The NL MVP race is coming down to a photo finish. 📸 Who gets your vote: Ronald Acuña Jr. or Mookie Betts?
September 11, 2023
The NL MVP race is coming down to a photo finish. 📸 Who gets your vote: Ronald Acuña Jr. or Mookie Betts?
39 comments
Cant really argue with 53 additional stolen bases
Betts
I don’t watch him regularly but I’m surprised mookie doesn’t have more stolen bases?
They’re both amazing. Mookie’s position versatility at least matches Acuña’s stolen bases in value.
Ronnie for sure.
I hope Mookie gets it just to rub Bloom’s blunder in his face. Boston still loves Mookie.
Really hoping Acuna gets that 40-70-100 season.
i mean….i feel like its pretty obvious here IMHO
Stats alone? Acuna by a couple lengths. 60 SBs is loud
mookie has kind of cooled in September.
Acuna, doesn’t take away from Mookie’s season. But it’s Acuna.
It’s not a photo finish at all. Acuna 100%. And I’m an American League fan.
Acuna’s to lose
Acuna. And I’m a Betts fan.
Lmao
At least one type of WAR should be on the graphic.
Also the fact Mookie plays multiple positions at a high level boosts his case over Acuna’s mediocre RF defence.
Freddy Freeman
I’d say Acuña only because he’s been consistently doing this the whole season. Betts has been good all year, but I feel like he only really seemed to truly heat up recently? Either one could win and it wouldn’t be a snub in my opinion, but if I had to choose, I choose Acuña. Or as that Braves fan said to Bryce Harper – Acuna 😂
Their hitting is so similar, 171 OPS+ vs 164. So it really comes down to the value you associate with stealing bases vs defense.
DRS has Mookie at 9 runs saved and Acuna at 0, I think the disparity in stolen bases is more valuable than the 9 run saved difference. But Mookie does play a few positions quite well.
Both players are deserving but if I had a vote it would go to Ronald.
This is Acuna’s to lose. The media is manufacturing this drama for clicks and views.
Is it really all that close. Like, you could make an argument for Mookie if you really wanted to, but it’d be wrong, wouldn’t it?
To further complicate things, they have both been hit by a pitch 7 times.
We’re going to have to see fielding % to decide this. Those stolen bases are impressive.
RAJ
Real question should be: what can Mookie realistically do to win it?
If he can get his SB total to double digits, ideally 15, then hit 10 points higher and beat him out with 45 HRs – then maybe?
With a minor slump from Acuna? Probably won’t happen but who knows!
It’s Acuna and it’s not close.
Acuña all day
Real question should be: what can Mookie realistically do to win it?
If he can get his SB total to double digits, ideally 15, then hit 10 points higher and beat him out with 45 HRs – then maybe?
With a minor slump from Acuna? Probably won’t happen but who knows!
Acuna will win it, but I’d say Mookie was still more “valuable” this year.
They have a similar oWAR (Acuna’s 7.3 to Betts’s 7.1) but the clear differentiator is in defense, where it’s really no contest that Mookie is better (Betts has a 0.8 dWAR compared to Acuna’s -0.5). And Mookie isn’t just better on defense in one position, he can play multiple.
100% Acuña at this point. A couple of weeks ago I would have said Betts, but he has been quiet ever since and Acuña has been on fire.
Where are runs scored?
Acuna, and it’s not even close. Yes, Mookie has him up for 3 HR and 6 ribbies, big whoop. Acuna has him bested by 24 points in BA and 53 stolen bases! He’s having an explosive year, he’s more than earned it.
Acuna will win unless he basically doesn’t play another game, or has the worst slump of his career. A possible 40-70 season will usually do that for you.
But Mookie probably should win. He’s played more or less average defense at 3 positions so far this year. About 700 innings in RF, 400 at 2B, and 100 at SS (0.8 dWar/-1 OAA/-1 run value). Acuna on the other hand has been a very bad RF (-0.5 dWar/-7 OAA/-2 run value).
Mookie has a higher OPS+ (171 to 164). They have virtually identical OPS. And Mookie has played in only 8 fewer game (enough to make a difference in stats but not enough to be a durability issue imo).
Mookie has been a better hitter and much better defender over basically the same number of games. The only thing Acuna has is the sexy 30/60 season. He will win but he shouldn’t (it it should end up being much closer than it will be even if you think Acuna deserves it).
The difference is going to come down to whether voters value Mookie’s elite defense, or Acuna’s SB’s more.
My guess is they will vote for Acuna, because it’s easier to see the SB category on paper than it is to see someone’s defense.
It’s Ronald and it’s not close
Maybe the writers will vote like it’s 1987 and give it to Olson who is leading with HR and RBI
This makes it feel like it’s completely based off offensive production. They are both strong defensively but Betts versatility defensively close the gap. Its too close to call.
The major thing people are looking over is Mookie’s golden glove defense in THREE DIFFERENT FIELDING POSITIONS!!!
39 comments
Cant really argue with 53 additional stolen bases
Betts
I don’t watch him regularly but I’m surprised mookie doesn’t have more stolen bases?
They’re both amazing. Mookie’s position versatility at least matches Acuña’s stolen bases in value.
Ronnie for sure.
I hope Mookie gets it just to rub Bloom’s blunder in his face. Boston still loves Mookie.
Really hoping Acuna gets that 40-70-100 season.
i mean….i feel like its pretty obvious here IMHO
Stats alone? Acuna by a couple lengths. 60 SBs is loud
mookie has kind of cooled in September.
Acuna, doesn’t take away from Mookie’s season. But it’s Acuna.
It’s not a photo finish at all. Acuna 100%. And I’m an American League fan.
Acuna’s to lose
Acuna. And I’m a Betts fan.
Lmao
At least one type of WAR should be on the graphic.
Also the fact Mookie plays multiple positions at a high level boosts his case over Acuna’s mediocre RF defence.
Freddy Freeman
I’d say Acuña only because he’s been consistently doing this the whole season. Betts has been good all year, but I feel like he only really seemed to truly heat up recently? Either one could win and it wouldn’t be a snub in my opinion, but if I had to choose, I choose Acuña. Or as that Braves fan said to Bryce Harper – Acuna 😂
Their hitting is so similar, 171 OPS+ vs 164. So it really comes down to the value you associate with stealing bases vs defense.
DRS has Mookie at 9 runs saved and Acuna at 0, I think the disparity in stolen bases is more valuable than the 9 run saved difference. But Mookie does play a few positions quite well.
Both players are deserving but if I had a vote it would go to Ronald.
This is Acuna’s to lose. The media is manufacturing this drama for clicks and views.
Is it really all that close. Like, you could make an argument for Mookie if you really wanted to, but it’d be wrong, wouldn’t it?
To further complicate things, they have both been hit by a pitch 7 times.
We’re going to have to see fielding % to decide this. Those stolen bases are impressive.
RAJ
Real question should be: what can Mookie realistically do to win it?
If he can get his SB total to double digits, ideally 15, then hit 10 points higher and beat him out with 45 HRs – then maybe?
With a minor slump from Acuna? Probably won’t happen but who knows!
It’s Acuna and it’s not close.
Acuña all day
Real question should be: what can Mookie realistically do to win it?
If he can get his SB total to double digits, ideally 15, then hit 10 points higher and beat him out with 45 HRs – then maybe?
With a minor slump from Acuna? Probably won’t happen but who knows!
Acuna will win it, but I’d say Mookie was still more “valuable” this year.
They have a similar oWAR (Acuna’s 7.3 to Betts’s 7.1) but the clear differentiator is in defense, where it’s really no contest that Mookie is better (Betts has a 0.8 dWAR compared to Acuna’s -0.5). And Mookie isn’t just better on defense in one position, he can play multiple.
100% Acuña at this point. A couple of weeks ago I would have said Betts, but he has been quiet ever since and Acuña has been on fire.
Where are runs scored?
Acuna, and it’s not even close. Yes, Mookie has him up for 3 HR and 6 ribbies, big whoop. Acuna has him bested by 24 points in BA and 53 stolen bases! He’s having an explosive year, he’s more than earned it.
Acuna will win unless he basically doesn’t play another game, or has the worst slump of his career. A possible 40-70 season will usually do that for you.
But Mookie probably should win. He’s played more or less average defense at 3 positions so far this year. About 700 innings in RF, 400 at 2B, and 100 at SS (0.8 dWar/-1 OAA/-1 run value). Acuna on the other hand has been a very bad RF (-0.5 dWar/-7 OAA/-2 run value).
Mookie has a higher OPS+ (171 to 164). They have virtually identical OPS. And Mookie has played in only 8 fewer game (enough to make a difference in stats but not enough to be a durability issue imo).
Mookie has been a better hitter and much better defender over basically the same number of games. The only thing Acuna has is the sexy 30/60 season. He will win but he shouldn’t (it it should end up being much closer than it will be even if you think Acuna deserves it).
The difference is going to come down to whether voters value Mookie’s elite defense, or Acuna’s SB’s more.
My guess is they will vote for Acuna, because it’s easier to see the SB category on paper than it is to see someone’s defense.
It’s Ronald and it’s not close
Maybe the writers will vote like it’s 1987 and give it to Olson who is leading with HR and RBI
This makes it feel like it’s completely based off offensive production. They are both strong defensively but Betts versatility defensively close the gap. Its too close to call.
The major thing people are looking over is Mookie’s golden glove defense in THREE DIFFERENT FIELDING POSITIONS!!!
Haven’t seen Acuna play. Blackouts.