1. Verlander for MVP: As much as I agree that Justin Verlander is far and away the best pitcher in baseball this year, someone who plays 35 games as opposed to someone who plays 160 is hard to reconcile as the most valuable player in the league. He is a homerun to win the Cy Young this year, and a lock to be the 1st pitcher drafted in every fantasy league next year, but I cannot give him the MVP award.
2. I think I love players that take a walk. Mark Trumbo, the stellar rookie 1st baseman for the Los Angeles Angels, is having a heck of a year for a 23 year old. He is leading all rookies in HR and RBI, and plays adequate defense. However, his K/BB ratio is 94/22. Jose Bautista has managed an OBP over .450 all year by taking walks and working the pitch count. Obviously, Bautista is a more feared hitter than Trumbo, but I am only trying to illustrate a point.
3. I love players who age gracefully. Jim Thome, Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, Derek Jeter…These are players who become older and older, but still found ways to contribute to their teams overall success. Congrats to Jim Thome for his 500th career homer last week, and for continuing his success in Cleveland.
