tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post196474528920799016..comments2024-03-18T20:42:22.991-07:00Comments on Sully Baseball: Who didn't deserve a post season MVP? Who should have won it instead?Sullyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10272557466790129869noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-10642997409049458782010-11-18T07:05:09.934-08:002010-11-18T07:05:09.934-08:00I guess one reason I did this post is I wanted to ...I guess one reason I did this post is I wanted to have somewhere on the internet the guys being praised for their post season performance.<br /><br />If you google 1997 World Series, you should see Moises Alou before Livan Hernandez<br /><br />And I think a casual glance at the 1999 ALCS shows "Oh, Mendoza got 7 outs. I guess he wasn't a factor."<br /><br />Not all outs are created equal.<br /><br />Hideki Irabu got 16 outs in the series. <br />He must have been more than TWICE as valuable than Mendoza.<br /><br />Except Irabu did it as a mop up man. You can say he was valuable for giving the bullpen the night off. But stopping rallies in close games is more critical than being a punching bagSullyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10272557466790129869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-6538831504501811762010-11-18T06:55:33.233-08:002010-11-18T06:55:33.233-08:00Well obviously more people agreed with you than me...Well obviously more people agreed with you than me...<br /><br />I always felt that Joe Torre let Mendoza close out the series instead of Rivera because he knew how important Mendoza was in that series and wanted him to have that moment of glory.<br /><br />Kind of a reverse Denny NeagleSullyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10272557466790129869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-32328885104100468522010-11-18T06:46:43.858-08:002010-11-18T06:46:43.858-08:00Yeah, I understand what you mean. I don't real...Yeah, I understand what you mean. I don't really like the El Duque pick either. I think at that point he still had the mystique about him, with coming over from Cuba and saving the Yankees' season in the '98 ALCS and such, that swayed the voters.<br /><br />I just can't get past my aversion to giving an MVP to a relief pitcher who only pitched in two games and got seven outs. Even if they were the seven most high-leverage outs of the series, which is arguable.<br /><br />That's why I mentioned Jeter as an alternative. He played every game and performed quite well, so I think it would have been fair to give him the hardware. Maybe not the greatest pick, but far from a travesty like Livan Hernandez in the '97 World Series.<br /><br />And I see your point about the series being all but over by the time El Duque was so good in Game 5. I do agree to an extent, but these WERE the same Red Sox who had come back from the brink in that Division Series. As a Yankees fan who is still haunted by 2004, I appreciate the value of shutting the door and giving absolutely no glimmer of hope. So I think Hernandez does deserve some credit for bringing the series home as soon as possible.<br /><br />I think good cases can be made either way. I guess for me it's like how you can't justify giving an MVP to a member of the losing team. I can't do it with a guy who pitched 2 and 1/3 innings.Davey C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08817420765496185910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-17130340862779908362010-11-17T14:20:34.083-08:002010-11-17T14:20:34.083-08:00I understand that argument... just as a Red Sox fa...I understand that argument... just as a Red Sox fan I can tell you when that series was over I felt "Man, Mendoza killed us."<br /><br />Besides, El Duque started shaky in Game 1 and by the time he pitched Game 5, the Yankees were up 3-1 and the air was out of the balloon.<br /><br />We all know there was NO WAY the Red Sox could come back from 3-1 against the Yankees.<br /><br />3-0, maybe.<br />3-1, no way.<br /><br />I remember saying to my friend Adam after the series "Mendoza should have been MVP."<br /><br />Adam, a HUGE Yankees fan, said "No doubt."<br /><br />It's not like I don't UNDERSTAND why El Duque won it. But I think Mendoza had more pressure in those 2 1/3 innings than El Duque had in all of Game 5Sullyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10272557466790129869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-66611054481110369092010-11-17T13:19:32.146-08:002010-11-17T13:19:32.146-08:00I understand that Ramiro Mendoza was key and very ...I understand that Ramiro Mendoza was key and very effective in the 1999 ALCS. But the guy pitched 2 and 1/3 innings. I just don't see how seven outs in a 5-game series warrants MVP honors. El Duque pitched 12 and 2/3 more innings than Mendoza, so I think his MVP is valid. Derek Jeter also had a pretty good case with 7 hits (including a home run) and a .350/.409/.550 line, as well as 3 runs scored and 3 RBI.<br /><br />I understand the idea of Mendoza being very key in the series, but I just don't think you can give MVP honors to a guy who only got 7 outs in 5 games. That would be almost as bad as giving it to a guy for one huge at-bat.Davey C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08817420765496185910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-78624329080152284492010-11-17T08:58:29.184-08:002010-11-17T08:58:29.184-08:00I understand Stewart over Moore for 2 reasons:
St...I understand Stewart over Moore for 2 reasons:<br /><br />Stewart's complete game in Game 1 shut down the Giants (who had a potent offense) and gave the A's a full bullpen for Game 2.<br /><br />And in the post Earthquake Game 3, the fact that it was Stewart on the mound basically made the Game (and the series) over.<br /><br />By the time Moore pitched in Game 4, the Giants were down 0-3 and there was no intensity.Sullyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10272557466790129869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-14340022629018554062010-11-17T08:56:48.161-08:002010-11-17T08:56:48.161-08:00Pitching 9 innings of tense baseball does not equa...Pitching 9 innings of tense baseball does not equal one at bat.<br /><br />SorrySullyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10272557466790129869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-81741376979660659162010-11-17T08:51:05.416-08:002010-11-17T08:51:05.416-08:00And I'm waiting for you to name Mike Moore as ...And I'm waiting for you to name Mike Moore as a co-MVP with Dave Stewart for the 1989 WS. Moore won 2 games and hit a big double, didn't he? <br /><br />BTW, Sully, I enjoy your posts and I normally only post comments when I wanted to clarify stuff,etc. Nothing personal :-)CRCPANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00478251985213774466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-13357112977222998722010-11-17T08:49:19.071-08:002010-11-17T08:49:19.071-08:00It would have been unprecedented, that's all. ...It would have been unprecedented, that's all. Never before has there been a best-of-seven series where a pitcher pitched ONE game, and won the MVP. <br /><br />For example - Kirk Gibson's ONE at-bat turned the 1988 WS, but obviously he didn't get WS MVP honors. Yes I know Hershiser was great in that series, but it's essentially the same argument as 1998.CRCPANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00478251985213774466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-15146370582809841662010-11-15T22:55:07.910-08:002010-11-15T22:55:07.910-08:00Yup.
100% serious.
The entire series turned on th...Yup.<br />100% serious.<br /><br />The entire series turned on that game. Yes the Padres won the first game, but when Kevin Brown shut down the Braves against Tom Glavine no less.<br /><br />And remember the game was 1-0 going into the 9th... so if he had even a glitch for one inning, it would have been tied heading into Atlanta.<br /><br />So yeah, I submit that winning that one game in the manner that he won the game made him the MVP in my eyes if it ended at 4.<br /><br />Not 100% sure what the issue isSullyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10272557466790129869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-82611374832353716012010-11-15T22:38:28.334-08:002010-11-15T22:38:28.334-08:00With all due respect, Sully - but are you serious ...With all due respect, Sully - but are you serious about 1998? You suggested that if the Padres had swept in four straight, Brown would have won the award for his Game 2 shutout. Really??? For a best-of-7 series, there has never been an MVP who pitched just one game. I doubt very seriously that if the Braves lost 4-games-to-none that Brown would have won the award for pitching just ONE game. It still would have been Caminiti, for the reasons you stated.CRCPANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00478251985213774466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-26834327015120254572010-11-13T07:30:55.626-08:002010-11-13T07:30:55.626-08:00Great research and great points!
None are more in...Great research and great points! <br />None are more infuriating than the 1960 WS MVP...<br />Gosh, how did Richardson feel getting the trophy after his team blew it?Collective Trollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04214312372172286275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-77789255505014601722010-11-12T08:07:56.203-08:002010-11-12T08:07:56.203-08:00I definitely believe Damon should have won last ye...I definitely believe Damon should have won last year and not Godzilla...I can't say I am against the pick for Garza in the 2008 ALCS though... and in 1990 for that damn World Series the Reds won, I will always remember Billy Hatcher as the guy who beat the A's... the jerk.Wesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03076013994924856915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-73886373831829996952010-11-11T22:14:05.225-08:002010-11-11T22:14:05.225-08:00To be fair, I understand why Richardson and Lynn a...To be fair, I understand why Richardson and Lynn and Scott and Leonard won... they had great series... but obviously someone on the other team did a good job too!Sullyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10272557466790129869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31467474.post-78643337394175846262010-11-11T21:52:14.157-08:002010-11-11T21:52:14.157-08:00very good article, you gave some good reasons and ...very good article, you gave some good reasons and I agree a losing team player should never get an mvpMummbleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12675168593734745284noreply@blogger.com