If I told you two plus two was five, I bet you would probably just laugh uncomfortably because I made a bad joke. But what if your math professor told you the same thing? What if someone published it in a journal or if it was on the news? That might make you think.
Well, I know exactly how that feels, and it's creepy. The other day, someone told me Philadelphia's shortstop, Jimmy Rollins, was the National League's Most Valuable Player, and I was all like, "Ha, yeah sure, whatever, dude." Then, I saw it on Sportscenter. And read the headlines on ESPN.com. And it started to really sink in. Soon, I was biting my nails. Then I was talking to myself while walking around campus, wild-eyed and chuckling every few feet.
Sure enough, just a few days prior, almost all of ESPN's experts had picked Rollins to win. Only four of ESPN's numerous pundits had picked Colorado's Matt Holliday for MVP, whereas I was certain he should have won. Four.
An entire nation of respected sportswriters had cast their votes and somehow Rollins had come out on top. I just couldn't see it. Was I crazy? Sure, if I was crazy, I probably wouldn't admit it, but you have to hear me out.
Just take a look at some numbers with me Reil quick:
Holliday - .340 batting average, .405 on-base percentage, .607 slugging percentage, 36 home runs, 137 RBI, 11 stolen bases.
Rollins - .296 batting average, .344 on-base percentage, .531 slugging percentage, 30 home runs, 94 RBI, 41 stolen bases.
It is as clear as my beautiful skin that Holliday is a much better hitter than Rollins. Seriously, it isn't even a question, so how do the experts defend their choice?
For one, they argue that Rollins is more valuable because he is a shortstop. OK, so how does Rollins compare to another NL shortstop, say, the Marlins' Hanley Ramirez?
Rollins - .296 batting average, .344 on-base percentage, .531 slugging percentage, 30 home runs, 94 RBI, 41 stolen bases.
Ramirez - .332 batting average, .386 on-base percentage, .562 slugging percentage, 29 home runs, 81 RBI, 51 stolen bases.
If we're gonna take a shortstop, why not Ramirez? He has a higher average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage and even beats Rollins in steals. Despite this, Ramirez managed a meager 49 points in the MVP voting, to Rollins' 353.
Some of the writers have argued that because Rollins won the Gold Glove he was a better candidate than Ramirez or Holliday - his defense should give him the edge. Unfortunately, Rollins didn't deserve that award, either. He had a lower fielding percentage than Rockies rookie phenom Troy Tulowitzki, who also boasted the league's highest range factor. Rollins got to more than 100 fewer balls than Tulowitzki did, despite playing in over 50 more innings. Coincidence? Oh, I don't think so.
I really mean no offense to Rollins, but I don't see how a guy can win the MVP when he is the third-best player in his team's infield. Second baseman Chase Utley is Philly's best player, hands down, and he also plays a premium position. Utley missed 30 games near the end of the year with a broken right hand. Without him, Philly was 16-14. After his return, they were 21-11.
Ryan Howard, last year's MVP, hit .411 in the Phillies' last 10 games, belted seven home runs and drove in 16. Those who argue that Rollins carried his team down the stretch might want to take a look at Howard's numbers.
Oh, and the aforementioned Holliday only batted .358 in his last 10 games, nine of which the Rockies won. As for Philadelphia, it wouldn't even have made the postseason if not for a historic collapse by the Mets.
Being that I'm from Massachusetts, I really have nothing to complain about when it comes to sports. Well, except the stupid New England Revolution losing in the finals. Unacceptable. But man, do I feel for the Colorado Rockies. First, your incredible shortstop loses a tight battle for Rookie of the Year and misses out on the Gold Glove he clearly deserved. Then, just to make things worse, your best player gets shafted hard in the MVP voting and on top of all this you got stomped in the World Series.
Shhh, stop crying, state of Colorado, it's gonna be all right.
Shane Reil '09 can't add, but he can count as high as the number of Patriots victories this season.
