This could go down as an incredible couple of weeks for Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts. After helping the Dodgers to their first World Series title since 1988 last week, Betts was named a finalist for National League Most Valuable player honors Monday. If the Baseball Writers’ Association of America votes for Betts, the former Red Sox superstar will become the first player since the legendary Frank Robinson to win the MVP in both leagues. However, Betts has some stiff competition this year in the other two finalists – Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and Padres third baseman Manny Machado.
Before the 28-year-old Betts took home his second World Series title, he was the juggernaut Dodgers’ premier player during the regular season. Betts slashed .292/.562 (149 wRC+) with 16 home runs, 10 stolen bases, the NL’s highest bWAR (3.4) and its second-ranked fWAR (3.0) in 246 plate appearances. You also can’t overlook Betts’ value in the field, as he led NL outfielders in Defensive Runs Saved (10) and came in second in Ultimate Zone Rating (5.7).
Freeman, meanwhile, went on an offensive rampage all season, especially during a September in which he recorded a remarkable 1.246 OPS in 96 at-bats. That month helped Freeman to an overall .341/.462/.640 line with 13 homers over 262 PA. Freeman was first in his league in fWAR (3.4), second in bWAR (2.8) and second in wRC+ (187).
Alongside shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who arguably had an MVP-caliber season of his own, Machado gave the Padres an all-world left side of the infield in 2020. Thanks in large part to those two, the Padres made the postseason for the first time since 2006. But it’s Machado who’s now drawing MVP consideration, and he’s certainly a deserving candidate. In his second season as a Padre, Machado hit .304/.370/.500 (148 wRC+) with 16 HRs and six steals in 254 PA. He ranked third among NL position players in bWAR (2.8) and sixth in fWAR (2.6).
Is one of these three the obvious choice, or will it be difficult for voters to make a decision? Make your choice below…
(Poll link for app users)
The top 2 were obvious, but is anyone else shocked that Machado is third?
absolutely
I thought top 2 should’ve been Braves with Freeman winning easily.
I’m shocked Machado is named in the final 3.
I’d like to know where the first Cardinal player was listed in the MVP Balloting?? 100th???
The Cardinal owners must be blind as to how John Mozeliak’s moves have strapped them down so much financially, over the past 6-7 years, with mediocre players to boot. I’d have been justifiably fired years ago had that been me in John Mozeliak’s shoes.
The crazy thing is Ozuna would win the AL MVP easily with those numbers, apparently he’s not even top 3 in NL.
I would have laughed if a DH won the mvp in the national league the very first year it existed
I know the “intangibles” and clubhouse value is becoming irrelevant for deciding MVPs but Betts really did change the Dodgers culture and its no coincidence they got over the hump the first season he arrived. He is the clear MVP of the NL.
They “ got over the hump?” Are you kidding? They played a 60 game season. It was a tournament. Opening day until Memorial Day is all it was with a short tourney afterward. Laughable all the people out there acting like this was any kind of a season. It was a baseball money grab.
They all played the same number of games. Such a dumb argument. Would you say the same thing if your team won?
Your take is flat out wrong. The Dodgers had to win more playoff games than any champion. It is also ridiculous for the best team in a leauge to have to play in a wild card round. No team that was left out of the 2020 playoffs that would have made it in a normal 162 season. And its not like the Dodgers struggled to be a playoff team in a 162 game season.
Does that go for the NHL and NBA too? Neither played a full season. Sounds like you’re butt hurt your team didn’t win. Get over it.
Is it just me or is it hard to take seriously any take that includes the words “butt hurt?”
It’s just you.
hiflew…It’s a sophomoric expression. But many sports fans are of a similar maturity.
Oh stop, you act like it was a strike year with replacement players.
okay and? its as close to a “season” as we got. suck it up.
Yep it is: A money grab? Hardly. How many tickets were sold? How many beer & hot dog sales? Would you rather have an entire season to be wiped out or have an abbreviated season? I’m a baseball fan. I’ll gladly take (watch on TV) a partial season instead of no season.
I think the “this doesn’t count” arguments are especially silly given the Dodgers ended up winning it all. It implies the Dodgers, of all teams, haven’t proven they can win in a full regular season. Is that really the hill you want to die on?
It’s hard to beat Freeman’s slash line so he’s the MVP if you go only by the numbers, but if the ability to change the game with his bat, feet, glove, arm, and brain matter at all, it’s Betts all the way.
60 games my friend. not 162. there’s an asterisk(*) next to it. talk to me when they win a real one
But this is a real championship. So we’re talking now. Again a real question. If your team would have won the world series you would put an asterisk next to it?
But there is no asterisk… not even a little one but there is a big trophy
The game maker got y’all arguing over who’s Astrik is bigger, Christina Aguilera better switch me chairs
tward: Is a 6-5 game called after 7 innings (rain) the same as a 6-5 game scheduled as a makeup doubleheader due to inclement weather? Imo,you take what you can get with the circumstances that you are dealt? I’m a BRAVES fan but I acknowledge that the Dodgers have WON the 2020 World Series. ABSOLUTELY no if,but,only because, etc. They finished the ABBREVIATED “REGULAR” season with the BEST record AND they WON the EXTENDED post season.
It is an interesting debate about whether or not this season and/or championship deserve an asterisk or not. I think the point of an asterisk is to notify someone that something is different here and then everyone will make their own decision about what the difference means. This season and postseason certainly get an asterisk.
I understand the arguments that it wasn’t a “real” season, or whatever. I – also – strongly disagree with that.
I was able to – more or less – cobble together an average-ish building season. Due to all the Covid, rioting stuff that was a huge accomplishment, serious.
Teams faced more unique challenges this summer than ever before.
Navigating 2020 has been no joke. I think – if anything – the Dodgers get extra credit. I know a lot of folks have had a different experience this year. But as someone who was out being productive the entire time, I tip my cap to *everyone* else that did as well.
Not sure how anyone can claim Betts is the clear MVP when Freeman has a higher WAR. 3.4 to 3.0
And clubhouse leadership? Really? You want to go there? Pretty sure Freddie wins the intangibles off the field in a landslide.
You’re giving Betts more credit for clubhouse leadership because he switched teams and the Dodgers had no leadership prior doesn’t mean he’s better than Freeman in that category.
More of the same though. People overlooking Freeman. This is nothing new.
WAR is not reliable for picking an MVP since every source is different. Mookie has a higher bWAR so you can’t goo offf that. Freddies bat was better but Mookie plays elite defense at a more important position and is a better baserunner.
Mookie Betts is a baseball machine. Of the five tools, he has six. Credit to Freeman for putting together an awesome slash line over 60 games (a Silver Slugger winner for sure) but Betts is simply the better all-around ballplayer. He can change the game in every possible way, and that’s what MVPs should be about, not just a number.
Freeman. By that much.
Juan Soto should be at least 3rd. He had a much better year then machado
Freddie!!!!! And….I too am surprised by Machado’s nomination. This is Freddie’s year IMO!
I agree
I cannot see how it isn’t Freeman by a large margin.
To me, “MVP” means the one player most indispensable to his clubs’ success. Mookie had a great year as did Machado, but I think Freeman takes the award easily if you measure it that way.
to me, it’s who has the best year, and then who has more of a positive impact on the league
All the season was a extended spring training ! No record should count ! It’s not baseball without the dog days. Dh ruined the NL. Joke
Yeah, it’s almost like the World Series MVP this year. In a real season, there are ups and downs, injuries , and so on.
you mean the guy who was the most valuable player in the WS shouldn’t have won the award?
God I hope your username is not a reference to APBA because if so you’re giving us APBA players a bad name. This is a truly awful take. I much prefer no DH but in no way is this season illegitimate
It’s a 2 horse race. Best bat vs best all round game. The best bat will win because he’ a good guy who hasn’t won one yet.
I can get behind it being Freddie’s turn. I also think you could take Betts away from the Dodgers and they’d still probably be the World Series favorite. If you take Freeman from this year’s Braves, they’re still a good team but the offense isn’t elite anymore.
Betts is clearly the best player. He’s currently in that class with athletes like Trout, LeBron, and Mahomes where he could win the MVP in any year and no one would have much to gripe about.
Longer term, having an MVP award on your shelf definitely helps Freeman’s HOF case if he can have a solid second half of his career.
My fellow writers and I voted on all award winners. We ended up with Freddie Freeman winning NL MVP. Full results: maxsportingstudio.com/maxs-sporting-studio-award-v…
Dom smith is a better hitter than machado next year… watch
LOL!!!
Watch smith hit….
Where is Smith gonna play? LF? I guess he’ll have to, but, I agree, he’s gonna be a monster of a hitter
Yeah probably left. Machado will be more valuable bc of his elite defense. But I think smith will be a better hitter. But smith defense at LF is horrible. We need the DH bc smith is good at first and Alonso should be DH
No Tatis Jr.?
Huh. I find it disappointing that he didn’t end up a finalist.
machado had better numbers
On the surface, yes.
It doesn’t matter I suppose. Most voters probably don’t care about the advanced statistics, IMO.
The conversation in Sept was Tatis faded the last couple weeks and Machado jumped him
I agree with the others who have said Ozuna and Seager, and Soto certainly warranted some conversation. Will be interesting to see how those guys finished, once everything is released
Freeman probably wins because the triple slash is sexier, but Betts should win
The fact his Bwar and Fwar is interchangeable to Freddie with a 38% gap in OPS+ speaks to how many facets of the game Betts impacts that Freddie does not
Freddie was the best hitter. He should win a silver slugger. Betts had the better all around year. That’s what the MVP is to me
Same reason Trout should have won over Miggy in the past. It’s mvp. Not just best offensive player. That’s my take
I do agree that Trout should have won over Miggy in 2012-2013, but we’re looking at a different kind of situation here. Miggy was more or less put at third base because he had nowhere else to go with Victor Martinez and Prince Fielder. Third base was not his natural position by that point of his career. He hadn’t played more than 150 innings at third base since 2007, his last season in Florida. Freeman on the other hand is a plus defender at first base. He only had -.3 base running runs above average which is for a first baseman, he runs pretty well. Now that’s not to say Mookie doesn’t run well or a poor defender. He’s an outstanding right fielder who runs well. But we shouldn’t discount Freeman’s acomplishments just because he plays a position that isn’t known for its defense. Unless you’re a designated hitter or pitcher, your position should not matter as long as you play it well. He had a 3.4 fWAR while Mookie had a 3.0 fWAR. He had a 187 wRC+ to Betts’ 149.
You conveniently ignored that Baseball Reference shows Betts with the higher WAR, and by a larger margin than the fWar.
3.4 to 2.8.
I just feel like Mookie impacts every part of the diamond, while Freeman impacts most
Even with fangraphs, think about what your last sentence says. Freeman’s bat was nearly 40% better than Mookie. Yet, he was only 0.4 wins more valuable. Mookie had to make A LOT of impact on the rest of the diamond to make up that gap. And yes, that does consider Freeman’s defense
In the end, I expect Freeman will win because of the batting line. I do
However, just like Trout, I think the more complete player should win when their values are similar. When I think of an MVP, I think of the best or nearly the best in the league at everything(when they won). Trout, Yelich, Bellinger, Betts in 18.
This year, the more complete guy was Mookie. But again, I don’t expect him to actually win.
I just think trying to end the conversation after only the bat is premature, just like the 12/13 conversation
Doesn’t that fact make you think that WAR isn’t exactly a very good stat to follow? It’s known defensive stats take years, of full seasons, to tell the true numbers. Freeman is sooooo far ahead with the bat and is a solid defender at first. Mookie is a very good all around player who deserves consideration but Freeman should take home the hardware this year imo. Machado sucks
No. It shows how many places Betts was the best and Freeman was average or below average. Or worse. you’re just ignoring 60% of the game
Range, arm, base running. Mookie is the best Or top 5(?) at all of these. Freeman is below average
Are you so simple minded that you really think the game is only won with the bat? Did you miss that Mookie won the LCS for LA with his glove and base running, THREE DIFFERENT GAMES? All While Freeman hit 400?
It was put on display in 5,6,7 why Mookie is more of an mvp than Freeman. Freddie was the best hitter all year. No doubt. But your argument “he’s ok at defense so the rest…who cares”. Is really freakin lazy
Go ask Atlanta if how good Mookie is on defense or running the bases matters. Like Ozuna, Dansby, Riley
the candidates here honestly underwhelm me. by process of elimination id pick Freeman. Soto and Ozuna should be the other two finalists.
Based on the (3) finalists selected, Freeman should win this award quite easily. His batting average, OBP and OPS puts him over the top compared to the other two candidates, plus he was the most clutch out of all 3. As far as the Dodgers go, Mookie obviously put that team over the top this season but from a league MVP perspective (regular season only) it certainly felt like Corey Seager had more of an impact on the season than Mookie did. SS is a more demanding position than RF and the fact that Seager hit over .300 with a .358 OBP and a .943 OPS puts him slightly ahead of Mookie IMO regardless of what that ‘phony’ WAR/ fWAR/ bWAR stat says. Quite honestly, Machado has no business being on this list despite a very good season. I would have preferred to see (2) Dodgers on the list (Betts & Seager) or (2) Braves on the list (Freeman & Ozuna) instead of Machado. Also, Juan Soto might have had the best season out of everyone but I assume he was left off the list due to the fact he only appeared in 47 games and only had 147 PAs on the season vs. the 240+ PAs each of the other (3) finalists had. Freeman certainly had the best season out of the 3 actual finalists so he should lock this up quite easily.
Both Betts and Freeman are deserving, but to me Freeman put it all together to the next level this year. Given the turmoil the Braves went through losing Soroka, Hamels, and Foltz imploding, the offense had to step up even more. Now mind you, those young starters stepped up in a big way, but its because that offense was so consistent, led by Freddie. Do the Braves still win the East without him? Probably, but it would have been a heck of a lot closer.
Flip to Betts, and to me its hard to say he took the team to the next level. They had decent production in RF already, and while he provided MVP level numbers, I still feel they would have ran away with the West no matter who you throw in RF.
To sum it up, take Freddie out of Atlanta and its a battle to win the East.. Take Mookie out of LA and they still run away with the West. Freddie’s value cant be overstated and it’s high time he gets his well deserved MVP.
Ok. So Bellinger and muncy had bad years
Now you also want to take Mookie out and still pretend this is the same team at 19? That’s what you’re implying- they won in 19 so they coulda won in 20
You really think the Braves had a more intense division fight with… the Marlins. Than the dodgers had with the Padres? Phew you are a homer! Just say it