Carl Crawford Will Win The MVP

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 1, 2007 1:15 PM EDT

Baseball Prospectus has unleashed their 2007 predictions and I must say, it's a great day to be a Ray:

Four writers choose the Rays to finish third, including our pal Kevin Goldstein, and Will Carroll, whom we'll be talking to soon, predicts Carl Demonte Crawford to win the AL MVP.

Oh and Carroll earns brownie points from me for this:
Daisuke Matsuzaka W-L, ERA, K: 18-7, 4.35, 180 K

I've been saying mid 4 ERA since November.

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Re: Carl Crawford Will Win The MVP

kind of interesting to see Grady Sizemore on top of everyone's AL MVP predictions.

there's good reason for it,
but i dunno.

i think matsuzaka has a better ERA than mid 4's.

by god allah star on Apr 1, 2007 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Carl Crawford Will Win The MVP

I think Matsuzaka has a mid 4 ERA, but doesn't win 18 games. More like 15.

Crawford and Sizemore should BOTH have huge years.

East Coast bias exists.

by mybaseb1 on Apr 1, 2007 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

The best part

...is that, cumulatively, the Rays do finish ahead of the Orioles in BP's picking.

by Not That Chuck on Apr 1, 2007 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

Re: The best part

Are you making fun of Aubrey Huff's first 'Major League' team?

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 1, 2007 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Conundrum

If Aubrey Huff is on a team, can it truly be called "major league"?

by Not That Chuck on Apr 2, 2007 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Carl Crawford Will Win The MVP

Brad Wochomurka "Cristian Antonio Guzman Award (for the position player most likely to put up the lowest VORP in regular playing time): Ben Zobrist" Kind of tough on Ben there Mr. Wochomurka. Did you even look at what the kid hit in the spring? I realize that can be misleading but Ben's produced (at least OBP) at every level he's been to. Was anyone else a bit surprised that Kaz didn't even make the top 3 on anyone's Cy Young list? If Crawford enters the MVP discussion I would think Kaz's name might have shown up somewhere. Finally, I hate to admit it, but I think Dice-K will be a stud. I really don't want him to be but I think he's flat out nasty. God, I hope I'm wrong...

by stpetelawyer on Apr 1, 2007 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Carl Crawford Will Win The MVP

i think a lot of folks are worried about kaz's health, plus our bullpen could blow a few of his leads. much better cy young candidates

by god allah star on Apr 1, 2007 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Carl Crawford Will Win The MVP

Crawford is a great player and will have a great year but the Rays have to win 85 games, minimum, for him to get serious consideration.

Cola
http://www.classiccolaforthesoul.com

by Cola @ DRaysBay on Apr 3, 2007 2:09 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Carl Crawford Will Win The MVP

Not to throw cold water here, but CC's gonna have to really take it up a notch to be considered. .305 / 18 / 81 aren't MVP numbers, and those are his career bests. Leadoff hitters are rarely among the MVP leaders. He needs BJ to get cranking and move into the leadoff role. He needs to dramatically increase his OBP (.348 is his best) so runs and steals can rise.

CC's a hell of a player, but I think we're seeing a little "flavor of the month", analyst "I'm smarter than you, let me surprise you" going on here. I don't think his power numbers are going to increase the likely 50% needed. Or he'd have to steal about 75 bases and score 125+ runs while hitting about .320. Something to elevate the hype.

I think Sizemore's getting the same treatment, but he hit 28 HR's. Gammons loves him, so everybody's jumping on. But I'd say Hafner is a more likely candidate in Cleveland. And all the contenders have 1 or more possibles. Nice bit of press for Carl, but a big stretch.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Apr 3, 2007 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Carl Crawford Will Win The MVP

Check Ryne Sandberg's stats from 1984. Check Kirk Gibson's from 1988. CC could put up great numbers in Tampa and not even be considered or he could be a Yankee and put up the exact same numbers and be a front runner.

You do occasionally (twice) get the guy on the last place team that wins the MVP with Andre Dawson in 1987 and A-Rod with Texas a few years back, but they had monster seasons to back those up.

by SeanDubbs on Apr 3, 2007 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Carl Crawford Will Win The MVP

Exactly, and it took Dawson popping 49 HRs and ARod 52 for them to win it on last place teams...unless CC does something absurd like .330-25-100 steals AND the team hits 75-80 wins, his votes will go to teams that win. Sorry but that's just the way it is.

by das411 on Apr 4, 2007 1:57 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Carl Crawford Will Win The MVP

With what CC's max potential is for this season I would imagine they Rays would at the least have to win the Wild Card for him to even be considered MVP. I don't think it's a realistic possibility, but I would no doubt love to be proved wrong.

by SeanDubbs on Apr 4, 2007 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions