Jake Arrieta 2017 Salary Drive Sploogefest

[Slaky]

I know that MVP doesn't really mean that much (I'm sure it does to the winner) but I could easily be convinced that Arrieta should finish second in the MVP vote behind Harper this year (excepting all the votes for David Ross for bringing the team together and teaching them all how to be winners.)  

Obviously I pay much more attention to the Cubs than other teams, but the effect he has on this team overall is amazing. And it's not even just about affecting the bullpen and pitching staffs the days before and after, it's just knowing that every Jake Day, they're going to win or at least should win.  Stop a losing streak, keep winning, whatever it is, just that the Cubs are going to basically be awesome that day.  

I'm sure there are tons of valid arguments why a guy who only plays in 20% of the games can't justifiably be an MVP, but this dude just feels much, much bigger than that.

For some convoluted reason, his not winning the Cy Young and winning the MVP would only make him more awesome.

But yeah, I expect him to get some votes. Although I think Rizzo will probably get more.

My pointless prediction is Jake finishes 2nd to Greinke and Rizzo finishes third behind Harper and Goldschmidt.

And I think those are fair results.

[SKO]

I know that MVP doesn't really mean that much (I'm sure it does to the winner) but I could easily be convinced that Arrieta should finish second in the MVP vote behind Harper this year (excepting all the votes for David Ross for bringing the team together and teaching them all how to be winners.)  

Obviously I pay much more attention to the Cubs than other teams, but the effect he has on this team overall is amazing. And it's not even just about affecting the bullpen and pitching staffs the days before and after, it's just knowing that every Jake Day, they're going to win or at least should win.  Stop a losing streak, keep winning, whatever it is, just that the Cubs are going to basically be awesome that day.  

I'm sure there are tons of valid arguments why a guy who only plays in 20% of the games can't justifiably be an MVP, but this dude just feels much, much bigger than that.

For some convoluted reason, his not winning the Cy Young and winning the MVP would only make him more awesome.

But yeah, I expect him to get some votes. Although I think Rizzo will probably get more.

My pointless prediction is Jake finishes 2nd to Greinke and Rizzo finishes third behind Harper and Goldschmidt.

And I think those are fair results.

They are. I wonder if Rizzo might have passed Goldschmidt for second place, whatever that's worth (nothing), with the Diamondbacks falling completely out of contention. He was more of a story when they were inexplicably .500 largely due to him playing out of his mind.

I also expect Bryant to get at least one vote, honestly, since he's arguably been more valuable to this team than Rizzo, at least according to Fangraphs.

[Quality Start Machine]

I know that MVP doesn't really mean that much (I'm sure it does to the winner) but I could easily be convinced that Arrieta should finish second in the MVP vote behind Harper this year (excepting all the votes for David Ross for bringing the team together and teaching them all how to be winners.)  

Obviously I pay much more attention to the Cubs than other teams, but the effect he has on this team overall is amazing. And it's not even just about affecting the bullpen and pitching staffs the days before and after, it's just knowing that every Jake Day, they're going to win or at least should win.  Stop a losing streak, keep winning, whatever it is, just that the Cubs are going to basically be awesome that day.  

I'm sure there are tons of valid arguments why a guy who only plays in 20% of the games can't justifiably be an MVP, but this dude just feels much, much bigger than that.

For some convoluted reason, his not winning the Cy Young and winning the MVP would only make him more awesome.

But yeah, I expect him to get some votes. Although I think Rizzo will probably get more.

My pointless prediction is Jake finishes 2nd to Greinke and Rizzo finishes third behind Harper and Goldschmidt.

And I think those are fair results.

They are. I wonder if Rizzo might have passed Goldschmidt for second place, whatever that's worth (nothing), with the Diamondbacks falling completely out of contention. He was more of a story when they were inexplicably .500 largely due to him playing out of his mind.

I also expect Bryant to get at least one vote, honestly, since he's arguably been more valuable to this team than Rizzo, at least according to Fangraphs.

He'll get more than one. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Schwarber gets at least one 10th place vote.

[InternetApex]

I know that MVP doesn't really mean that much (I'm sure it does to the winner) but I could easily be convinced that Arrieta should finish second in the MVP vote behind Harper this year (excepting all the votes for David Ross for bringing the team together and teaching them all how to be winners.)  

Obviously I pay much more attention to the Cubs than other teams, but the effect he has on this team overall is amazing. And it's not even just about affecting the bullpen and pitching staffs the days before and after, it's just knowing that every Jake Day, they're going to win or at least should win.  Stop a losing streak, keep winning, whatever it is, just that the Cubs are going to basically be awesome that day.  

I'm sure there are tons of valid arguments why a guy who only plays in 20% of the games can't justifiably be an MVP, but this dude just feels much, much bigger than that.

For some convoluted reason, his not winning the Cy Young and winning the MVP would only make him more awesome.

But yeah, I expect him to get some votes. Although I think Rizzo will probably get more.

My pointless prediction is Jake finishes 2nd to Greinke and Rizzo finishes third behind Harper and Goldschmidt.

And I think those are fair results.

They are. I wonder if Rizzo might have passed Goldschmidt for second place, whatever that's worth (nothing), with the Diamondbacks falling completely out of contention. He was more of a story when they were inexplicably .500 largely due to him playing out of his mind.

I also expect Bryant to get at least one vote, honestly, since he's arguably been more valuable to this team than Rizzo, at least according to Fangraphs.

He'll get more than one. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Schwarber gets at least one 10th place vote.

That catch he made last night salvaged almost the entire shitty loss for me, entertainment-wise. He gets one, 79th place vote on my ballot for that alone. For being Babe fucking Ruth, he also gets slotted in 78-3 behind Rizzo and Bryant.

[Eli]

I also expect Bryant to get at least one vote, honestly, since he's arguably been more valuable to this team than Rizzo, at least according to Fangraphs.

I've wondered about this for weeks. Why is Rizzo getting MVP buzz when he hasn't even been the most valuable position player on his own team? I mean, he's obviously been fantastic, but why is there no similar talk for Bryant?

[SKO]

I also expect Bryant to get at least one vote, honestly, since he's arguably been more valuable to this team than Rizzo, at least according to Fangraphs.

I've wondered about this for weeks. Why is Rizzo getting MVP buzz when he hasn't even been the most valuable position player on his own team? I mean, he's obviously been fantastic, but why is there no similar talk for Bryant?

Probably because Rizzo has the better slashline (although the gap has narrowed) and also because Rizzo has carried the team most of the year, at times when others have slumped. Bryant's late season surge has been amazing and he'll end the year with the more valuable season, but I get anyone who has watched this team all year long touting Tony as the steady hand that's rarely faltered.

[Yeti]

I also expect Bryant to get at least one vote, honestly, since he's arguably been more valuable to this team than Rizzo, at least according to Fangraphs.

I've wondered about this for weeks. Why is Rizzo getting MVP buzz when he hasn't even been the most valuable position player on his own team? I mean, he's obviously been fantastic, but why is there no similar talk for Bryant?

Probably because Rizzo has the better slashline (although the gap has narrowed) and also because Rizzo has carried the team most of the year, at times when others have slumped. Bryant's late season surge has been amazing and he'll end the year with the more valuable season, but I get anyone who has watched this team all year long touting Tony as the steady hand that's rarely faltered.

And I think it's because Rizzo is not a rookie and Bryant is. Not that it's really logical, but I think people think "Well, Bryant is getting ROY and he can't be getting TWO awards"

[InternetApex]

I also expect Bryant to get at least one vote, honestly, since he's arguably been more valuable to this team than Rizzo, at least according to Fangraphs.

I've wondered about this for weeks. Why is Rizzo getting MVP buzz when he hasn't even been the most valuable position player on his own team? I mean, he's obviously been fantastic, but why is there no similar talk for Bryant?

Probably because Rizzo has the better slashline (although the gap has narrowed) and also because Rizzo has carried the team most of the year, at times when others have slumped. Bryant's late season surge has been amazing and he'll end the year with the more valuable season, but I get anyone who has watched this team all year long touting Tony as the steady hand that's rarely faltered.

And I think it's because Rizzo is not a rookie and Bryant is. Not that it's really logical, but I think people think "Well, Bryant is getting ROY and he can't be getting TWO awards"

Does it matter that Rizzo plays his position with Gold Glove caliber while Bryant appears adequate at a few others? I'm not ragging Bryant's defense. It is better than they told us it would be but Rizzo probably does things at first that don't show up in defensive metrics, like going backside over tea kettle into a throng of Chads and Trixies for a foul pop. That's worth a vote IMO.

[SKO]

I also expect Bryant to get at least one vote, honestly, since he's arguably been more valuable to this team than Rizzo, at least according to Fangraphs.

I've wondered about this for weeks. Why is Rizzo getting MVP buzz when he hasn't even been the most valuable position player on his own team? I mean, he's obviously been fantastic, but why is there no similar talk for Bryant?

Probably because Rizzo has the better slashline (although the gap has narrowed) and also because Rizzo has carried the team most of the year, at times when others have slumped. Bryant's late season surge has been amazing and he'll end the year with the more valuable season, but I get anyone who has watched this team all year long touting Tony as the steady hand that's rarely faltered.

And I think it's because Rizzo is not a rookie and Bryant is. Not that it's really logical, but I think people think "Well, Bryant is getting ROY and he can't be getting TWO awards"

Does it matter that Rizzo plays his position with Gold Glove caliber while Bryant appears adequate at a few others? I'm not ragging Bryant's defense. It is better than they told us it would be but Rizzo probably does things at first that don't show up in defensive metrics, like going backside over tea kettle into a throng of Chads and Trixies for a foul pop. That's worth a vote IMO.

Could be? My guess it's a combination of all these things. Certainly no one is saying Rizzo isn't deserving of some votes, and while I love advanced stats I don't rigidly adhere to "X's WAR is better than Y's WAR so there's no argument to be made so however about Y possibly being better". My original point was to note that Kris has been so great he probably deserves a few token votes, too. Not that Tony deserves any less. Tony rules.

[Quality Start Machine]

I also expect Bryant to get at least one vote, honestly, since he's arguably been more valuable to this team than Rizzo, at least according to Fangraphs.

I've wondered about this for weeks. Why is Rizzo getting MVP buzz when he hasn't even been the most valuable position player on his own team? I mean, he's obviously been fantastic, but why is there no similar talk for Bryant?

Because the Cubs' PR department is creating more buzz for Rizzo? Plus, Rizzo got a decent number of votes last season.

[Saul Goodman]

I know that MVP doesn't really mean that much (I'm sure it does to the winner) but I could easily be convinced that Arrieta should finish second in the MVP vote behind Harper this year (excepting all the votes for David Ross for bringing the team together and teaching them all how to be winners.)  

Obviously I pay much more attention to the Cubs than other teams, but the effect he has on this team overall is amazing. And it's not even just about affecting the bullpen and pitching staffs the days before and after, it's just knowing that every Jake Day, they're going to win or at least should win.  Stop a losing streak, keep winning, whatever it is, just that the Cubs are going to basically be awesome that day.  

I'm sure there are tons of valid arguments why a guy who only plays in 20% of the games can't justifiably be an MVP, but this dude just feels much, much bigger than that.

Are we not doing 'phrasing' anymore?

[InternetApex]

I know that MVP doesn't really mean that much (I'm sure it does to the winner) but I could easily be convinced that Arrieta should finish second in the MVP vote behind Harper this year (excepting all the votes for David Ross for bringing the team together and teaching them all how to be winners.)  

Obviously I pay much more attention to the Cubs than other teams, but the effect he has on this team overall is amazing. And it's not even just about affecting the bullpen and pitching staffs the days before and after, it's just knowing that every Jake Day, they're going to win or at least should win.  Stop a losing streak, keep winning, whatever it is, just that the Cubs are going to basically be awesome that day.  

I'm sure there are tons of valid arguments why a guy who only plays in 20% of the games can't justifiably be an MVP, but this dude just feels much, much bigger than that.

Are we not doing 'phrasing' anymore?

(||)

[Quality Start Machine]

I know that MVP doesn't really mean that much (I'm sure it does to the winner) but I could easily be convinced that Arrieta should finish second in the MVP vote behind Harper this year (excepting all the votes for David Ross for bringing the team together and teaching them all how to be winners.)  

Obviously I pay much more attention to the Cubs than other teams, but the effect he has on this team overall is amazing. And it's not even just about affecting the bullpen and pitching staffs the days before and after, it's just knowing that every Jake Day, they're going to win or at least should win.  Stop a losing streak, keep winning, whatever it is, just that the Cubs are going to basically be awesome that day.  

I'm sure there are tons of valid arguments why a guy who only plays in 20% of the games can't justifiably be an MVP, but this dude just feels much, much bigger than that.

Are we not doing 'phrasing' anymore?

It's the way Pen phrased it in his dreams.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Some fun reading on Our Man Jake...

[Tony]

I also expect Bryant to get at least one vote, honestly, since he's arguably been more valuable to this team than Rizzo, at least according to Fangraphs.

I've wondered about this for weeks. Why is Rizzo getting MVP buzz when he hasn't even been the most valuable position player on his own team? I mean, he's obviously been fantastic, but why is there no similar talk for Bryant?

I feel like Rizzo started out hot and that started the MVP talk early on, while Bryant was held out for a few weeks and then had the long homer drought at the beginning. Basically, Rizzo had a head start on any MVP consideration.