If Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is an MVP candidate -- and at this point he's very likely the NL favorite -- shouldn't Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, also a Cy Young lock, be an MVP candidate, too?
King Felix has lived up to his nickname, dominating the AL's main pitching categories -- not quite to the degree Kershaw has, but pretty darned close. Hernandez easily leads the AL in the all-important categories of WAR (7.3) WHIP (0.91) and ERA (2.07) and more. But unlike Kershaw, he ranks high but doesn't lead in wins, winning percentage or strikeouts (though his 236 strikeouts are still eight more than Kershaw).
To be fair, Hernandez doesn't pitch for quite as good a team, or nearly as good a hitting team, as does Kershaw. So that 14-5 record, while not on par with Kershaw's stunning 20-3 mark, is mighty impressive. Hernandez's performance is a factor in pushing the Mariners close to a playoff position, just as Kershaw is credited with helping the Dodgers into first place.
Hernandez has a couple pluses that Kershaw does not, and in the case of his record 16-game steak with least seven innings and no more than two runs, a plus no one ever has had. Hernandez, unlike Kershaw, also has not missed a start. And while both have been amazing in the second half, Hernandez has actually been slightly better in September.
Yet hardly a word is heard about Hernandez as an MVP candidate.
Kershaw's sub-2 ERA and gaudy won-loss record make him a better candidate to some -- though it should be noted Hernandez not only pitches for a lesser team, he pitches in the AL, making their respective ERAs (Kershaw's is 1.80) closer because the NL has no DH and the overall NL ERA is 0.16 lower than the AL's. Beyond that, the won-loss record is somewhat a reflection of the teams they pitch for -- though it's fair to argue that a better won-loss record does suggest value.
As for the leading positional MVP candidate in each league, it's basically a dead heat in terms of their performance, with Angels outfielder Mike Trout and Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton posting nearly identical numbers. Trout has 35 homers, 109 RBI, 15 stolen bases and a slash line of .291/.382/.565/.951, to Stanton's 37 home runs, 105 RBI, 13 stolen bases and .288/.395./.555/.950. Trout's Angels are a runaway winner in the AL West while Stanton's Marlins were on the fringe of the NL wild-card race until he was hit in the face by a pitch but fell out almost immediately thereafter.
Maybe the Marlins' inability to stay in contention opened the door wider for Kershaw, while the Angels' superior performance has sealed Trout's candidacy. In a way that seems fair since Trout was second in AL MVP balloting after Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers made the playoffs while the Angels did not, though of course one year shouldn't affect the next.
In any case, it still seems like Hernandez is getting short shrift at least in the MVP discussion. His performance and impact have been comparable to Kershaw's, yet almost nobody talks about Hernandez's candidacy. That doesn't seem quite right.
Here are all the Bulls and Bears.
| Bull Market |
1. Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners: His 3-1 victory over the Angels on Thursday was a virtuoso performance: Seven innings, three hits, no runs, two walks, 11 strikeouts. It also lowered his September ERA to 0.96. That's even better than Kershaw's mark.
2. Jake Peavy, SP, Giants: As rough a time as he was having in Boston, he has turned it around completely, just as manager Bruce Bochy (who had Peavy in San Diego) and GM Brian Sabean envisioned. His September ERA of 0.93 is even lower than Felix's.
3. Steve Pearce, 1B, Orioles: The Orioles have made a lot of great moves, but in this one case, they also caught a break. Pearce was DFA'd by Baltimore earlier this year because of a numbers game, and claimed by the rival Blue Jays. However, since Toronto was only promising a part-time role to platoon with Adam Lind and Baltimore wound up needing him mote thanks to a well-timed injury (Chris Davis was lost for six weeks to injury while Pearce was on waivers), Pearce decided to stick with Baltimore. It was great timing for him, and for the Orioles. Now with Davis out (25-game amphetamine suspension), Pearce has gotten hot again; this month he is hitting .349 with four homers and 11 RBI, and with 10 walks in that span, he has a .500 on-base percentage.
Honorable Mention: Rockies C Wilin Rosario, Dodgers OF Carl Crawford, Royals OF Norichika Aoki, Angels 2B Howie Kendrick, Indians OF Michael Brantley, Giants SS Brandon Crawford, Tigers OF J.D. Martinez, Tigers DH Victor Martinez, Orioles OF-DH Nelson Cruz, Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez, Angels 3B David Freese, Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon, Mariners 1B Logan Morrison, Marlins RP Steve Cishek, Cardinals RP Carlos Martinez Pirates SP Francisco Liriano, Cardinals SP Shelby Miller, Astros SP Colin McHugh, Rangers SP Derek Holland, Phillies RP Ken Giles, Orioles SP Miguel Gonzalez, Cubs SP Jake Arrieta, Mets SP Jacob deGrom, Twins SP Ricky Nolasco, Indians SP T.J. House, Brewers SP Mike Fiers, Indians SP Carlos Carrasco, A's SP Jon Lester, A's SP Jeff Samardzija, Cardinals SP Adam Wainwright, Dodgers SP Clayton Kershaw, Padres SP Andrew Cashner, Yankees SP Brandon McCarthy, Indians SP Corey Kluber.
| Bear Market |
1. Hisashi Iwakuma, SP, Mariners: The other Mariners rotation star has basically offset King Felix's great month by posting an uncharacteristic 9.35 ERA with a 1-3 record. Even his well-known great control has been off with eight walks in 17 1/3 innings.
2. Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees: What happened to him? It can't all be the shift. The injuries -- all of them (including wrist, back, hamstring, groin, hamstring, leg and finger woes)-- haven't helped. He's had at least five separate pains this season. By this point, he just seems worn down and has hit .172 this month.
3. Ryan Howard, 1B, Phillies: The shift has a lot of victims. But an injury has played a big role here, too, as he hasn't been the same since blowing out his Achilles' tendon. The Phillies probably did right by giving Howard a chance to work his way out of his slump (and potentially give them a chance to trade him). But alas, he hasn't helped matters lately. He's hitting .193 in September, with a strikeout rate of more than 50 percent (57 ABs, 29 K's).
Dishonorable Mention: Phillies OF Marlon Byrd, Orioles OF Nick Markakis, Red Sox 3B Will Middlebrooks, Orioles 2B Jonathan Schoop, Royals OF Alex Gordon, Yankees OF Brett Gardner, Reds OF Billy Hamilton, Cubs 2B Javier Baez, Braves OF Justin Upton, Rays OF Matt Joyce, Astros 1B Jon Singleton, Cubs RP Dan Straily, Angels P Hector Santiago, Mariners SP Chris Young, Red Sox SP Rubby De La Rosa, Diamondbacks SP Trevor Cahill, Royals SP Jason Vargas, A's SP Sonny Gray.
>> Want more MLB review? Grades: Playoff-pushing Bucs earn 'A'
