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Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 2:49pm.

The folks at Baseball Prospectus are running their annual Internet Baseball Awards which I find far more interesting and relevant than the ridiculous BBWAA vote. Today is the last day to vote though, so head on over.

- Cubs fan and PECOTA master Nate Silver of Baseball Prospectus (and occasional TCR reader) has branched out to politics with a new polling-analysis website. You can see his guest spot on The Colbert Report by following the link.

- More jokes at the expense of us Cubs fans courtesy of SNL and Bill Murray (go to about 3:30 left in the clip).

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#1 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:14pm.

if i remember this correctly, my vote:

NL MVP: Pujols, Berkman, Howard, 7 other guys (I think I put Soto 6th or 7th)

NL CY: Lincecum, Santana, Sabathia

ROY: Soto, Votto

MOY: Piniella, Manuel

AL MVP: Mauer, Sizemore, Arod, Lee, Halladay, Quentin, Hamilton, K-rod (totally forgot to put Pedroia in there, but he'd probably be 2nd or 3rd)

AL CY: Lee, Halladay, Krod (probably doesn't deserve this but that's a lot of saves)

ROY: Longoria and who cares

MOY: Maddon, Gardenhire 

#21 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by John Beasley on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:56pm.

Mine, FWIW.

AL MVP: Hamilton, Morneau, Pedoria, Sizemore, ARod, Huff, M. Cabrera, Youkilis, Markakis, Quentin
NL MVP: Pujols, Wright, Beltran, Berkman, Howard, Utley, Reyes, H. Ramirez, McLouth, A. Gonzalez

AL Cy: Halladay, Lee, Santana, Burnett, KRod
NL Cy: Lincecum, Webb, Santana, Haren, Hamels

AL MOY: Gardie, Maddon, Gaston
NL MOY: Torre, LaRussa, Cox

__________________________

The Todd Zeile of Internet handles.

#2 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Chad on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:17pm.

Pinella doesn't deserve it. Not even close.

Torre is more deserving. Hell, Cooper and LaRussa deserve it more.

__________________________

"I will ruin this house with my anger!" - Master Shake

#3 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:18pm.

Torre is more deserving

 for lucking into Manny Ramirez? 

#25 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by 10man on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 6:45pm.

Maybe Manny should get the vote for MOY

__________________________

That's Manila with an "L"

#4 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:20pm.

probably should have voted LaRussa 2nd...

not sure what Cooper did other than the Astros got on a hot streak in September, doesn't excuse the other shitty 5 months. if that hot streak came in July, no one would have noticed.

Also, why Ryan Howard this year and seemingly half the MVP's of the last 5 years don't deserve it. 

#5 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:48pm.

a chunk of it has to do with voters wanting to blown away, not lulled into the extra 20-ish walks/hits leading to a .400-ish ob% taking importance over 20-ish more extra base hits.

voters also tend to not care about someone's walk/singles totals unless it's leading to runs or a good sb/cs percentage putting the guy on 2nd/3rd to score in better position.

hell, some voters don't even put that much thought into it...they just vote.

mvp voting has 1 mostly-consistant point...dominance of more than just 1 or 2 categories...

#7 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by blockhead25 on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:53pm.

I think it's impossible to know exactly what a manager influences and does. But, I too think Pinella deserves it for the regular season. What he touched generally turned to gold for 97 wins this year, a good 10 wins above what I expected them to do.

Cards crashed and burned at the end, so I think that takes LaRussa out of it.

Even with a great September, the Dodgers still only won in the mid 80's.

Most everything was expected in the NL...but it wasn't expected that the Cubs would win 97 games and have the best record in the NL.

#11 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:57pm.

Well... I remember that BP had projected the Cubs offense to lead the league in OBP. The other 'surprise' this year was probably Dempster, who Pinhead should get some credit for putting in the rotation... however, Pinhead is the same guy who didn't put him in the rotation last year.

I like Sveum for manager of the year. Sveum, Sabathia, Ramirez... who's a rookie who came up late and did well? Smardizjia, those are my winners.

__________________________

Livin' just a little, laughin' just a little, ain't easy.

#6 What deal with the devil

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:52pm.
did Brett Myers make?

#9 Re: What deal with the devil

Submitted by big_lowitzki on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:55pm.

I must say that it is quite depressing watching Brett Myers get clutch hits against Billingsley.

__________________________

Antagonizing TCR posters with my my "assinine" "socialist drivel" and my signatures since 2003.

#42 Re: What deal with the devil

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 7:19pm.

The devil has nothing to gain from making a deal for Brett Myers' soul because he's already going to hell for beating his wife. Scumbag.

#8 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:53pm.

As I recell those BP Internet awards follow the VORP ranking so closely there's no point in even doing them. Like taking a poll for who should be the VP at the Republican National Convention. Biased sample = biased results.

Maybe VA Phil and Chad's website should run a poll too.

__________________________

Livin' just a little, laughin' just a little, ain't easy.

#10 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:56pm.

haven't done a study, but if Mauer wins this year he's about 8th in VORP...

maybe you meant WARP... 

#13 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:58pm.

Nah, VORP. Have the BP guys been talking up Mauer?

__________________________

Livin' just a little, laughin' just a little, ain't easy.

#15 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:16pm.

don't know about Mauer

VORP Winner followed by IBA winner

2007 - Arod/Hanley

Arod/Holliday

2006: Jeter/Pujols

Jeter/Pujols

2005: Arod/Derrek Lee

Arod/Pujols

I was going to do the rest of the decade but BP seems to freeze a lot on my Mac for some reason when I start sorting through there stats. Safari and Firefox...weird. 

#16 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:21pm.

-edited, nevermind-

IBA winner...got it mixed up with bbwaa

#18 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:30pm.

2007 VORP vs IBA:

MVP VORP
Arod 1
Ordonez 2
Ortiz 3

MVP VORP
Holiday 4
Wright 2
Rollins 9

Cy Young VORP
Sabathia 1
Beckett 4
Carmona 2

Cy Young VORP
Peavy 1
Webb 2
Penny 3

ROY VORP
Pedroia 3
Matsuki 2
Bannister 4
(Guthrie was 1st, was he rookie eligible?)

ROY VORP
Braun 1
Tulowostki 3
Pence 2

For the most part, pretty close except the NL MVP, where I think the voters did factor in some defense, for some reason.

__________________________

Livin' just a little, laughin' just a little, ain't easy.

#19 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:33pm.
the only thing they factored in was that Rollins had a good September and the Mets choked. Rollins was like the 3rd best player on his team.

#22 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:57pm.
Guthrie wasn't eligible, too much service time before 2007.

#12 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 3:58pm.

the internet awards tend to be a bit more sane at least...

they don't match up totally, but they're trying really hard to sell mauer on people this season.

last year it was LF holliday and his big park they were celebrating over SS rollins...this year's focus on mauer seems to be really odd and pretty much hinging on the fact he was the only AL catcher this year healthy or talented enough to put in a full season.

in the end it's the will of the people...granted, people that frequent their kool aid stand...that get to vote. they've done a pretty decent job historically.

#14 it's funny

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:01pm.
it's like how I imagine the playoffs should have gone, just the Cubs would be up 8-2. /slits wrists

#17 That should be the last pitch

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:25pm.
Manny sees with anyone on base.

#20 See...

Submitted by blockhead25 on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:54pm.

Doesn't it hurt even more when a team or player that kills us, gets killed by someone else.

#23 I'm sure this is 3/44

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 5:09pm.

but I guess I missed it

http://deadspin.com/5053163/getting-to-know-alfons...

maybe Soriano was just distracted by the pending divorce...

#24 Re: I'm sure this is 3/44

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 5:15pm.

yeesh...that girl is rough looking, too.

she's got hillbilly face under all that makeup.

#26 Re: I'm sure this is 3/44

Submitted by John Beasley on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 6:53pm.

Soriano was more interested in the dude in the first photo, but his balls were at least a foot out of reach.

__________________________

The Todd Zeile of Internet handles.

#27 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by CA-Phil on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 8:07pm.

I vote for...who f**ing cares, the Cubs got swept, does anybody even remember...I'm still bitter...

#28 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 8:28pm.

i'm voting for CA-Phil

#29 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Chifan on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 11:50pm.

My ballot:

AL MVP: K-Rod (I know its out there but if the Angels had Eric Gagne as their closer those 15+ games they won the division by would have turned into a tight 3 way race race with the Rangers and A's. Also its not like their is a hitter with eyepopping stats.) 2. Youklis 3. Mauer 4. Sizemore 5. Hamilton 6. Pedroia 7. Quentin 8. Longoria 9. Morneau 10. Lee

AL CY- Cliff Lee (Just too dominate as a SP to to give the award to a CL even if he is the MVP) 2. K-rod 3. Dice K 4. Mussina 5. Halladay

AL ROY- Evan Longoria 2. Alexi Ramirez 3.Denard Span

AL MOY Gardenhire (While the Rays were a surprise, everyone knew they had talent unlike the Twins) 2. Maddon 3. Ozzie

NL MVP Pujols (He showed how valuable he was this year by making guys who looked they were done (Glaus) and washed out (Ludwick) into solid contributors. He also lead the in BA and was up there in most everything else) 2. Berkman 3. Utley 4. Lidge 5. Howard 6. Sabathia 7. Chipper 8. Beltran 9. Soto 10. Hanram

NL CY Lincecum 2. Webb 3. Santana 4. Sabathia 5. Lidge

NL ROY- Soto 2. Joey Votto 3. Jair Jurrens

NL MOY Joe Torre (Found a way to mesh a team that was rebuilt at the trade deadline) 2. Fredi Gonzalez 3. Tony LaRussa

How I aspect the BWAA voting will go:

AL MVP Pedroia (East Coast writters just love scrappy white guys), AL CY Lee, AL ROY Longoria AL MOY Maddon
NL MVP Howard (BWAA loves the counting stats and East Coast guys making Howard too hard to pass up), NL CY Webb (Hey he had 21 wins!) NL ROY- Soto NL MOY Torre

#30 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Vince on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 9:29am.

Wow.....

So according to you, K-rod was the second best pitcher in the league but was somehow the most valuable? I must have missed all those HR he hit.

#31 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by The Joe on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 11:01am.

No that makes perfect sense. I voted for Soto for MVP and Fukudome for ROY. Ok, I really didn't.

__________________________

† The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#32 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Chifan on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 2:35pm.

The Cy Young is suppose to go the Best pitcher, while the Most VALUABLE Player award is suppose to go the player who is the most imporant to a team's success. Given all the 1 or 2 run games the Angels won having K-rod instead of a league average closer likely gave the Angels more wins than Mauer gave to the Twins or Pedroia gave to the Red Sox. If the award was meant as an award to be strictly given away to the best player in any year, Sizemore would be running away with it.

#33 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 3:12pm.

a lot would argue MVP goes to the best player, period.

how important a player is to a team matters, but they do tend to be above average in a number of categories rather than being simply a team leader with few peers on other teams.

when i think "MVP" i think the player who could walk onto any of 30 teams and not only do well, but dominate a number of categories.

#34 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Vince on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 3:58pm.

If you were a manager and had the Angels bullpen, and instead of K-rod you had Gagne, and you used Gagne as your closer instead of someone else, you would be fired by July. You are using an illogical and unrealistic example to try and prove your point.

#35 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by The Joe on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 5:06pm.

That's why Fukudome should get ROY. Yeah, he struggled, but if Paul Bako was playing RF for the Cubs, they probably would have lost a lot more games.

__________________________

† The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#37 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Chifan on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 11:58pm.

OK I still doubt there a 90 win team if Sheilds is their closer.

#38 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by big_lowitzki on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 8:26am.

So Sheilds [sic] would blown at least 10 saves? And the team would have lost those 10 blown saves? Heh.

The MLB leaders in blown saves were Gregg and Corpas, with nine (9) each. The MLB leader in losses was 10.

I am pretty confident that Scott Shields would have had less than 10 blown saves and less than ten losses, or he would not have remained the closer.

The Angels would have won more than 90 games with or without KRod.

__________________________

Antagonizing TCR posters with my my "assinine" "socialist drivel" and my signatures since 2003.

#39 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by dB on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 4:22pm.

K-rod wasn't even the best pitcher in the Angels bullpen. Hello Jose Arredondo, the Angels closer in 2009.

#36 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Hagsag on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 5:33pm.

NL MVP Pujols
NL Cy Santana
Nl ROY SOTO
NL MOY Torre

AL MVP Mauer
AL Cy Lee
AL ROY Longoria
AL MOY Maddon

__________________________

hagsag

#40 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 6:41pm.

jamie moyer is not very good at baseball tonight.

#41 Having Fun?

Submitted by billybucks on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 7:11pm.

Cubs, Sox (for those so inclined in Chicago), and now another absolutely brutal Bears loss, the 2nd in 3 weeks.

Somebody in this town has SERIOUSLY pissed off the sporting gods.

#43 Re: Having Fun?

Submitted by Chad on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 7:37pm.

You're just figuring that out now?

__________________________

"I will ruin this house with my anger!" - Master Shake

#47 Re: Having Fun?

Submitted by billybucks on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 6:46am.

Seesm to have gotten a bit more intense over the last 7-8 days.

#44 Bordering on Chemistry?

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 7:38pm.

Vindication? ...but Jeez, what a weird existence.
Jose C. must have used his advance book money to make this purchase. Did anyone read the second book?

hCG is also what is tested for in positive pregnancy tests

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_chorionic_gonad...

==========================

SAN DIEGO (AP)—Jose Canseco was held for nearly 10 hours by immigration authorities after agents said they stopped the former baseball star as he attempted to bring a fertility drug from Mexico, his lawyer said Friday.

Canceco was detained at San Diego’s San Ysidro border crossing Thursday after agents searched his vehicle and said they found human chorionic gonadotropin, which is illegal without a prescription, said his attorney, Gregory Emerson.

Emerson declined to say if Canseco—who admitted to using steroids in a 2005 book that also alleged steroid use by other baseball players—had the drug, which is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency for use in males. The drug helps restore production of testosterone lost in steroid users.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Virginia Kice, said Canseco was ordered to appear in federal court in San Diego “related to an alleged smuggling violation” Thursday at a U.S. border crossing. She declined to elaborate.

Canseco has not been charged with a crime, Kice said. If he were to be charged, it would happen at his court appearance.

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Chill, it's the offseason. How many days to the Winter Meetings?

#45 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Ryno on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 8:58pm.

Through the grapevine... sounds like the Cubs are going to be making a serious play at this guy over the off season. Could be a good thing, could be bad... We'll see if the rumors are serious.

__________________________

"Gasp... You used Ghostbusters for evil!" ~ Liz Lemon

#46 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Brick on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 9:56pm.

No thanks. After spending the last two years watching Soriano hopping around in left field, this is the last thing we need. Pass.

#48 Re: Last Day to Vote

Submitted by Ryno on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 8:56am.

*high five*

__________________________

"Gasp... You used Ghostbusters for evil!" ~ Liz Lemon