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NL MVP Darkhorse: Pablo Sandoval

MC Homer Written by MC Homer, Friday August 28 2009
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     My name says it all; I’m a homer, through and through. I love my teams and I hate yours. I grew up and currently reside in Northern California. While I like watching football (49ers) and basketball (Warriors), I love baseball. It should come as no surprise that I live and die with my Giants. When they win, it’s all to the good, but when they lose, I have been known to not turn my frown upside down. I realize it’s just sports and I have no vested interest other than my competitive spirit. I also know there is more to life than a dumb game, but I can’t help it, what can I say other than I am a fanatic in every sense of the word. Don’t believe me? Ask my poor wife who has no choice but to put up with it. Don’t feel too bad for her though, she said ‘I do’ too.

 

     Because I bleed orange and black, I am here to tell you why Pablo ‘Kung Fu Panda’ Sandoval deserves consideration for the NL MVP this year. He does not have the most home runs, not by a long shot. He is not your prototypical third baseman and while more than serviceable, he is surely not the best defender at the position in the league. There is absolutely nothing about this kid that screams MVP, not on the surface anyway. Before you go thinking that I have lost touch with reality, please, allow me to explain.

 

     This year is his first full year in the majors. In his 145 (41 games) at-bats last year, he hit .345; a number which opened eyes, but at the same time, was chalked up to pitchers’ unfamiliarity with him. This year, in 450 at-bats through Tuesday, he is hitting .331. I think it is safe to say it was not a fluke. He has never seen a pitch he didn’t salivate over. He has what some may call a nose-to-toes strike zone. Vladomir Guerrero is the only other man in the game who utilizes this strategy (successfully) when in the batter’s box.

 

     His power numbers are up, even at the cavernous AT&TPark, Panda’s home. He had three homeruns last year, and so far, has 19 this year. He has hit more doubles than he has walks (36/34). His OPS is a healthy .933. He leads the team in HRs, RBIs, Runs, and Average. If he pitched, he might even lead the team in wins and strikeouts too, who knows. To top it off, he is a switch hitter who can hurt you just as bad from either side.

 

     The Giants rank second to last in all of baseball with 89 homeruns, giving Pablo nearly a quarter of their power output. Their on-base percentage is only .001 better than the Cincinnati Reds, who rank dead last with an OBP of .309. Sandoval has a .380 OBP. The boys in SF obviously do not hit homeruns, nor do they get on base. The only slot in the lineup that poses any threat to opposing pitching is the three hole, filled by the beloved Panda.

 

     For a team who was projected to finish sub-.500, with an excruciatingly poor offense, Sandoval is the lone bright spot. The Giants, with 34 games remaining, are 10 games over .500 in a division that boasts three of the best teams in the NL. They are not in first or even second place in the NL West, but there is no denying that without Pablo Sandoval, the Giants would be mired in mediocrity, no, they would be only be dreaming of ineptitude.

 

     I know guys like Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard, even Prince Fielder or Raul Ibanez, are on good teams and will no doubt end up with the MVP hardware. They are also on teams that offer more thump in their lineups. These guys have protection in front of them and behind them. They have more homeruns. They have more RBIs. They have scored more runs. None have a better batting average and none play a more crucial role on their team. I’m not saying these guys are not great players or don’t deserve to be named the Most Valuable Player. They are all Hall of Fame bound if they keep it up (except for Ibanez), but if ‘MVP’ truly stands for ‘Most Valuable Player’ it is hard to pass on the great Pandavol.

 

     He was the biggest snub on All-Star weekend, being passed up for teammates Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino. His production has not declined, despite playing nearly everyday (119 of 126 games, until his recent calf injury, forcing him to miss three games against Arizona). He is not yet in the prime of his career, in fact, he is far from it. He plays with such a youthful exuberance that saying he is 22 years old makes him sound like an old fart. He is more than a breath of fresh air. His gameface consists of a smile from ear to ear. Most of all, he is contagious.

 

     I fully realize he will not end in the top five for NL MVP, and I’m okay with that. I just think that this kid gets no love outside of having the best nickname in baseball. No one in the National League means more to his team than the Panda, and that is not up for debate. Without him, the Giants are not a .500 team, probably not within 10 games of it. The Cardinals would still be leading the central without Pujols. The Phillies would still be in first place without Howard or Ibanez. Milwaukee still has a potent offense without Prince (too bad he can’t pitch too). The Giants get shutout at least twice a week (up from the usual once a week) without Sandoval.

 

     Call me crazy, but to me, ‘MVP’ should not be given to the best player on the best team. It should not be given to a pitcher, ever. It should not be given to someone because their career is almost over and throughout their stellar tenure they have not won one. To me, ‘MVP’ should be given to the one player in the league that their team could not do without, regardless of age. There is a long list players who fit that mold, probably 10 deep, but at the top, is the Giants 3rd baseman (and backup first baseman, and backup catcher, and backup announcer, and backup stadium beer vendor, maybe even valet if they let him). It is about time to give the Panda his due, the kid can flat out play ball, and he has fun doing it. I wish they all had half as much fun as he does.


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