BBWAA awards AL MVP to Travelocity Gnome

Dustin Pedroia, all 4 feet of him, wins it. Mauer 4th, Sizemore 10th. Cliff Lee 12th. Raul Ibanez actually got a vote.

Everyone back at the Keebler tree is very excited.

7 months ago nickjs21 Comment 82 comments 8 recs |

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Oh F this I still hate you.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 2:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’m not opposed to Pedroia winning, but once again there is some absolutely puzzling voting.

K-Rod only got one first place vote, thank God. Joe Mauer didn’t make it on every ballot, and neither did Pedroia. Who are these people?! Why do we trust them with ballots?

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 2:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree — there were many worse candidates. Morneau got second — really? Moreneau?!? And a first place vote for K-Rod??

The problem is that most fans think these guys were good choices. The voters should be smarter than the average fan, but unfortunately they’re not.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Nov 18, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Morneau was close to winning, in terms of having the stats that voters like. They just worship RBI.

In truth, this is a step forward for the voters, who generally are morons in terms of recognizing the contributions of skill position players.

by Jay on Nov 18, 2008 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s very true. That’s why I’m not upset about Pedroia winning; he wasn’t as good as Mauer or Sizemore but at least they didn’t vote for the slugger with the highest HR and RBI like they usually do. They also recognized that it wasn’t Pujols’ fault that the Cardinals didn’t make the playoffs. They still have a long way to go, though, to get it right.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Nov 18, 2008 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sizemore had 6 9th place votes.

These voters are so horrible.

by JP_Frost on Nov 18, 2008 2:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

by Toxicadam on Nov 18, 2008 2:13 PM EST reply actions 56 recs

You’d think he would draw more walks

by cleveland teamer on Nov 18, 2008 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is unbelievably Win.

Alas there isn’t a picture available of a little person swinging out of his shoes.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is absolutely great!

by hans on Nov 18, 2008 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Headed to double digits.

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Nov 18, 2008 2:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

On the short list for pic of the year.

by Ryan on Nov 18, 2008 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Quickest to 20 recs ever?

Do we document this?

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 5:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I joined just to rec this. Amazing.

by acblue on Nov 18, 2008 6:24 PM EST up reply actions 7 recs

Rec

by Roger Dorn on Nov 18, 2008 9:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Same here.

I also made it the display picture for my baseball group. Epic.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Nov 19, 2008 12:21 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

So did I.

by royalcurve on Nov 21, 2008 12:28 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

+1

" He throws it where he wants it, his breaking ball kept getting better and better and of course God gave him that special arm. He's great." ~ Neftali Feliz on Derek Holland.

by Kinslerhomer on Nov 25, 2008 10:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You know, this gets better with every viewing.

by Ryan on Nov 18, 2008 6:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

by Goose on Nov 18, 2008 7:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this is one of the best pics I’ve seen in a long time. I had to steal it for my post on minorleagueball.com … just to spread the genius

by JP_Frost on Nov 18, 2008 8:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

35 recs and counting

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Nov 18, 2008 10:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Adam’s a legend.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 10:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is from another website. Called No Maas. From April 15, 2008. Check it out.

They should probably be getting linked if people are taking this all over the netz, though I’m sure nobody meant to pass it off as their own.

by afh4 on Nov 18, 2008 10:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, there is some fantastic stuff on there. How did I not know about this?

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 10:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Uhh. It’s a Yankees Blog?

by afh4 on Nov 18, 2008 10:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

True. Screw ‘em. I just wonder how some of those photoshops haven’t gone off.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 10:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I might unrec so I can rec again

by JK in CBus on Nov 19, 2008 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Nov 19, 2008 9:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

rec'd

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on Nov 21, 2008 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

How in the hell did I miss this? Rec!

by JRontherim on Dec 1, 2008 2:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Carlos Pena above Grady? Really? Did Pena best Grady in any category except team wins?

Oh wait, I forgot — that’s the only category that matters.

by fingolfin on Nov 18, 2008 2:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

how does a thread become a Featured Post on the SBN main page?

Because this needs to be there.

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Nov 18, 2008 2:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

well, Lookout Landing’s post made it there.

My question: Is LL calling the relationship or Pedroia himself a “retarded puppy”? I’d like to think it’s the latter.

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Nov 18, 2008 2:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Matthew is a mod.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 3:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh wait, do you mean like on the main SBN part? I thought you just meant on the main page of LL.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

correct, the main page of SBN. I want all of SBN to laugh at the headline as I did.

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Nov 18, 2008 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

……………………………………….. so…………………. much…………………… hate……………

Don't be stupid. PUT IN MELOAN.

by gte619n on Nov 18, 2008 2:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

With you on the hate. This guy makes me look at Jeter in a better light.

"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter

by Denver Tribe Fan on Nov 18, 2008 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Here, let me ruin everyone’s day:

Dustin Pedroia has an MVP. Grady Sizemore does not. This is positively atrocious.

Don't be stupid. PUT IN MELOAN.

by gte619n on Nov 18, 2008 2:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Next year.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but you can’t scrape Grady off the bottom of your shoe.

"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter

by Denver Tribe Fan on Nov 18, 2008 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mike Mussina?

JASON BARTLETT?

by NickFantana on Nov 18, 2008 2:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I haven’t read the breakdown yet, but did JASON BARTLETT seriously get a vote? Must…smash…

by Voltaire on Nov 19, 2008 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can not rec this post because I don’t suppot the news, but good job.

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Nov 18, 2008 2:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

So we can make MVPs of guys who are not home run leaders as long as they’re Red Sox? Got it.

by fleerdon on Nov 18, 2008 2:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Cliff Lee got more 4th and 5th place votes than Sizemore. Atrocious.

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Nov 18, 2008 2:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Only atrocious if you think pitchers aren’t equal candidates for the award.

by Jay on Nov 18, 2008 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lets see…I think my ballot would be:

Sizemore
Mauer
Quentin
Longoria
Midget
Hamilton
Lee
K-Rod
Beard Senior
Morneau

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Nov 18, 2008 3:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Needs more grit.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

no A-Rod? he was pretty good this year.

by JP_Frost on Nov 18, 2008 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention he has the soul of a poet.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Isn’t it about time he gave it back? Poets need their souls. Baseball players? Probably not so much, unless they’ve sold it to play for the…

Wait a minute…

If A-Rod has sold his own soul to play for the Yankees, how can he have the soul of a poet, since no poet would every play for the Yankees?

Now I’m just left with a sad metaphysical quandary.

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Nov 19, 2008 9:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That depends on the poet – I’m fairly certain that Poe, for example, would have been quite attracted by the pathos of the Yankees.

by FredOx on Nov 19, 2008 9:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, he should be in the top 5.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Nov 18, 2008 4:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, you don’t get to call anyone else’s votes atrocious when your ten-best-players ballot includes the fourth- or fifth-best reliever in the league.

by Jay on Nov 18, 2008 3:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly. K-Rod shouldn’t be in the top 20 of MVP voting.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Nov 18, 2008 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m thinking

Sizemore
Mauer
A-Rod
Little Foot
Youk

I never know how to place pitchers in there. I’d say Lee goes between Rodriguez and Little Foot.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

puke

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Nov 18, 2008 3:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i just laughed out loud in class when i read the blurb. that’s quality.

by xrickx on Nov 18, 2008 4:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Take note of the tags. ’Put this one over the top for me.

Helium Watch: Chuck Lofgren, OF

by jhon on Nov 18, 2008 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A little piece of me died when I read this.

by fwembt on Nov 18, 2008 8:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

medicine

by Brick. on Nov 18, 2008 10:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Made me laugh even harder than seeing it the first time.

by danvail on Nov 18, 2008 10:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just perusing the “How I Voted” articles floating around the interwebs. Some tidbits:

Rosenthal on why he voted for Morneau:

I was never comfortable with my vote.

Usually, I lean toward middle-of-the-diamond performers in MVP discussions. Morneau, though, was more of an offensive force than Mauer and Pedroia, though perhaps less of a force than Youkilis.

Very good, Ken. You A) made a vote you yourself didn’t feel good about, and B) admitted that there was a better 1st baseman to consider.

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News is the hot rod that left Pedroia off his ballot. Evan, trust me, we here at LGT are all 100% behind this decision. But we don’t get paid to take something like this seriously. So what’s your excuse?

In retrospect, it was a mistake.

Here is my full ballot:

Kevin Youkilis, Francisco Rodriguez, Justin Morneau, Josh Hamilton, Carlos Quentin, Alex Rodriguez, Cliff Lee, Joe Mauer, Grady Sizemore, Carlos Pena.

Did I perhaps get too “cute” at the bottom of the ballot? Yeah, probably. Was that a mistake? Yeah, probably …. In this case, perhaps I gave it too much time and overanalyzed, particularly at the bottom of the ballot.

…. But I will have you know that Pedroia was 18th in OPS, 27th in RBIs, 30th in batting average with runners in scoring position and 53rd in on-base percentage with runners in scoring percentage.

That last one isn’t a stat. Except for Sal Fasano. His scoring percentage is always 100%, amiright?

But I give him credit for being a BBWAA member who actually tried to analyze a bit.

Mark Feinsand voted Morneau first, but that’s not even the best part of his article. It’s this gem:

8. Mike Mussina, Yankees: The only pitcher on my ballot, Mussina benefited from playing for the team I cover.

….Mussina’s 20-9 record made him the oldest first-time 20-game winner, as he trailed only Cy Young winner Cliff Lee in victories. His 3.37 ERA ranked sixth in the AL and he finished in the top 10 in winning percentage (.690) and WHIP (1.22), as Mussina put together a season no one could have envisioned. The Yankees missed the playoffs, but without Mussina, they would have been out of the race a lot earlier than they were.

So in essence: I, Mark Feinsand, am openly admitting that I don’t really care for objectivity and voted Mike Mussina over any other pitcher because I’m a Yankees fan. Look, I’m even pointing out how Cliff Lee was better than him and Mike didn’t even play on a postseason team! Isn’t this the kind of public statement that the BBWAA could take your membership away for?

On a separate note, 18 of the 28 voters put Alex Rodriguez on their ballot. Really? In my estimation, A-Rod was probably the fifth-most valuable player on the Yankees behind Mussina, Mariano Rivera, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu. I know he had great overall stats, but if you watched the Yankees on a regular basis, you know he was far from their MVP, let alone the league’s MVP.

Oh, die.

I wonder how badly the guys at FJM are considering coming out of retirement.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 18, 2008 10:44 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

Coming out of retirement for that would be like Michael Jordan coming back to play in high school. Just too easy.

by fwembt on Nov 19, 2008 12:52 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Except for Sal Fasano. His scoring percentage is always 100%, amiright?

I mean, he’s no Masa, but okay.

by Logodaedalus on Nov 19, 2008 11:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

rec for the fanshot-esque comment.

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Nov 19, 2008 9:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I really didn’t expect to be that long.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 19, 2008 9:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jonah Keri thinks Cliff Lee should be the MVP. Here is his reasoning:

Actually, picking Lee wasn’t that difficult for me. While it’s not a perfect measure of value, VORP has Lee (76.5) well above the best AL position player (A-Rod at 62.4, surprisingly). In fact, Roy Halladay is much closer to Lee in that category than A-Rod, Mauer, Pedroia, Sizemore or anyone else.

I don’t know how valuable it is to compare VORP between pitchers and position players; maybe someone here can help me on this. But the gap between Lee and everyone else is large. He mentions that VORP doesn’t take in to account defense, where of course Sizemore and Mauer contribute greatly.

So for a pitcher to win the award, I like to see a truly incredible performance from said pitcher, combined with no truly dominant position players in the league in that given season. Use Cliff Lee’s 22-3 record and 2.54 ERA if you’re a traditionalist, or his terrific Support-Neutral numbers if you’re a stathead, and you arrive at the same conclusion: In the era of the five-man rotation and closely monitored pitch counts, this was a season for the ages. So too, while we’re here, was Roy Halladay’s. That’s why I have Lee 1st and Halladay 2nd on my fake ballot.

My top seven:

Cliff Lee
Roy Halladay
Joe Mauer
Grady Sizemore
Dustin Pedroia
Alex Rodriguez
Kevin Youkilis

He also added this about Pedroia, which I’m sure you all will love.

A Yankee fan friend and I have taken to calling him Dusty McHustlePants (my buddy because he hates the Sox and Pedroia drives him crazy, me because I delight in writers and broadcasters who praise Pedroia’s grit/hustle/scrappiness, while ignoring the fact that he’s also a very talented athlete).

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Nov 19, 2008 11:06 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

LGT 2009 SCHOOL PROJECT: Get PED on the first page of these results.

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Nov 19, 2008 9:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No reason, I just feel like posting this. By westbrook, from here.

by fleerdon on Nov 26, 2008 12:15 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I was gonna look for that the other day, when I saw the # of recs Midget has. I didn’t want to be wrong, but I wanted to say something like “this passes the # of recs on my Justin pic as the most I’ve ever seen”

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Nov 26, 2008 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can’t believe I missed that one originally.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 26, 2008 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

me too

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Nov 26, 2008 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, when was this?

by Voltaire on Nov 27, 2008 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the link’s in the post. great gamethread.

by fleerdon on Nov 27, 2008 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wow. i remember that thread, but don’t remember typing a single one of my posts in it as i went back through it (thinking the whole time "yeah, that’s something i’d say).

i’d pu that on the short list of epic gamethreads, for sure.

by Brick. on Nov 27, 2008 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tribe hat Robert Smith, drinking alone, blue-collar fans beating professionals to death during the ballgames, girls actually talking on the site… It’s roughly 8% baseball. “Jhonny’s steak is alive!”

by fleerdon on Nov 28, 2008 9:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea i just reread some of it last night… I have no idea what that 90 cents joke I made was referring to. Anyone remember?

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Nov 28, 2008 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i think: Chuck, either in that thread or another one from around that time told some story about a cleveland blue collar hang out that served a 90 cent steak. then, i mead a typo leaving out the r in streak….

by Brick. on Nov 28, 2008 9:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs