crazy.. If I were a MLB player I think Id be staying home this off season. Too many crazy things going on this off season

^ That's absolutely terrible :(

Kershaw wins the Cy Young and Kemp re-signs for 8 years. Life is getting better.

Stabbed to death? WTF?

Heard about this earlier today, very sad to hear. RIP

Yes, just saw it on my TV. This guy had a lot of potential for the M's. RIP Greg Halman

The Halman death is a total tragedy.

Verlander winning the MVP was expected.

Anymore to the halman story? Killed by his brother in holland. Wtf?

Should pitchers be eligible for the MVP?

Braun or kemp?

Braun wins the MVP.

Braun winning the MVP seems like a shock but it shouldn't be.

His stats were crazy and his team was strong.

Maybe a little Dodger backlash too.

I know its old news, but this switch of the Astros to the AL west is going to be interesting. That and Interleague pay throughout the season.

Kemp was lethal. I hope he keeps it up.

not a shock, but kind of a let down for dodger fans. they had similar numbers, but kemp played more and was a way better defensive player. people were also saying that the voters are a little hypocritical in that they will vote for a cy young winner for a crappy team, but the mvp should go to a playoff team.

I never thought I would say it because I am sort of a baseball purist, but I kind of like all the changes in the new agreement. It's going to be really odd seeing the Astros in the AL west though. In general, though, I think the changes are good. I just don't want to give Bud Selig any credit. :lol:

Angels vs. Astros?

Yaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwn!

Just kidding Dana :smilie:

A lot of the voting has to do not only with stats but what your team does as a whole. If you carry a team into the playoffs then that goes along way in the votes.

Read my whole post. There have recent cy young winners (kershaw & Hernandez) who have played on bad teams. The criteria is not consistent.

This is one of the age-old debates in baseball: What is an MVP?

Is he the best player in the league or the player that means the most to his team?

Should it be determined purely by statistics or should intangibles be included?

There has never been any period since the award's inception when the MVP criteria has been stated or consistent.

For example, Alex Rodriguez won the award in 2005 for an awful Rangers team that finished in 3rd place and lost nearly 90 games. But Derek Jeter was snubbed in 2006 despite being the heart of a 97-win team.

In 2010 Dustin Pedroia won the MVP with the following line: .326/17/83/.376. This is despite Kevin Youkilis - on his own team - putting up the following: .312/29/115/.390. Youkilis came in third in the voting.

There is no such thing as consistency in an arbitrary award.

Agreed dana, but we're talking criteria in the same year. Kershaw wins cy young, but kemp doesn't get the MVP. That in particular doesn't make sense.

I have been transfixed on MLB Network this holiday weekend.

What tremendous programming!

^^I don't know how I haven't gotten that yet.