We’re into the final leg of the 2015 Major League Baseball season and things are heating up. Here’s a few things that have caught my eye the past few weeks.
- Jung Ho Kang
I wrote a couple weeks ago about this year’s rookie class being one of the best to ever come out of the game of baseball. And no matter who wins the National League Rookie of the Year is going to be more than deserving. While a case could be made for just about them all, I don’t think it is fair to say one deserves the award more than another.
I personally think Kris Bryant is going to win the award but I think Jung Ho Kang would be my vote for this year. Again, I am not going to say Bryant doesn’t deserve it. Before you go telling me I’m crazy off my rocker, consider a few things.
First, Kang strikes out significantly less than Bryant. While Bryant has roughly 75 more at bats than Kang, the strike out rates aren’t even close. Bryant strikes out 30% of the time to Kang’s 20%.
Additionally, Kang’s walk rate is twice (12%) of Bryant’s (6%).
Kang owns a season 30% line drive rate to 20% for Kang, which tells me Kang squares the ball up consistently more than Bryant.
Like most stats in baseball, you can manipulate them to tell any story you want, however, most people that know me those are three stats I consistently come back to time after time to tell a better story of a player’s overall performance. I also like the consistency in Kang’s month to month splits.
Until about a week ago, I actually might have put Randal Grichuk at the top for the Rookie of the Year race, but an arm injury that has shelved him for a considerable amount of time, to me, has taken him out of the running.
And while what Kyle Schwarber is doing is nothing short of spectacular, I think his 150 at bats on the season aren’t enough of a sample size to equate him into the conversation.
Again, whoever ends up winning the award in the National League will be more than deserving, I personally think, right now, the award ought to be awarded ought to be assigned to the Pirates first year import.
- Anthony Rizzo
It’s not lost on me what Bryce Harper has done this year. I truly believe the guy has been the MVP of the entire league. I don’t there’s a question about it but I think there is a guy in Chicago that might like to have a seat at the conversation table.
Anthony Rizzo.
Again, Rizzo isn’t that far off of what Harper has done. At the surface, Rizzo is only six off of Harper’s home runs (31 to 25). Rizzo actually has more RBIs (77 to 76), and while there’s certainly “flaws” with the RBI stat, but voters say it matters, so it matters.
Rizzo, believe it or not, has more stolen bases, significantly more actually, 15 to Harper’s six.
What is Harper doing better?
Well the obvious it the average. Harper is hitting a stellar .334 to Rizzo’s .287. Harper has a nearly .500 OBP (.460) to Rizzo’s .356.
Again no question Harper might just be the frontrunner, if not unanimous, MVP choice in 2015, the figures Rizzo is touting for the most improved team in baseball might be the most least talked about in all of baseball.
I told a friend a few weeks ago, if the Nationals don’t make the playoffs, Rizzo might be my MVP. I think I’d like to retract that.
What Harper has done is phenomenal. I don’t think there’s any way to reduce what he has done despite the team performance, but let’s not leave Rizzo out in the cold. His 2015 in it’s own right has been excellent.
- American League Cy Young Award
The American League Cy Young Award field is loaded. So much so if you took a name out of a hat, nobody would probably argue with it. Here’s an argument for each.
Chris Sale - Despite a slow start, Sale has the most strikeouts in the league and a WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) of 1.02 with a league best 12.09 K/9.
Dallas Keuchel - Leads AL pitchers with an astonishing 6.4 WAR (though Sonny Gray isn’t far behind) and is tied for the league lead in wins at 15 (Only Felix Hernandez has as many).
Sonny Gray - Second in the league win WAR (6.3), WHIP (0.98), BAA (.200) and ERA (2.10).
David Price - Despite playing for two different teams in 2015, owns the league’s fourth lowest ERA at 2.42. 5.3 WAR (3rd in AL)
Chris Archer - Second in the league in strikeouts with 217. Fifth in the league in WHIP 1.03. 4th BAA (.213). Fourth in AL in ERA (2.88).
Not a bad resume for any of them. Who’s your pick?
- Other tidbits
- Don’t sleep on those Texas Rangers. The Rangers have moved into a half game up on that second Wild Card spot and have a great lineup. All of a sudden that month old move for Cole Hamels isn’t just about next year.
- Can Mike Scoscia survive a collapse of his Angels this year? The Angels fought back hard to overcome the red hot Astros out of the gate and had the division lead going into the All Star Break. Now the Angels are on pace to miss the playoffs entirely. After GM Jerry Dipoto resigned, a disconnect was revealed between the front office and the coaches in the dugout regarding scouting reports. After that the Angels went on a bit of a run but the Angels offense has been inconsistent all year (obviously except for all-world talent Mike Trout). The way the Rangers are playing and the amount of teams fighting for that final wild card spot, it’s a serious possibility the Halos don’t make the playoffs in 2015 and the longest tenured coach in the majors makes a final exit.
- For the second time in the four years of the two Wild Card system, the National League’s one-game playoff game is set to see two NL Central teams play for the right to lose to the Cardinals in a best of five set. And it is of course, thanks to the dominance of the St. Louis Cardinals, who believe it or not, have baseball’s best record. No it’s not Toronto or Kansas City or even the New York Mets, much to the chagrin of the Major League Baseball Network.
- While the Toronto Blue Jays might be baseball’s hottest club, I’d still take my chances in facing them in a long series and here’s why. After David Price, their pitching STINKS! If you ask me, they are the 2015 version of the 2012-2014 Detroit Tigers. One ace, a potent offense, and zero pitching after the one ace. You can beat a time like that in a long series and I think the Blue Jays are very vulnerable if you can whether the storm that is David Price.
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