My choice for first half MVO: Luke Scott
by Stacey on Jul 14, 2009 2:28 PM EDT
in Commentary & Analysis
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PrintThe first half of the season is over and the Orioles are predictably on their way to another losing season, although unlike in some years past, I don't really mind. It's losing with a direction. This team has shown flashes of brilliance in between the blunders and the team's new identity is taking shape. It's a good time to be an Orioles fan.
It almost sounds ridiculous to say this about a team that is 40-48, but there have been a lot of things to be happy about so far this season. Matt Wieters, of course, but also the emergence of Nolan Reimold and Brad Bergesen as impact players on the roster. David Hernandez has shown us good things, Robert Andino proved more valuable than Hayden Penn, and Adam Jones is an All Star (and a legit one despite being the only O).
In spite of all those things, I have to give my vote for first half MVO to Luke Scott. Before the season even started Luke Scott lost his job to Felix Pie and was informed that DH was his new home. He wasn't happy, but he did it without complaint. It was also hinted at that he'd share playing time with Ty Wigginton, with Wiggy taking on tough lefties. That had to sting, but he took it in stride.
Now, 88 games into the season, Luke Scott is by far the best hitter on this team and one of the best hitters in the major leagues. He goes into the All Star Break batting .305/.384/.592 and his OPS+ of 149 is tops on the team. Adam Jones is 2nd at at distant 116. He's cranked 18 home runs in just 263 plate appearances (his time on the DL set him back a bit). That's a pace of one HR per 14.61 PA. Not bad. Of the 27 other major leaguers who have 18 or more HR, only Albert Pujols (12.06) and Raul Ibanez (13.14) have hit HR at a faster pace this year.
Luke's .976 OPS is fourth in the AL behind Joe Mauer, Ben Zobrist, and Kevin Youkilis (>200 PA), and his .592 SLG is third behind just Mauer and Zobrist. FanGraphs shows Luke's worth so far this year as $7.7M, tops on the Orioles (his salary this year is $2.4M), and he leads the team in VORP at 26.5. Compared to other DHs around the league, only Adam Lind is ranked higher in those two measurements.
And how about those tough lefties that Wigginton was supposed to help him with? Luke is demolishing them. He is batting .333/.538/.720 with 8 HR against left handed pitchers this year, making him pretty much unstoppable.
In addition to all of Luke's sparkly statistics, there is also the fact that he is just a joy to watch. He's happy to be an Oriole, thrilled to be playing baseball, great with the younger players, and his attitude can't be beat. Those aren't the sort of things that should be taken into account for this purpose, obviously, but it just makes him that much more awesome.
An argument can be made for a few other players so far this year, notably Brad Bergesen and Adam Jones with a few courtesy votes to George Sherrill or Jim Johnson. But it's hard to top Luke. Do you think any other Oriole is more deserving of the MVO at this point in the season? If so respond in the comments and we'll duke it out.
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Impossible vote for me
I cannot pick between Luke and Bergy. Luke has been incredible and lights out as you have stated. Bergensen has been silly in his own with a top 15 ERA in the league, and he about wins the MBP every time he pitches. He would have more wins had it not been for some unfortunate bullpen outtings and lack of run support. It seems like every time he pitches his ERA drops and he gets more and more confident. I am very excited to see how he finishes out the year.
In the end I voted for Bergy, because I am sure Luke will win the vote, and I wanted BB to get his due.
I went with Bergesen
Luke has had the better season, but Bergesen has been more valuable. On a team whose ace leads the majors in homers allowed, he has been the steadying presence. What’s more impressive is that he is a rookie, who was not even expected to do very well. Because Guthrie has been so below average (I hesitate to say bad. Not yet at least.), Bergesen has been the guy to go deep into ballgames, give our bullpen an opportunity to rest, and give our offense a chance to stay in games. Luke has kept us in games on several occasions, but I just think Bergy has saved a couple bullpen arms from getting blown out already.
On the first day, Chuck Norris created God. But the day before that, Matt Wieters created Chuck Norris and the calendar.
by oriolesfan151 on Jul 16, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
danys baez!
for leading the team with a stellar OPS!
actually i voted for nicky….cant complain about leading the team in RBIs
Tough to pick... but went with Berg-NIck my heart is still with you.....
"You don't EVEN KNOW who Nick Markakis is"- .....My 4 year old daughter to another kid.
"I'm a Country Boy"- ......Alan Jackson
I went with AJ
I really don’t have that strong of an argument of why I picked him over Bergy or Luke, but to start with I’m going to claim his defensive presence in CF and the fact that he is an everyday player (Unlike Luke or Bergy) as the top two reasons I chose him.
I also think he is a much stronger block in the foundation we are building for future success. I realize that shouldn’t really have anything to do with this particular award, but I can’t help the fact that it weighed on my subconscious.
Luke is essentially an every day player
If you don’t count his days on the DL, Luke has missed 7 games this year. That’s not exactly a platoon player.
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
I voted AJ
For the the fact that he’s been our 2nd best hitter while playing some very nice D. If we’re talking value, his defense plus his offense tops LUUUUKES offense for me, but not by much. Luke Burg and AJ are pretty much in a 3 way tie as far as i’m concerned, but I dont think its a coincidence that now that Luke is off his feet for half of every game and well rested that he’s hitting this way.
BTW, thats no knock on Luke, and I think he’s found his role. DH doesnt fit everyone that well, but when I look at AJ contributing on both sides of the ball and still hitting the way he has (especially early this season) I have to give him the slight edge.
Matt Wieters can get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop in under one lick.
I like both of yours and VB O’s Guy’s arguments. I amend my opinion, it is a 3-way tie IMO.
by John Stephens on Jul 14, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Excellent argument
Although statistically he hasn’t played good defense this year. If he were playing defense as well this year as last year he’d blow Luke out of the water.
Honestly I could have made an argument for any of the three of AJ, Bergy, and Luke. They have all been amazing this year. Luke’s stats are definitely the gaudiest, though.
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
Although statistically he hasn’t played good defense this year. If he were playing defense as well this year as last year he’d blow Luke out of the water.
Luke hasn’t played enough in the field to make any judgements about his fielding statistically.
"Your wife told you to play in New York.
Well, my wife told me you look like a dork." Boo Teixeira guys.
I was talking about Adam
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
I love me some stats
but I know he’s an above average defender. Defensive stats are great and all, but I cant bring myself to judge guys based on them alone.
Matt Wieters can get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop in under one lick.
This is seriously such a difficult vote.
I guess initially for me it would be AJ, Luuuuuke, or Berglarson.
But I think I’ll eliminate AJ just because he’s kinda cooled down a bit. Of course, he’s above .300, but, nonetheless, I’m eliminating him and setting it down to between Luke and Brad.
Luke- He’s our own personal home run monster. Remember that week or so when he came back from the DL, we practically expected him to hit a home run every at bat? That was crazy. The guy has been reliable in so many ways for us. And he’s just the epitome of a fan favorite. You can’t help but grin yourself when you see him and his big old grin. The guy loves being out there and playing the game, and carrying Felix on his back post-game is adorable. And I know I’m getting into Birdland attitudes, so I’ll stop and go onto Brad.
Bergesen- Bergesen is amazing. I love the guy. When he’s out there on the mound, we all know we have a chance to win and he’s pretty much gonna give us at least a quality start. I went to first game against the Gnats that Brad pitched, and while it was obvious he didn’t have his best stuff, he made the pitches he needed to make when he most needed to and 100% kept us in the game. He’s been by far our most reliable pitcher, a definite ROY candidate (wasn’t he declared 1st half ROY by Baseball Prospectus?), and just fabulous to watch.
All this being said. I’m gonna voteeeeeeee forrrrrrrrr. The offense. Because as lousy as it has been at times, we all know we can count on Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke to provide some O. I talk a lot. Wow.
"He's a gazelle." -Adam Jones on Nolan Reimold.
You make a great case, Stace
Sealed the deal for me, but it is great to have multiple legit contenders, although, honestly, I can’t see really pulling the lever for anybody else but Bergy. Nicky, B-rob, AJ have all been too inconsistent. JJ & Sherrill have been great, but I don’t see their contributions, especially by comparison with expectations, as comparable to Luke’s or Bergy’s. So there it is: LLUUUUUUUUKKKE!!!!!
It's great
to have several players to choose among. BTW, if you want to depress yourself, Roch’s reminder that the Os picked Bill Rowell (he of the .230 BA and bad glove) over Tim Lincecum (he of the Cy Young award) caused me to look at the first round in 1999, when we had 4 (count ’em) picks. None of the picks (Bigbie, Moreland, Stahl, and Smith) turned out. What a wasted opportunity.
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