MVP Predictor-8/5/11

With two months to go...

AL Top 10 (previous)

1) A. Gonzalez BOS (1)

2) C. Granderson NYY (4)

3) J. Bautista TOR (2)

4) M. Cabrera DET (3)

5) J. Ellsbury BOS (7)

6) R. Cano NYY (8)

7) M. Young TEX (10)

8) D. Pedroia BOS (17)

9) D. Ortiz BOS (5)

10) M. Teixeira NYY (11)

36) E. Longoria TB (33) **Preseason Pick**

Out: P. Konerko CWS (6), K. Youkilis BOS (9)

NL Top 10 (previous)

1) R. Braun MIL (2)

2) P. Fielder MIL (1)

3) L. Berkman STL (3)

4) J. Upton ARI (7)

5) M. Holliday STL ()

6) M. Kemp LAD (4)

7) S. Victorino PHI (6)

8) H. Pence PHI (27)

9) J. Votto CIN (5)

10) C. Beltran SF (14)

14) T. Tulowitski COL (22) ** Preseason Pick**

OUT: B. McCann ATL (8), R. Howard PHI (9), J. Reyes NYM (10)

I want you to take a look at the stats for the following two players:

Player A: .336/.376/.508, 47 XBH, 36 RBI, 32 SB (in 423 AB) 55 team wins

Player B: .320/.368/.555, 45 XBH, 64 RBI, 2 SB (in 353 AB) 54 team wins

Just a reminder, the rankings I have come up with are based on a mathematical formula. They do not come from my highly biased opinion. That's why I created the formula, to keep any bias level for all players. The players listed above are very different types of players, but its interesting to compare their stat lines. Player A is Jose Reyes. For the record...yes Reyes is having a great year, but I fail to see the argument of him being the league MVP. Mostly because Player B's name first may be mentioned right here on this blog. Player B is Michael Morse. Yeah, THAT Michael Morse, the 1B/OF for the Washington Nationals. Just so you know, I currently have Morse ranked at #19 and Reyes at #21.

MVP Predictor-7/8/11

AL Top 10 (previous)

1) A. Gonzalez BOS (2)

2) J. Bautista TOR (1)

3) M. Cabrera DET (3)

4) C. Granderson NYY(5)

5) D. Ortiz BOS (4)

6) P. Konerko CWS (6)

7) J. Ellsbury BOS (16)

8) R. Cano NYY (15)

9) K. Youkilis BOS (9)

10) M. Young TEX (13)

33) E. Longoria TB (30) **Preseason MVP Pick**

Out: A. Rodriguez NYY (7), M. Teixeira NYY (8), M. Joyce TB (10)

NL Top 10 (previous)

1) P. Fielder MIL (1)

2) R. Braun MIL (2)

3) L. Berkman STL (4)

4) M. Kemp LAD (3)

5) J. Votto CIN (5)

6) S. Victorino PHI (10)

7) J. Upton ARI (6)

8) B. McCann ATL (12)

9) R. Howard PHI (8)

10) J. Reyes NYM (9)

22) T. Tulowitzki COL (20) **Preseason Pick**

Out: R. Weeks MIL (7)

2011 All-Star Picks

I'm taking a break from predicting the MVP to doing what everyone else is currently doing...predicting the All-Star game rosters. I like the challenge of attempting to find players from every team, along with removing the obvious East Coast bias in picking the starting lineups. I feel as though the voting bias takes place primarily from Yankee and Red Sox fans, but since the AL has lost only once (2010) in the last 14 years....bias away. These predictions are based on my personal opinions, not on how fans are currently voting with only days remaining in the polls. There are 34 players on each roster, and this year's game is played at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, so no DH will be used in the lineup.

AL starting lineup & batting order:

2B R. Cano NYY

3B A. Rodriguez NYY

1B A. Gonzalez BOS

RF J. Bautista TOR

CF C. Granderson NYY

LF A. Jones BAL

SS A. Cabrera CLE

C A. Avila DET

SP J. Verlander DET

Bench:

C A.J. Pierzynski CWS

C M. Wieters BAL

1B M. Cabrera DET

1B P. Konerko CWS

1B M. Teixeira NYY

2B H. Hendrick LAA

3B K. Youkilis BOS

SS J. Peralta DET

OF M. Joyce TB

OF A. Gordon KC

OF M. Cuddyer MIN

OF C. Quentin CWS

UTL M. Young TEX

Pitchers:

SP J. Shields TB

SP J. Tomlin CLE

SP M. Pineda SEA

SP J. Weaver LAA

SP C.C. Sabathia NYY

SP F. Hernandez SEA

SP J. Beckett BOS

RP M. Rivera NYY

RP K. Farnsworth TB

RP J. Valverde DET

RP D. Robertson NYY

RP G. Balfour OAK

NL starting lineup & batting order:

SS J. Reyes NYM

2B R. Weeks MIL

CF M. Kemp LAD

1B P. Fielder MIL

LF R. Braun MIL

RF L. Berkman STL

3B A. Ramirez CHC

C B. McCann ATL

SP R. Halliday, PHI

Bench:

1B M. Morse WAS

1B R. Howard PHI

1B G. Sanchez FLA

1B J. Votto CIN

2B B. Phillips CIN

3B P. Polanco PHI

SS S. Castro CHC

SS T. Tulowitzki COL

OF A. McCutchen PIT

OF J. Bruce CIN

OF H. Pence HOU

OF J. Upton ARI

OF C. Gonzalez COL

Pitchers:

SP T. Lincecum SF

SP I. Kennedy ARI

SP C. Kershaw LAD

SP J. Jurrjens ATL

SP T. Hanson ATL

SP C. Hamels PHI

SP C. Lee PHI

RP J. Hanrahan WAS

RP B. Wilson SF

RP H. Bell SD

RP T. Clippard WAS

RP H. Street COL

MVP Predictor-6/26/11

AL Top 10 (previous)

1) A. Gonzalez BOS (2)

2) J. Bautista TOR (1)

3) M. Cabrera DET (3)

4) D. Ortiz BOS (4)

5) C. Granderson NYY (5)

6) P. Konerko CWS (6)

7) A. Rodriguez NYY (11)

8) M. Teixeira NYY (7)

9) K. Youkilis BOS (15)

10) M. Joyce TB (8)

30) E. Longoria TB (39) **Preseason Pick**

Out: J. Ellsbury BOS (9), A. Avila DET (10)

Notes:

-HOT: A. Rodriguez (10-18, 5 R, 8 RBI), A. Gonzalez (13-28, 6 R, 9 RBI)

-NOT: J. Mauer (3-22, 1 R, 1 RBI), G. Sizemore (2-22, 1 R, 1, RBI)

NL Top 10 (previous)

1) P. Fielder MIL (1)

2) R. Braun MIL (4)

3) M. Kemp LAD (3)

4) L. Berkman STL (2)

5) J. Votto CIN (5)

6) J. Upton ARI (12)

7) R. Weeks MIL (7)

8) R. Howard PHI (8)

9) J. Reyes NYM (9)

10) S. Victorino PHI (13)

20) T. Tulowitzki COL (19) ** Preseason Pick**

Out: J. Bruce CIN (6), A. McCutchen PIT (10)

Notes:

-HOT: P. Fielder (7-18, 5 R, 2 HR, 7 RBI), J. Loney (12-22, 4 R, 2 RBI)

-NOT: R. Zimmerman (3-26, 1 R, 2 RBI, 8 K), J. Rollins (3-25, 2 R, 3 RBI)

MVP Predictor-6/17/11

AL Top 10 (last week)

1) J. Bautista TOR (1)

2) A. Gonzalez BOS (3)

3) M. Cabrera DET (2)

4) D. Ortiz BOS (4)

5) C. Granderson NYY (7)

6) P. Konerko CWS (8)

7) M. Teixeira NYY (10)

8) M. Joyce TB (5)

9) J. Ellsbury BOS (11)

10) A. Avila DET (15)

39) E. Longoria TB (41) **Preseason AL MVP Pick**

Out: A. Cabrera CLE (6), C. Quentin (9)

Notes:

-Every team has a player in the Top 40 except for one, Oakland.

-Three teams (BOS, NYY, DET) have the most of any team in the Top 40 with five players each.

NL Top 10

1) P. Fielder MIL (2)

2) L. Berkman STL (1)

3) M. Kemp LAD (4)

4) R. Braun MIL (3)

5) J. Votto CIN (5)

6) J. Bruce CIN (6)

7) R. Weeks MIL (10)

8) R. Howard PHI (15)

9) J. Reyes NYM (9)

10) A. McCutchen PIT (14)

19) T. Tulowitzki COL (28) ** Preseason NL MVP Pick

Out: A. Pujols STL (7), G. Sanchez FLA (8)

Notes:

-Like the AL Top 40, every team is represented except for one. However, this isn't a last-place team like Oakland, it's NL West leading San Francisco.

-Arizona has more players than any other team with five representatives in the Top 40.

MVP Predictor-6/8/11

AL Top 10 (previous ranking in parentheses)

1) J. Bautista TOR (1)

2) M. Cabrera DET (5)

3) A. Gonzalez BOS (4)

4) D. Ortiz BOS (6)

5) M. Joyce TB (2)

6) A. Cabrera CLE (9)

7) C. Granderson NYY (3)

8) P. Konerko CHI (17)

9) C. Quentin CHI (20)

10) M. Teixeira NYY (8)

41) E. Longoria TB **Preseason Pick**

Out: M. Young TEX (7), H. Kendrick LAA (10)

Notes:

-A pair of White Sox sluggers jump into the top 10 after each having solid offensive weeks (Quentin 8-20, 4 HR's, Konerko 6-15 2 HR's)

-Kendrick with the biggest drop now #23 after a 1-14 week with 4 K's

NL Top 10 (previous ranking in parentheses)

1) L. Berkman STL (1)

2) P. Fielder MIL (6)

3) R. Braun MIL (2)

4) M. Kemp LAD (8)

5) J. Votto CIN (4)

6) J. Bruce CIN (5)

7) A. Pujols STL (NR)

8) G. Sanchez FLA (7)

9) J. Reyes NYM (20)

10) R. Weeks MIL (12)

28) T. Tulowitzki **Preseason Pick**

Out: M. Holliday(3), R. Howard (9), C. Rasmus (10)

Notes:

-After not even making the top 40 cut, The Machine that is Prince Albert surged into the top 10 thanks to a 10-24, 5 HR week.

-Not to be outdone by fellow royalty, our other "Prince" (Fielder) posted an equally as impressive 7-20, 6 HR, 12 RBI week to claim the #2 spot in place of teammate Braun.

-Biggest drops of the week are by Holliday (injury), and Rasmus (3-20, 3 K's)

First MVP Prediction of the 2011 season!!!!

Woo hoo! School's out and I've got time to burn...for now anyways! Thus, the first installment of the MVP predictor for the 2-month old MLB season.

I made a preseason prediction for awards in each league, and since this is an MVP predictor...I'll be listing my MVP candidates along with the Top 10 in each league throughout the season.

AL Top 10

1) J. Bautista TOR

2) M. Joyce TB

3) C. Granderson NY

4) A. Gonzalez BOS

5) M. Cabrera DET

6) D. Ortiz BOS

7) M. Young TEX

8) M. Teixeira NY

9) A. Cabrera CLE

10) H. Kendrick LAA

41) Evan Longoria TB ** Preseason pick**

Notes:

-Bautista has a ridiculous lead over Joyce, who has his own substantial lead over Granderson.

-Players to watch: Ortiz and Cabrera each have had a monster week, look for them to jump in the rankings.

NL Top 10

1) L. Berkman STL

2) R. Braun MIL

3) M. Holliday STL

4) J. Votto CIN

5) J. Bruce CIN

6) P. Fielder MIL

7) G. Sanchez FLA

8) M. Kemp LAD

9) R. Howard PHI

10) C. Rasmus STL

31) T. Tulowitski COL **Preseason pick**

Notes:

-Top 6 and 7 of the 10 are from the NL Central.

-Players to watch: Bruce, Votto, Fielder, and Kemp have all had solid weeks, look for them to jump.