Slugging .383 OBA 39 Home runs 122 RBI.
Texiera lived up to the big contract helping the Yankees to the best record in the league. He had a great season and put up big numbers but wasn't even the most valuable player on his team.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
10 things I've learned from the first quarter of the NFL season.
This season has had many surprises. The Broncos starting out 4-0 against the Bengals, Browns, Raiders and Cowboys. The Titans starting 0-4, Drew Brees throwing 6 TD's in week one and the Raiders playing terrible (OK so that one isn't surprising). Somethings have stood out and hit me like a brick while enjoying fall football.
1. The Jets defense is great. The Jets D was very underrated last season in the shadow of Favre. This season they have stepped out of the shadows and into the sunlight. The have played 3 top tier offenses (Patriots, Texans and Saints) and have yet to allow more than 343 total yards in a game. The Texans scored only once while rushing for 38 yards. The Patriots couldn't even score a touchdown. They forced 4 turnovers against the Titans and held Uber Quarterback Drew Brees to one touchdown and 190 passing yards.
2. Frank Gore is the Most Valuable Player. Not that he's going to win the MVP but without Gore the 49ers offense is terrible. The Niners ran for 256 yards against the Seahawks in week 2. In week 3 Gore went out and they have yet to eclipse 100 yards since.
3. Tony Romo misses a number 1 receiver. I doubt he misses TO but he misses a receiver that can get open. Teams are keying in on Witten and Roy Williams isn't the player they thought he would be.
4. Chad Johnson's focus is back. It helps that Carson Palmer is getting back to form and TJ Houshmandzadeh is in the emerald city, but Chad Johnson has rededicated himself to football. He is already more than half way to his 2008 season totals in yards and touchdowns.
5. Peyton Manning is the man. This isn't exactly a new idea but Peyton has asserted himself at the top of the QB heap. He lost Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez and is still leading the league in passing. The true sign of a good player is that he makes others around him better. Peyton has elevated Pierre Garcon a 6th round pick last year into a pro bowl worthy receiver.
6. Eli Manning is not far behind. Comparisons between the two Manning's is unfair. Two completely different Quarterbacks on two completely teams. It's like comparing Montana to Marino. None the less Eli has elevated all his receivers. Steve Smith went from a 3rd down receiver to leading the league in receptions. Eli's QB rating this year is 104.
7. Ladainian Tomlinson isn't healthy. He has 70 total yards and 1 touchdown threw 4 games this year. He is also averaging a career low 3.5 yards per carry. Quite the drop off for the best running back in the league.
8. Philip Rivers is top level Quarterback. Last year he led the league in Quarterback rating last year. He is doing better this year. Maybe not statistically but as a leader. With one of the worst Defenses in the league so far and their star running back on the mend Phillip Rivers is keeping the Chargers in contention.
9. Jon Gruden is great on Monday Night Football. ESPN finally got the mix right. Mike Tirico is one of the best play by play guys out there and they have surrounded him with two great football minds. The Kornheiser/trying to get women to watch football experiment failed and they made the right choice by appealing to football fans again.
10. The Packers made the right choice at Quarterback. The Packers had a very difficult decision to make when Favre unretired the first time. They made the right choice by thinking with their heads and not their hearts. Aaron Rodgers is playing his heart out behind an injured terrible O-line with a below average running game. Luckily for Rodgers he will be able to step out of Favre's now tarnished shadow.
1. The Jets defense is great. The Jets D was very underrated last season in the shadow of Favre. This season they have stepped out of the shadows and into the sunlight. The have played 3 top tier offenses (Patriots, Texans and Saints) and have yet to allow more than 343 total yards in a game. The Texans scored only once while rushing for 38 yards. The Patriots couldn't even score a touchdown. They forced 4 turnovers against the Titans and held Uber Quarterback Drew Brees to one touchdown and 190 passing yards.
2. Frank Gore is the Most Valuable Player. Not that he's going to win the MVP but without Gore the 49ers offense is terrible. The Niners ran for 256 yards against the Seahawks in week 2. In week 3 Gore went out and they have yet to eclipse 100 yards since.
3. Tony Romo misses a number 1 receiver. I doubt he misses TO but he misses a receiver that can get open. Teams are keying in on Witten and Roy Williams isn't the player they thought he would be.
4. Chad Johnson's focus is back. It helps that Carson Palmer is getting back to form and TJ Houshmandzadeh is in the emerald city, but Chad Johnson has rededicated himself to football. He is already more than half way to his 2008 season totals in yards and touchdowns.
5. Peyton Manning is the man. This isn't exactly a new idea but Peyton has asserted himself at the top of the QB heap. He lost Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez and is still leading the league in passing. The true sign of a good player is that he makes others around him better. Peyton has elevated Pierre Garcon a 6th round pick last year into a pro bowl worthy receiver.
6. Eli Manning is not far behind. Comparisons between the two Manning's is unfair. Two completely different Quarterbacks on two completely teams. It's like comparing Montana to Marino. None the less Eli has elevated all his receivers. Steve Smith went from a 3rd down receiver to leading the league in receptions. Eli's QB rating this year is 104.
7. Ladainian Tomlinson isn't healthy. He has 70 total yards and 1 touchdown threw 4 games this year. He is also averaging a career low 3.5 yards per carry. Quite the drop off for the best running back in the league.
8. Philip Rivers is top level Quarterback. Last year he led the league in Quarterback rating last year. He is doing better this year. Maybe not statistically but as a leader. With one of the worst Defenses in the league so far and their star running back on the mend Phillip Rivers is keeping the Chargers in contention.
9. Jon Gruden is great on Monday Night Football. ESPN finally got the mix right. Mike Tirico is one of the best play by play guys out there and they have surrounded him with two great football minds. The Kornheiser/trying to get women to watch football experiment failed and they made the right choice by appealing to football fans again.
10. The Packers made the right choice at Quarterback. The Packers had a very difficult decision to make when Favre unretired the first time. They made the right choice by thinking with their heads and not their hearts. Aaron Rodgers is playing his heart out behind an injured terrible O-line with a below average running game. Luckily for Rodgers he will be able to step out of Favre's now tarnished shadow.
MLB regular season awards: NL MVP.
Winner:
St Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. .327 BA .658 Slugging .443 OBP 47 Home Runs 135 RBI 16 Stolen Bases
Pujols is the clear cut best player in the bigs and he proved it again this year. He was in the top three in the NL in batting average, RBI and home runs. He led all of baseball in on base percentage, slugging, OPS, runs and total bases. Oh yeah he stole 16 bases.
Runners up:
2. Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez. .342 BA .410 OBP 24 home runs 106 RBI 27 stolen bases.
Hanley was mister do everything for the Marlins this year. The Marlins were in the postseason race up until the last week of the season due in large part to Mr. Ramirez. He led the National league with a .342 batting average. The Marlins moved him to the number three spot in the lineup and he delivered with 106 RBI. He also stole 27 bases and impoved his fielding percentage by 16 points this year.
3. Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder. .299 BA .602 slugging 46 home runs 141 RBI.
Fielder was second in home runs and tied for first in RBI in the national league this year. Along with Ryan Braun he led the Brewers into contention for most of the year even after losing CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets.
4. Philadelphia Phillis fist baseman Ryan Howard. 279 BA 45 home runs 141 RBI.
He has very similar numbers to Prince Fielder, but Prince gets the nod because his on base percentage is 52 points higher and Howard struck out 48 more times than Fielder. He did however power the Phillies to another division title and upped his batting average by 28 points from last year.
St Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. .327 BA .658 Slugging .443 OBP 47 Home Runs 135 RBI 16 Stolen Bases
Pujols is the clear cut best player in the bigs and he proved it again this year. He was in the top three in the NL in batting average, RBI and home runs. He led all of baseball in on base percentage, slugging, OPS, runs and total bases. Oh yeah he stole 16 bases.
Runners up:
2. Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez. .342 BA .410 OBP 24 home runs 106 RBI 27 stolen bases.
Hanley was mister do everything for the Marlins this year. The Marlins were in the postseason race up until the last week of the season due in large part to Mr. Ramirez. He led the National league with a .342 batting average. The Marlins moved him to the number three spot in the lineup and he delivered with 106 RBI. He also stole 27 bases and impoved his fielding percentage by 16 points this year.
3. Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder. .299 BA .602 slugging 46 home runs 141 RBI.
Fielder was second in home runs and tied for first in RBI in the national league this year. Along with Ryan Braun he led the Brewers into contention for most of the year even after losing CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets.
4. Philadelphia Phillis fist baseman Ryan Howard. 279 BA 45 home runs 141 RBI.
He has very similar numbers to Prince Fielder, but Prince gets the nod because his on base percentage is 52 points higher and Howard struck out 48 more times than Fielder. He did however power the Phillies to another division title and upped his batting average by 28 points from last year.
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