A little project I'm thinking of doing (HGM's Historical MVP/Cy Young Choices)

[HoustonGM]

1978:

AL MVP: Ron Guidry
NL MVP: Dave Parker
AL Cy: Ron Guidry
NL Cy: Phil Niekro

Two agreements here, NL MVP and AL Cy. I've got to apologize to Jim Rice. This was really THE season responsible for his soon induction into the Hall of Fame, and he was easily the best position player in the AL, but Ron Guidry just happened to have an epic pitching season, and I've got to give the MVP to him. As for the NL Cy Young, Phil Niekro had nearly a 60 inning edge over any other NL pitcher AND was tied for second in the league with Steve Rogers with a 142 ERA+. Rogers threw nearly 90 innings less, though, and the first place finisher, Craig Swan, trailed Niekro by over 100 innings. Niekro had an ugly 19-18 record, but it's unquestionable that the Braves got more value out of Niekro than any other NL team did with any other pitcher in 1978.

[ragecage]

I have to say this is one of the best things I have seen out of BMO forums. Kudos goes to you HGM.

[HoustonGM]

I have to say this is one of the best things I have seen out of BMO forums. Kudos goes to you HGM.

Thanks for the kind words.

[HoustonGM]

1977:

AL MVP: Rod Carew
NL MVP: George Foster
AL Cy: Nolan Ryan
NL Cy: Steve Carlton

Pretty easy choices here, except for the AL Cy Young which is the only pick I disagreed with. The BBWAA elected yet another reliever, Sparky Lyle. Lyle had a nice season, but not one that I see as particularly noteworthy enough to receive the Cy Young, particularly in a season with multiple strong starting pitcher candidates. My final choice came down to Nolan Ryan and Jim Palmer. Palmer threw 20 more innings, while Ryan was more effective. I almost gave the nod to Palmer, but I decided that Ryan's great quality plus the fact that he did more of his own work (341 strikeouts) trumps Palmer's 20 inning advantage.

[ragecage]

Finally Ryan wins a Cy Young award.

[HoustonGM]

1976:

AL MVP: George Brett
NL MVP: Joe Morgan
AL Cy: Vida Blue
NL Cy: Randy Jones

Two agreements here, both in the NL, on Joe Morgan and Randy Jones. In the AL, the BBWAA awarded the MVP to Thurman Munson, who was the top catcher in the league. However, George Brett was far superior as a hitter, even in relation to their position, and the catcher bonus isn't enough to put Munson that high on my list of 1976 MVP candidates. One guy I have over him is a guy that I've considered for MVP a few times already, second basemen Bobby Grich. Grich was, and remains, one of the most underrated players in history in my opinion. His highest finish in the MVP balloting came in 1979 when he placed 8th. When he put up a 164 OPS+ in 1981, he finished 14th. Now, remember, that's a 164 OPS+ from a fantastic defensive second basemen. Grich has many years in which he easily has a claim as being a top-5 player, yet he was never properly recognized as such during his playing career, and he remains snubbed by the Hall of Fame.

The AL Cy Young from the BBWAA went to Jim Palmer, and my final choice came down to him and my choice, Vida Blue. Blue beat Palmer in ERA+, and trailed in innings, but the gap wasn't substantial enough for me to give it to Palmer over Blue. I also dock Palmer a bit for benefiting greatly from the fantastic Baltimore defensive unit. When choosing Cy Youngs, I want to award it to the pitcher who PITCHED the best, himself, and that means attempting to separate a pitcher's accomplishments from that of his defense.

[HoustonGM]

1975:

AL MVP: Rod Carew
NL MVP: Joe Morgan
AL Cy: Jim Palmer
NL Cy: Tom Seaver

The only disagreement here comes in the AL MVP, where, once again, the writers got wrapped up in the great storyline of Fred Lynn and Jim Rice. Jim Rice had no business being in the MVP discussion this year, while Lynn did legitimately have an amazing season. Rod Carew, though, was a second basemen that put up a 157 OPS+ and had good value on the basepaths. He takes his 2nd HGM MVP award in 3 years.

The NL Cy Young caused me some grief, as I see Andy Messersmith, Randy Jones, and Tom Seaver ridiculously close to each other. During my deliberations, I had, at some point, chosen each one of them to be my pick. In the end, I decided to agree with the voters, which agreed with advanced metrics like WARP.

[reflections]

1978:

AL MVP: Ron Guidry
NL MVP: Dave Parker
AL Cy: Ron Guidry
NL Cy: Phil Niekro

Two agreements here, NL MVP and AL Cy. I've got to apologize to Jim Rice. This was really THE season responsible for his soon induction into the Hall of Fame, and he was easily the best position player in the AL, but Ron Guidry just happened to have an epic pitching season, and I've got to give the MVP to him. As for the NL Cy Young, Phil Niekro had nearly a 60 inning edge over any other NL pitcher AND was tied for second in the league with Steve Rogers with a 142 ERA+. Rogers threw nearly 90 innings less, though, and the first place finisher, Craig Swan, trailed Niekro by over 100 innings. Niekro had an ugly 19-18 record, but it's unquestionable that the Braves got more value out of Niekro than any other NL team did with any other pitcher in 1978.

The Gator was a one man wrecking crew that year.

[metsguy234]

HGM, no offense, but I could probably make these picks better then you. Pitchers shouldn't win MVPs unless they go like 100-0, dude.

[TheNamelessPoet]

HGM, no offense, but I could probably make these picks better then you. Pitchers shouldn't win MVPs unless they go like 100-0, dude.

*sigh*

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

HGM, no offense, but I could probably make these picks better then you. Pitchers shouldn't win MVPs unless they go like 100-0, dude.

ROFL.

I would take great amusement in metsguy undertaking this project and making his own picks.

[metsguy234]

ROFL.

I would take great amusement in metsguy undertaking this project and making his own picks.

I'd do it, but HGM would get pissed at me for clogging up the forums.

[HoustonGM]

HGM, no offense, but I could probably make these picks better then you. Pitchers shouldn't win MVPs unless they go like 100-0, dude.

Please. You think Hank Aaron was better than Babe Ruth, and that there are three better first basemen than Lou Gehrig. If you made the picks, Pedro Martinez wouldn't have gotten any awards of any kind. Same with Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds.

As for pitchers, you're just...wrong. For reasons not just limited to the wacky use of wins and losses.

[TheNamelessPoet]

Please. You think Hank Aaron was better than Babe Ruth, and that there are three better first basemen than Lou Gehrig. If you made the picks, Pedro Martinez wouldn't have gotten any awards of any kind. Same with Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds.

As for pitchers, you're just...wrong. For reasons not just limited to the wacky use of wins and losses.

I'd do it, but HGM would get pissed at me for clogging up the forums.

actually i'd REALLY like to see this done by metsguy

[HoustonGM]

I don't know why he thinks I'd care, as long as he kept it in one thread like I'm doing.

I might suffer an aneurysm when he picks anybody over Barry Bonds in the 2001-2004 period, though.