Toronto Blue Jays Talk

SpezDispenser wrote:48 Home Runs for Bautista - a new franchise record for the Jays eclipsing George Bell's previous mark set in 1987.

Here's a legit question: does Bautista deserve to win an MVP award?

if we talk value in terms of bang for the buck, definitely Bautista deserves that. But in terms of the real MVP award given, he doesn't since his team didn't even gt a sniff near competition for a penant and knowing the 'unwritten' criteria, that's a must. Also the batting average was too low for an mvp. Its probably the quietest 100+ RBIS and 50 hr season we'll ever witness since, well, the impact just wasn't there for the Jays. But he deserves alot of recognition for the amazing job he's done. Congrats to him, he's written his name in history now

In my mind, the AL mvp will be either Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero, or Miguel Cabrera (despite his team not making the big dance).

Yeah, I'm not sure to be honest. Is an MVP a guy who leads his team to a .500 record? I'm not saying there's anything more he could have done for the Jays, but wouldn't someone like Hamilton who lead his team to the post-season (it looks like) be more deserving? Or does it come down to the Jays record without Bautista and the chance that they could have lost a lot more games?

If it's base on pure, individual statistics then I think he's got a good shot to win. What a feat of power, great run producer, 100 runs and a canon of an arm in the outfield, plus can play an excellent third. It still could be close though, Crawford, Hamilton, about six Yankees, there've been a lot of pretty good years.

He doesn't have a good chance, IMO. Not because he doesn't somewhat deserve it, it's just because others have had better all-around years. Right now I'd give it to Josh Hamilton. 2nd would be Mauer, and 3rd would be Cano.

That average and the fact that the Jays are just a bad team will kill any chance of Bautista being named the MVP. Plus his 48 HR's have been as "under the radar" as 48 home runs could get. Edit: I just read what Michallica wrote, and it's pretty much the same as what I just said lol. Great minds...

Here's a better question: Will he repeat these #'s next year? My answer to that would be a big NO...I see him hitting like 30 at the most next season.

SpezDispenser wrote:Yeah, I'm not sure to be honest. Is an MVP a guy who leads his team to a .500 record? I'm not saying there's anything more he could have done for the Jays, but wouldn't someone like Hamilton who lead his team to the post-season (it looks like) be more deserving? Or does it come down to the Jays record without Bautista and the chance that they could have lost a lot more games?

If it's base on pure, individual statistics then I think he's got a good shot to win. What a feat of power, great run producer, 100 runs and a canon of an arm in the outfield, plus can play an excellent third. It still could be close though, Crawford, Hamilton, about six Yankees, there've been a lot of pretty good years.

Alex Rodriguez won the AL MVP in 2003 playing for a team that finished 20 games under .500. So there is precedent for a guy winning the award playing on a non-contending team. And Bautista has better numbers in several offensive categories than ARod's 2003 numbers - higher OPS, SLG, 2B, HR, BB and will mostl likely finish with more RBIs and less strikeouts.

In 2008, Dustin Pedroia won the AL MVP with some of the most underwhelming offensive production numbers in quite a long time: 17 HR, 83 RBI, SLG, OBP and OPS numbers all well below Bautista's this season. Dustin had a great batting average that year but he was still on a team that finished second in the division.

I think there's certainly precedent for Bautista to win it. If the baseball writers don't vote for him simply based on the fact that he isn't on a contending team, I think that people should have the right to look at it conspicuously.

Jose Bautista hit his 50th Home run this afternoon! Only the 26th player in MLB history to hit at least 50 HR. Congrats to Jose on an excellent season

Why the heck are they playing this aft? I missed his 50th! Dammit.

Bautista, you have done the Jays very proud this year - not just with the HRs and the RBIS, but in the field. IMO, this is our 3rd baseman for a lot of years to come.

Congrats Jose!!!!!

And it was in the 1st inning.

Looks like the Jays have traded pitcher Shaun Marcum for a couple of prospects.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=344376

can't say I'm a fan of this move.....Marcum seemed like the workhorse guy for the future, and is very young at 28 years old. Why trade him for even more prospects? Not that great of a move if you ask me, Romero is still not ready to be the ace.

Michallica wrote:Looks like the Jays have traded pitcher Shaun Marcum for a couple of prospects.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=344376

can't say I'm a fan of this move.....Marcum seemed like the workhorse guy for the future, and is very young at 28 years old. Why trade him for even more prospects? Not that great of a move if you ask me, Romero is still not ready to be the ace.

Don't really like the move either Michallica. Marcum was their opening day starter last year, and while not a true ace - he's still quite reliable.

My first thought when I heard they were dealing Marcum for propects was that they would parlay those prospects into a bigger deal for Zack Greinke. But when I heard that the prospect that they are getting from the Brewers is a Canadian kid (Lawrie sp?) and that AA is very high on him, I'm questioning if there's going to be another move to shore up their pitching.

I really hope they don't go after Grienke. What's the point if whatever prospects you got for Halladay can be used towards Grienke? You end up in the same situation. This smells like a Brian Burke type move where you're 'rebuilding' but halfway through decide to screw it and go for a big fish and give up alot of the future just because you think you'll have a shot to compete in the upcoming season (AA would be a fool to think that)

Michallica wrote:I really hope they don't go after Grienke. What's the point if whatever prospects you got for Halladay can be used towards Grienke? You end up in the same situation. This smells like a Brian Burke type move where you're 'rebuilding' but halfway through decide to screw it and go for a big fish and give up alot of the future just because you think you'll have a shot to compete in the upcoming season (AA would be a fool to think that)

Good point. Whatever happens, I trust in AA - he's proven to be quite savvy in his short time there. You have to believe that they're going to address their pitching somehow though, Marcum is leaving some big shoes to fill imo.

I know the Jays have always liked Lawrie and just missed drafting him by 1 spot. I think getting rid of Marcum is not the best idea since coming off Tommy John surgery he's been a real work horse for them. I'm not feeling confident going in with Romero, Cecil, Morrow, etc...
Let's hope the young Canadian is worth it and that the Jays pick up a great starter.

Romero and Cecil should be good for 15 wins each this season. Morrow, despite his dominant pitching style, was still way too inconsistent. Getting rid of Marcum also means that they may rush one of their young hurlers from the minors....Drabek needs to develop more.

And McGowan is coming off surgery (hasn't played for like 3 years) so I wonder if the rationale was also about him being healthy again? So many questions.....yikes.

Marcum would be gone in two years anyway, Lawrie is a really dynamic prospect, the best in the Brewers' entire system and now he's ours. The issues is as you guys said, it opes a hole in our rotation.

AA is so smart though that he likely has a plan in place. Grienke is probably his target, but if not, he just needs to look around for a guy who can post respectable numbers to round things out.

Plus, Lawrie can be used at 2nd, and Hill at 3rd - something we've wanted to do for a while.

If we get Grienke and don't give up Snyder or Drabek (ha ha), then we're in business in a big, big way.

Well we just got Adrian Gonzalez. Watch out AL East!

THE Agon? Don't mess with me Big Ev....is it true?

Cuss, you're a Boston fan I presume. I thought the Jays got him.