Upon the NL MVP- Part Three

In regard to the David Wright vs Matt Holliday arguement, I think that the offensive number comparison bears repeating. I know offense does not determine the MVP, but again, if a tie has to be broken….

Batting Average: Matt Holliday- 2nd NL David Wright- 7th NL

Home Runs: MH- 4th DR-13th

RBI: MH-1st DR- 9th

Runs: MH- 4th DR- 6th

2B- MH- 1st DR- tie-10th

OBP- MH-8th DR- 4th

SLG- MH-2 DR- 11th

Hits- MH- 1st DR- 6th

Thats not even close. All the offensive numbers favor Holliday. Plus. Wright’s team is in the crapper, and Holliday’s is surging. Sure Holliday got hurt recently, but he’s still got league leading numbers. And he’s and average of 7 places better than Wright in terms of NL rankings, and top 5 in everything but OBP. Wright isn’t top 5 in anything. There are at least 5 players better than Wright in every offensive category. I can’t say thats an MVP. You couldn’t say it about Jeter last year, you can’t say it about A-rod this year. If the Rockies make it, Holliday should win the award.

How about fielding you say?

David Wright ranks 9th in fielding % among NL 3b. Only 2 3b have made more errors, and only by 2. (23 to 21). He ranks 8th in zone rating among NL 3b. His Range factor is squarely in the middle. Are these MVP defensive numbers that make-up for an offensive game that overall is not top 5?

Holliday has the #1 Zone rating at his position. I know that third and LF are not comprable, but #1 is #1.

So, sell me on Wright’s candidacy again?

Upon the 2007 MVP- Part 2

OK, so my commenter thinks that David Wright is the NL MVP thus far. I think that the case is strong, but I have to wonder: Why does Matt Holliday get disregarded? Nearly every statistic that can be measured based on performance favors him over Wright. Wright has more steals, but the same number of runs scored, so the stat becomes moot. If you are not crossing the plate more, or driving guys in more, steals don’t do much for your value over another player.

Win shares, VORP…etc, are made- up stats. If you use them to “break the tie” between equal players, it makes sense as another level of comparison. However, there is no tie in terms of performance:

Batting Average:
Holliday- 2nd in NL (.334)
Wright- 9th in NL (.316)

RBI:Holliday- 2nd in NL (113)
Wright-9th in NL (95)

OBP:Wright- 6th in NL (.411)
Holliday- 9th in NL (.394)

OPS:Holliday- 6th in NL (.970)
Wright- 8th in NL (.954)

HR:Wright (28)Holliday (27)
Runs:Wright (98)Holliday (97)

Slugging:Holliday- 3rd in NL- (.576)
Wright- 11th in NL- (.544)

Even if you want to throw steals in, Holliday bats 30 points better with 20 more RBI and the same number of runs scored and HR. If you like made up stats, Holliday’s season vs his Marcels batting is superior. (didn’t think I followed fake stats?)