NL Cy Young Prediction: DeGrom should be the death blow to pitcher wins

Jacob DeGrom has been the best pitcher in Major League Baseball this season (much less the National League). He’s also been the best player, position or pitcher, in the National League. In both cases, it’s not even all that close.

Still, there likely are folks who aren’t going to vote for Jacob DeGrom to win the NL Cy Young because his record currently stands at only 9-9. He has so few wins only because his team, the New York Mets, suck and don’t score for him. “Having bad teammates” is an objectively awful reason not to vote for someone for an individual award and pitcher wins are an awful stat for the same reason. Read more

Top Nine Predictions for the 2017 MLB Season

Baseball is back for the 115th MLB season. Last season, the Chicago Cubs broke the longest running curse in sports and Mike Trout actually won another MVP award, making him two for five in seasons where he was the best player in baseball. What does the 2017 Major League Baseball season hold for MLB fans? We’ve got some ideas. As always, if we beat a coinflip’s accuracy, we’re calling it a win. Read more

The NL Cy Young Race is…Interesting

A Very Simple Game Award Predictions

The 2016 National League Cy Young Award race poses several interesting questions this year. What is of more value: a great pitcher pitching fewer innings or a very good pitcher pitching more? What tools are best to measure run-prevention? What part will emotion and sentiment play in the minds of the voters? While the field worth considering in the National League is roughly as large as in the American League, unlike the AL there are three clear frontrunners in the National League – each with a compelling argument. Read more

Mike Trout Should win the 2016 AL MVP…but he won’t

A Very Simple Game Award Predictions

For each of the past four seasons, Mike Trout has been the best player in the American League (and likely in all of baseball), and he has only one MVP award to show for it. Baseball, a game that loves tradition like no other, will likely continue that trend this year, denying Trout yet again; this time in favor of the RedSox’ rising star, Mookie Betts (or maybe Josh Donaldson again…one or the other…like 80/20, Betts). Read more

Top Nine Predictions for the 2016 Season

A Very Simple Game Award Predictions, Bouncebacks & Breakouts, Look to the Future, Team Forecasts, Top Nine Lists

Spring has sprung and Spring Training has begun – we’re back for a new season of baseball with nine predictions for the coming MLB season. Who’s going to break out? Who’s going to regress? What teams will be celebrating at the end of the season, and which will be wishing they spent their money better? We’ll break out the dartboard and the crystal ball and let you know (not by throwing the darts at the crystal ball though – that would make a mess) Read more

2015 NL MVP: Not Only Will Bryce Harper Win, He had a Season for the Ages

A Very Simple Game Award Predictions, Best of AVSG bryce harper, mel ott, nationals, nl mvp, plate discipline, washington

Bryce Harper seems a lock for the NL MVP (despite any “his team didn’t even make the playoffs” dissenters) and amidst the flaming wreckage of the Nationals’ season, it’s easy to overlook just how amazing his year was (and why suggesting his team’s failures should detract from his award vote is just crazy). Read more

Jake Arrieta Will Win the NL Cy Young, but Clayton Kershaw Should

A Very Simple Game Award Predictions, Look to the Future arrieta, cubs, cy young, dodgers, FIP, game score, greinke, kershaw, national league, pitching, SIERA, xFIP

After notching his 20th win of the season, many are pegging the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta as the favorite for the National League Cy Young award. We think he’ll win, but we also think he shouldn’t. Clayton Kershaw has been the best pitcher in the National League, in some ways even better than he’s ever been. Read more