MLB MVP Voting: The Weight of Every Stat
As a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America for my fourth year, I've consistently voted for players who have been straightforward to select. This season was no different, with Shohei Ohtani taking home the award – as did everyone else on the ballot.
However, once Ohtani's spot was secured, things got more complicated. Who deserved consideration in the other nine spots?
Let's start at the bottom of my ballot. Pete Crow-Armstrong, a center fielder who became the 12th player to reach 30 home runs, 30 steals, 90 RBIs and 90 runs all within one season, was left off entirely.
I gave him an honorable mention, citing his .287 on-base percentage despite production dropping off in the second half. It's possible that I'm overvaluing offense while undervaluing defense and baserunning – but PCA definitely earned a nod from me.
Brice Turang, the Brewers' second baseman who excelled after the All-Star break with 2.8 WAR and 155 wRC+, also received an honorable mention. His help led to Milwaukee's best regular-season record in baseball.
Next up was Fernando Tatis Jr., whose season was marked by a career-high .814 OPS and +8 outs above average. The only reason he didn't crack my top three is because Patrick Bailey had a significantly higher Fielding Run Value, taking away his Platinum Glove win.
Francisco Lindor rounded out the top eight with another outstanding year of 31 homers, 31 steals and a 129 OPS+, as well as great defense at shortstop. He's averaged about 32 homers and 30 steals over the last three seasons – a feat he'll join only one other Met in accomplishing.
Trea Turner took his game to new heights this season, leading the National League in batting average (.304) but missing out on some serious MVP consideration due to the depth of talent around him. He still managed to post sixth-highest WAR among starters with a +17 outs above average at shortstop.
Paul Skenes was another top candidate – but would an elite starting pitcher be worth more than an everyday player? His 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts over 187 2/3 innings made him one of the best in the league, joining just eight other starters with sub-2 ERAs this millennium.
Corbin Carroll was assigned a range of No. 5 to No. 2 – but ultimately landed at number five. A player who achieved all-counting stats like 31 homers and 32 doubles only edges out Jimmy Rollins' similar mark, due to playing in fewer games.
Gerlado Perdomo made the top four, with a season marked by 20 home runs, 27 steals and a .389 on-base percentage. It was his second consecutive year of excellent defense at shortstop.
Kyle Schwarber was right behind him at No. 3 – boasting an impressive 56 home runs and 132 RBIs in a season where the Phillies finished first in their division. The counting stats for many voters were enough to secure his top-three spot, but Juan Soto's on-base prowess edged him out.
Soto hit 43 home runs with a .396 on-base percentage, leading the National League in walks (127) and matching only one other player – Barry Bonds – in a recent era. If he stole just one more base this season, it would've been his third in three years.
That's where Ohtani took over as my top choice for the award. With four MVPs, he joins only Barry Bonds in winning the award more than three times. As we look to see how far Ohtani can reach in history, one thing is certain – this season was a milestone moment.
As a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America for my fourth year, I've consistently voted for players who have been straightforward to select. This season was no different, with Shohei Ohtani taking home the award – as did everyone else on the ballot.
However, once Ohtani's spot was secured, things got more complicated. Who deserved consideration in the other nine spots?
Let's start at the bottom of my ballot. Pete Crow-Armstrong, a center fielder who became the 12th player to reach 30 home runs, 30 steals, 90 RBIs and 90 runs all within one season, was left off entirely.
I gave him an honorable mention, citing his .287 on-base percentage despite production dropping off in the second half. It's possible that I'm overvaluing offense while undervaluing defense and baserunning – but PCA definitely earned a nod from me.
Brice Turang, the Brewers' second baseman who excelled after the All-Star break with 2.8 WAR and 155 wRC+, also received an honorable mention. His help led to Milwaukee's best regular-season record in baseball.
Next up was Fernando Tatis Jr., whose season was marked by a career-high .814 OPS and +8 outs above average. The only reason he didn't crack my top three is because Patrick Bailey had a significantly higher Fielding Run Value, taking away his Platinum Glove win.
Francisco Lindor rounded out the top eight with another outstanding year of 31 homers, 31 steals and a 129 OPS+, as well as great defense at shortstop. He's averaged about 32 homers and 30 steals over the last three seasons – a feat he'll join only one other Met in accomplishing.
Trea Turner took his game to new heights this season, leading the National League in batting average (.304) but missing out on some serious MVP consideration due to the depth of talent around him. He still managed to post sixth-highest WAR among starters with a +17 outs above average at shortstop.
Paul Skenes was another top candidate – but would an elite starting pitcher be worth more than an everyday player? His 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts over 187 2/3 innings made him one of the best in the league, joining just eight other starters with sub-2 ERAs this millennium.
Corbin Carroll was assigned a range of No. 5 to No. 2 – but ultimately landed at number five. A player who achieved all-counting stats like 31 homers and 32 doubles only edges out Jimmy Rollins' similar mark, due to playing in fewer games.
Gerlado Perdomo made the top four, with a season marked by 20 home runs, 27 steals and a .389 on-base percentage. It was his second consecutive year of excellent defense at shortstop.
Kyle Schwarber was right behind him at No. 3 – boasting an impressive 56 home runs and 132 RBIs in a season where the Phillies finished first in their division. The counting stats for many voters were enough to secure his top-three spot, but Juan Soto's on-base prowess edged him out.
Soto hit 43 home runs with a .396 on-base percentage, leading the National League in walks (127) and matching only one other player – Barry Bonds – in a recent era. If he stole just one more base this season, it would've been his third in three years.
That's where Ohtani took over as my top choice for the award. With four MVPs, he joins only Barry Bonds in winning the award more than three times. As we look to see how far Ohtani can reach in history, one thing is certain – this season was a milestone moment.
his stats r insane!!! 
30 homers, 30 steals, 90 rbis and 90 runs all in one season? that's like a unicorn 
. but idk what to think about the ohtani thing... on one hand he's a beast on the mound too 
, but on the other hand, his stats r kinda skewed by being a 2-way player 
. i mean, would an elite starting pitcher be worth more than an everyday guy? 
paul skenes is a total rockstar 
and should def get some consideration... 
, and it's clear why - he put up insane numbers across the board. I think Pete Crow-Armstrong snubbed is pretty wild though... I mean, .287 on-base percentage in a season where many players are struggling to stay healthy? He was definitely worth an honorable mention! 
but I gotta say, some of the snubs are wild 
. What about Pete Crow-Armstrong? He's like the ultimate Swiss Army man 
- .287 on-base percentage and hitting 30 homers, 30 steals, all within one season?! That's crazy! 
.
brice turang's 2.8 war in the second half is straight fire btw 
Brice Turang is also gettin' robbed, his numbers are straight fire 
, and we ended up visiting this tiny town that had the craziest food festival 
. I mean, who knew you could have a croissant sandwich with truffle oil and prosciutto? It was life-changing 
, but what's really crazy is how his stats are compared to video games now 
. I mean, have you seen those MLB The Show simulations where they try to replicate real-life seasons? It's wild 
But what really got me thinking was how Pete Crow-Armstrong got snubbed entirely 
. He's having an incredible season and his .287 on-base percentage is still impressive despite production dropping off in the second half 
.
. His 2.8 WAR and 155 wRC+ after the All-Star break were huge for Milwaukee 
.
. He had some amazing stats and still didn't make the top 10. Maybe they should have a separate "Player of the Year" award for guys like PCA 
. I guess I was just too focused on other players to give him the recognition he deserved.
. What can you say about a guy who dominates both sides of the ball like that? 
! I mean, Pete Crow-Armstrong gets totally left out of the MVP conversation despite having 30 steals and RBIs? That's some crazy bias towards position players, in my opinion 
. But seriously, who else can hit .285 and throw 97 mph? It's crazy! PCA, Brice Turang, and Fernando Tatis Jr. were all awesome this season, but sometimes I feel like voters just give awards to the players with the coolest nicknames – like PCA (I mean, come on, that's a great name for a baseball player!) 
Shohei Ohtani's win was literally expected tho 
I mean don't get me wrong he had an amazing year but some of these snubs like PCA & Brice Turang are wild? 
Still, it's gotta be frustrating for PCA fans... he definitely had an MVP-worthy season!