Rob Neyer takes up the MVP argument in favor of Joe Mauer over Mark Teixeira. Let me add something to a part of the discussion that usually resonates with the voters, RBI. Teixeira leads Mauer in the counting stat, 86 to 73, but Mauer holds the top spot in RBI percentage. RBI percentage measures the number of runners driven in, (RBI-HR)/Base Runners. Mauer’s come to the plate with 228 runner on and drove in 22.37% of them. Teixeira has come to the plate with 362 runners on base and drove in 15.47% of them. If Teixeira drove in runners at Mauer’s rate, he’d have 111 RBI. Teixeira’s 15.47% is a an average mark. He’s not have an extraordinary season driving in runs, he’s just had tons of runners on base in front of him. In fact, he ranks seventh in runners on.
This is just another example of why RBI out of context is a poor measure of value. For those who prize RBI as a measure of MVP quality, the extraordinary season belongs to Mauer.
That brings up a really good question. If stat boxes include Hits & Average, why not RBI & RBI %?
From May 1 onward (the day Mauer started playing this season), the diff in their RBI production is only 3….not a significant different at all…even for people that hold RBI’s in high esteem.
As a Yankee fan, I love Tex, but it’s hard to ignore the type of season Mauer is having, even if the Twins miss the postseason.
There’s no way Tex deserves the award over Mauer. Mauer’s season is the kind of season that gets talked about in twenty years.
Proving once again that nothing really changes in baseball. They say that players from the 20s and 30s could step into today’s game without much adjustment — same for the beat writers.
Another Yankee fan here who totally agrees that Mauer should win. Tex isn’t even the best candidate on his own team (Derek Jeter says hi). Mauer’s been jobbed in MVP voting already. I hope they don’t do it again. Eventually, it has to sink in that a catcher who hits like (or better than!) a first baseman is really, really, um, valueable.
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