September 20, 2004
Who has True Value?
By Karan Eschweiler
Let’s see. Statistics aside for a moment, let’s just see. I know baseball is a game of numbers. Without the stats, baseball is just, well, it just isn’t. But, if I could be allowed just one stat-less rant, I’d like to make my emotional plea for Rolen as League MVP. Most of my friends tell me to quit worrying about it, accept that Bonds is the front-runner and move on. But, I just can’t stand it anymore! I know my logic may be skewed and my reaction is purely emotional, but just hear me out.
Ok, the MVP award goes to the player who is deemed the most valuable player to the league. To me, this is much, much different than the most valuable player on a specific team. Each team might select a MVP, but each team MVP may not mean squat to another team. The League MVP has to be someone who can add value anywhere in the league. He has to have value on any team.
I have respect for Bonds for his homerun hitting abilities. However, I do not have the same respect for his fielding nor his throwing arm. I think he is a solid outfielder, but his outfield skills are no match for say, um, Jim Edmunds. So, he may have something to offer the Cardinals offensively, but we really don’t need the likes of him from a defensive standpoint. Actually, I’d rather see Reggie Sanders out in left field than Bonds. I’ll take Bonds at the plate, but, you know, the Cardinals haven’t had any troubles without him.
Although never a bad idea to add another big bat to any lineup, why would the Redbirds give up the leadership, positive attitude, and offensive skills of Sanders for Bonds? Sanders can hit homers, slap hits around the field and even hit high infield pop-ups that can confuse the Houston infielders. If Bonds and Rolen were to grace the same roster, would Bonds even be considered the team MVP? I think Rolen’s all-around prowess would prove him to have the most value on the team.
I am not trying to compare Sanders to Bonds. I am simply trying to make the case that a guy like Sanders has proven to be valuable to St. Louis. Bonds would be valuable, but more so than Rolen?
I have no real proof and can’t even cite my sources, but isn’t Bonds the source of some rather rude, disrespectful and arrogant comments? Is this the type of guy that you want on the team? Sure, he can hit. Sure, he’ll get walked a lot, but that doesn’t always produce a run. A misguided comment will always produce a stir. In my very humble opinion, I would think that even attitude could add or subtract from a players value to a team. How valuable is a player who stirs up unnecessary controversy? Of course, I don’t think I’ve heard about this type of behavior lately, but did I dream it all? I know that the MVP voters won’t vote for a guy based on personality, but really, doesn’t that play a little into a player’s true value to a team? Maybe the award should be the “Most Valuable Hitter Award”. That could go to Bonds. But, to me, the term value includes an overall picture of the product.
Now, let’s take a guy like Scott Rolen. What team couldn’t use his name on their roster? He is arguably the best 3rd baseman in the game right now. He has a canon instead of an arm and his defensive style is straight from a baseball skills video. His work ethic is imitated and emulated and still cannot be reached. He offers offense in each at-bat. He can hit shots out of the park or spray hits to all fields. He can sacrifice to move a runner and is a smart base-runner with good speed. He is well-spoken, polite and humble when talking to the media. He seems to be well-respected by his teammates. He signs autographs before games.
I think that almost any team in the league could use Scott Rolen on their team. I think credible arguments could be made for Pujols and Edmunds as well—maybe even Adrian Beltre. I just don’t see Barry Bonds being as valuable to the LEAGUE. He gets walked a lot because he crushes the ball over the fence regularly. That’s cool. He isn’t that special in the other parts of the game. Has he made as many terrific defensive plays as Rolen or Edmunds? Does he keep runners to fewer bases with his sharp, strong arm?
I’ll admit that I bleed cardinal red and definitely want the award to go to one of the good guys. I see the stats, review the numbers and read the articles. I just can’t see where most valuable is synonymous with best homerun hitter. To me, a baseball player is valuable if he can perform all aspects of the game at an extremely high level. That is what St. Louis fans get from Rolen every single game he plays. That is what we expect from him, what he expects from himself and what makes him the MOST valuable.
