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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Jimmy Rollins
His WPA (not park adjusted) was +3.2 as an offensive player. Presuming the Fans are right, that he had a great glove, we can give him +2.0 for his glove, plus another +0.5 for his position. That puts him at +5.7 wins.
Tulo: +2.9, +2.0, +0.5 = +5.4
Pujols: +4.7, +1.5, -1.0 = +5.2
Chase Utley: +3.8, +1.0, 0 = +4.8
Helton: 4.8, +1.0, -1.0 = +4.8
Holliday: +5.1, 0, -0.5 = +4.6
Prince Fielder: +5.2, 0, -1.0 = +4.2
The argument settles on this: how good was Rollins’ glove (Dewan’s three-year SS totals have Rollins a shade away from being the second best fielder at SS, after Everett), and how much park adjustment do you do. You can reasonably argue for this generation’s Cal Ripken to get the MVP. You can make a reasonable argument for 5 or 10 players (including Jake Peavy).
Any outcry at Rollins getting the award, or even downright dismissal as him not possibly being MVP is downright wrong. He was as viable a candidate as there is. In any case, by this time next week, no one will care.